I recently bought a 2007 GS500f and was wondering if by adjusting the sag or preload in the rear shock from 1 to 7 if it will raise the back end of the bike up. sorry if this is a stupid question but i am new to this site and to ridding.

thanks!

It might make it sag less. If you really want to raise the rear end, you'll have to change the shock. Do a search on the forum for which shock to go with, but it seems like most people go with the Katana 600 rear shock because it will bolt on with no modifications.

Does it matter what year the katana shocks are from?

thank you

Yes. Early model Kat shocks have a cable controlled dampening system that work great, they're just a little dated.

I believe 99-01 Kat shocks have a reservoir on them (i cant remember exactly...) but i know that I have the Kat shock with the external reservoir. It's awesome. The pre-load is completely adjustable with dual locking rings instead of the silly 7 way click ring on the GS. The rebound dampening is adjustable on the base of the shock in the Yolk and the compression dampening is on the external reservoir.

02' and newer I believe are simply pre-load and rebound adjust only... they don't have an external reservoir. But they'll all fit no problem. It's just a matter of mounting the reservoir if you chose to get that one.

Like I said, the external reservoir one is the one that I have, and I'm a 220lb guy... I can BARELY compress the rear shock when I sit on it... I set my sag to about 7mm in the rear, rebound dampening to 3 and comp dampening all the way soft. Still.. I can hop up and down on the thing and barely get any movement. It's sick and matched almost perfectly to my front .90 Sonic Springs.

Great upgrades.

If you get the kat shock with the adjusment in the yolk you'll have to shave some room off of the pivot knuckle to prevent it from hitting the adjuster screw. That, and you may have to shave a good amount off of your swingarm to actually get the kat shock to clear.

Do a search in the wiki.

Dan

Alternative: shorter dog bones $30 on ebay.

UPDATED FOR RELAVENCY

www.peterverdonedesigns.com/rideheight.htm

whoaaa so shorter dog bones...will raise the bike/rearend by how much?
And then can you adjust the stock shock to be stiff.....will it still sag alot?

Shorter dog bones are ~1:4, if its 1/4 inch shorter it will raise by 1 inch. Shocks are ~ 1:2, as in 1/2 nich longer shock = 1 inch increase in height.

Shorter dog bones may raise the rear, but they leave you with a crappy shock.
I have sold shocks here for ~40 and shipping, kat 600 or the 750 from 89-95 will be the simplest fit. The cable operated rebound dial was on 750's. 600's had just the dial. You can lose the cable and just work that dial too. Both 6 and 750 are good for a GS. They both do a great job. I am looking for some right now, hopefully I find em soon.
Cool.
Buddha.

Also, I went to Toronto motorcycle show recently...saw a used Katana for sale, decided to push down the back end to see how stiff the shock is....mannn it went down soooo much...so stuck to getting GSXR rear shock upgrade from Budda....BUT after reading this

QuoteLike I said, the external reservoir one is the one that I have, and I'm a 220lb guy... I can BARELY compress the rear shock when I sit on it... I set my sag to about 7mm in the rear, rebound dampening to 3 and comp dampening all the way soft. Still.. I can hop up and down on the thing and barely get any movement.

So I still don't understand how you achieved this.....I want to have a stiff rear shock (like GSXR), with little sag, and raise rear end also (in sum, raise rear end, not more than 3 inches sag when 2nd rider gets on as well)....Which Kat shock should I get? And any mods need done to it?

Quote from: vorBH on January 15, 2009, 12:29:59 PM
Also, I went to Toronto motorcycle show recently...saw a used Katana for sale, decided to push down the back end to see how stiff the shock is....mannn it went down soooo much...so stuck to getting GSXR rear shock upgrade from Budda....BUT after reading this

QuoteLike I said, the external reservoir one is the one that I have, and I'm a 220lb guy... I can BARELY compress the rear shock when I sit on it... I set my sag to about 7mm in the rear, rebound dampening to 3 and comp dampening all the way soft. Still.. I can hop up and down on the thing and barely get any movement.

So I still don't understand how you achieved this.....I want to have a stiff rear shock (like GSXR), with little sag, and raise rear end also (in sum, raise rear end, not more than 3 inches sag when 2nd rider gets on as well)....Which Kat shock should I get? And any mods need done to it?

The post above yours answers your question... Also, consider that the Katana is probably heavier  than the GS, so the kat shock on the GS will end up much stiffer....

Yea, but which year Kat shock to get??

Quote from: The Buddha on January 15, 2009, 12:25:00 PM
Shorter dog bones are ~1:4, if its 1/4 inch shorter it will raise by 1 inch. Shocks are ~ 1:2, as in 1/2 nich longer shock = 1 inch increase in height.

Shorter dog bones may raise the rear, but they leave you with a crappy shock.
I have sold shocks here for ~40 and shipping, kat 600 or the 750 from 89-95 will be the simplest fit. The cable operated rebound dial was on 750's. 600's had just the dial. You can lose the cable and just work that dial too. Both 6 and 750 are good for a GS. They both do a great job. I am looking for some right now, hopefully I find em soon.
Cool.
Buddha.

Seems like as long as you're between 89 and 95, pick any year you like...

I have a gsxr shock and still comtemplating putting on shorter dog bones to get another inch raise in height. But either ways you will likely need to extend your sidestand otherwise the additional height will make your bike lean dangerously close to tipping over.

On that matter..Buddha is also offering the service of extending your sidestand...speaking of that Buddha I'm still waiting for mine. 

1. You have the GSXR shock on yours!? Please provide some more details, which year GSXR shock? Do you have pics please? Was the installation 'easy'?

2. I didn't know you can get GSXR shock AND shorter dogbones (partly b/c I still don't understand the dogbones setup)....GSXR provides the least sag right?

3. If I get the Kat shock, make it stiff setting....will it sag much?? (especially with 2 riders) and then get shorter dog bones to raise even more (total raise close to 3inches w/ kat shock and shorter dogbones?)

4. GSXR shock alone 2.5inches raise? w/ shorter dogbones 3.5inches?

I don't want a 10 year old shock on my bike although in GSXR case, no choice (cuz after 94 Budda says wont work)...Can't I put a newer Kat shock on the GS500? Like an 04 os something?

ok now im super confused. im a very light guy. i only weigh 165, so could i put smaller dog bones on and just adjust the sag to 7. how would i search ebay for dog bones? do they makes certain ones for gs500 do i need a certain size. and if i decide to go and use a katana shock what year is the least work to put in? i dont want to shave down my swing arm and all that. i really need help here. if anyone has pics of what they did and how it looks and anymore advice that would be amazing. thanks for all the replies but i feel a little lost

Quote from: seamax on January 15, 2009, 02:40:52 PM
I have a gsxr shock and still comtemplating putting on shorter dog bones to get another inch raise in height. But either ways you will likely need to extend your sidestand otherwise the additional height will make your bike lean dangerously close to tipping over.

On that matter..Buddha is also offering the service of extending your sidestand...speaking of that Buddha I'm still waiting for mine. 

Dude yours is done, except it looks like crap.
I dropped a peiece of rebar in ints whole length and welded it, but there is 2 inches of rebar I now have to cover with 1/2 pipe.
If anyone else needs this done lemme know ... its gonna cost ya like 30 bucks, but it will be nice. Very nice, like stock. Strong too.
Cool.
Buddha.

pics.....

Quote from: The Buddha on January 15, 2009, 08:26:34 PM

Quote from: seamax on January 15, 2009, 02:40:52 PM
I have a gsxr shock and still comtemplating putting on shorter dog bones to get another inch raise in height. But either ways you will likely need to extend your sidestand otherwise the additional height will make your bike lean dangerously close to tipping over.

On that matter..Buddha is also offering the service of extending your sidestand...speaking of that Buddha I'm still waiting for mine. 

Dude yours is done, except it looks like crap.
I dropped a peiece of rebar in ints whole length and welded it, but there is 2 inches of rebar I now have to cover with 1/2 pipe.
If anyone else needs this done lemme know ... its gonna cost ya like 30 bucks, but it will be nice. Very nice, like stock. Strong too.
Cool.
Buddha.

What! I don't want crap.    Please make it pretty. Shoot me you paypal again when you ship it. Thanks.

Quote from: vorBH on January 15, 2009, 07:04:19 PM
1. You have the GSXR shock on yours!? Please provide some more details, which year GSXR shock? Do you have pics please? Was the installation 'easy'?

Don't remember which year. I bought it from a member here. Installation was very easy. There was a current thread on here showing the installation. Do a search.

2. I didn't know you can get GSXR shock AND shorter dogbones (partly b/c I still don't understand the dogbones setup)....GSXR provides the least sag right?

I don't think anyone has done this. I'm going to try because I would like to raise the rear and little higher than the 2 or so inches the GSXR shock has already done.

3. If I get the Kat shock, make it stiff setting....will it sag much?? (especially with 2 riders) and then get shorter dog bones to raise even more (total raise close to 3inches w/ kat shock and shorter dogbones?)

4. GSXR shock alone 2.5inches raise? w/ shorter dogbones 3.5inches?

This is what I'm shooting for.

I don't want a 10 year old shock on my bike although in GSXR case, no choice (cuz after 94 Budda says wont work)...Can't I put a newer Kat shock on the GS500? Like an 04 os something?

I have a 96. The gsxr shock is very harsh and I had it on the lowest settings. I swapped out for a Kat shock and loved the softer ride but after riding on the gsxr shock for 2 years I was so used to riding with the rear higher that the kat shock felt like stock height.

Refer to this thread for more info and pics or do some searches. Both are common swaps. 
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=45116.0

K so shave the linkage and then bolt it on.

Quote2. I didn't know you can get GSXR shock AND shorter dogbones (partly b/c I still don't understand the dogbones setup)....GSXR provides the least sag right?

I don't think anyone has done this. I'm going to try because I would like to raise the rear and little higher than the 2 or so inches the GSXR shock has already done.

Please do tell me if you do it and if works etc...and pic as well pls

But it looks like I can do either 1. Kat shock (stiff settings) with shorter dogbones OR 2. GSXR shock (generally stiff settings)...with or without shorter dogbones?