As I'm sure y'all prob tired of my ramblings about trying to get the wrong shock to fit... I have a low mileage 1993 Kat600 shock on it that I got for 35 dollars from The Chop Shop in Zephyer Hills, Florida (Shameless plug.. They have a HUGE selection of EVERYTHING, ever need some random part, they prob got it. they even had STOCK gs500 shocks...)

It ROCKS!

Rebound is at a 4 of 7, and preload is at a 3. It don't feel like I'm riding on a pillow anymore!! now, I can see how squishy the front end is now though , And SWMBO banned me from buying parts for a few weeks (justin, I TOLD you it wouldn't fit, see, its 2 inches longer!!!) Bless her soul, she was out there with me for 2 hours trying to figure out how to try to get the gsxr shock to work...

Well anyways, was a 15 minute bolt on, it works great, and now I wish my front end would feel that good.

OH, and the additional height in the rear feels really nice. Is so much more comfortable.

Anyways, thanks for the information, you guys rock on here!!

-justin

Sonic springs and 20 weight oil would be a good place to start.

Spring install is a snap. Oil can take a little longer, but is worth it. My suspension guy recommends doing the fork oil every 6000 miles.

All ready done the 20w oil.

just need the springs!

Im glad you finally got the right shock 

I have a '99 sitting on my shelf I have yet to put in. What did you have to take off, if anything, to do the swap? Did you need a special tool at all? One final ? if you dont mind, what do you weight, for set up purposes when I get around to mine.

Quote from: Twism86 on June 15, 2011, 06:25:01 PM
Im glad you finally got the right shock 

I have a '99 sitting on my shelf I have yet to put in. What did you have to take off, if anything, to do the swap? Did you need a special tool at all? One final ? if you dont mind, what do you weight, for set up purposes when I get around to mine.

Took off the tank, then took out the airbox. Then, unbolted the stock shock, being it didn't slip right out, so i unbolted the bolts for the dogbones, and the shock dropped out the bottom. New one went in opposite of reverse.  Literally took me 15 min start to stop.

I weigh 180, prob around 195 fully clothed with boots, helmet, gloves, and riding jacket.

Tools = Philips and std screwdrivers for airbox and fuel shutoff, 14mm and 17mm sockets and box wrenches.

If im forgetting anything, senior members chime in!

-Justin

was the tank and airbox necessary or just for ease?

Just for ease. You should be able to install the shock without removing either, though it does make it possible to slip the shock in the top, rather than squeezing it up from underneath.

I highly recommend a torque wrench if you're doing suspension work, especially if you have old worn-out self-locking nuts (which should really be replaced after the first few uses.)

Thanks! I just gotta get my lazy @$$ do do this!

FWIW... If you go from the bottom, you may decide that it's easier to remove the wheel, though again, I don't think it's absolutely necessary. Unbolt the linkage, unbolt the stock shock, rebolt the linkage, bolt up the new shock, done.

I found it easier to remove the air box, took 2 minutes.

Their lock-nuts? The 14 and 17mm ones??

Both of mine on the bike were std nuts, and the ones that were on the shock were also normal....

WTF?

Every nut on the suspension should be a lock-nut... The metal kind, where the last thread on the nut is kind of thin, and drags. If they are standard nuts, I'd strongly advise you to replace them - they are the only thing holding the rear suspension together.

Yea, no, just checked, i dont think i have ANY of those on the rear of my bike...

its an 05 if that matteres?

I guess it's possible that later year bikes went to standard nuts... My 93 was absolutely lock-nuts, and I can confirm that they came from the factory. Can anyone else check to confirm?

FWIW, standard nuts would make me very leary.

Next time im at the depot ill pick some up, even if it wasnt standard, its probably a good idea, and cheap, too.

 

Quote from: burning1 on June 16, 2011, 02:29:07 PM
I guess it's possible that later year bikes went to standard nuts... My 93 was absolutely lock-nuts, and I can confirm that they came from the factory. Can anyone else check to confirm?

FWIW, standard nuts would make me very leary.

All four of my GS's were untouched in the suspension area,so I can confirm they all have lock nuts.None of the four GS's I have are over 9000 miles.I have an 89,90,91,92 GS's.