info regarding sv650 rear shock install

[gs2sv]

well I came across a slightly used sv650 rear shock so I decided to give it a try. From the info concerning this shock on pablos page I assumed it would be a straight bolt on affair. that info is WRONG. first of all, there is no way to use the sv shock without some sort of modification, either to the dogbones or the tabs. Not without lifting the rear end of the bike considerably. the sv shock is considerably longer than the stock gs shock. I installed the sv shock straight in to see how it would work and it lifted the gs so high that the center stand was about 1/2 an inch from the ground when fully down, and the lean to the sidestand was ridiculous. I modified the shock by redrilling the holes in the tabs and that did the trick. I ended up removing the centerstand anyway because I prefer to use a rearstand for maintenence and it was resting on the bottom shock linkage rather than the rubber bumper. My only concern is that the coils sit very close to the swingarm so I expect some rubbing, but I don't think it will cause any harm. hope this info helps in the future.

no offence to anyone intended.

[gobstopper]

Straight from pablo's page on the SV650 shock install.

Installing this shock will raise bike ~2" but there is enough room on the bottom clevis that you can cut some off and redrill the bolt hole to make it same length as stock GS shock. Alternatively, you could cut down and reweld the dogbones to lower height back to stock but careful as this changes the geometry in unknown ways.  Make sure to readjust you chain tension after doing this.

Link to shock information page

Looks like you backed into the same thing.

[The Buddha]

OK no one seems to have read that post I made ... OK here it is ... turn the linkage upside down ... I dunno what it will hit but whatever it hits shave that location of the linkage ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[gs2sv]

[Dom]

Give us an update, did flipping the linkage work?  Srinath, was that just a suggestion or do you know that that will work for sure?

[The Buddha]

OK the linkage has to be the steel one, The alloy one of 89 wont work. The steel linkage can be ground a little, and I have tried it on a GSXR shock. It wont fit the 91-95 GSXR shock cos the clevise isn't long enough ... I dont have a shock with a clevise long enough for it to fit and work. Also the shock will be too short if its not more than ~ 2.5 inches longer than a GS one, a GSXR ia 1.5 and Kat is 1 inch ... ergo ... no shock I have will work. But someone with a SV shock should try it. It seems to have the room in the clevise and the longer bolt to bolt length that will leave it just about ideal.
Cool.
Srinath.

[The Buddha]

OK I checked the linkage I have on the 95 ... and look at that pic he posted ... if you flipped the lonkage imagine where that shock bottom bolt location will be ... I'd say its going to be where that original hole was ... I think that should clear the shock body as the linkage will be a shade deeper at that point ... but once you try it and see it hits it... shave the linkage a bit whete it hits ... and it should have good clearance ... Its a theory but I dont see why it should be any problems ... See I somehow can visualise things spinning and fitting right as I see it ... This wants to fit easy ... so there you have it ... my mind says it fits.
Cool.
Srinath.

[2Twin]

When I wrote the description on how to do the mod I may not have come out as clear as I wanted too. By saying bolt on I should have said that the shock can be bolt on without modification to the shock itself but the dog arms will need to be modified.

I had it in with no modifications and it worked but the rear was raised up to high for my liking and to high to be able to use the stands.

When I cut down the tabs and redrilled the holes it did lower it down but I wanted to get the bike lower than standard for my girlfriend of only 5 foot and a bit. So I concluded that the dog arms would need to be lengthend to achieve this and that if I hadnt cut the tabs down I could of modded the dog arms to achieve what height I wanted.

So I believe yes the SV shock can bolt straight in but the dog arms will need to be adjusted to achieve a ride height that is suitable. I think I clarified this on a post before but should have asked if Pablo could have changed his site to clarify me too.

Sorry my bad.

Lee McDonald