Alright, dag-nab it. Shock woes

[QuaiChangKane]

Been tearing (what's left) of my hair out trying to find a bolt-on swap for my tired 750ES shock.

I've got Jim Lindemann of Lindemann Engineering (one of the most respected suspension shops on the Left Coast) willing to give rebuilding it a shot, but he doesn't expect an miracles - from what he recalls back in the day (seems he did suspension tuning for several Yosh Suzukis back in the day), the preferred performance rebuild of this shock involved pitching it in the bin in favor of a Fox twin-clicker.

Unfortunately, used aftermarket shocks are impossible to find, and new ones can cost more than KBB thinks this bike is worth. I've been scouring manufacturers' application charts for dimensions and spring rates, plus eBay for mounting eye type - and just can't seem to find a bolt-on that would work.

Now, I do have a Honda CBR600F4i shock in my carage right now that's about an inch shorter than the GS unit, but with the same mounts. (Just to clarify - the captive bearing mounts are called "clevis", right? What are the fork-type "U" mounts called?). The problem with the Honda shock is that I've been told that the spring loading rate is likely twice as stiff as the GS shock due to the difference between Suzuki/Honda shock linkages and increased leverage (something like 700lbs for the Honda vs. 350-400 for the 'Zook), meaning that installing the Honda shock would be darn-near like simply strutting the GS due to the beefier spring.


Now, I know a few GS'ers have used GSXR shocks (or even Bandit?) on the monoshocked GS's, but don't know any other details - like whether or not the stock swingarm was retained, or any other machining/fabricating involved in the swap. Can somebody give me some insight here? I also have a GSXR1K shock on my bench right now, but can't seem to come up with a method of mounting it short of cutting off the "U" mount and welding the mount from one end of my stock shock - but I believe the body of my stocker is steel, where the Gix shock is aluminum.....?


Just don't know - any direction would be appreciated. All this frustration, of course, comes from wanting to retain as close to stock appearances as possible, for better or for worse!!!


TIA,


-Q!

 

[mortation]

$89.00:

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/rear_shocks.htm

 

[SDBuckeye]

Hi,
Or maybe these? https://www.partsnmore.com/cat_index.php?model=gs&category=chassis

Cheers,
Lyle

 

[Big T]

Just look down a few entries to Ohlins - group buy underway

 

[QuaiChangKane]

$89.00:

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/rear_shocks.htm

Thanks, Mort - but they won't work. Mine's a monoshocker...



-Q!

 

[catbed]

clevis is open end, eye is closed end.

 

[Clone]

Do a search for shocks, and there was a thread a few yeas ago where it was pointed out that a late 80s or early 90s monoshock is a direct replacement, it will bolt on, but you will loose the adjustability of the stock shock. I have had a hydraulic shop say they can rebuild the stock shock, but to bring it in during the winter when they are slow. They can open them, replace all the internal seals, clean then up and reseal the housing. You could try that if you can't find the thread.

 

[QuaiChangKane]

Do a search for shocks, and there was a thread a few yeas ago where it was pointed out that a late 80s or early 90s monoshock is a direct replacement, it will bolt on, but you will loose the adjustability of the stock shock. I have had a hydraulic shop say they can rebuild the stock shock, but to bring it in during the winter when they are slow. They can open them, replace all the internal seals, clean then up and reseal the housing. You could try that if you can't find the thread.

Yeah, I'm sending the spare in to have it rebuilt - we'll see how it goes.


Thanks for the tip - I'll see what I can dig up in a search!


-Q!

 

[QuaiChangKane]

clevis is open end, eye is closed end.

Thanks, Cat - I had 'em wackbards. :shock:

 

[first timer]

talk to skeemer he did a gsxr shock mod on his 85 550 and kept the stock swingarm

 

[p_s]

I put a '99 GSXR monoshock in my 550ES. Had to put it in upside down backwards but no mods at all. The linkage does touch the airbox when the shock is fully extended, but that hasn't caused any problems. It raised the height an inch, which suits me better. There are posts in the archives about there not being enough clearance with the rear tire and thus having to remove the centerstand--but that may just be the case with some tire/chain/sprocket/shock combinations. I have plenty of clearance.

I have no idea if it'd work in a 750, but these gsxr shocks are cheap.

 

[Guest]

Tried an upsidedown '97 750 shock on mine, raised the rear too much. Took it off and got a Hagon for it, and I'm very happy with it. Very nice rebuildable unit for just over $400.

 

[Junkie]

Tried an upsidedown '97 750 shock on mine, raised the rear too much. Took it off and got a Hagon for it, and I'm very happy with it. Very nice rebuildable unit for just over $400.

how much did it raise it by?

 

[QuaiChangKane]

Tried an upsidedown '97 750 shock on mine, raised the rear too much. Took it off and got a Hagon for it, and I'm very happy with it. Very nice rebuildable unit for just over $400.

How did you mount it? The GSXR shock that I have has a clevis on one end and an eye on the other end.

I was aware of the upside-down mounting, but I'm confused about the actual method of attaching the shock to the existing mounts.


-Q!

 

[QuaiChangKane]

talk to skeemer he did a gsxr shock mod on his 85 550 and kept the stock swingarm

Does the 550 shock have eyes on both ends, or a clevis on one end?

 

[QuaiChangKane]

I put a '99 GSXR monoshock in my 550ES. Had to put it in upside down backwards but no mods at all. The linkage does touch the airbox when the shock is fully extended, but that hasn't caused any problems. It raised the height an inch, which suits me better. There are posts in the archives about there not being enough clearance with the rear tire and thus having to remove the centerstand--but that may just be the case with some tire/chain/sprocket/shock combinations. I have plenty of clearance.

I have no idea if it'd work in a 750, but these gsxr shocks are cheap.

Same question as above - did your 550 stock shock have an eye/clevis or two eyes?

Could you provide photos?

-Q!

 

[p_s]

Same question as above - did your 550 stock shock have an eye/clevis or two eyes?

Could you provide photos?

One eye, one clevis. I asked here about doing it and LeeGS550E posted a photo of his:

I just turned it around as well so I could keep the centerstand. You can see how the gas reservoir would get in the way. It's actually much easier to adjust the shock this way then if it were right-side up.

EDIT: Click click click, aha, you need one with two eyes. Now I see the problem.

 

[QuaiChangKane]

Very clean install!



Yeah, that's my problem. I can't seem to find another bike with a similiar length shock that has eyes on both ends....

One eye, one clevis. I asked here about doing it and LeeGS550E posted a photo of his:

I just turned it around as well so I could keep the centerstand. You can see how the gas reservoir would get in the way. It's actually much easier to adjust the shock this way then if it were right-side up.

EDIT: Click click click, aha, you need one with two eyes. Now I see the problem.

 

[Guest]

How did you mount it? The GSXR shock that I have has a clevis on one end and an eye on the other end.

I was aware of the upside-down mounting, but I'm confused about the actual method of attaching the shock to the existing mounts.


-Q!

Modified the bellcrank that the top of the shock bolts to. Filled the center and then narrowed it so it would fit into the clevis.

 

[Guest]

how much did it raise it by?

About an inch and a half, and that was with the spring at the full soft preload setting. The Hagon that replaced it is much better in every way.