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GS750ES shock alternative

  • Thread starter Thread starter reddirtrider
  • Start date Start date
R

reddirtrider

Guest
I promised in another thread to post pics and give an update on my search for a low cost alternative to the stock rear mono-shock on the GS750ES, so here it is.

I'm not fluent with psoting pics so this might take a few tries.

Some background. I'm rebuilding an '83 GS750ES for my son and found that the rear shock was shot. There was no damping at the upper end of travel and little near the bottom. This is quite easy to determine by simply removing the spring and giving it a shove. The shock is not rebuildable and the alternative was buy a new, aftermarket unit or try to find one from another bike that would work. This thread is about the latter.

I did some research and came up with only one real candidate. The shock from a 93-99 Ducati 900 Monster has the correct length and uses eyes on both ends. I found a 98 unit on Ebay and won it using my incredible skills. :-& (Basically bid higher than the other guys).

So, on to the pics. The first is showing the Suzuki shock on the left to the Ducati on the right.

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh248/reddirtrider/?action=view&current=IMG_0335.jpg

The Suzuki spring on the top (not sure how this got rotated). I decided to use the stock spring as may be closer to the correct spring rate for this bike. I'll also use the dust cover, as the Ducati shock will only fit if mounted upside down. This isn't a problem as long as a dust cover is used.
http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh248/reddirtrider/?action=view&current=IMG_0336.jpg

The Ducati shock needs a little modification on the top eye for clearance. I used a file and took a bit off. I'll shave a bit more off for the final install - maybe another 1/32.

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh248/reddirtrider/?action=view&current=IMG_0337.jpg

This shows the bottom of the shock mounted without the spring insatlled.

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh248/reddirtrider/?action=view&current=IMG_0333.jpg

Here's the top.

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh248/reddirtrider/?action=view&current=IMG_0334.jpg

I'll let you all know how it rides in another month.
 
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I've tried posting the pics without any luck. Follow the links if interested.
 
Pic one

Pic one

IMG_0335.jpg


IMG_0336.jpg


IMG_0337.jpg
 
more pics

more pics

IMG_0333.jpg


IMG_0334.jpg


There ya go....let me know how it rides, Ive been curious about this mod for awhile for my 700.
 
Smart a$$. :oops: I tried using the insert image icon with no luck. Anyway, you da' man.

Anyway, notice the stock spring is now yellow. Ohlins impersonation.
 
If it's not a rude question... how much did you pay for that shock? How does the monster spring feel with the weight of the 750?

Shame - my friend just sold a ducati with Ohlins on it, I prob could have got it off him... :D

Mine might end up going the same way :)
 
salty_monk said:
If it's not a rude question... how much did you pay for that shock? How does the monster spring feel with the weight of the 750?

Shame - my friend just sold a ducati with Ohlins on it, I prob could have got it off him... :D

Mine might end up going the same way :)
Click to expand...
I paid $50 for the shock. Not any Monster shock will work, just the '93 -'99 900's. The others are too short. Also, shocks with reservoirs will not fit.

The bike still doesn't have the motor installed so I can't test the Monster spring. I'm going with the stock spring for now.

There's another shock on Ebay right now, the same as this one (make sure it's 13" long by questioning the seller) that is starting at $10. They don't come up that often, but I would suggest that if more than one of you wnat it to communicate so you don't bid against each other. I'm pretty sure I didn't have a GSResourcer bidding against me.

An Ohlins would be sweet, but would surely cost more.
 
I should mention that the shock adjustments are all accessible. To set the sag is going to be a bit of a pain. The ZRX1200 shock tool fits, so it will make it a bit easier but there isn't a lot of room to work. It's a good thing the preload doesn't need to be adjusted often.

This will make it a bit soft 2-up. I'll fill my son in on all the details. It's not a big deal, and he shouldn't be flying around with his soon to be wife on the back anyway.
 
Ok, I've added the spring and mounted on the bike. The Ducati shock won't accept the Suzuki dust cover, so be warned. IMHO, you need a dust cover if the shock is inverted.

Since the Suzuki spring is longer than the Ducati unit, you first need to compress it. I did this in the press and then used 8 zip ties to hold it compressed. Those little buggers are apparently pretty strong!

Next up us getting a starting point for the sag. Instead of using the shock tool to turn the rings, I simply mounted the shock in a vise, inserted a metal bar into the other end and turned it down. It went so fast and easy it even surprised me. As a side note, check out the lamp that my brother hung on the little plastic cabinet. Not a real good shot of it, but it melted into it and fused them together. That's what happenens when you let relatives in your garage! :clap:

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh248/reddirtrider/?action=view&current=IMG_0338.jpg

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh248/reddirtrider/?action=view&current=IMG_0339.jpg

Here it is in the bike. The zip ties messed the spring paint up a bit, but that's life.

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh248/reddirtrider/?action=view&current=IMG_0340.jpg
 
So you're using the Suzuki spring in the Ducati Shock??

By the way - someone else on here has used a Hyabusa spring if you need a beefier one.

(on an 1150 shock but the same as a 750/700 shock so should also fit your Ducati shock)

Dan :)
 
salty_monk said:
So you're using the Suzuki spring in the Ducati Shock??

By the way - someone else on here has used a Hyabusa spring if you need a beefier one.

(on an 1150 shock but the same as a 750/700 shock so should also fit your Ducati shock)

Dan :)
Click to expand...
I'm using the Suzuki spring for 2 reasons.

1) The Ducati shock must be mounted inverted in order to fit. The Suzuki shock was mounted inverted also and for this reason had a dust cap fitted. I didn't want to use the Ducati shock without a dust cap and the dust cap would not fit using the Ducati spring.

2) The stock spring wasn't the problem, it was the shock as it had no damping. There was no reason for me to choose the Ducati spring over the stock considering I couldn't use the dust cap.

You've gotta' be careful how beefy you go with those springs. This bike is still fitted with bias ply tires. Sure, if you go with radials the spring rate can be altered, but I'm not doing that. The only reason I'm using this shock is that I don't want to spend $400 on a new shock. That's the motivation and please keep that in mind. At a later date my son may choose to go with Works, but for now this is something that I'm working on as an alternative.
 
Last edited:
Sure... just asking the question as my shock has a knackered (soft) spring for sure & "maybe" knackered damping. Won't know till I pull it off but it's likely.

Dan :)
 
salty_monk said:
Sure... just asking the question as my shock has a knackered (soft) spring for sure & "maybe" knackered damping. Won't know till I pull it off but it's likely.

Dan :)
Click to expand...
Does your preload adjuster work? If not, then the spring will probably feel pretty soft on the lowest setting. The preload adjuster on the stock shock I have was frozen when I first got the bike. I freed it up, then found out the damping was shot.
 
Last edited:
Don't know... good question. Thanks for the hint. It'll be coming off for full analysis at a later stage. Frying other fish right now. :)
 
salty_monk said:
Don't know... good question. Thanks for the hint. It'll be coming off for full analysis at a later stage. Frying other fish right now. :)
Click to expand...
The preload adjuster is a ring and pinion arrangement at the adjuster. At the shock there is a cam arrangement. Either end can go bad. You can spin the damper adjuster in the shock with a screwdriver if need be. Pull the rubber plug out of the bottom of the shock and watch for a red dot to appear in the window. That's position 1. I couldn't tell you which way it spins, I don't have my stock shock anymore to check it.
 
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