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New GK shocks !!

Larry D

Larry D

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
I finally got some new rear shocks for the GK. The stock air shocks were leaking a bit of air and quite frankly were a pain to deal with. So, after some consideration to my riding habits and my budget, I decided to get these from Dave Quinn Motorcycles.

www.davequinnmotorcycles.com

I wanted them a bit shorter as I'm tippy toed on the bike, so, I got 12.5 in or 320mm. After talking to Dave and giving him some information I got the 26kg/146lb springs in chrome. They are still in the box since the UPS man doesn't get to my house until around 8pm, so, they are going on this afternoon when I get home from work.
I didn't really trust those old air shocks and will have much more peace of mind riding two-up with my lovely wife. Riding report to follow......:)

20120412_205600.jpg
 
Good deal.

And we won't have to drive all over town looking for an air fitting again, will we?
 
Ha !!!!!!! Yep, that's right Brett.
No more riding around looking for a schrader valve for an old Suzuki's air shock in the hills of Southern Indiana. We did finally find one in Orleans just south of Bedford and I had the best guy supervise the installation. :)

58150014.jpg
 
Hi Larry,

Nice looking shocks. I have a few questions for you though. How well do you know this company? How's their customer service? How's the quality of the product....

I'm in dire need of set of shocks (well a tad bit different that stock of course) and they seem to be having some decent products. Any info you can give me I really appreciate it.

Cheers,

Chris
 
Chris, I have them on my bike (will ride it soon) and rode Tom Kent's 650 that had them on there. They seem a little stiff at first but I think it provides a good ride.
 
Stiff is good :) I need something that doesn't break under load and I need some really serious springs to go with it. Actually the springs is the most important part for me. Do you guys know anyone in the company I can call and chat with?

Sorry to hijack the post.
 
shirazdrum said:
Stiff is good :) I need something that doesn't break under load and I need some really serious springs to go with it. Actually the springs is the most important part for me. Do you guys know anyone in the company I can call and chat with?

Sorry to hijack the post.
Click to expand...

Chris, talk to the spring shop at Kenworth. They might have some big enough for you.
CDI are some cheap shocks that work a little bit, but the springs are stiff as Hell for normal bikes.
Probably not what you need for that 1300 lb 850.
Talk to Dave Quinn, the link is in post one of this thread. He will talk to you, nice guy. Like Cowboy said, the Hagons are fairly good shocks, Been happy with them on three bikes so far. I don't know if they can go heavy duty enough for your use.
They are stiff on my unloaded 650, the damping is good but it's just an around town bike, no overloaded monster bike continent hopping on that one.
 
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shirazdrum said:
Excuse the ignorance but what are CDI shocks?
Click to expand...

I think he meant MDI shocks. They're cheap likely Chinese or Taiwanese built shocks you can find on eBay for about $80ish a set. They're actually not bad if you're a heavy dude or have a heavy bike. They do the job. No damping adjustment but the pairs I've used actually had decent rebound damping, but the springs are stiff as a board. Two up or loaded with gear they feel darn good though. If you're not into "tune-able"'suspension for hard core corner carving and just need something to replace sacked out crappers, theyll do the job and they're cheap if you are on a budget. Certainly better than the stock dangerous crap. Theyre sold under all sorts of names (MDI, Forza, etc) but they're all the same shocks...
 
I stand corrected. MDI
Yes, they are available all over on Ebay for less than $100 a pair delivered.
Exactly what is needed for a tank or someone that weighs more than 250 pounds.

As for the OP's GK, the Hagon's are a much better choice.

Eric
 
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Hey guys thanks for all the info. If you remember my attempt at making homemade shocks in Colombia, i eneded up with a set of really nice shocks that sure can take a beating (don't ask me how i know :)) but the springs are the issue. They Progressive springs but they just don't have anything left in them anymore.

The original thread for that was here.

The shocks that I have are modified mono shocks, oil filled and repairable. We cut grooves on the bodies as well that I can adjust the spring load by 3 inches! I just need to find the heaviest and most durable springs, as my guess is that a cheap set of Chinese springs might be stiff at first but will sag down in a hurry under monster loads.

Schocks7.jpg

​
 
You should see if Ohlins or someone might spot you a set of shocks, they would certainly get some good advertising out of it.
 
shirazdrum said:
Hey guys thanks for all the info. If you remember my attempt at making homemade shocks in Colombia, i eneded up with a set of really nice shocks that sure can take a beating (don't ask me how i know :)) but the springs are the issue. They Progressive springs but they just don't have anything left in them anymore.

The original thread for that was here.

The shocks that I have are modified mono shocks, oil filled and repairable. We cut grooves on the bodies as well that I can adjust the spring load by 3 inches! I just need to find the heaviest and most durable springs, as my guess is that a cheap set of Chinese springs might be stiff at first but will sag down in a hurry under monster loads.

Schocks7.jpg

​
Click to expand...
If you can measure the free length (or know the free length required) and know the diameter of the stop coils (they're usually tighter in diameter than the rest of the spring) racetech would likely be able to send you a new set of springs at whatever weight rating you need. Might need the wire gauge too...
If the shock bodies are good, spring replacement would be the best and cheaper option other than those MDIs. That's the route I would go anyway.
 
Tom I give them a shout, but unfortunately the racing guys hit them so hard that i'll be a needle in a haystack.

That's probably the way to go. I can definitely measure everything and having a custom made spring would be one thing that I can't get down here. It's amazing how everything is just a phone call away back in the States and down here is matter of waiting and wishing.
 
You could try Works performance in Woodland hills I hear they are good guys to work with...
 
salty_monk said:
You could try Works performance in Woodland hills I hear they are good guys to work with...
Click to expand...

Thanks man, I'll call all these guys on Monday to see what they can come up with. The problem is the shipping them down here, as the customs will charge just as much as the price of the product. The shinier they are the more tax they put on it :(
 
shirazdrum said:
Thanks man, I'll call all these guys on Monday to see what they can come up with. The problem is the shipping them down here, as the customs will charge just as much as the price of the product. The shinier they are the more tax they put on it :(
Click to expand...

When ya get back stateside, I'd really like to chat with you about how you converted those monoshocks over. It'd be trick to be able to do that, and mono shocks with more features at reasonable prices are a whole lot easier to come by now days than twin shocks with the same features...
If I could convert a set of monos with great springs and re-valve able bodies to twins for my GS projects and my ZRX that'd be pretty bitchin. As it stands now, at least with the Rex, I could send the stock KYB piggy backs off to racetech for re-valving and new springs for about $800, or spend a few hundred more for Works or Ohlins...neither of which is affordable right now. But if it's a matter of finding a couple of take off GSXR monos and having some welding done and tossing whatever grade springs on em...what much more gooderer..
 
I'll be glad to. If I remember correctly, I filmed quite a bit when we were making theses shocks, I?ll see what I have and will put a video together.

As you know, mono-shocks have an open end so the first thing you wanna do is to find a correct end for it. The other end most likely will have a large hole as well so bushing it is the way to go.

We had to cut off the top-end and offset it because it wouldn't line up with the mount so that's another thing you need to look into. Other than that, it will be just a trial and error to find the perfect balance between the valve and oil viscosity. If it's somewhat soft to begin with, (you can compress it with your hands or feet), changing the viscosity should get you on the right track, otherwise you need to drill the oil valve incrementally larger to get it where you like it.
For the spring adjustment, we cut three grooves in the body for the pin to sit on. So I can take off the spring (very hard and dangerous work with only one person without a press) and move the lock system up or down. That?s how I adjust it for two up or single long rides.
If you have an access to a lathe, a press and a decent welder, there's no reason to pay 800 bucks for a set when you can make them cheap.

Cheers,

Chris
 
shirazdrum said:
I'll be glad to. If I remember correctly, I filmed quite a bit when we were making theses shocks, I?ll see what I have and will put a video together.

As you know, mono-shocks have an open end so the first thing you wanna do is to find a correct end for it. The other end most likely will have a large hole as well so bushing it is the way to go.

We had to cut off the top-end and offset it because it wouldn't line up with the mount so that's another thing you need to look into. Other than that, it will be just a trial and error to find the perfect balance between the valve and oil viscosity. If it's somewhat soft to begin with, (you can compress it with your hands or feet), changing the viscosity should get you on the right track, otherwise you need to drill the oil valve incrementally larger to get it where you like it.
For the spring adjustment, we cut three grooves in the body for the pin to sit on. So I can take off the spring (very hard and dangerous work with only one person without a press) and move the lock system up or down. That?s how I adjust it for two up or single long rides.
If you have an access to a lathe, a press and a decent welder, there's no reason to pay 800 bucks for a set when you can make them cheap.

Cheers,

Chris
Click to expand...
Well I'll look forward to picking your brain about that more when you have time :)

I am not sure what you used (what model shocks) but many of the modern monos will have both rebound and compression damping valves that are adjustable with knobs or screws or whatever, and then your standard preload ramps or threaded adjusters or whatever. A machinist I have access to. No CNC equipment but he can work magic you'd swear was done by computer on standard mills and lathes. And he's a damn good welder on top of that. The bonus is that he used to build and work on road race bikes back in the good ol days before everything became computer controlled and FI so he knows his stuff.
Thiscould be a fine remedy to having great shocks without taking out a second mortgage if it works :)
If you have any larger pics of your shocks I'd love to see em to see exactly what you did with the preload adjuster.
Thanks again Chris :)
TCK
 
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