Rear Shock 1989 Suzuki GSX600F with pillion

[choppedminx]

Wonder if anyone can help.

Want to take pillions now and then, but have found that when I do this makes the rear of the bike a bit too low. Occasionally the exhaust will touch road on roundabouts, and uneven surfaces. - not good for pillion confidence!

The rear shock appears to be OK, I assume just tired. I am on the heavy side, which doesn't help.

What would be a good (cheap) option, all I can find are 2nd hand units, which maybe no better. Would it be best to get an uprated shock (if I can find one), or is there a way of raising the rear (and is this a good idea?)

Any ideas/thoughts appreciated

[Guest]

can you wind the spring down to compress it?

mine has an adjustable range of 20mm iirc to stiffen the spring for when loaded

have to take it off to do it but its a 15 min job and then adjust with a c spanner ( may be easier on yours)

[Guest]

you should be able to adjust by 5 clicks, witrh a c-spanner as above, otherwise, you may find that a second hand shock may be better, i know bandit owners replace with an old GSXR item which has a reservior.. also, as its is the same as the bandit, look for shorter dog bones as this will increase seat height and clearance, also makes the bike turn quicker, if you do go this route, slacken of the chain first as it will get over tight when you change the geometry, then adjust as normal..

you may want to consider heavier oil in the forks too, 15w instead of 10w, and progressive springs, to stop the front diving with the load..

[choppedminx]

you should be able to adjust by 5 clicks, witrh a c-spanner as above, otherwise, you may find that a second hand shock may be better, i know bandit owners replace with an old GSXR item which has a reservior.. also, as its is the same as the bandit, look for shorter dog bones as this will increase seat height and clearance, also makes the bike turn quicker, if you do go this route, slacken of the chain first as it will get over tight when you change the geometry, then adjust as normal..

you may want to consider heavier oil in the forks too, 15w instead of 10w, and progressive springs, to stop the front diving with the load..

 

Yeah, it is adjusted to stiffest, but still sits too low with pillion. Went out today, kept scraping on roundabouts, and bumpy roads

I am wondering if i could maybe fit some kind of a spacer between the spring and the shock??

Would a bandit unit fit? I'm sure they would be more available. I have found an aftermarket monoshock, but the price is almost £1000!!! - must be someway of stiffening/raising??

[Guest]

you should be able to adjust by 5 clicks, witrh a c-spanner as above, otherwise, you may find that a second hand shock may be better, i know bandit owners replace with an old GSXR item which has a reservior.. also, as its is the same as the bandit, look for shorter dog bones as this will increase seat height and clearance, also makes the bike turn quicker, if you do go this route, slacken of the chain first as it will get over tight when you change the geometry, then adjust as normal..

you may want to consider heavier oil in the forks too, 15w instead of 10w, and progressive springs, to stop the front diving with the load..

 

Yeah, it is adjusted to stiffest, but still sits too low with pillion. Went out today, kept scraping on roundabouts, and bumpy roads

I am wondering if i could maybe fit some kind of a spacer between the spring and the shock??

Would a bandit unit fit? I'm sure they would be more available. I have found an aftermarket monoshock, but the price is almost £1000!!! - must be someway of stiffening/raising??

 

as stated earlier, get some dog bones, see here

http://www.cjaccessories.co.uk/product. ... 264&page=1

or you could go for a nitron shock

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-GSF-GSX-GS ... 240%3A1318

[choppedminx]

you should be able to adjust by 5 clicks, witrh a c-spanner as above, otherwise, you may find that a second hand shock may be better, i know bandit owners replace with an old GSXR item which has a reservior.. also, as its is the same as the bandit, look for shorter dog bones as this will increase seat height and clearance, also makes the bike turn quicker, if you do go this route, slacken of the chain first as it will get over tight when you change the geometry, then adjust as normal..

you may want to consider heavier oil in the forks too, 15w instead of 10w, and progressive springs, to stop the front diving with the load..

 

Yeah, it is adjusted to stiffest, but still sits too low with pillion. Went out today, kept scraping on roundabouts, and bumpy roads

I am wondering if i could maybe fit some kind of a spacer between the spring and the shock??

Would a bandit unit fit? I'm sure they would be more available. I have found an aftermarket monoshock, but the price is almost £1000!!! - must be someway of stiffening/raising??

 

as stated earlier, get some dog bones, see here

http://www.cjaccessories.co.uk/product. ... 264&page=1

or you could go for a nitron shock

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-GSF-GSX-GS ... 240%3A1318

 

Dog bone link is for '98 on - this bike is '89

Nitron shock link doesn't list GSX600F

[Guest]

Dog bone link is for '98 on - this bike is '89

Nitron shock link doesn't list GSX600F

 

ok here is a link for Hagon replacement shocks, the nitron shocks would work but you'd need to get one with a pin at the top and fork at the bottom and measure the length, also if it has a reservoir it has to be remote mounted rather than direct.

http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/HagApps7.htm

dog bones fit a number of bikes, theyve been used by bandit owners for years, they replace the current ones and as they are shorter they pull the moving parts closer thus jacking up the back.

whether they would work on you 1989 bike, i cannot say, but for £30 and an hour or two tinkering, it might be worth a shot..

[choppedminx]

"whether they would work on you 1989 bike, i cannot say, but for £30 and an hour or two tinkering, it might be worth a shot.."

Yeah, I'm coming to the conclusion I will have to make something. That's not a problem, I'm very new to biking, but have been working on (and building) cars for years. Just thought There might have been a quick and easy way

[Guest]

"whether they would work on you 1989 bike, i cannot say, but for £30 and an hour or two tinkering, it might be worth a shot.."

Yeah, I'm coming to the conclusion I will have to make something. That's not a problem, I'm very new to biking, but have been working on (and building) cars for years. Just thought There might have been a quick and easy way

looking at pictures of the later model the jack up bars are flat, and could be replaced by the ones shown eaarlier, but the older model they are forged, you could give a try, but you may have to change to bolts, and i would give a thorough test before taking pillion or long journeys..

If you know a metal works, and can take one off they may be able to fabricate something to replace it..

[Guest]

a better option might be to have it overhauled, fresh oil and serviced theres a company that will overhaul it and set it up for your weight etc...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUZUKI-GSX-600-12 ... 240%3A1318

[choppedminx]

a better option might be to have it overhauled, fresh oil and serviced theres a company that will overhaul it and set it up for your weight etc...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUZUKI-GSX-600-12 ... 240%3A1318

 

Thanks, I will probably go this route, but temporarily I have dismantled the unit and put a steel spacer between the spring and its mount, thus stiffening the spring - seems to work pretty good

[Guest akey]

Overhaul or even new shock wont stop it botteming out, unless either result in a stiffer spring.

You need to raise the preload on the rear spring, this is usually done with a C-spanner (this effectivly raises the rear of the bike), if you go down the dogbone route be carefull the first time you take the bike out as if you raise the rear up to high you can make the bike unstable.

I would be worried if you are still grounding out the exhaust with the rear shock set on full preload, this would indicate a knackered spring to me (but this is highly unlikely).

[choppedminx]

Overhaul or even new shock wont stop it botteming out, unless either result in a stiffer spring.

You need to raise the preload on the rear spring, this is usually done with a C-spanner (this effectivly raises the rear of the bike), if you go down the dogbone route be carefull the first time you take the bike out as if you raise the rear up to high you can make the bike unstable.

I would be worried if you are still grounding out the exhaust with the rear shock set on full preload, this would indicate a knackered spring to me (but this is highly unlikely).

 

The spacer I have between the spring and spring mount seems to be working OK, it doesn't raise the bike as such, but lessens the 'sag' when sat on - I suppose this has the effect of preloading the spring.

Still touches occasionally with pillion, but I am on the heavy side, and having had a look, I am not sure it the exhaust is maybe lower, as I dont think it's standard.