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#1 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Lane
Location: Medford, OR
Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 (trackbike), CBR600RR, GS500F Posts: 588
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Budget suspension upgrades?
Can I get into a decent racing suspension for under $600? I'd like to do significantly less than that, but that seems to be the lower limit from looking around (Elka?).
I think I will get some linear springs and heavier oil in the front and try that for next season, but finding a rear shock without spending almost as much as I paid for the bike seems quite a bit more difficult. I want rebound and preload for sure. Ride height would be nice. I'm not too worried about adjustable compression damping. I'm also finally moving up to racing slicks. My total off season budget for upgrades is about $1k, so I want to get the suspension done for under $600. Although I might bump that up and see if I can get someone's takeoffs and save money on the tires initially. Of course, that will probably cost a bit more in the long run, but I've got to start using tires at some point. I've been running on DOT Pirellis for 14 races now, and although the tires have plenty of life on them, I've definitely reached the limit of what they can give me. On the plus side, I dropped nearly 10 seconds off my lap times in just two months, and I know what it feels like to slide the rear quite a bit. ![]() |
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#2 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Luis
Location: Miami
Join Date: Sep 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1995 Ninja 250, 2005 R6, 2002 Ducati Monster S4 Posts: 250
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Quote:
I am sure you are talking about a new gen 250. What about using an SV 1999-2001 rear shock? Is that much of an upgrade? I been looking but I believe many SV parts work on the new gen ninja but not sure (sure hope the work on my pre gen ninja as I am "shock less in the rear" at the moment" ![]() |
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#3 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Artie
Location: Canada
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): Stuff Posts: 284
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GSXR rear shock is a pretty solid upgrade. I'm gathering parts to install mine. I'm about 70 bucks into it lol
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#4 | |
Freedom for Germany
Location: This World
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R-FI Posts: A lot.
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#5 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Luis
Location: Miami
Join Date: Sep 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1995 Ninja 250, 2005 R6, 2002 Ducati Monster S4 Posts: 250
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#6 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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A savvy shopper can get a gsxr rear upgrade for < $50. In total, I spent $42 on mine, shock, bones, bolts and all. I am even including the new drill bit I had to buy for the proper size hole.
The front is a bit more tricky to get cheap. I would never buy used springs, so there is $120 at least but the rest can be had used/cheaper if you shop around. All said and done, I got $700 (just $100 more than your budget) in suspension mods to my 250 but I got some extras that I have learned I can live without but sure are nice to have when I need them.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#7 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Luis
Location: Miami
Join Date: Sep 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1995 Ninja 250, 2005 R6, 2002 Ducati Monster S4 Posts: 250
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specification on rear shock
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#8 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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08 gsxr 600
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#9 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Artie
Location: Canada
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): Stuff Posts: 284
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Mine is from an '05 GSXR 750, which requires you to remove the airbox for it to fit.
Bottom "fork" area that bolts into the knuckle has to be ground down. and the top bushing has to be changed out for a 250 one.
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#10 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Artie
Location: Canada
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): Stuff Posts: 284
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Mine came with the GSXR bones, bolts, and knuckle as well. I'm hoping to swap everything over, making it slightly less work. Hopefully.
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#11 | |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Quote:
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#12 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Artie
Location: Canada
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): Stuff Posts: 284
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I think if you use the stock bones it raises it 1 inch. Don't quote me on that though.
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#13 | |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Quote:
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#14 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Artie
Location: Canada
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): Stuff Posts: 284
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Stock bones off the 250!
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#15 | ||
ninjette.org guru
Name: Luis
Location: Miami
Join Date: Sep 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1995 Ninja 250, 2005 R6, 2002 Ducati Monster S4 Posts: 250
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lol ![]() i am getting confused but the MODS will happen ** so the 05 750 GXR shock with the new gen 250 bones will raise the rear one inch" I am not even a NOOB at modding so all this is like shots of Tekila |
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#16 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Artie
Location: Canada
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): Stuff Posts: 284
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Quote:
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Paint side up, rubber side down! |
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#17 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Luis
Location: Miami
Join Date: Sep 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1995 Ninja 250, 2005 R6, 2002 Ducati Monster S4 Posts: 250
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#18 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Artie
Location: Canada
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): Stuff Posts: 284
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Paint side up, rubber side down! |
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#19 |
Fighting Texas Aggie '05
Name: Neil
Location: Hutto, TX
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '07 ZX6R, '08 Versys, '09 250R Track, '93 F2/F3 Track Posts: A lot.
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negative, stock 250 bones and gsxr shock will lower the rear slightly which you do not want, so get shorter bones to lift the rear back up
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#20 |
wat
Name: wat
Location: tustin/long beach
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14
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the gsxr shock is about an 3/4" shorter than the ninja shock which translates to about an inch and a half drop on the rear with stock ninja bones.
for about $10 each you can order heim joints and rods to make adjustable dogbones from McMaster Carr. and being mcmaster, they will arrive the day after you order them if you are in the US. or if you are in san diego like me, you'll receive them a few hours after you order them. i love mcmaster. edit: i looked it up, each heim joint is $6.20, you need 4- 2x left hand and 2x right hand. and the connecting rod with threads on both end in opposite threads is $3 each. you need 2. so a set of brand new, high quality fully adjustable dogbones costs $31. those would be rated for 7klbs. more than you would ever see on those dog bones unless the bike was tumbling end over end.
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#21 | |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Quote:
![]() The 06 & 08 gsxr shock itself is shorter than a stock 250 rear shock. While shorter bones will raise the height, shorter shocks with the stock bones will lower it.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#22 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Artie
Location: Canada
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): Stuff Posts: 284
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Ah that was it. Mixed my stuff up!
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Paint side up, rubber side down! |
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#23 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Luis
Location: Miami
Join Date: Sep 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1995 Ninja 250, 2005 R6, 2002 Ducati Monster S4 Posts: 250
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awesome info.. how do I like your guys post and such!!!
Still a noob at this site. |
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#24 | |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Quote:
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#25 | |
dirty boy
Name: Joe
Location: Johnstown, PA
Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): I don't even know anymore?? Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '14
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Quote:
120+150+120+50= $440 What am I missing? unless you upgraded to cartridges or something ![]() ^ could have got a new rear spring as well so +$120 ish but even with that I am short a little over a $100 from the $700
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#26 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Fork oil, seals, preload caps ($100+ alone), various bolts, lock washers, custom bones, various tools I didn't have and so on.
The price of the parts are one thing, the total job is normally different. ijs... But yea, could be done for $600 or less now that I have learned a few things along the way.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#27 |
dirty boy
Name: Joe
Location: Johnstown, PA
Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): I don't even know anymore?? Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '14
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^ gotcha
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I love the smell of burning pre-mix in the morning I don't think I'm a lot dumber than you thought that I think that I thought I was once. ![]() |
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#28 |
Virgin Blood
Name: GreatScott
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): '10 Ninja-250 Posts: 106
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I've read the GSXR shock swap a few times but still don't know for sure what the benefit is for this swap. I weigh around 275lbs... would the swap make my bike handle better?
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#29 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Depends on the type of riding you do and your tolerance level. Could make the highway less bumpy, could take more of the load during cornering (it should anyway). Then again, my main race competition runs a stock shock on the highest setting w/ 0 fuks given because it's his race bike. I say don't fix problems that don't exist, myself.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#30 |
wat
Name: wat
Location: tustin/long beach
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14
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swapping to gsxr shock gives you damping adjustability. you can't adjust stock rear shock damping. stock gsxr spring is heavier than the stock ninja spring which is specced for someone 140#, so basically it would help someone over 200# in pretty much every way... provided it was in good working order.
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#31 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Lane
Location: Medford, OR
Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 (trackbike), CBR600RR, GS500F Posts: 588
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I'm watching this item on ebay.
Anyone have any good links about add on piggyback systems? (Do they work with an existing shock? I wouldn't think so....) |
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#32 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: John
Location: Australia
Join Date: Feb 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300 Posts: 48
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#33 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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He is super cheap. lol He changed the fork oil and cut some pvc preload spacers. That's it!!! Total: $23.49
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#34 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Lane
Location: Medford, OR
Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 (trackbike), CBR600RR, GS500F Posts: 588
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Quote:
A lot of the 250 guys here say just being able to adjust rebound and preload will be enough of a difference to get me most of the stability I need. Then again, I've shaved almost ten seconds in two months....with stock suspension, street tires, and only adding rearsets. |
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#35 | |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Quote:
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#36 |
Track Clown
Name: Chris
Location: Kingman, AZ
Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '15
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stock bones with the GSXR shock is lower then stock height.
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#37 | |
Fighting Texas Aggie '05
Name: Neil
Location: Hutto, TX
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '07 ZX6R, '08 Versys, '09 250R Track, '93 F2/F3 Track Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
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__________________________________________________
Keep it rubber side down and enjoy the ride Get healthy - Get Fit - Change Your Life Click Here Or PM Me To Find More - Advocare |
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#38 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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True dat! Some of my best lap times was on a completely stock bike. The only mod was BT003's. Bike wassa chatterin' more danna angry squirrel on a cold Nov. morn'.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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#39 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Lane
Location: Medford, OR
Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 (trackbike), CBR600RR, GS500F Posts: 588
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Quote:
That's why I think I'm finally ready for the suspension upgrades. I'm closer to the bike's limits, and the suspension has noticeable feedback where it shouldn't. |
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#40 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: David
Location: Loves Park, IL
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): Time will tell Posts: 969
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Quote:
I put a GSXR shock in my Ninja, never got around to taking it to the track after that though. Maybe next season ![]() |
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