GSXR Shock Conversion Thread?

[Mike K]

Is there a step by step GSXR shock conversion thread for the 300 on here? I can't find it.

Thanks

EDIT: I made one with pics in my 2014 Track Build thread

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...8&postcount=19
https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...0&postcount=20

[csmith12]

Unless I have missed a thread, this is about as close as we have to a diy. Can't imagine it being too much different on a 300.

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=59486

[Mike K]

I've read through that one. If it's the same or similar then it looks relatively easy. If I order it today I might just have time to install it before Summit on the 26th.

[subxero]

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...1&postcount=27

some useful in in those links and the actual thread that that post is made in here

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...831#post817831

Some info in this thread as well

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...=168447&page=2

Oh yeah this one

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=170747

[Ghostt]

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/GSXR600_shock

[Mike K]

Someone at Team ProMotion gave me this link to a 300 shock thread: http://www.kawasa***************/for...s/36809?page=1

[subxero]

Originally Posted by Mike K

Someone at Team ProMotion gave me this link to a 300 shock thread: http://www.kawasa***************/for...s/36809?page=1

Link doesn't work for me?

Either way, all the info you could possibly want/need is in the links listed above. It is really quite simple.

buy shock, drill out holes to 12mm, grind U bracket at bottom wider, buy 12mm nuts and bolts and "spacers", buy/make new dog bones. Put it together.

I have a gsxr shock laying around i would give away but it needs oil, bled and nitrogen charge plus all the holes are drilled out to 1/2" which isn't ideal so IMO it isn't worth the cost of shipping vs buying a functional used one off ebay for $25 $30

[Mike K]

I just tried to post the link again but it does not work. I posted it because it was actually a step-by-step instructional. It is dead simple though as stated above.

I'll do a step-by-step with pics in my race bike build thread.

[toEleven]

Originally Posted by subxero

Oh yeah this one

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=170747

I'm surprised that thread, titled "DIY - GSX-R Rear Shock", isn't the first thing people find when looking for a GSXR conversion thread. The only thing I encountered that might be different on the 300 is the plastic undertray. All the important bits matched the 250 instructions.

[Mike K]

I installed it yesterday. Took about two hours. Hardest part of the install was cutting away the plastic undertail above the shock and that only took about three minutes with a Dremel with a router-type bit. I'll post pics in my track build.

[Mike K]

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...8&postcount=19
https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...0&postcount=20

[subxero]

Originally Posted by Mike K

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...8&postcount=19
https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...0&postcount=20

did you use the stock dog bones?

[Mike K]

Yes I did.

[Yamahawk]

Hey Mike,
Nice conversion thread(s)! I installed one on a pregen 1986, and the dogbones look like they will clear the spring! Not sure if the dogbones are different than the later pregen/newgen/300, but they have a spacer/protrusion on each end on the inner part where they bolt up, and initial inspection tells me they may clear the spring no problem.
Let me know how it handles/rides with the stock GSXR spring! I am looking at getting an Eibach spring 8.3kg and swapping it in.

P.S>- my stock 86 rear shock had an adjustable preload collar too... unlike the later pregens!

[Mike K]

I'm running it on Summit Main this weekend with Team ProMotion. I'll post how it feels

[SpotTheDogg]

Originally Posted by Yamahawk

Hey Mike,
Nice conversion thread(s)! I installed one on a pregen 1986, and the dogbones look like they will clear the spring! Not sure if the dogbones are different than the later pregen/newgen/300, but they have a spacer/protrusion on each end on the inner part where they bolt up, and initial inspection tells me they may clear the spring no problem.
Let me know how it handles/rides with the stock GSXR spring! I am looking at getting an Eibach spring 8.3kg and swapping it in.

P.S>- my stock 86 rear shock had an adjustable preload collar too... unlike the later pregens!

How light are you Charlie? I'm pretty sure the stock spring is a 9.3Kg/mm (520lb/in), we put one in the ZZR on the weekend and for my 160lb friend it was too soft. Not dramatically soft but with 16mm of installed preload it had 15mm free sag and 37mm rider sag if I recall correctly. I think a 600lb/in is in order if not a 625

[Sirref]

@Mike K how did it feel for you? it felt too stiff for me causing the rear to want to come around and push the front a bit rather than allowing the throttle roll on to flow through the chassis. This causing the rear to start to step out at times (which it did when helped by the slick track)

[RacinNinja]

Originally Posted by Sirref

@Mike K how did it feel for you? it felt too stiff for me causing the rear to want to come around and push the front a bit rather than allowing the throttle roll on to flow through the chassis. This causing the rear to start to step out at times (which it did when helped by the slick track)

Have you tried lessening the compression damping? This will get you a bit more squat on throttle application.

[Sirref]

I did, as well as reducing rebound

it worked better but I only had 10-12 laps worth of feel to go off of going into the race. I had been hoping for a longer shake down to dial the bike in. I think I'll be reducing each a bit more soon but I'll be switching tires first so I'll leave it the same for now (only change one thing when at a time mentality)

[RacinNinja]

Originally Posted by Sirref

I did, as well as reducing rebound

it worked better but I only had 10-12 laps worth of feel to go off of going into the race. I had been hoping for a longer shake down to dial the bike in. I think I'll be reducing each a bit more soon but I'll be switching tires first so I'll leave it the same for now (only change one thing when at a time mentality)

FWIW, I would start at the minimum settings and work your way up. These shocks are meant to dampen a much heavier machine.

[Sirref]

will do, sounds like a good idea

[Mike K]

I thought that it felt much, much better than stock but the track felt pretty slick. After we go back to NCBike I'll have a better idea .

FYI-- I turned both adjusters out 3 full turns.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by Mike K

I thought that it felt much, much better than stock but the track felt pretty slick. After we go back to NCBike I'll have a better idea .

FYI-- I turned both adjusters out 3 full turns.

I started at 3 turns, sitting at 2 now, probably going to switch my emulators to 2 rather than 3 turns as well

[Yamahawk]

Originally Posted by SpotTheDogg

How light are you Charlie? I'm pretty sure the stock spring is a 9.3Kg/mm (520lb/in), we put one in the ZZR on the weekend and for my 160lb friend it was too soft. Not dramatically soft but with 16mm of installed preload it had 15mm free sag and 37mm rider sag if I recall correctly. I think a 600lb/in is in order if not a 625

Hi Scott,
I may just try the spring first, to see what it does. The RaceTech website spring calculator say 9.3Kg. spring for it, which is what it has. I am 180 right now, and I will set sag when I get the bike done and see what it's like. It definitely should be better than the oem shock! With the proper compression/rebound adjustments, it would be ok I think. Did he have to space out the dogbones any to clear the spring? Mine look like they will clear the spring already! Has your friend with the ZZR had it on the track yet? Let me know how he likes it, and whether he changes the spring. I am going to leave the length alone too, and if I need to, I will pull the tubes up in the triple trees to lower the front a little. I already have about 10mm more above the top triple tree to fit my aftermarket clip on handlebars mounted, if I need more I will.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Sirref

I started at 3 turns, sitting at 2 now, probably going to switch my emulators to 2 rather than 3 turns as well

I didn't know that your forks were done.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by Mike K

I didn't know that your forks were done.

yup I have springs and emulators in there, just don't have preload adjuster caps installed

also fun fact...they weren't re-installed evenly...some of my front end issues may well have been because one fork was sitting higher than the other by a third of an inch. My dumbass thought it was all good when the front wheel spun freely and everything looked relatively even so I didn't double check it closely enough.


I do highly recommend springs, emulators, and preload adjusters in the forks though. They make a world of difference to the feel of the bike when you get it right and you'd probably get it right quicker than me hahaha