GSXR-600 Rear Shock Swap Questions

[Goatsby]

So I bought the whole rear shock setup and dog bones from another user and I'm trying to get everything hooked up. It came with some spacers but they're too small indiameter I think, as they allow the little pivot sleeve to be pushed around. Would I be okay using washers as spacers for both ends of the dogbones?



Had to grind a hell of a lot of that bracket away to get the top end to fit. I then chewed through the spray plastic guard thingy with my teeth, hopefully it clears. EDIT: Sorry for the poor photos, I broke the glass on the camera on my phone and ever since I peeled the broken glass away the quality has been bad.

[Z1R rider]

Here's how we did it, used '08 and '09 GSXR shocks. Have done it to 6 pregens with no problems.

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=214238

[Goatsby]

Got everything back together fianlly! The bike seems like it wants to fall in much easier in the rear compared to the front, if that makes sense. Front suspension in order now? Thanks for the help guys.

[Z1R rider]

I'm guessing that you mean it's different than before the swap. Is the rear end at the same height as before the swap? If the back is higher than before, the turn in will be quicker. One of my 250's had the original Dunlops on it when I got it and the turn in at street speeds was scary quick, (felt like it was falling in) not at all confidence inspiring.

[Goatsby]

It's jsut different, probably also might have to do with the new diabo scooters I have compared to the 6 and 10 year old dunlops and the rear shinko. I forgot to take before and after measurements, but it feels about the same. I bought the shock with dogbones that were supposed to bring it back up to stock ride height though. When I had the bike up in the air I noticed the rear tire was a lot higher than the front with no load on either of them, but it doesn't seem to be sloped one way or the other when I'm on it.

[Z1R rider]

New tires can make a HUGE difference in feel and handling.

[InvisiBill]

Originally Posted by Goatsby

Got everything back together fianlly! The bike seems like it wants to fall in much easier in the rear compared to the front, if that makes sense. Front suspension in order now? Thanks for the help guys.

The fork springs are insanely soft on the PreGen. https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=231171

At 175lb, you definitely want to upgrade them. If you can get your hands on some NewGen springs cheap, those are pretty close.

Check your free and static sag with the GSXR shock too. The one that seems to be the most common has a spring about 18% stiffer than stock. Depending on the exact suspension geometry, it might be a little too stiff for your weight (RT's NewGen calc and the general EX500 info state that it's too much on those bikes, but I'm not sure how different the PreGen is or how accurate RT's calc is). A stiff rear end with a squishy front end is going to have lots of rocking-horse effect going on.