GSXR suspension question

[Bikemad]

hey folks.............have an 89 GSXR 1100 track bike with a rooted rear shock............mate has an 89 GSXR 750 he is wrecking so my question is are the shocks compatable?
cheers

[hayd3n]

hey folks.............have an 89 GSXR 1100 track bike with a rooted rear shock............mate has an 89 GSXR 750 he is wrecking so my question is are the shocks compatable?
cheers
are the frames the same?

[Bikemad]

not sure hayden...........im in ak...........mates in hastings

[Pussy]

The 1100 shock has a remote reservoir, whereas the 750 one is a one piece job.
Don't know the lengths of them.
It MAY fit, but the spring rate etc might not be right

[Bikemad]

cheers pussy............yeah thought there might be a bit more to it than just physical dimensions

[Pussy]

cheers pussy............yeah thought there might be a bit more to it than just physical dimensions

You're welcome.
Maybe try to get hold of a new aftermarket shock? Particularly a rebuildable one.
Most, if not all, the second hand stock ones will be past their use-by-date

[Robert Taylor]

Correct length, stroke and physical clearances through the small arc the shock operates are all important. Every swingarm and linkage imparts a different ''motion ratio'' and leverage on the shock, that affects the spring rate requitrement and preload. It also has a considerable influence on the compression and rebound damping force curves required.
If buying aftermarket usually the price is linked to the quality and performance of the shock, as for any goods.

[Bikemad]

cheers for the post Robert...........so my next question being...........how do i determine the statitics you describe to my existing shock so as to make the correct choice for the replacement or do i need professional help at this point??

[DEATH_INC.]

Pretty sure the 750 one will physically fit, but like robert said, all the spring rates and stuff will be wrong. The 750 swingarm is shorter for a start (different leverage ratio) and it's a bit lighter. Why don't you send him your original and see if it can be rebuilt? (Robert?)

[Bikemad]

cheers death.........sorta hoping to have it sorted for pacific taupo track day next sat.......and other people suggested a modern fully adjustable was the way to go so was hoping for quick swap senario........

[RDjase]

cheers death.........sorta hoping to have it sorted for pacific taupo track day next sat.......and other people suggested a modern fully adjustable was the way to go so was hoping for quick swap senario........

1989 is MODERN mate ! :yes:

See you at Taupo :scooter: Should be a good weekend

[DEATH_INC.]

cheers death.........sorta hoping to have it sorted for pacific taupo track day next sat.......and other people suggested a modern fully adjustable was the way to go so was hoping for quick swap senario........
We threw a K6 shock I had kicking around into my mates WP 1100 ....eyecrommeter said 'yeh, pretty close' but it's a fair bit longer and fcuks up the leverage ratio (way too soft) by pushing the linkage down too far in it's curve. The K1-2-3-4 ones are longer again, so won't work either, and the 600/750 srad are shit, and even longer again.
Small chance a ZR7 shock will work (the 750turbo boys use both them and gsxr one's with small mods), but it probably isn't much better than the original.

[Robert Taylor]

cheers death.........sorta hoping to have it sorted for pacific taupo track day next sat.......and other people suggested a modern fully adjustable was the way to go so was hoping for quick swap senario........

No shock is ''fully adjustable'' External adjusters are bypass bleed adjusters and the response range is a lot narrower than people think it is. The reality is the internal valving and external springing has to be within a ''window'' that the motion ratio and leverage of the swingarm imparts to it

''Fully adjustable'' is a marketing phrase that has as much credibility as a politicians promise.

[Robert Taylor]

cheers for the post Robert...........so my next question being...........how do i determine the statitics you describe to my existing shock so as to make the correct choice for the replacement or do i need professional help at this point??

The shock may be rebuildable....................

[Bikemad]

cheers for the input people..........will get it out of the bike and send it your way Robert if thats ok

[ttmadness]

No shock is ''fully adjustable'' External adjusters are bypass bleed adjusters and the response range is a lot narrower than people think it is. The reality is the internal valving and external springing has to be within a ''window'' that the motion ratio and leverage of the swingarm imparts to it

''Fully adjustable'' is a marketing phrase that has as much credibility as a politicians promise.

I've really started to notice this with many bikes... it's pretty much bullshit and there's hardly any range. People going on like ''need to put 1 more click of rebound on'' are just dreaming. Things only really change when you get a totally different set of forks.

[Robert Taylor]

I've really started to notice this with many bikes... it's pretty much bullshit and there's hardly any range. People going on like ''need to put 1 more click of rebound on'' are just dreaming. Things only really change when you get a totally different set of forks.

In fairness rebound is usually the most responsive adjuster, compression much less so

[Robert Taylor]

cheers for the input people..........will get it out of the bike and send it your way Robert if thats ok

Send me some clear images first to robert@crownkiwi.co.nz I may just be able to answer the question before theres any committment in freight costs etc etc

[Bikemad]

ok Robert will do...........try and get it out over the weekend........cheers