GSXR suspension question

**Bikemad** · 30th January 2011, 11:25

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** · 30th January 2011, 11:31

Originally Posted by 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

are the frames the same?

**Bikemad** · 30th January 2011, 11:33

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

**Pussy** · 30th January 2011, 13:19

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** · 30th January 2011, 13:26

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

**Pussy** · 30th January 2011, 14:05

Originally Posted by Bikemad

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** · 1st February 2011, 18:09

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** · 5th February 2011, 20:32

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.** · 6th February 2011, 06:36

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** · 6th February 2011, 18:07

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** · 7th February 2011, 11:29

Originally Posted by 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........

1989 is MODERN mate !

See you at Taupo

Should be a good weekend

**DEATH_INC.** · 7th February 2011, 12:29

Originally Posted by 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........

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** · 8th February 2011, 20:32

Originally Posted by 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........

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** · 8th February 2011, 20:34

Originally Posted by 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??

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