Stiffening up the rear shocks on a GSX250

[Aaron]

I'm a little heavier than the rated weight for my GSX250, (think it's around 60-70 kgs, and I'm 97), so think it's sagging a bit in the back end. I rang Sportzone and asked about hardening up the rear end but they said the GSX250 doesn't have an adjustable rear shock.

I'm just investigating possibilities at the moment, but has anyone had experience with putting adjustable rear shocks in bikes that otherwise wouldn't have them?

I do intend on upgrading, (GSXR750) in about a year, but would like to keep the 250, for communting to the gym and things where it perhaps wouldn't be as likely to be stolen. Thus the operation would be done with long term riding as a goal.

Any thoughts?

[vifferman]

Any thoughts?

Yeah. I have thoughts quite a lot.
Sometimes I think about getting a new job, sometimes I think about sex, sometimes I think about bikes, or food, or a myriad of other things. Right now, I'm thinking about how much my neck and shoulder hurt and how I'd rather be at home except the boys are there and they're probably fighting over the computer or moaning about how the food that's in the cupboards and fridge doesn't count as 'real food' but what do they know anyway but another reason I don't want to go home is that the new carpet stinks only no-one except me thinks so but you'd think that if you've spent $8K on new floor coverings they'd at least smell nice but that smell wakes me up at night it gets right up my nose it does and now my elbow's started hurting as well but not as much as my neck hey I think I need to go peee now so I'd better stop telling you what I think....

[Sniper]

sometimes I think about sex

I usually think about sex, and then work and then back to sex. The problem is when the boss rings while Im thinking about sex and I ask him what type of undies he has on.

I usually stop thinking there

[Jonty]

I usually think about sex, and then work and then back to sex. The problem is when the boss rings while Im thinking about sex and I ask him what type of undies he has on.

I usually stop thinking there

Well this thread was hijacked early in the piece

[enigma51]

Have you though about loosing some weight yet

[enigma51]

I thinking about sex all the time as well!

[Smorg]

Yeah. I have thoughts quite a lot.
Sometimes I think about getting a new job, sometimes I think about sex, sometimes I think about bikes, or food, or a myriad of other things. Right now, I'm thinking about how much my neck and shoulder hurt and how I'd rather be at home except the boys are there and they're probably fighting over the computer or moaning about how the food that's in the cupboards and fridge doesn't count as 'real food' but what do they know anyway but another reason I don't want to go home is that the new carpet stinks only no-one except me thinks so but you'd think that if you've spent $8K on new floor coverings they'd at least smell nice but that smell wakes me up at night it gets right up my nose it does and now my elbow's started hurting as well but not as much as my neck hey I think I need to go peee now so I'd better stop telling you what I think....

I bought a phone that stinks does that count?
My carpet also stinks but thats coz my ferret pissed on it

[Lou Girardin]

Back to the shocks.
Shurely they have preload adjustment.

[vifferman]

I'm just investigating possibilities at the moment, but has anyone had experience with putting adjustable rear shocks in bikes that otherwise wouldn't have them?

Provided you could get an aftermarket one that fitted, or get one from another bike (from/for another model that has very similar shock dimensions), it might be worth it, depending on what it costs and how much it's worth to you. However, given that you plan on upgrading anyway, it's probably just wasted money.

[DemonWolf]

bahahaaa... thats the fastest hijacking of a thread I've seen.. (today!).

[kerryg]

Yeah. I have thoughts quite a lot.
Sometimes I think about getting a new job, sometimes I think about sex, sometimes I think about bikes, or food, or a myriad of other things. Right now, I'm thinking about how much my neck and shoulder hurt and how I'd rather be at home except the boys are there and they're probably fighting over the computer or moaning about how the food that's in the cupboards and fridge doesn't count as 'real food' but what do they know anyway but another reason I don't want to go home is that the new carpet stinks only no-one except me thinks so but you'd think that if you've spent $8K on new floor coverings they'd at least smell nice but that smell wakes me up at night it gets right up my nose it does and now my elbow's started hurting as well but not as much as my neck hey I think I need to go peee now so I'd better stop telling you what I think....

Vifferman...you need a hobby..or a proper job

[kerryg]

Provided you could get an aftermarket one that fitted, or get one from another bike (from/for another model that has very similar shock dimensions), it might be worth it, depending on what it costs and how much it's worth to you. However, given that you plan on upgrading anyway, it's probably just wasted money.

There should be some pre-load adjustment possible as Lou said. If there's not, or if you can't stiffen it up enough even with the maximum pre-load, is it perhaps an option to source a stiffer coil spring from a spring maker or get the present one re-tempered or even, like you can do with forks, shorten the spring (short springs are stiffer than long springs)and fit a spacer (like a short piece of pipe)? Dunno about the practicalities....might be talking shite of course....might end up with a pogo-stick.....

[Aaron]

Thanks Vifferman.

Have you though about loosing some weight yet

I'm seriously into weight lifting, so no, I only think about gaining weight.

[vifferman]

Vifferman...you need a hobby..or a proper job

I've got several hobbies, chiefest of which are sex and motorbicycling, and cheapest of which is daydreaming. (I was going to say "wanking" but that's not cheap in terms of expenditure of energy and whatnot...)
Yes, I need a proper job. I was seriously thinking about applying for one of those jobs at AMPS.
What makes things worse is I spent the last four days flat out doing stuff like plastering, painting, pulling up carpet, planing floors, screwing down loose floorboards, moving furniture, cleaning, etc. To come back to sitting at my desk all day writing crap no-one gives a rodent's rectum about is enough to make me look for the nearest bus to throw myself under...

[clint640]

Forgive me for being on topic, but:
I would try & find a stiffer spring, You may be able to buy them at a reas. cost, ask yer bike shop or measure it up & see if you can find one off a bigger bike @ the wreckers that will fit, look for one with bigger dia. wire. Then if you can open up the shock, put in some heavier oil to increase the damping.

Cheers
Clint