Sv suspension

[chickenfunkstar]

Hey everyone,

I've been thinking about replacing the rear suspension on the Sv.
I'm on a limited budget so I can't afford to spend a heap of money.

I'd certainly describe the stock suspension as a bit 'bouncy' when going over rough road. I've never really ridden a bike with good suspension so I don't really know what good suspension is supposed to feel like. I've also ground the bottom of my exhaust on the road a few times.

Is it worth my time doing a 'cheap' upgrade? (I hear lots of people in the USA have had sucess with 636 shocks) Or should I just live with it?

I've tried a search on this site but can't afford $1xxx for an Ohlins or similar.

Thanks

CFS

[White trash]

try getting on E-bay and scoring a stock rear shock for a GSXR1000.

They're a dime a dozen over there because everyone fits Ohlins. A little modification and it'll fit the SV primo, both bikes being the same weight.

[Lou Girardin]

Or a GSXR600, but these shocks are a 1/4" shorter than the SV. You'll need longer dogbones to retain correct ride height.

[GSVR]

I've got a GSXR shock fitted to my SV (same year as yours) and they go on fairly easy.

They are softer than the standard shock (even with the preload wound up) but that suited me as I'm a very light person.

Main issues are that your battery box has to be chopped and the battery has to be lifted up about 50mm to clear the remote reservoir.

http://www.svrider.com/ has a link to what fits here:

http://www.kuhnco.com/SV650/GSXRShockSwap/

I found the back of my SV way to hard even on softest preload (when I sat on the bike the suspension didnt sink at all) and front was sagging and bottoming out alot.

A cheap fix for the front is heavier oil and spacers but cartridge emulators are the way to go.

Hope this helps.

[Grumpy]

Head into Colemans and have a talk with Craig. He's pretty clued up on suspension problems. He specialises in offroad but I found him very informative on road stuff as well.
He may be able to come up with some mods for the standard unit.

[chickenfunkstar]

So the upgrade would be worth my while?

I've tried to do as much reasearch as I can on the internet, not sure if a GSXR shock would be suitable as i'm a reasonably big guy (95kgs).

I usually get my bike serviced at Colemans so i'll have a chat to them the next time i'm in the area.

[GSVR]

A worthwhile upgrade would be to get someone like Robert Taylor from Hawera motorcycles to weigh you and then sell a complete Ohlins upgrade for the front and rear. But you probably need the best part of $2000.

A second hand GSXR shock shouldn't cost much more than $100. Maybee email SVS and ask him as he's got/is selling a 1999 SV with a GSXR shock on it and he's a fairly big guy.

[svs]

I've got a gsxr shock which I've taken off my SV (went back to standard). I'm about 85kg but it was a bit soft. If you got it re-valved and re-sprung it would be better since the control is better than the stock.

Another bet may be Hagon. They're much cheaper than Ohlins or Penske.

[chickenfunkstar]

I've got a gsxr shock which I've taken off my SV (went back to standard). I'm about 85kg but it was a bit soft. If you got it re-valved and re-sprung it would be better since the control is better than the stock.

Another bet may be Hagon. They're much cheaper than Ohlins or Penske.

What made you change back to standard?

Had a breif look at the Hagon website, they do seem alot cheaper, i'll look in to it.

[svs]

What made you change back to standard?

It wouldn't make any difference to the selling price of the bike, so I put it back to stock thinking I'd get more on trademe for a used gsxr shock than the sv one.

However I went for a blast over the rimutakas after putting the standard shock back and it felt pretty good. A lot firmer. The gsxr one was just too soft. I'd put it back in if I could get a decent spring for it though.

[Nutter34]

Stay away from the 636 shocks.... I want it for my Z1000!
We can't all be bidding on them, now can we?

[chickenfunkstar]

Thanks for your help and suggestions guys.

Stay away from the 636 shocks.... I want it for my Z1000!
We can't all be bidding on them, now can we?

Lol, I'm sure there's more than enough to go around.

[Nutter34]

Some of the guys on the Z1000 forum mentioned that the Gixxer 600 rear shock might be the same as the 636 one. I'm not too sure about that.
Have you found any other info yet?

Just kidding previously..... Hope you can get it sorted....

[Blackbird]

There's a front and rear suspension setup guide in the issue of Performance Bikes which is in the bookshops right now. As an aside, it's a good issue; celebrating 20 years of PB with some weird and wonderful stuff in it. Great history of the GSX-R 750 too.

Geoff

[HenryDorsetCase]

My 2c is that the shock on the SV is fine, but the fork is shithouse.

Its too soft (even for my 66kg) and it sags too much but there is no small bump compliance, run soft it blows through its travel really quickly esp under brakes. budget model.....

I think I read on one of the SV650 boards that one of the GSXR600 forks is a bolt up, but that would be expensive...



I have that PB test also and they use a set of Maxton springs and slightly heavier fork oil from memory, and recommend emulators.


I also looked at the Racetech (US) website and they will sell me a set of springs and cartridge emulators but I have to deal with the local agent who make me deal with my LBS.... so two markups and it might be here by October. screw that.

There is a guy in Auckland who I emailed also (Norm Cobb?) but he never got back to me... so he can get stuffed.

I am going to try and get a set of springs and emulators from Maxton.

That is a really good PB, I agree.