Rear shock for 98 Bandit600

[tri boy]

As the title says, I might need a shock for a 98 Bandit600.
Open to ideas. ie later model Bandit shock from a wreck with low kms, other brand, (remember it's an older/low value bike),
Pretty sure the oem ones are non rebuildable, but I could be wrong there.
Dampening is very average.
Plus the forks feel soft. (damper rod design?)

Cheers.
(looking at it for Kanny's second bike)
$$ will be kept to a minium on this bike, as it's pointless overcapitalizing on it.

[Pumba]

OEM shock is not rebuildable as such, when mine flogged out I was told there are a few people that could rebuild it but weather it was really worth it or not was another question.

I still have my stuffed one in the shed in box that I doubt is very little use to anyone.

I did manage to replace mine with a brand new factory OEM unit, wasnt cheap for what they are, $500 from memory

[erik]

have you had a look on http://forums.banditalley.net there might be info there about what shocks are good upgrades. There's an sv1000 shock on trademe at the moment, I don't know if that'd fit?

[tri boy]

Cheers guys.
Yep, have started to do some snooping around on sites etc.
Getting a bit of info together, as I will probably need to update the fork springs etc and do something about the 50000km old shock.
Sheesh, just as I was getting comfy on the couch for winter, kanny decides she wants another bike. (tis cold in that garage in winter I tells ya)

Apparently GSXR shocks can be squeezed in, but hopefully RT can give me some feedback sometime.

[Robert Taylor]

have you had a look on http://forums.banditalley.net there might be info there about what shocks are good upgrades. There's an sv1000 shock on trademe at the moment, I don't know if that'd fit?

Extreme care must be taken when mixing and matching shock absorbers, its not only a matter of whether it will fit or not.

For example ( and this by no means covers it all ) :

1) Correct length?

2) Stroke?

3) At all points of travel is there no interference with the frame and other objects?

4) Is the spring rate somewhere near correct?

5) Allied with point 4 above is the internal specification conversant with the motion ratio that the linkage applies to it and also the leverage applied by the swingarm etc?

In all respects above the SV1000 shock cited as a possibility is totally unsuitable, the bike would be unstable and a danger to its rider and other road users.

[tri boy]

Thanks Robert. I hope to pick the bike up tomorrow, and will be in touch for fork service/mod options in the future.
The rear shock is not showing any signs of leakage or damage, but obviously is a budget job and in the near future will need replacing.
Karen is a sedate road rider, so will not need a high spec suspension package, rather something that will accommodate her gentle riding, and leave a few dollars in the bank.
PS. The Daytona and Scrambler are still performing nicely on the kits you made up for them. Hence the call here for some of your advice on the Bandit.
Cheers.

[erik]

Extreme care must be taken when mixing and matching shock absorbers, its not only a matter of whether it will fit or not.

For example ( and this by no means covers it all ) :

1) Correct length?

2) Stroke?

3) At all points of travel is there no interference with the frame and other objects?

4) Is the spring rate somewhere near correct?

5) Allied with point 4 above is the internal specification conversant with the motion ratio that the linkage applies to it and also the leverage applied by the swingarm etc?

In all respects above the SV1000 shock cited as a possibility is totally unsuitable, the bike would be unstable and a danger to its rider and other road users.

Obviously care is needed. It would have been more useful and informative if you'd told us why the sv1000 shock is unsuitable rather than being vague and over-dramatic.

[HTFU]

Hagon in the UK will land one for $750 ish. For a point of reference for anything here. They are meant to be pretty good according to the guys that have put them on the gpx (then again it is a gpx)

[Robert Taylor]

Obviously care is needed. It would have been more useful and informative if you'd told us why the sv1000 shock is unsuitable rather than being vague and over-dramatic.

No intention to be vague and overdramatic at all, also no intention to write volumes of information every time I do a post. Heck, a lot of people usually have to pay for such advice or bowl headlong into it and make an expensive mistake. Reality.

[Robert Taylor]

Hagon in the UK will land one for $750 ish. For a point of reference for anything here. They are meant to be pretty good according to the guys that have put them on the gpx (then again it is a gpx)

Why would you buy one straight out of the UK when there is a NZ distributor with backup infrastructure, empolying and looking after our own?

[HornetBoy]

The katana ,which has an almost a replica frame to the bandit,is usually swaped out for a Hyabusa rear shock (because it gives full adjustability at prices even lower then oem bandit shocks) or like mentioned above gsxr750 shocks.

Id go for one off ebay for about $220 NZD and put that on ,their has been only priase over in the states for the Hyabusa conversion ,which is no more difficult than swapping out the oem shock. Im in the process of doing it myself with a shock off an 08" busa,only im doing the front end aswell

[tri boy]

Hagon in the UK will land one for $750 ish. For a point of reference for anything here. They are meant to be pretty good according to the guys that have put them on the gpx (then again it is a gpx)

Yep tried a Hagon on the Daytona, (money wasted IMHO).
Couldn't believe how basic and harsh it felt. (worse than the original in many ways).

Also have read about the Busa swap out, but will read a bit more.
Thanks for the input guys.
Robert, are there any other options via your new establishment other than a new Ohlins shock? (I havn't ruled that out, but will need to be sensible with the expenditure on a 10yr old Suzi).

[Robert Taylor]

Yep tried a Hagon on the Daytona, (money wasted IMHO).
Couldn't believe how basic and harsh it felt. (worse than the original in many ways).

Also have read about the Busa swap out, but will read a bit more.
Thanks for the input guys.
Robert, are there any other options via your new establishment other than a new Ohlins shock? (I havn't ruled that out, but will need to be sensible with the expenditure on a 10yr old Suzi).

I will print off the relevant spec card for that model and see if I have enough second hand parts ( that are otherwise perfectly servicable ) to build an Ohlins shock at a more affordable cost. Then report.

[Robert Taylor]

The katana ,which has an almost a replica frame to the bandit,is usually swaped out for a Hyabusa rear shock (because it gives full adjustability at prices even lower then oem bandit shocks) or like mentioned above gsxr750 shocks.

Id go for one off ebay for about $220 NZD and put that on ,their has been only priase over in the states for the Hyabusa conversion ,which is no more difficult than swapping out the oem shock. Im in the process of doing it myself with a shock off an 08" busa,only im doing the front end aswell

I have re-read my own post about care that should be taken when fitting different shocks into bikes. I thought the advice given was helpful and precise and not to any degree vague and dramatic??????????

Anyway, relevant to this post it has to be acknowledged that the Hirebus shock has a base length 10mm longer than that of the Bandit. That may be an enhancement but some riders may not like the feel. Take care and be mindful that much info in forums can be woefully inaccurate.

Now also to be informative about the vague and VERY misleading big lie of the western world........''full adjustability'' Well, displacement type shock absorbers have their compression adjusters arranged through the flow path into the reservoir. That flow is generated solely by shaft displacement and represents only between 12-13% of the total damping force. So in truth the adjustability provided by that compression clicker is in fact very narrow and VERY undeserving of that flattering title ''full adjustability'' And if the basic internal damping character of the shock is unsuitable for the donor bike then no amount of external adjustability is going to make it right.

[HornetBoy]

Anyway, relevant to this post it has to be acknowledged that the Hirebus shock has a base length 10mm longer than that of the Bandit. That may be an enhancement but some riders may not like the feel. Take care and be mindful that much info in forums can be woefully inaccurate.

Now also to be informative about the vague and VERY misleading big lie of the western world........''full adjustability'' Well, displacement type shock absorbers have their compression adjusters arranged through the flow path into the reservoir. That flow is generated solely by shaft displacement and represents only between 12-13% of the total damping force. So in truth the adjustability provided by that compression clicker is in fact very narrow and VERY undeserving of that flattering title ''full adjustability'' And if the basic internal damping character of the shock is unsuitable for the donor bike then no amount of external adjustability is going to make it right.

Yea thats actually the main reason other then (increased adjustability) that people have swaped the oem bandit and katana shocks over as it raises the rear and in response to this lowered or raised the front accordingly which equals out the increased rear height.But for katana and bandit 600 thats what alot of the people seeking rear shock swaps want ...quicker/faster turn in