rear shock change

Originally Posted by Liam9188

giving a better ride and much more confidence accelerating over bumpy tarmac

Your old shock must have been pretty knackered, I only know one road where I can get my SV (pointy) to wag it's head over full throttle bumps, and that's over a hill in Scotland. The SV normally just doesn't have the power.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Your old shock must have been pretty knackered, I only know one road where I can get my SV (pointy) to wag it's head over full throttle bumps, and that's over a hill in Scotland. The SV normally just doesn't have the power.

If the rear doesn't squirm when you open the throttle while leant over on bumps, then you have no need to change your shock...

Originally Posted by Liam9188

If the rear doesn't squirm when you open the throttle while leant over on bumps, then you have no need to change your shock...

Maybe if that's the only rear shock issue that you ever have with the bike. I think you'd need to be female or a built like a racing snake, never carrying a pillion, and a very smooth progressive rider everywhere you go for that to be the case.

I've certainly lived with the SV shock for 22k miles without feeling the desperate need to do anything about it. You just need to make sure the bike is nicely settled BEFORE tipping into corners. I did develop a problem with the front forks, which turned out to be completely emulsified oil, so those have been upgraded, and the bike is off the road and in bits anyway, so that's why I've decided to do the rear shock now.

Put a 15-16st stone rider, 9-10 stone pillion, a couple of stones of gear, and a couple of stone of luggage on the SV, and you soon realise the rear shock is struggling.

Even when riding solo, it's not just squirming in corners either, lack of damping control on the stock shock can cause it to wag the bars upright in a straight line, not that common on a 70bhp bike, but like I say I know one road where I could provoke it every time.

It also has a habit of kicking your ar$e out of the seat on a big mid bump corner, quite common unfortunately, especially if you went into the bend trail braking, or quite aggressive on tip in and the suspension had other things to deal with at the time, you can get the SV into a right mess there if provoked. The SV does need smooth riding, you can't force it along or it turns into a pogo stick.

I don't suffer so badly, being just 9 and half stone. It certainly wasn't up to the task of the bumpy back roads around north yorkshire with both me and the missus on board though. Was having to go very slowly indeed. It would be interesting to try that again now though

[CheGuevara]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Not sure what you mean by 2 gen
2004 onwards are all 338mm according to CheGuevara's table. Maybe he can confirm his source.

Sorry, no can do.

I found info from several places on the web (after much digging), and didn't keep record of what came from where. I only really made the table for myself so I could easily make a best-guess as to which shock would be most suitable for me. I ended up with the ZX6RR and it has worked very well for me (>16st + gear).

I can't vouch for the accuracy of any of the figures, but I can guarantee I didn't make them up myself

The notes were just tidbits pinched from various manuals/brochures/reviews online where that information was made avaialble.

Ohlins fork springs have arrived, just waiting for the new oil and seals!!

Front end feels terrible compared to the rear now, so i cant wait to get them on

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

on a big mid bump corner,

That must be a massive bump to have a corner on it

right, I've now fitted both my ZX10R rear shock and my ohlins fork springs, and i have to say, amazing difference! the bike glides over bumps and potholes like they aren't there providing confidence and stability in bucket loads. Very much recommended.

I did notice that the new fork springs are slightly shorter than the stock ones, which did worry me when i was fitting them as i didn't have any spacers to correct this with, but that doesn't seem to effect it at all. I'll take her for a thrash this weekend and see if the spacers are needed. I suppose that just mean't there was less preload on the springs, which doesn't matter too much

Originally Posted by Liam9188

right, I've now fitted both my ZX10R rear shock and my ohlins fork springs, and i have to say, amazing difference! the bike glides over bumps and potholes like they aren't there providing confidence and stability in bucket loads. Very much recommended.

I did notice that the new fork springs are slightly shorter than the stock ones, which did worry me when i was fitting them as i didn't have any spacers to correct this with, but that doesn't seem to effect it at all. I'll take her for a thrash this weekend and see if the spacers are needed. I suppose that just mean't there was less preload on the springs, which doesn't matter too much

Mine are the same but I haven't ridden on them yet. Did you measure static sag? It may just be because the springs are stiffer they need less preload.

I didn't, no. I did think that it would be un-necessary with the stiffer springs. There was about a 8-10mm difference though, so it is significant