Which GSXR shock (again.....)

[yorkie_chris]

I'd recommend a ZX6R shock based on that post alone. B1 or C1.

[Mr Speirs]

cheers yc. I have been searching for a zx636 shock for a while but with little sucess. I actually found and bought a zx10r shock after realizing my mistake. Good price too considering how much they have been going for recently. It's a low mileage 04 shock so think I'm okay with this one.

[Paul the 6th]

and i've just bought a gsxr1000 shock... and i'm quite "hefty"... have I made the wrong choice? It's not too late to sell the thou shock (and possibly make a fiver?) and source a kwak shocker... opinions plz?

[Mr Speirs]

If you have a pointy which you do the GSXR 1000 shock should be stiffer. The spring rate of a stock shock on a pointy according to the table is 430# and the GSXR 1000 is i believe 480# which will be fine.
Its not fine for me as the Curvy spring rate is 510# so I would be going softer.

I think this is correct tho happy to be corrected.

Non-Gsxr shock don't foul the pointys swingarm apparently its just curvy owners who have the issue.

[Paul the 6th]

ah right, I was under the impression the gsxr shock would be noticeabley stiffer but it sounds like I mightn't notice much of a difference? I suppose it is fully adjustable so turning the preload right up and being able to adjust the damping so it's stiffer is the main benefit.

I used a ZX6R shock - I weigh 14stone so the firmer one felt better. When fitting the bottom bolt remember to fit it the right way round, the bolt head fouled on mine but swapping ends over sorted it out. Battery leads were long enough to stretch to the new position too.

[Mr Speirs]

Well I believe BlueSv650s only went up by 30# and noticed a marked increase in stiffness (his shock was stiffer too ) so I reckon you'll very much feel a 50~ increase.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

I actually found and bought a zx10r shock after realizing my mistake. Good price too considering how much they have been going for recently. It's a low mileage 04 shock so think I'm okay with this one.

I fitted a ZX-10R shock to my 2001 curvy and it made a big difference. I'm 14st and also carried a passenger fairly often. Make sure you set the sag correctly for you in kit and it will be great. I painted a mark on the pre-load threads for where to wind up the pre-load to for carrying a pillion and another for where to set it for solo riding, making the adjustment pretty quick.

As others have said, sorting the back end really shows up the poor front end on the curvy, especially with a pillion. I installed .85 Racetech springs, 15W oil and gold valve emulators in the front, it transformed the bike! Dive under braking with a pillion was much more controlled, leading to greater confidence in the brakes.

[Mr Speirs]

Cheers Luckypants. Im going to be doing the front end at the same time as well. Going to go down the progressive spring 15w oil route i think. Was tempted by Petevtwins Springs and Racetech Emulators but not sure on the fitting of the emulators. Don't they need something drilling to make them work?

[Paul the 6th]

yeah I'll be doing the same as mr britney above: progressives & 15w oil on the front and the shock on the back. I'm about 16 plus another half a stone with kit so will the gsxr1000 (k5) still be on the soft side? If so, I'll happily track down a kwak shock. (is there much difference in fitting a kwak shock to a gsxr? i.e. still need to hack the battery box and underneath the seat?)