Suzuki GR650 - back to work...

Thanks to Salty Monk for any trial and error on his part for this info...... but I found a 98 Ducati M900 shock on ebay:



The Ducati spring is completely different than the Suzuki spring, so I swapped them out:



And installed:

 
Also worth mentioning - I saw an 83 GS750ES swingarm on ebay and noticed it is very similar to the GR's. Aluminum instead of steel, and set up for a disc brake instead of a drum brake, but physically similar. After snatching this one up and inspecting it, there are 2 other differences worth mentioning: the GS swingarm is about 7/8" longer overall, and the lower shock mount (that triangular part) is a different length. I know the shock lengths themselves are the same, so it must be the upper shock linkage that lowers the shock position. I'll get my hands on a GS shock linkage to check, but might have to have a custom one machined. So an aluminum swingarm and rear disc brake might be in my future......

 
I didn't realize there was so much difference in my '80 GS swinger to that '83... I went and bought one from a 1100 to get a boxed alloy piece.
Nice score Rich!
 
Ah guys, you have no idea what I have running thru my head for this winter......some major changes are ahead.

Hoosier, what's the story with your 7/11? Just busy with other projects?
 
Good stuff Rich, keen to see what you do! Dan's a good bloke too, he and I measured up to know his Kwaka twin pot brackets will work on the 450 should I decide to go that route...
 
Ya know Pete, that's something else I should look into (the twinpot front brakes). Not much point in buying stock calipers for my GS850 front end and regret not upgrading them to twinpots.....

Hoosier, even if you don't do the 7/11 swap, it's still an awesome scoot as it sits.

As far as the GR goes, I'm in a small standstill right now. Trying to save some $ for Barbers so all I can now is some research & test fitting. I do have an upper linkage coming in for the 750 swingarm though - if it doesn't solve the ride height issue, I'll have to have the lower mount tig welded where I need it.
 
Big Rich said:
Thanks to Salty Monk for any trial and error on his part for this info...... but I found a 98 Ducati M900 shock on ebay:



The Ducati spring is completely different than the Suzuki spring, so I swapped them out:



And installed:

Click to expand...

So was that Ducati shock a bolt-in with the spring change? Would it work with a stock bike?

(Have managed not to sell mine yet and am working on a plan for upgrades. Progressive springs and rear shock are high on the list.)

The left mirror launched itself down the road during a lefthand turn last week. Mirror stalk remained on the bike. Ended up using electrical tape to hold it together long enoug to get home, but new mirrors are first up on the "change this" list. ;D
 
I don't see why it wouldn't work on a stock bike. I have to be honest though, until I ride it I'm not 100% sure it is "right" for this bike. Everything points to it working well...... just had to add some washers to the bottom shock mount since the Ducatishock is slightly more narrow than stock.

What kind of mirrors are you looking for Rook? I have some hanging up in the garage if you can use one.
 
Hey Rich, what are you running for rearsets? I (briefly) scanned the thread, but didn't notice them mentioned anywhere.
 
Ha! There's no way to "briefly" scan thru 60+ pages..... :)

I had a good friend machine some mounting plates out of aluminum. Then another friend hooked me up with the actual rearsets (I think they were on a CB360 before the GR?). The linkages were from Dime City. And all this may be for sale in a couple months if my plans for the bike work out.......
 
Mikuni VM34's. They fit in the stock intake boots, but I had to use a 2-1 throttle cable. Best part is, the jetting was pretty easy to nail down since people use the same carbs on XS650's.
 
Sorry for the lack of updates - working plenty of overtime, finishing up the swing set for my son, and cut down a pine tree in my yard......what a mess. But anyways, back to work:

I decided to make sure the fitment of the swingarm wasn't going to give me any major surprises:

20130811_023735_zpsdf211d18.jpg


Luckily, the pivot area is almost identical to my stock swingarm. The bad news is that the alloy swingarm only came with needle bearings (no bushings, dust caps, thrust washers, etc.). I used the GR's bushings since they are identical just to get the swingarm in the frame.....
 
As far as the difference it ride height goes: the GS swingarm's lower shock mount hangs down lower than the GR's. I was planning on having the lower mount TIG welded to get me back to the stock height, but it occurred to me that I can alter the upper shock mount for the same effect.

20130811_033300_zps2671d440.jpg


The upper bolt in this linkage needed to be moved upwards about 1/4". I marked out the material to be removed, and started cutting away at it. Didn't get a picture, but right now I just need to get the upper mount welded so the bolt can't travel up and down.
 
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