[streetfighter]

I'm new to this site (sorry for the double post if you read this in newbie corner). I'm looking for tech support for some mods to the old (95) ninja500, soon to be the new streetfighter 500.
My biggest job right now is tuning the rear suspention. I want to raise the seat and stiffen the rearshock (for the big and tall rider). Anyone if I can just swap out a stiffer spring (and where to get one) or know of any cheap used shocks that will do the job?
It is a real problem, in tight corners I sometimes bottom out.
thanks
;D

 

[MrSciTrek]

Search through the topics here. One of them was talking about how to jack up the rear end.
Another topic had a guy who made his own "dogbones" and installed them to raise the seat.

Maybe someone else can chime in w/ potential replacement spring/shock.

 

[Guest]

I got the rear spring from here, http://www.eshocks.com/hyp_ind.asp?Subgroup=2.0+ID&Free_Length=6
450lb spring rate. That is very firm, a 400 probably would have been fine for the street. You have to custom fit it to the stock shock since its a larger dia. and shorter.
I don't have the measurements so you will have to measure your stock shock. This peice was cut on a flow jet out of 1/4" steel,

Then I welded a ring of exhaust pipe on the top. You need two of those, one for top and one for the bottom. The ring fits snug inside the new spring to keep it centered.

The cap from the stock spring in this photo fits inside the 1/4" thick peice.
Then just assemble with a section of exhaust pipe to get the right length.

A pretty easy mod, works great and really firms up the ride.

Rich

 

[dad1]

Those are the same sizes and brand of springs (Hypercoil) used by Penske on their shocks for these bikes. As such, if any of you racers have some unused Penske springs laying around, post them up for sale. Help these broke brothers out!

The ratings are engraved in one end on the area that's ground flat for settling on the spring cup.

I have a 450#, am 200#, and would recommend that size for street use at my weight. I use it at the track but I feel I could go to a 500# there with some benefit. In general, one size up at the track, one size down on the street is good. At the margins, preference could come into play.

I made my own adapters/spacers, machined from aluminum, as well as links to raise the rear and accomodate the slightly fatter spring. (It helps to own a machine shop.) If anybody would need those pieces, PM me. I can make them, and have for a few here.

I find these changes to be GREAT for street use but at the track, the weakness of the shock rears its ugly head and shows up especially in tearing the daylights out of tires. It handles WAY better than stock, just shreds tires. That is, of course, directly related to the rider's ability to really push the bike. If you're new at it, it may not be a problem until you get faster. On the street, it's not a problem either way and makes a day and night difference in the handling of these... when done in conjunction with the front springs and if you can swing it, cartridge emulators for improving the front shock action. All of the front end parts are available from Racetech.

 

[2001ex500]

I'm 200+ lbs and had wondered if the suspension was made for that or what I could do to adjust it for that weight. I certainly don't push it hard now but I'm getting better every day. This mod sounds like something I'd be interested in. $90 for one spring sounds a little high though(I've got little mouths to feed) at least by auto cage standards, but I'd like to know more about it for sure.

Thanks

 

[MrSciTrek]

There's another thread here on homemade (cheap!) DOGBONES that, I think, raises the rearend which allows more ground clearance.

 

[furyskater911]

yeah the zr6 fits into the ex500 with a few modifications

"Rear shock: I replace the rear shock with that from a 95? ZX6. It has preload, rebound, and compression adjustments. It also has a external reservoir. To install it you need to remove some material from the upper shock mount so that the banjo bolt will fit to let the shock eye line up. Also you need to get longer bolts for the dogbones and add some washers to where the dogbones connect to the shock and swingarm. This is so the dogbones clear the shock spring. All in all it was a fairly easy upgrade. "

http://www.rrutko.com/