I am new to the forum. I currently run an 04 Ninja 500R. I find the rear shock to be too soft, but I am a bigger guy. I have an opportunity to buy a single air shock from an 85 Ninja 600R for really cheap. Does anyone know if it will fit in the bike?
The popular choice is one off a 08 & up Ninja 250 and all years Ninja 300. These have a 73% stiffer than the 500 spring, and are rated for a 220 lbs rider.
This is a true bolt on swap, I have done this on my 07 Ninja 500, and 98 Ninja 250, and a weigh 210 lbs
They can be found cheap on eBay, and are plentiful.
Also remember is upgrading the rear to a much stiffer rear shock, you must upgrade the fork springs!!!!
Here's a link the race tech that should get you set up.
Thank you for the solid advice. I weigh about 260 and find the back bounces allot. My dust caps are starting to crack on the front forks, was planning to have those dealt with over the winter. Was just looking to solve the bouncing issue so my lower back won’t fatigue quite as quickly for now.
hi, my advice is as above but the 600r will fit providing it's not the fat boy shock (it fouls the dog bones) you will need to make a mount for the remote air valve though. I'd stick with the ninja 300 shock for ease.
you can also use the SV650 shock but that would require drilling the top bush from 10mm to 12mm there are two of these the white spring. (250lbs) and the stiffer yellow spring (300lbs) some like to fit these as the shock is longer by 1/2in so when fitted it raises the rear by around 2in.
Thank you for the advice. I will have a look to see if I can find one from a 300 for sale near me and go that route. The air shock was only going to cost me $50, but he got iron a let’s bike and doesn’t know if it holds pressure at all.
For what you want to do, the 300 shock would be a win for a clean one to one swap. I used the sv650 shock myself but I also used Fogbones and had to extend my sidestand.
I did the 300 swap and the fork mod and it makes it feel like a completely different bike. Definitely worth it for us big guys. I did both in a few hours.
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