Hi, I’m looking for a quality shock suitable for a 900ss. Cosmetic condition is not critical as it is for a track bike, and I’m willing to rebuild / repair / restore a damaged shock as necessary. Drop me a PM and let me know what you have. Thanks, Jon
Hi, no luck so far unfortunately, I will just have to keep looking. As it is coming towards winter here now, there are a few months grace before we need it for the track. With the cost of shipping and import duty you are probably best looking for a shock over on your side of the world. I understand there is a decent following for the old 2 valve twins, so you should find one ok. From experience I can tell you that a shock length of around 8mm over standard will really perk up the carby SS’s turn in.
Yep I've heard that, and it's already a sweet handling bike, albeit a little slower tipping in. There are a few local options like YSS, GAZI and Icon which will build to spec in Oz so will probably go that way. Will.post back. Ironically shipping from.UK is pretty good, I've sourced all.my engine covers for racing from GB Racing and a number of suppliers for everything from exhausts to fairings but anything over $1000AUD get ridiculous customs charges.
I vaguely remember someone on the old Yahoo SS Group describing how he fitted a s/h Fireblade unit to great effect.
@Jon Wright I can recommend nitron there great value for money , start at £400 I got a an r3 for about £750 that's the top of the range shock on my gsxr.
If you want it be a stock item, there are probably only two choices (there was another for about a year on earlier ones) but the most likely will be a Showa or a Sachs Boge. The Showa should be fitted to either a steel or aluminium swing arm; but the Sachs Boge to the steel swingarm. The Sachs Boge is likely to be unrepairable (recognisable by the blue adjuster knob on top of the reservoir); the Showa is repairable. You can fit one from an IE which will raise the rear end and speed up the steering - IIRC these are usually Sachs Boge type, modified by the manufacturer so it can be in an aluminium swingarm.
I don't know what you have currently, but I fitted a standard shock off an ssie to my 1997 (see left!) they are 5mm longer than stock on the carbys. While it doesn't seem much I can seriously recommend doing this (if you haven't already!). Makes a sweet handling bike the fastest thing around the bends!
Thanks OR. It may be a direction to consider, as the frame is very simple at the shock mount so we could easily mig in a hanger to suit a shock of a different length, which would be needed as most all linkage shocks from sports bikes incl FireBlade are a good bit shorter. The piston travel would need to be around the same (65mm?) but I am not sure if the C and R damping rates on shocks designed for linkages are in a different range to those without due to the significantly different leverage ratios. That would be useful information!
Thanks Cookster, I think the R3 is well priced for the spec and quality. I also found that new Öhlins are available from Italy at around the same price. It might be just my “White Rose” background, but it would feel odd to bolt a £750 shock onto an £800 bike just to hack round on a track day! However, in comparison to the cost of digging holes on a band on the rear tyre as it is currently doing, it might still make sense.
