Installing a not-exactly-stock shock: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Suspension]]

This is a companion piece to [[Finding a good used shock|this article]].

*This is a companion piece to [[Finding a good used shock|this article]].

This article will demonstrate some of the modifications necessary to install a Fox shock with a piggyback reservoir design (the oil reservoir is attached to the top of the shock). The process should be similar with other shocks. ([[~~Shocks from other bikes~~|See here]] for ~~instructions~~ on ~~the ZX600~~ shock~~). Fewer mods will likely be necessary if you can get a Fox with a remote reservoir~~.

*[[GSXR600 shock|See here]] for notes on installing a GSXR shock.

This shock is a Fox TC-R from a '99 GSXR750. Right picture shows both shocks. OEM is the wimpy-looking one.

'''Disclaimer''': For anyone debating about doing the GSXR or similar piggyback shock mod - Don't do it, unless you have a LOT of time or free access to a machine shop to do the requisite grinding and cutting to make it fit. You're much better off using the time to find a shock with a remote reservoir.

This article will demonstrate some of the modifications necessary to install a Fox shock with a piggyback reservoir design (the oil reservoir is attached to the top of the shock). Fewer mods will likely be necessary if you can get a Fox with a remote reservoir like this one, which was used on a race EX250 from the early 90's. It was built for either the 250 or the EX500.

[[image:785662.jpg|100px]]

This piggyback shock is a Fox TC-R from a '99 GSXR750. Right picture shows both shocks. OEM is the wimpy-looking one.

[[Image:fox-01.jpg|100px]]

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[[image:100_0493.jpg|150px]]

For this install, another owner put the reservoir where the tool kit used to go and put the tool kit back by the brake lights. You'll have to take pretty much everything off the right side (rear brake reservoir and fuse box) in order to get it routed correctly, but it should fit well. Put a piece of clear plastic tubing around the SS line to prevent it from abrading anything.

[[image:IMG_4998.jpg|150px]]

[[image:IMG_4999.jpg|150px]]

Sometimes a little extra fabrication is called for. This Fox twin clicker was supposedly from a '95 GSXR 750. The owner found that it had some clearance problems. The upper shoulder of the shock was too wide and hit the Ninja's shock mount, preventing the upper mounting holes from lining up. It was determined that too much metal would have to be removed from the frame mount area, so some of the top of the shock had to be ground away.

You may have to remove a lot of material. The key is to remove a little bit and then check the fit. You don't want to remove any more than necessary, and leave plenty of meat around the remote reservoir fitting. Taking bits out of the frame may work for some shocks.

~~Here are~~ [[~~GSXR shock notes~~|~~some notes~~]] ~~from a member who put a 2006 GSXR~~ shock ~~on his Ninja~~.

[[image:shock3.gif|150px]]

[[image:fox-shock-ground.gif|110px]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Category:Suspension]]
-This is a companion piece to [[Finding a good used shock|this article]].
+*This is a companion piece to [[Finding a good used shock|this article]].
-This article will demonstrate some of the modifications necessary to install a Fox shock with a piggyback reservoir design (the oil reservoir is attached to the top of the shock). The process should be similar with other shocks. ([[Shocks from other bikes|See here]] for instructions on the ZX600 shock). Fewer mods will likely be necessary if you can get a Fox with a remote reservoir.
+*[[GSXR600 shock|See here]] for notes on installing a GSXR shock.
-This shock is a Fox TC-R from a '99 GSXR750. Right picture shows both shocks. OEM is the wimpy-looking one.
+'''Disclaimer''': For anyone debating about doing the GSXR or similar piggyback shock mod - Don't do it, unless you have a LOT of time or free access to a machine shop to do the requisite grinding and cutting to make it fit. You're much better off using the time to find a shock with a remote reservoir.
+This article will demonstrate some of the modifications necessary to install a Fox shock with a piggyback reservoir design (the oil reservoir is attached to the top of the shock). Fewer mods will likely be necessary if you can get a Fox with a remote reservoir like this one, which was used on a race EX250 from the early 90's. It was built for either the 250 or the EX500.
+[[image:785662.jpg|100px]]
+This piggyback shock is a Fox TC-R from a '99 GSXR750. Right picture shows both shocks. OEM is the wimpy-looking one.
 [[Image:fox-01.jpg|100px]]
@@ Line 43: / Line 49: @@
 [[image:100_0493.jpg|150px]]
+For this install, another owner put the reservoir where the tool kit used to go and put the tool kit back by the brake lights. You'll have to take pretty much everything off the right side (rear brake reservoir and fuse box) in order to get it routed correctly, but it should fit well. Put a piece of clear plastic tubing around the SS line to prevent it from abrading anything.
+[[image:IMG_4998.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:IMG_4999.jpg|150px]]
+Sometimes a little extra fabrication is called for. This Fox twin clicker was supposedly from a '95 GSXR 750. The owner found that it had some clearance problems. The upper shoulder of the shock was too wide and hit the Ninja's shock mount, preventing the upper mounting holes from lining up. It was determined that too much metal would have to be removed from the frame mount area, so some of the top of the shock had to be ground away.
+You may have to remove a lot of material. The key is to remove a little bit and then check the fit. You don't want to remove any more than necessary, and leave plenty of meat around the remote reservoir fitting. Taking bits out of the frame may work for some shocks.
-Here are [[GSXR shock notes|some notes]] from a member who put a 2006 GSXR shock on his Ninja.
+[[image:shock3.gif|150px]]
+[[image:fox-shock-ground.gif|110px]]