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Message started by phase on 09/16/15 at 09:24:46

Title: Savage rear suspension
Post by phase on 09/16/15 at 09:24:46

Hi everybody!

I am the owner of a Suzuki Savage (Ls650) from Spain. We recently ended bobber transformation and we're having some troubles with the rear dampers. We put the rear fender close to the tyre (the distance between them is about 1 inch). On bumpy roads they impact each other. We're looking for hard suspension, the original is too soft for the build.

Does anybody know good alternatives for the OEM Suzuki suspension?

Thanks in advance!

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by Dave on 09/16/15 at 09:44:46

The stock shocks have about 1.5" of travel......what made you think you only needed an inch of clearance between the tire and fender?

With so little clearance...about the only thing you can do is put on some longer shocks. (Stock shocks are 10.5" long), or put struts on the bike and make is a hardtail.

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by Serowbot on 09/16/15 at 10:32:23

If you want the rear fender that low,.. you need to make it unsprung and add struts...

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by phase on 09/16/15 at 13:09:37

645F5245545843455E565B44370 wrote:

Thank you Dave! My friends made a Kawasaki KZ400 Bobber transfromation with the same rear fender concept and worked well with my weight (I think that the shocks on the Kawa are harder than Savages). Thats the reason why we chose that little clearance. But, I see now the mistake... ;D

Making hardtail the bike doesnt work for Spain, it's forbidden. So, I think I need to focus on find a harder suspension.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by Dave on 09/16/15 at 13:54:50

Did you crank the "pre-load" setting on the shocks all the way up?

Progressive makes travel limiters that can be inserted to limit how far the shock moves. They most likely would work on these shocks.....you might have to drill out the center hole if the Savage shocks have a bigger rod size, and you might need a couple in each shock if you need more thickness (they come in 1/4 and 1/2 inch thickness).

http://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/progressive-suspension-shock-travel-limiters

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by irishjake on 09/16/15 at 15:31:53

Just put on a pair of secondhand Koni 12.5 inch shocks and dropped the front by 2 inches, really like the way it sits

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/16/15 at 19:12:21

If the fender moves with the swingarm you can have that clearance.

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by phase on 09/21/15 at 05:49:07

467D7067767A61677C747966150 wrote:

Thank you Dave!

The shocks are all the way up for sure.
We choose the limiters fix so, size and number of limiters needed? I think that one inch for sure (2*1/2 inch each shock).

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by verslagen1 on 09/21/15 at 07:40:26

In the tech section, there's a post on lowering shocks, making them shorter.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1186949485

This will explain how to take it apart.

What I'd do, is have a part made like the limiters. easy to do in a lathe. you could even just stack up washers till you're happy.

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by norm92de on 09/21/15 at 08:29:12

Irish Jake,

What is the seat height with the Konis?

I have a set of the same shocks but the bike needs a few other mods to make them fit.

Thanks, Norman.

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by Dave on 09/21/15 at 08:58:15

I looked at the thread.....should work fine if you can get your shocks apart.

I certainly wouldn't recommend using the vice grips on the shafts though....that most certainly will leave gouges that will destroy the oil seals.

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by irishjake on 09/21/15 at 23:21:16

I will measure later but as you can see the seat is quite thin

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by irishjake on 09/22/15 at 10:33:36

Just measured seat height 26 3/4 inches at the lowest point

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by norm92de on 09/22/15 at 12:10:53

Thanks IrishJake,

It looks so right at that height.
With the stock seat it will be higher but not as much as I thought it would be.

Norman.

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by norm92de on 09/22/15 at 12:17:36

I tried to fit the 12.5" shocks but the boss for the passenger foot peg hit the silencer. It would have to be cut down to almost nothing or the silencer moved outboard.
Not too difficult either way especially as I have no inteniton of using the pillion.

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by norm92de on 09/22/15 at 12:19:58

Your silencer looks to be well clear of where the rear foot peg would be?

Title: Re: Savage rear suspension
Post by irishjake on 09/22/15 at 12:24:25

Yep