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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
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Message started by kojones on 12/04/17 at 10:14:09

Title: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by kojones on 12/04/17 at 10:14:09

I'm going to get a pair of new YSS emulsion shocks for my scrambler conversion, but I'm not sure which ones to choose. Both are 12,5 inches long, but have different springs. SR500 is lightweight, like the Savage. And yes, both have 14x20mm mounting.

I have 11,5 inch Sportster shocks installed, got them for free and like the ride, much better than with the stock shocks. But I want longer and better shocks for even better ride and look 8-)

Any thoughts?

Title: Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by batman on 12/04/17 at 10:23:44

Progressives I run are 12.5 and they have three different spring rates to choose from -about $150

Title: Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by kojones on 12/04/17 at 10:27:40

4241544D414E1418200 wrote:

Progressives I run are 12.5 and they have three different spring rates to choose from -about $150

What rate of springs are you running?

Progressives shipped to Europe cost about twice as much as the YSS, which are around 170 euros.

Here's an application list if anyones interested. http://yss-hamburg.de/media/files/Motocycle-List-2016-01-15-01.pdf

Title: Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/04/17 at 10:55:21

Are you still using a belt drive, or have you converted to a chain & sprockets? That will determine the allowable swingarm travel. For a belt drive you shouldn't use a shock longer then 12", going to a chain drive allows you to use shocks as long as 13-1/4". A chain can be installed with 1 to 1-1/2" of slack, where a belt needs to be taught.

For reference, I use an 80/100 lb/in dual-rate spring on my bike. My bike weighs 300 pounds and I weigh about 175. If you're a rather large person of if your scrambler is on the heavy side, I would go with dual-rate spring in the range of 90/120 lb/in.

Here's some reading on the subject:

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1498156004/3#3
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1421689358/76#76

Title: Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by kojones on 12/04/17 at 13:37:16

I've converted to chain drive and want to avoid any risk of chain hitting the swing arm, so 12,5" is enough. I think the max weight for the bike and driver with luggage will be somewhere near 250 kg or 550 lbs, no more.

YSS makes 320mm shocks with two spring rates, one for lightweight bikes like SR500 and one for middle weight cruisers, like the Intruder 750 or Honda Magna. They don't list any spring rates, just a code for the springs

SR 500: 46-17-25-200
VS 750: 46-20-30-200

The springs are progressive, I'm quite sure the first digit is the diameter (46mm) and the last is the spring length. Could that 17-25 mean 1.7-2.5 kg/mm ?

I know that swingarm to shock angle makes a world of difference, but can't figure out should I go for the lighter or heavier springs :P

Title: Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/04/17 at 16:14:15

I would think the SR500 type would be correct. You can always swap out springs. You can tell if you have the right springs by your sag measurements. Ride quality is determined through damping.

Title: Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by kojones on 12/07/17 at 11:00:30

4A40444E454C48411F191D2D0 wrote:

I would think the SR500 type would be correct. You can always swap out springs. You can tell if you have the right springs by your sag measurements. Ride quality is determined through damping.

Thanks! I also thought that the SR500 shocks would be a better fit. Shipped already.

Title: Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by kojones on 12/18/17 at 05:23:42

Installed the SR500 shocks, engine is off the frame so no free sag, race sag is 40 mm measured from the shock top mounting nut to ground and 25 mm measured from one mounting nut to another. Shock travel seems to be around 70 mm, so springs seem to be quite adequate if I’ve understood correctly.

Title: Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/18/17 at 09:21:27

You're not going to be able to tell if the spring is the correct rate until you're fully assembled. The procedure is to set the race sag at around 30% of the total travel. If the spring is the correct rate, the resulting static sag will be around 10mm.

I would not measure between the bolts. I have found that vertically down from the top nut to the ground to be a reliable location. You can put a piece of tape on your swing arm to ensure that the tape measure is always in the same location.

Title: Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by ohiomoto on 12/18/17 at 10:50:16

This video explains sag pretty well.

At the end of the video, they explain how to check static sag which is an indicator of whether or not you have the correct spring rate. Too little sag means you have too much preload and your spring is too soft for the weight of rider and machine. Too much static sag...spring is too stiff for rider and machine.

Obviously, our bikes don't have 12" of travel so don't use the guidelines in the video, use Gary's recommendations. The basic rule of thumb is Race Sag = ~1/3 Suspension Travel, and Static Sag =~1/3 Race Sag.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvfpHFiKxNg[/media]

Title: Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/18/17 at 11:50:09

7C7B7A7C7E7C677C130 wrote:
The basic rule of thumb is Race Sag = ~1/3 Suspension Travel, and Static Sag =~1/3 Race Sag.

Right, static sag is 1/3 of the race sag...33% of 33% (11%). On my 330mm shocks I have 70mm of stroke which results in 115mm of wheel travel.

115mm x .33 = 38mm (race sag) x .33 = 12mm (static sag)