SuzukiSavage.com - Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?

kojones

Full Member

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 223
Finland

Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
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 Cool

Any thoughts?

Back to top

IP Logged

batman Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 3806 osceola new york Gender:	Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder? Reply #1 - 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
Back to top	my old work mates called me MacGyver IP Logged

kojones

Full Member

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 223
Finland

Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Reply #2 - 12/04/17 at 10:27:40

batman wrote 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

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

Back to top

IP Logged

Gary_in_NJ

Serious Thumper

Offline

LS650 Cafe Racer

Posts: 2625
Amongst the Twisty Roads

Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Reply #3 - 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

Back to top

A life-time student of motorcycling.
LS650 Cafe, DRZ400SM, FZ6N, SV650S, CB900C, Ducati ST2, CB550F-SS
My LS650=> http://suzukisavage.com/yabb2.2/Attachments/Left.JPG

IP Logged

kojones

Full Member

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 223
Finland

Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Reply #4 - 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 Tongue

Back to top

IP Logged

Gary_in_NJ Serious Thumper Offline LS650 Cafe Racer Posts: 2625 Amongst the Twisty Roads	Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder? Reply #5 - 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.
Back to top	A life-time student of motorcycling. LS650 Cafe, DRZ400SM, FZ6N, SV650S, CB900C, Ducati ST2, CB550F-SS My LS650=> http://suzukisavage.com/yabb2.2/Attachments/Left.JPG IP Logged

kojones

Full Member

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 223
Finland

Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Reply #6 - 12/07/17 at 11:00:30

Gary_in_NJ wrote 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.

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

Back to top

IP Logged

kojones Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 223 Finland	Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder? Reply #7 - 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.
Back to top	77FAB94B-C259-4863-A2AE-3FBC4AE447ED.jpeg IP Logged

Gary_in_NJ

Serious Thumper

Offline

LS650 Cafe Racer

Posts: 2625
Amongst the Twisty Roads

Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Reply #8 - 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.

Back to top

A life-time student of motorcycling.
LS650 Cafe, DRZ400SM, FZ6N, SV650S, CB900C, Ducati ST2, CB550F-SS
My LS650=> http://suzukisavage.com/yabb2.2/Attachments/Left.JPG

IP Logged

ohiomoto

Serious Thumper

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 2684
WTF is JOG?

Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Reply #9 - 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.

Back to top

IP Logged

Gary_in_NJ

Serious Thumper

Offline

LS650 Cafe Racer

Posts: 2625
Amongst the Twisty Roads

Re: Rear shocks, SR500 or Intruder?
Reply #10 - 12/18/17 at 11:50:09

ohiomoto wrote on 12/18/17 at 10:50:16:
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)

Back to top

A life-time student of motorcycling.
LS650 Cafe, DRZ400SM, FZ6N, SV650S, CB900C, Ducati ST2, CB550F-SS
My LS650=> http://suzukisavage.com/yabb2.2/Attachments/Left.JPG

IP Logged