Katana Owners Club U.K.

Hey lads,

I got the shock absorber from hagon finally, the problem is that they seems to long to me but I could be wrong.

Basically, I took out one old shock from the kat and compress the spring of the new one, then I reallise that althought I compress the spring I am not compressing the shock itself.

So I still won't be able to fit it.

I did shock absorber on the cage before and the tool was just getting the whole shock so when compress it did compress the spring, and the shock (tube) all together.

I measure everything as I am wondering if the whole assembly is no too long and there is a difference of 3.5 cm.

I wonder how to fit them really, I stop before I break something, and decide to ask my fellow club member

Here is some pics :

Right after that post, I connected my little brain it is all in.

I got 2 jack out and a pair of axle stand to secure and I remove the paddock stand and use it as a lever.

In conclusion the spring compressor were not required. I bought them for nothing, maybe one day I will use them on other bike rebuild.

So all in in 2 hours, and a bit of sweat. I now already that those shock are not a bad investment the bike was seriously springing sometimes.

Long life to the Katana!!

God I sat on the bike I forgot how it is to have proper rear shock what a difference the bike is higher now

I wonder how to rebuild the front shock now....

Nice one Arnaud. sounds like progress

Pete

gsxr1100 forks from a slabside 1100 have springs that will drop into the kat 400 forks, theyre longer than the kat ones but the kat ones have a fecking huge spacer on top of em, so bin the stockers, bin the spacer, put the gixxer ones in and also use the gixxer fork tops in there (they have a 3 setting preload adjuster on them) make up sone short spacers to top the springs and use the same ammount of oil as stock but a heavier weight. bingo, nice compliant but firm front forks with preload adjustment, using suzuki parts and at a cost thats a fraction of a set of aftermarket springs. ask coldsnail what the front end feels like on his 400, cos thats where the ones i did are located now!

Sounds like a very interesting thought John!

I use it it go to work today, a lot of difference. It is now very hard I might try to check the setting to have it is little softer.

arf I knew it something could be wrong there. Thanks Mick

Could some one mesure is shock from center to center fo the 2 hole ?

I am actually wondering if the one on it before were the right one. If there were then I will get in touch with wemoto.....

Ok I will look at the length of mine, it is not impossible that the previous shock were not the correct size.

I have in my memory of Saturday 32.5 (old one) and 36.0 (new one). I will measure as soon as I am home.

Hi Blix,

I came home and mediate them so it is 36 cm Center hole to Center hole.
Can you double check yours just to make I have the right one?

My kat went surely through a lot of drama in 20 years.
I would not be suprise that smaller shock were mounted on to it to allow a smaller person to be riding easily.

You just the state of the tank tell a lot how it was maintain for sure :-/

A slightly dead one measures 355mm eye-eye.