GSX400 Katana Shock(ing) Info (Required)

[Uncle Bob]

I have the original Showa shocks on my 400 but although the bike has about 21000km's on it I think they are not working so well. They all look fine apart from springs could do with being renewed or powder coated and the chome parts are a little rusty (not major and would probably leave as is)

I really like the piggy back look of them on the bike but as the bike only cost £700 there is no way I'm spending £500+ on YSS piggy backs (which seem to be the cheapest good brand). What option do you think I should try:

1) Get the original ones serviced. Looking online I found http://www.shocktech.co.uk/suspension-services.html which looks like the cost would be about £140 for a pair (not sure if VAT included) plus the spring powdercoated (about£50 but could leave I guess) and postage. Total around £220. Anyone recommend someone else better / cheaper?

2) The RFY ones on Amazon look the part (from images) but quality is iffy so I read. However there is a guy in the States that buys these, strips them down, replaces iffy bits with proper bits, uses a branded oil and rebulids properly then regases them. In fact he (says) he does so much to them, he is going to rebrand them with his company name - see http://chrislivengood.net/wp/product-ca ... shock-kit/. Shipped here I think I am looking at around £200. If I can persuade him to have the full cost as a service charge for rebuild then maybe just VAT on top of that. Looks to be not a bad option to me I think - almost worth trying to see how they do work out.

3) Forget about the piggy back look and go for the YSS RZ362-360TRL-02 twin shocks that give quite a lot of adjustment see http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/suzuki/gsx_ ... in_shocks/ and I was hoping I could get delivered for £300 (upper limit really and nearly half the price of the bike!) from somewhere.

Decisions..., any guidance / recommendations on above? I'm probably going to do new progressive springs and oil at the front as well.

Thanks

Rob

[callyboy]

I have the RFY shocks on my 1100 Rob. And whilst the bike hasnt been ridden in anger yet (no comments please) they seem to be ok. I have seen that guys work in the USA and he has answered a few questions for me about them. For the money i think its worth given them a go. Heard from a few people that are happy with them.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181224677407? ... EBIDX%3AIT" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Its a shame he is in the States

Mental Mark Hind over here may be able to rebuild them better. He has done a lot of shocks i seem to remember. Will ask him, although i think he is struggling with his health at the moment.





Cheers

Pete

[fossie]

Had mine done by UK SUSPENSION in Bradford about 10 years ago, still on the bike I believe, cost £120 then. Must have covered 60000 by now.
Andy had his done at the same place.

Rebuilt using higher grade oil and powder coated springs.
Think they have another name now but in same place. Turn around time was a week of so.

[Uncle Bob]

Had mine done by UK SUSPENSION in Bradford about 10 years ago, still on the bike I believe, cost £120 then. Must have covered 60000 by now.
Andy had his done at the same place.

Thanks for that - a Google search shows they might be Brook Suspension now? Price has gone up some what, @ £199 for the rebuild and £50 for the springs to be powder coated, plus postage.

[Uncle Bob]

I have the RFY shocks on my 1100 Rob. And whilst the bike hasnt been ridden in anger yet (no comments please) they seem to be ok. I have seen that guys work in the USA and he has answered a few questions for me about them. For the money i think its worth given them a go. Heard from a few people that are happy with them.

Worth the post for another look at your nearly complete bike

The guy in the US does seem to be quite helpful from the posts I saw. Also charges seem good - whether it's RFY and Showa I assume the basic strip down, clean and reassembly is the same and he is about $75 for a pair (see above where Brook Suspension want £199).
Also from other posts it might still be worth getting the RFY shocks checked over as I saw on one there was a hole missing (seen before and oil wasn't the best). The quality of the parts seems to be generally fine, just iffy assembly.

I am tempted by them from him.

But then the YSS call all their settings to play with (that I never play with!)

[pookie]

Hi, i have also fitted the rfy shocks and nearly two years on they are still looking and working great, i got mine from e-bag in the usa because i couldn't get the original black spring with silver body colour combination in the uk, they are quite soft but i like them that way, maybe that american guy uses better quality oil that would stiffen them up a bit, i considered rebuilding the kayaba shocks that came with my bike but the cost just went up and up until it got to silly money, i'm glad i got the rfy shocks, they are well made.

[johnr]

lets face it, theyre going on a 400, so theyre the least of your worries............