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The Kawi 636/GSXR/Busa Shock Install and The How to NOT cut the battery box.

189K views 272 replies 117 participants last post by  Pettefar  
#1 ·
Alright everyone,

I have done this mode with an 06 636 shock. the 04-06 are pretty much the same except for color. The Busa and GSXR have the same issues so you can use this for them as well

Here are the issues. The Stocker has a threaded bottom flange and the 636 does not. If you can get the 636 lower nut/bolt you are fine and it DOES fit between the dogbone.

As for the upper bolt you can use the stock SV upper bolt since the threaded part here is part of the frame and NOT part of the shock you are removing.

Next,
Most people complain about hacking up their battery box and how its nasty and ugly or they sit the battery on top of the shock and to me thats just not a good idea.

So here is my fix,
You must shim the untray down away from subframe there fore pushing the battery box away from the shock.

Now you may ask does this affect clearance over the tire....the answer is no.

The items needed are 2 bolts about 2" long and that have the same thread as the bolts that go into frame are ( I can not remember the thread size but go to HD or Lowes and you can match the thread).

The next item would be 2 1.5" spacers ( you can either use SS or like me use chromed plumbing pipe that I cut to size).

I also used 4 washers.

Step 1
Get everything off so you can get to the Battery Box and take out the battery.

Step 2
Unscrew the battery box/undertail where is attaches to the subframe. These are the two bolts that are CLOSEST to the battery box ( I had the whole undertray off for other reasons so I left all the other bolts holding the undertail loose doing this so it would be easier)

Step 3
Remove the Old shock and Install the 636. This will include hanging the rear end of the bike. It helps if you have someone holding the back tire so it takes the pressure off the nuts and bolts as you are removing them off the stocker. Then put the 636 in and put the bottom bolt in first then as it will be easy to just deal with the top bolt as your friend holds the back tire up again so you can do you thing.

Step 4
Since the battery box is loose put the battery in and push the battery box away from 636 and measure for your spacers. I used 1.5" but you may wanna go more or less. Be sure the battery will not rub on the shock resevoir. FYI as you sit on the bike and hit bumps the battery moves AWAY from the resevoir so you dont have to worry about that.

Step 5
Get your spacers/bolts and washers ready. As you push the battery box away from the undertail you will find out the holes in the undertail dont line up with the subframe anymore. You need to take a drill and make the holes in the untail bigger so the bolt will line up with the holes in the subframe.

Step 6
Now put your spacers bolts and washers in (the washers are needed because now that the hole is bigger in the undertail the bolt head may go through it and the spacer might come BACK through the hole so you need to be sure this will not happen sketch to follow)

Step 7
Tighten up all your undertail bolts, install battery recheck clearance and reinstall all parts.

Be sure all bolts are tight and ready to go.

Here are pics of what I did
Notice the shock/battery. Directly to the right of that you see the shiny spacer. If the directions above made no sense maybe they will now
Image


1/16" of an inch space but as I said they dont touch.
Image


Image


Good luck guys. MODs please sticky this. It comes up a lot and this will save guys cutting their battery box.

With the side covers on you can barely see the spacers
 
#7 ·
Re: The Kawi 636 Shock Install and The How to NOT cut the battery box. Please STICKY

does it matter if the shock touches the battery?

the reason why i ask is because i just put a gsxr shock on thet back and the reservoir touches the battery
 
#9 ·
Re: The Kawi 636 Shock Install and The How to NOT cut the battery box. Please STICKY

If you notice the battery box has padding in it etc so it fits tight and does not move around and if you notice in cars they are strapped down. Now I dont know for sure but I would say its best off in its battery box. I just felt safer doing it this way.
 
#11 ·
Re: The Kawi 636 Shock Install and The How to NOT cut the battery box. Please STICKY

This will work for a busa and a gsxr shock. Like i said the spacer size may vary. Also, wheel clearance is NOT an issue. You will notice that is pushes it down near the mud flap for the shock but in no way will EVER allow the rear tire to hit it.
 
#12 ·
Re: The Kawi 636 Shock Install and The How to NOT cut the battery box. Please STICKY

blacktape said:
does it matter if the shock touches the battery?

the reason why i ask is because i just put a gsxr shock on thet back and the reservoir touches the battery
The battery has a kind of split personality. On one hand, it's full of acid, and if you wear through or crack the outer housing, you could dump said acid over your bodywork and back wheel. BAD NEWS. Although your swingarm might look nice and clean. :)

On the other hand, it's a fairly delicate array of metal plates that are in close proximity to each other. If the plates get shaken up and they break or 2 plates touch (and therefore short out), then in the best case your battery is wrecked. In the worst case, it could get very hot and boil that acid, or possibly even explode.

Now, these catastrophic and spectacular failures are not that likely, but having a moving part (the shock reservoir IS a moving part) in contact with the battery is just a begging for trouble.
 
#14 ·
Re: The Kawi 636 Shock Install and The How to NOT cut the battery box. Please ST

Lucky for all the 2003 SVers, the higher subframe for this year requires only a 1/4 inch trim of the leading edge of the battery box for this shock!
 
#16 ·
Re: The Kawi 636 Shock Install and The How to NOT cut the battery box. Please ST

Man I'm so glad I found this thread. I was just getting ready to start hacking up my battery box today. Then I decided to check the board before I got started. I'll be putting my 05' 636 shock in tomorrow. Still looking for a wheel for my 05' GSXR front end though.
 
#17 ·
Re: The Kawi 636 Shock Install and The How to NOT cut the battery box. Please ST

I had intended on putting up a full how-to for my ZX10 shock on a second gen, but the battery box issue and breaking two tools trying to get the dogbone bolts loose got me so frustrated I stopped taking pictures.

I had to cut the box as well (Dremel-melted cut outs) so the reservoir wouldn't warp the box, but it's still definitely touching it and causing some flex. There is still a buffer between it and the battery, though.
 
#24 ·
If you take off the seat and put weight on your bike (as I said in the initial post) the res moves AWAY from the battery. My dad even sat on the bike with me and it will never touch if it does touch when there is no weight on it.
 
#25 ·
NHSVnaked said:
If you take off the seat and put weight on your bike (as I said in the initial post) the res moves AWAY from the battery. My dad even sat on the bike with me and it will never touch if it does touch when there is no weight on it.
thanks :thumbsup:

just finished the 636 shock install, a rearset riser plate install, and have yanked the tank, tail plastics and carbs off the bike. think i'll get it back together before sunday's trackday? :confused3:
 
#26 ·
I did this mod as well with the spacers & it works perfectly...however, i did trim a lil bit of the batt box.. btw, the shock makes a world of difference & i can't wait for my 1st track day of the year....great job nhsv on posting this for the masses :thumbsup: