Just a quick bump as I am also interested in new rear shock but I am struggling to find one that isn't going to break the bank. (mines got a permanent squeak)

ian

Sorry mate, dont think they exist. But perhaps a nice used one on the bay?

Wilbers ecoline is about the cheapest I can think of.

Thanks Jens

Digging up and old thread, but I know everyone wants better suspension in these old beasts, so I want to share some info I have come accross.
A mate of mine who has owned and worked on a multitude of different old yamaha models with me, in our quests for a good old bike has come accross what might be a great solution for our rear ends.
So the bikes in question - xt600s, tt350, tt250, dt200 and now his 92model wr250, have all had the issue that the rear shock is not nice to work on, always undersprung from factory, and once you add a decent spring the damping, especially rebound circuit cannot cope with the additional spring force... and you have a wallowy rear end.
I have also read several threads of people with teneres and XT's who had to REALLY up the spring rate to allow for luggage, and they ended up snapping the end off their shocks because the rebound was doing nothing…. So having a usable rebound circuit is a vital step in keeping the old shock instead of buggerising around with substituting something else in there.
Anyway the solution for his wr250 was very simple, he replaced the shock oil with 5w. In talking with an old yamaha guru they came to the realisation that the shock "oil" in these shocks (supposedly non-rebuildable) is thinner than water from the factory, and by putting a very standard 5w shock oil in he has a rear end with a good range of adjustability and its better than the KTM and Husky that he owned (when he turned away from Yamaha for a few years in the search for the ideal bike).
So anyway I thought I would share this with everyone as I know the suspension discussion is always interesting with these old girls. Once I have my bike going I will look into doing this myself.

And how do you change oil on the XT600 shock?

That is the main issue , they don't lend themselves to being serviced very well since they were never designed to be. The WR's was probably "rebuildable" so it's more doable , but is an interesting idea . I'd have thought it would need to be more like 10w or 12w oil.

The wr250r actually has a decent spring rate, but the internet-story is that theres way to much rebound, becuase of too small/few shims.

Change the oil and get better than KTM suspention...? Sorry, dont believe it But nice on you that it worked for you.

Did anybody ever make some raiser blocks?
I've found myself to need one, anyone willing to sell?

Guess you mean something like this -


I don't know why, but used to find myself with some mistrust of such system when it's about a bigger bike with single shocker..

on the other hand, I remember parking issues while having some load on the bike (even during few days trip) when on the flat surface bike stayed just vertical on the kickstand and had to find bit sloped surface to park it securely..

yes, I haven't got a center stand yet (still considering about weight) and like to have preload adjusted somewhere middle (standard shocker).

so, sorry for any interference with my questions, but do such blocks work safely on xt600-sized bikes?
if yes, where it's better to mount them, on the top or on the bottom of the shocker?
any recommendations about material?

I'm not a tall one but after your post I started to think more and more that if a raiser works safe and trouble-free, it would solve that parking issues as well as grant some clearance when bike is loaded...

Any suggestions where to get a raiser block/kit for my 1999 XT600E? Does the Heckhöherlegung mentioned in this thread fit this model? Thanks

It does, if youre able to find it.

that solution should be strong enough, seen them used in vintage road racing to raise the rear


main problem is that it elongates the shock all in one go by something like 20-25mm... multiplied by the leverage should be 50-70mm at the wheel and thats quite a bit... and no adjustability



Havent done this in my bike but i would try to implement a solution like some bikes have, for example zx6r of a threaded adjuster so you can choose how much to raise. will need some engineering ant thought, but not rocket science

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Thanks for your tips and suggestions much appreciated.

Im going to fabricate this part at a metal shop, but i've not been able to find how's its installed, does it go under the shock, or on top?

the simple raiser block fits on the top of the shock


for the threaded adjuster, that part you see fits the top shock bolt.

youd need to do some design thinking of how to make the part that the adjuster goes thorugh and attaches to the frame.