Penske owners

[BK_856er]

Gang,

I'm having some issues installing a new Penske shock in my '07 M695.

Penske sent me a shock with a straight remote reservoir fitting.  It clears the breather setup with the shock extended, but it'll interfere in normal travel.  I'm also getting contact between the outer edge of the shock cap and the rocker on the right side.  I am only at the test-fit stage.  I've already got an inquiry into Penske, but I suspect that they could use some guidance.

What configuration works best for late Monsters?  Anyone BTDT??

BK

[Raux]

i know this is a dumb question from a non-695 rider. but can you turn the shock around and if you did would it clear the frame on the right of the picture?

[CairnsDuc]

On my S2R 800 I noticed with the Shock in place the top of the Shock was quite close to the top arm (similar to your photo) but when the weight was applied back to the bike, the arm moved down (to compress the shock/spring) and this gave me plenty of clearance.

With the weight/load taken of the swingarm(s) the top shock mount is in it's most upper position so this will pull the shockbody/resorvoir fitting close to the top mount, apply some weight to the system and the top mount will go closer to the horizontal position and this will then give you clearance between the shock body and the fitting.
I assume you know the top shock mount arm pivot's

Put your shock in, slowly lower the weight back onto the swingarm and it should safely clear everything, I did it with mine, just to double check to make sure nothing was binding or catching.
When the bike was back on the ground as normal I also had a friend slowly lower himself onto the bike to ensure the suspension was not binding or catching with the weight of a rider in place.

Also the shock can not be turned around, as the fitting will be to close to frame, the shock is located close to the right hand side of the frame (when looking from the rear)

[DarkStaR]

lose the oil breather catch.

[Ivan]

On my S2R1k, the hose comes out towards the rear of the bike, and it has a right angle fitting (which originally pointed towards the right-side of the bike).  I rotated the fitting clockwise such that it was almost pointing down, say around 60* of rotation, allowing the hose to clear the frame on the right-side of the bike (it would not clear the frame as delivered).

I did not have any problems with the top of the shock body clearing the upper linkage.

As the OP commented, your shock would fit great if you didn't have the breather-box.

[BK_856er]

Thanks for thee feedback, guys.

The breather box is going to stay, so the hose fitting needs to change.  The right side would not seem to be an option due to the proximity of the frame.  I'll take some measurements to see if a rear-positioned 90-degree fitting would clear the breather - looks pretty tight.  Ivan:  does your S2R1k have the breather box?  I found the pic below that was reportedly from a 2005 M1000 and it looks to be a 135-degree fitting on the left to route the hose under the breather.

The slight contact between the edge of the top cap and the rocker prevents the shock from bolting up.  I can install the upper bolt, but then I can't rotate the shock forward sufficiently to line up the lower hole.  The contact prevents further rotation.  The shock NEEDS to clear when fully extended.  In my original picture only the top bolt is attached.  I may need to remove some material from the rocker to allow clearance.  The shocks top spherical bearing also seems to be offset to the left just a bit, which would compound the clearance issue - clearance is good on the left.

BK

[Oldfisti]

Will it mount upside down and does that give any extra clearance?

[Speeddog]

I've BTDT with a Penske, fitting it to S4Rt.

You need a longer top eye, a 90 degree fitting at the shock, and a 26" hose set up so it goes into the reservoir at 90 degrees, either using a 90 degree fitting or the reservoir cap that has a 90 degree entry port.

Pic of the shock, showing the longer top eye and 'clocking' of the fitting.

Penske should know this is the configuration needed, I told 'em back in April. 

[BK_856er]

Thanks, speeddog!

Could you elaborate on the 26" hose and 90-degree reservoir fitting?  My current hose is only 8" with a straight reservoir fitting.  I'm trying to visualize the reservoir mounting location and orientation with that longer length of hose.

Penske had me send in my OE shock to build specs, and I also supplied photos of the shock area.  I'm surprised they didn't nail it the first time, but they seem like good folks, so I'm confident that they'll take care of me.

BK

[Speeddog]

The 26" hose and 90 degree reservoir allow mounting the reservoir to the frame rail, near the grab rail.
It requires a small bit of trimming on the inner fender to allow for the hose.
Sorry, no pics of the reservoir mounting.
YMMV on 695 install, as it's a bit different from an S4Rt, but IMO it should fit up.


The bike I fitted it to belongs to skxf430, a member here, maybe he can share a pic.

I talked with Lou at Penske, ask him to look at his E-mails for mid-April this year.

[Ivan]

  Ivan:  does your S2R1k have the breather box? 

Yes, I still have the breather-box.  With the fitting on the rear of the shock, there were no clearance issues once I "clocked" the fitting so that it would not jam the hose against the right side of the frame.  I was surprised to see Speeddog's proof that there is enough clearance between the shock and the breather box for the 90* fitting on the left side of the shock, I would not have thought that would work.

Mine came with a 30-inch hose.  I mounted the reservoir on the left side, to the passenger peg mounting bracket on the frame.  I was shocked at how long the hose was, I had to get creative with routing it to avoid having it get kinked or potentially getting caught where it does not belong.  I ended up with a rather large service loop. 

This shows how the fitting interfered with the frame on the right...



This one shows how I made it fit, by rotating the fitting....



This shows how I ended up mounting the reservoir...

[clubhousemotorsports]

I could be off here as the photo is angled but do you have the correct shock eye bushing halves installed?
There are different thickness bushing halves  some times different from top to bottom , yours may have been mixed up. The shock should be centered in the rocker, not offset.

I agree with Speedog about the 90 degree fitting on the body of the shock, I would figure it all out and send picture back with the shock to Penske.

[BK_856er]

I could be off here as the photo is angled but do you have the correct shock eye bushing halves installed?
There are different thickness bushing halves  some times different from top to bottom , yours may have been mixed up. The shock should be centered in the rocker, not offset.

I agree with Speedog about the 90 degree fitting on the body of the shock, I would figure it all out and send picture back with the shock to Penske.

Thanks, ducvet.  Yes, my shock uses different collets for the top and bottom.  I took them out and measured them every which way with a digital micrometer, so I am certain that I have them in correctly and they are not mixed up.  The upper spherical bearing is pressed in 0.9mm to the left (not perfect, but close).  Below is a pic that is more head-on.  I think speeddog hit the nail on the head with the longer upper eye requirement - I can tell from his S4RT pic that his eye is 5-10mm longer.

BK

[BK_856er]

Yes, I still have the breather-box.  (...snip....)

Thanks for the pics, Ivan.  I can see that you have additional considerations with your exhaust.  I took some measurements and I think a rear 90-degree fitting would clear the breather box on my monster.  With a 5-10mm longer top eye the clearance would be no problem at all.

BK

[skxf430]

I've BTDT with a Penske, fitting it to S4Rt.

You need a longer top eye, a 90 degree fitting at the shock, and a 26" hose set up so it goes into the reservoir at 90 degrees, either using a 90 degree fitting or the reservoir cap that has a 90 degree entry port.

Pic of the shock, showing the longer top eye and 'clocking' of the fitting.

Penske should know this is the configuration needed, I told 'em back in April. 

Hey I recognize that bike.   

Hope you are doing well Nick.

I will post a pic when I get the chance.