Yes, it will fall on the wheel, or to whatever the max movement of the swingarm is. If you have a centerstand, use it. The wheel will drop, but only to the ground. It will be easy enough to get back in position.

That being said, just take off one shock, position the new one, put some weight on the bike and install the new one. To do the other side, just lift up on the frame a little to get the old shock off, then fit the new one.

 

You may find the metal sleeve inside the rubber bushing has become enamored of the mounting post and doesn't want to leave. Do them one at a time. Take the preload off first. That helps. And put a little copper anti-sieze inside the bushes.

 

This is a good time when your shocks are removed to determine the distance from the upper to lower shock studs when chain slack is at minimum. You may need to reset the the chain slack adjuster to get that. With a bit of chain slack at that shock mount span, and knowing the slack when you reinstall the shocks will give you a chain slack number better than a repair or owner's manual which will not account for different shock lengths.

When removing the shocks, just leave only a little air space underneath the rear tire using wooden boards, cardboard or whatever for spacers and you will be fine.

 

If you don't have a center stand, you can still support your bike at the bracket where the center stand would attach using a small piece of wood and a floor jack. You need the piece of wood to spread the load on the bracket and to keep the floor jack lift plate away from some important stuff down there. It works quite well if you get the bike centered on the floor jack so it doesn't try to fall over as you lift it. You'll find it a little bit less steady on the jack than you might like so you should do all the bolt loosening while the bike is still on its wheels.

Once it's up on the jack, you can raise or lower the bike as you wish if you want to check chain slack without the rear springs and shocks in place.

 

Thanks for the responses! What I've done is keep the bike upright using a vice to hold the front wheel and then placing a jack (with a flat thingie) where the centre stand would go. I've been able to lift the frame up to the point where the swing arm and back wheel lift off the ground.

Haven't found the time to make it back to the garage to complete the job. Stay tuned! Tx for the feedback.


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I use the center stand and then shim the bottom of the rear tire so it remains in the exact location for putting on the new shocks. If you go to longer shocks, pull the shim out and pry on the bottom of the tire with a pry bar to get the swing arm into the proper fit. Going to longer shocks you do need to remove both of the shorter shocks to allow the swing arm to drop down, then shim it into place. Once you get one shock attached you're home free.