Shocking change...

Over the weekend I swapped my standard SV650 shock for a model from a Kawasaki ZX636, shock model B1H. Though the C1H, from the later models should also fit in a similar way.

Now as you are going to remove the shock you need to remove the load from it, so you will need to either suspend the bike in some way. Or in my case get a Abba Stand and hold the bike up via the swing arm pivot points.

First of all you have to take the rear wheel off, while not strictly necessary it makes the whole job much easier.
Once the back wheel was off and the brake loosen off I could get under back and start removing things that might get in my way, such as chain guard and 'krap' flap. Unfortunately for me my bolt sheered off leaving things in rather a mess

Once I was over that little disaster it was time to try to remove the suspension linkages, in this case a breaker bar and a decent spanner is you friend.

It gets bloody filthy down there, so while I had the shock out its a good opportunity to grease all the bearing. They needed it too as it was just a brown dirty mess down there.