First off if I had the coin I'd buy a rpm shock.
Is there any other shocks that are compatible with my 85 fj1100.
I don't want to do a bunch of modifications just swap out my stock shock.
Quote from: fuel80guy on July 24, 2013, 06:06:36 PM
Is there any other shocks that are compatible with my 85 fj1100.
I don't want to do a bunch of modifications just swap out my stock shock.
Unfortunately, unless you convert over the the later model swing arm & linkage there is nothing that will work on the early model FJ1100/1200
The lower pivot system on the early model FJ's is the difference that will not allow you to use any of the other wrecking yard shocks from other bikes.
Randy - RPM
So I'm guessing stock shocks aren't rebuildable?
Quote from: fuel80guy on July 24, 2013, 06:29:14 PM
So I'm guessing stock shocks aren't rebuildable?
I wouldn't waste my money rebuilding a shock that wasn't even up to the job when they were new.
Quote from: fuel80guy on July 24, 2013, 06:29:14 PM
So I'm guessing stock shocks aren't rebuildable?
Not designed to be rebuilt, there are some guys that used to do it, Lindemans might have been one. Not that it would be worth it, though....The stock shock was crap.
Honda F4I shock read this. http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=6549.0 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=6549.0) Hope this helps.
Kurt
Quote from: yamaha fj rider on July 24, 2013, 07:27:19 PM
Honda F4I...
Kurt
Sorry, I stand corrected.
I thought they were only used on the later model bikes with the yoke lower mounting, but I forgot that those had to be welded upon to fit.
Randy - RPM
Quote from: racerrad8 on July 24, 2013, 07:42:31 PM
Quote from: yamaha fj rider on July 24, 2013, 07:27:19 PM
Honda F4I...
Kurt
Sorry, I stand corrected.
I thought they were only used on the later model bikes with the yoke lower mounting, but I forgot that those had to be welded upon to fit.
Randy - RPM
Mark this day on the calendar. Randy made a mistake, the stars must be ought of alignment. :lol:
Kurt
F4i shock fits with very little work, a few others have done it since I fitted one to my 84 ,
Rod
They are under spung. But still a lot better than stock. You can get a heavier spring from eibach for about $69. The honda guys generally think 950lb spring is as big as you want to go with stock valves.
Oh yah stock spring on the honda shock is 780lb.
Does rider weight effect the standard honda spring , I've had no issues with the shock as is, ,but I do only weîgh 70 kg :biggrin:
The shock page (still needs work, but a good starting point)
http://fjowners.wikidot.com/rear-shock (http://fjowners.wikidot.com/rear-shock)
Quote from: fj11.5 on July 25, 2013, 01:38:58 AM
Does rider weight effect the standard honda spring , I've had no issues with the shock as is, ,but I do only weîgh 70 kg :biggrin:
yah I'm about 280 lbs.
Could be why the shock is fine with me :scratch_one-s_head:
Even with the 950. I still have way too much sag. Have you ever checked to see what yours is..
But like I said it's way better than the fj shock.
If and when I have the extra cash. I'll be getting the RPM shock
Quote from: giantkiller on July 25, 2013, 01:03:08 AM
They are under spung. But still a lot better than stock. You can get a heavier spring from eibach for about $69. The honda guys generally think 950lb spring is as big as you want to go with stock valves.
Randy is also a dealer for Eibach...as well as all your FJ crack needs!
i did the f4i mod, love it, bike sits a bit higher but then the po had cut the spring on the stocker for... I dunno... Squid power or something. Rode like a pig. much better now. Not enough spring for the weight of the bike + my 230lbs but the front is undersprung too so at least it's balanced
I have an Honda f4i on a 1990. I weight 206 -212 range. I feel that the stock spring is OK up to about 220 but above that with a loaded bike the preload is about maxed out. I like the f4i for the time being. Waiting for my "ship" to arrive.... I think it's at the bottom of the ocean..... :drinks:
George
If your ship is the titanic ,then I think my fork valves were on it too :lol: or was it the cash to buy them :scratch_one-s_head:
Guess I am screwed now.... :dash2: :ireful: :lol: :lol:
George
Quote from: fintip on July 25, 2013, 02:45:58 AM
The shock page (still needs work, but a good starting point)
http://fjowners.wikidot.com/rear-shock (http://fjowners.wikidot.com/rear-shock)
Fintip, great summary, well done. I noticed you have done this on other topics.
Quote from: Bozo on July 25, 2013, 07:31:08 PM
Quote from: fintip on July 25, 2013, 02:45:58 AM
The shock page (still needs work, but a good starting point)
http://fjowners.wikidot.com/rear-shock (http://fjowners.wikidot.com/rear-shock)
Fintip, great summary, well done. I noticed you have done this on other topics.
I really like the fjownerswikidot. A lot of great information in one place. Easy to navigate also.
Thanks a bunch again for your hard work.
CraigO
Quote from: Goetz on July 25, 2013, 08:26:24 AM
i did the f4i mod, love it, bike sits a bit higher but then the po had cut the spring on the stocker for... I dunno... Squid power or something.
Cutting the spring would make it stiffer. You'd have to make up the height with a spacer and make sure you don't get "coil bind" at full compression.
"Waiting for my "ship" to arrive" (a variation of 'When my ship comes in') refers to becoming rich.
Arnie
Good evening everyone,
Prior to the new rear shock from R.P.M. becoming available, I replaced the stock shock with a shock from a late model Yamaha sport bike. Also installed was a heavier spring which was recommended along with an adjustment collar for spring preload.
This particular shock had adjustments for low & high speed dampening as well as rebound. When it was tested on the dyno, its' performance matched the HondaF4i shock almost exactly. No doubt a marked improvement over the stock unit, which quickly bit the dust once the Fork Valves were installed.
Well, once the rear shock from RPM was installed, the improvement in ride quality [under any condition] over the sport bike shock was more profound than the improvement of the sport bike shock over the stock unit; in my estimation at least several times more.
When paired with the Fork Valves (and Fork Brace) the suspension is as modern as any that is currently available from any other manufacture for the FJ's. And bear in mind these items are FJ specific, not universal parts that are then modified for what is essentially a compromise in performance.
Notably, because of the hydraulics involved, softer shock springs are used (and lighter weight fork oil), which allow for a comfortable over the road ride yet perform quite well, actually very well indeed, during spirited back road riding. Counter intuitive as it my seem, it really works very well.
And frankly, as far as USD's are concerned the units I have seen installed on several FJ's are old, first generation units which have been superseded by the suspension components offered by the gentleman from R.P.M. Any statements to the contrary are just preaching to the choir. Pricewise, where else can for a relatively modest sum can you modify your FJ into a very nice handling and modern classic? It is a killer of a deal.
Keep smiling & ride safe,
Mike the Midget. :flag_of_truce: :smile:
+1 on that Mike the front eats any USD combo I've seen on FJ's and for an even better price too. :good2:
Baldy
Yep, just waiting on the email from Randy to say the valves are back in stock. Can't afford a new shock this year, maybe next year.
Heres a thought about fork braces. I was going to order one and a mate was over and pointed at the stamped aluminum plate that the front guard bolts to. This plate in turn is bolted to the fork legs in 4 places, so it in itself would act as a "fork brace". Its a strong piece of aluminum, certainly doesn't have the thickness of a proper brace of course, but it did get me thinking whether it would do the job as a rudimentary brace.
, I've been waiting for the fork valves too,, as for the oem brace, check out the mounting holes, usually they are no longer round , thus the reason for a propper rpm brace
AS to the cut spring, the po shaved about %30 off it from what I could tell and did not install a spacer. IT was a rough ride.
Quote from: baldy3853 on July 26, 2013, 03:38:11 AM
+1 on that Mike the front eats any USD combo I've seen on FJ's and for an even better price too. :good2:
Baldy
+2 on the RPM combo, even if the budget is tight (I saved for a year to get mine after my other shock rode like crap), ride the crap out of the old suspension till you can afford the combo.
Quote from: Arnie on July 25, 2013, 09:09:00 PM
Quote from: Goetz on July 25, 2013, 08:26:24 AM
i did the f4i mod, love it, bike sits a bit higher but then the po had cut the spring on the stocker for... I dunno... Squid power or something.
Cutting the spring would make it stiffer. You'd have to make up the height with a spacer and make sure you don't get "coil bind" at full compression.
"Waiting for my "ship" to arrive" (a variation of 'When my ship comes in') refers to becoming rich.
Arnie
Arnie, I have to ask, whats with the pelican avatar.
Did you have a bad morning when this was taken?
Is this your pet?
Were you hungry at the time? - just curious
I just liked the shot and thought the 'quizzical' pelican was a fitting representation for my general attitude on this list. :-)
Arnie
[quote author=Bozo link=topic=9869.msg94524#msg94524
Arnie, I have to ask, whats with the pelican avatar.
Did you have a bad morning when this was taken?
Is this your pet?
Were you hungry at the time? - just curious
[/quote]
Quote from: X-Ray on July 26, 2013, 04:39:11 AM
Yep, just waiting on the email from Randy to say the valves are back in stock. Can't afford a new shock this year, maybe next year.
Heres a thought about fork braces. I was going to order one and a mate was over and pointed at the stamped aluminum plate that the front guard bolts to. This plate in turn is bolted to the fork legs in 4 places, so it in itself would act as a "fork brace". Its a strong piece of aluminum, certainly doesn't have the thickness of a proper brace of course, but it did get me thinking whether it would do the job as a rudimentary brace.
If the plastic fender wasn't sandwiched in between, it probably would work quite well. As it is, you can't torque on the bolts without breaking the fender tabs.....
A good friend used to have a Fazer, which used a similar piece as our FJs, he took a 1/2" slab of Al and cut it to fit, put a different fender on and it worked great.
It's a fender strap, not to be confused with a proper fork brace.
Next time you have it off, look closely at the 4 small holes in the strap. They don't look quite round do they? Almost elongated? They were once round when they left the factory, so that shows you how much your fork lowers move around due to deflection of our spindley 41mm stanchion tubes under the loading of a fully loaded 800 lb bike. (550lb bike +200lb rider + 50lb luggage)
Ever wonder why our fender tabs are prone to cracking? Yep, same thing.
A real fork brace (not fender strap) will tighten up your front end....and keep your fender tabs from cracking.
Don't confuse the two.