FJowners.com

General Category => Maintenance => Topic started by: Tom on August 11, 2013, 04:08:05 PM

Title: RPM Shocks
Post by: Tom on August 11, 2013, 04:08:05 PM
Hi All,
   I am looking at the RPM shock for my '88. The roads I ride on vary from tight, bumpy, twisty to open, flowing and long straights. Also city riding. Are they good shockers?
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: aviationfred on August 11, 2013, 04:28:24 PM
Here is the write up and subsequent ride reports of the RPM shock going through the final road tests before release to the public.

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=7469.0 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=7469.0)

Fred
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: Dan Filetti on August 11, 2013, 05:59:51 PM
Quote from: Tom on August 11, 2013, 04:08:05 PM
Hi All,
   I am looking at the RPM shock for my '88. The roads I ride on vary from tight, bumpy, twisty to open, flowing and long straights. Also city riding. Are they good shockers?

An 88 you say?  There are three varieties of that shock and given that you have the rare (to the US) '88, I am not at all certain which one you'd need.  Do make sure you work closely with Randy.  All reports are that the shock completely transform/ modernizes the FJ.  I have yet to read a single bad thing about it.

Good luck,

Dan
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: fj11.5 on August 11, 2013, 07:15:25 PM
Lots of 88,s down under, although most often look the same as the 89
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: Bozo on August 11, 2013, 07:53:45 PM
RPM didn't really have the right shock for my 1989 model, so I bought the 1991 shock and adapted it to suit. I have ridden bikes (many new) with the best shocks on the market, and I can tell you now none can compete with the RPM shock in a broad spectrum of riding and to top it off apart from the preload there was no other adjustment required (can't be changed anyway).

Am I happy with it? F##@ ooF I am, best value for money - try the "equivalent" (if there is one) high tech shock and see how much you'll pay and still not compete over the same spectrum of riding. I might ride like an old girl sometimes but when I do brake out I will torture my shock and it never gave me a feeling of letting go, if anything it felt better.

And no I don't work for and owe Randy any favors.

GO FOR IT.
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: Tom on August 12, 2013, 08:04:43 AM
Well then, thanks for the replies on the RPM shock, i'm going to do it. At the moment I'm bouncing around like a yo yo!!
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: fintip on August 12, 2013, 04:15:33 PM
I thought 88's were just a continuation of the 86/87 styles, not a pre-89, no?

If so, you should buy the '86/'87 style shock (an 88 was not sold in the US). Wait for someone to confirm this, though. If I'm wrong, I'll have to go edit a lot of references on fjowners.wikidot.com.

And yeah, the RPM shock is definitely the way to go.
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: FJmonkey on August 12, 2013, 04:48:28 PM
Most 88's were the pre 89's, but some countries, not many, extended the 86' year.
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: racerrad8 on August 12, 2013, 04:51:36 PM
I have been in contact with Tom and we will determine what he has before moving forward.

The quick way to tell which way a specific 1988 FJ1200 bike went is the swingarm linkage.

All aluminum (84-87) or if it has dog bones (89-90)

Randy - RPM
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: FJmonkey on August 12, 2013, 07:14:55 PM
Quote from: racerrad8 on August 12, 2013, 04:51:36 PM
I have been in contact with Tom and we will determine what he has before moving forward.

The quick way to tell which way a specific 1988 FJ1200 bike went is the swingarm linkage.

All aluminum (84-87) or if it has dog bones (89-90)

Randy - RPM


Yep, that is till I upgrade to dog bones...
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: Bozo on August 13, 2013, 06:28:10 AM
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 12, 2013, 04:48:28 PM
Most 88's were the pre 89's, but some countries, not many, extended the 86' year.

Damn now even I am confused, as Randy stated he'll sort this out. I'm sure he'll pass the info on.
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: FJmonkey on August 13, 2013, 06:42:09 AM
Quote from: Bozo on August 13, 2013, 06:28:10 AM
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 12, 2013, 04:48:28 PM
Most 88's were the pre 89's, but some countries, not many, extended the 86' year.

Damn now even I am confused, as Randy stated he'll sort this out. I'm sure he'll pass the info on.

It is really simple as Randy stated. A quick look under your FJ and you will see either a solid looking aluminum link, or the dog bone shaped links. Dog bones = 89' and up. 

Dog bone shape
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/9403034105_f36978f2c3_o.jpg)
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: racerrad8 on August 15, 2013, 11:56:37 AM
Okay, Tom's 88 has 89-89 shock and swing arm linkages.

I will keep track and ask each person who is ordering for the illusive 1988 version of the FJ1200 to send me a picture of the swing arm linkages to determine the correct shock for them.

Randy - RPM
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: X-Ray on August 16, 2013, 07:53:46 PM
I am really,really trying to find some spare cash before our Anniversary ride next year to treat my baby to a new rear shock unit. I think the last time I actually did anything to it was when Baldy got the new spring put on many many moons ago.

It is long overdue for an upgrade to perfection,

Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: Bozo on August 17, 2013, 04:53:29 AM
Quote from: X-Ray on August 16, 2013, 07:53:46 PM
I am really,really trying to find some spare cash before our Anniversary ride next year to treat my baby to a new rear shock unit. I think the last time I actually did anything to it was when Baldy got the new spring put on many many moons ago.

It is long overdue for an upgrade to perfection,



For $20 I'll let you look at my RPM shock when you get there, for $30 I might let you touch it, - cheaper than buying one. :rofl:
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: FJmonkey on August 17, 2013, 10:48:50 AM
That is a ripoff!!! Randy let me fondle one at the last WCR for free.  :blush:
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: racerrad8 on August 17, 2013, 11:00:53 AM
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 17, 2013, 10:48:50 AM
That is a ripoff!!! Randy let me fondle one at the last WCR for free.  :blush:

Yeah, but that one is half way around the world so there was shipping involved...

Randy - RPM
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: Bozo on August 17, 2013, 11:28:47 AM
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 17, 2013, 10:48:50 AM
That is a ripoff!!! Randy let me fondle one at the last WCR for free.  :blush:

This is Australia mate, what other country worships a Kanga bloody Roo with boxing gloves
:cray:.... Ok I'll do it for free but only if they don't slobber on my seat. Now if only I can figure
how to remove the nice looking cover to show the shock, I suppose it'll be like looking at a babe
in a bathing suit------use your imagination!
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: craigo on August 17, 2013, 09:32:01 PM
Quote from: Bozo on August 17, 2013, 11:28:47 AM
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 17, 2013, 10:48:50 AM
That is a ripoff!!! Randy let me fondle one at the last WCR for free.  :blush:

This is Australia mate, what other country worships a Kanga bloody Roo with boxing gloves
:cray:.... Ok I'll do it for free but only if they don't slobber on my seat. Now if only I can figure
how to remove the nice looking cover to show the shock, I suppose it'll be like looking at a babe
in a bathing suit------use your imagination!

We've been loving boxing kangaroos since before you were born up here in the States. Take a look at this:

Merrie Melodies - Pop 'im Pop! (1950) (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ceme)

Enjoy,

CraigO
Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: Bozo on August 18, 2013, 12:35:21 AM
Quote from: craigo on August 17, 2013, 09:32:01 PM
Quote from: Bozo on August 17, 2013, 11:28:47 AM
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 17, 2013, 10:48:50 AM
That is a ripoff!!! Randy let me fondle one at the last WCR for free.  :blush:



This is Australia mate, what other country worships a Kanga bloody Roo with boxing gloves
:cray:.... Ok I'll do it for free but only if they don't slobber on my seat. Now if only I can figure
how to remove the nice looking cover to show the shock, I suppose it'll be like looking at a babe
in a bathing suit------use your imagination!

We've been loving boxing kangaroos since before you were born up here in the States. Take a look at this:

Merrie Melodies - Pop 'im Pop! (1950) (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ceme)

Enjoy,

CraigO


In the land of oz that is called a rodent. Just some more trivia for you, near Phillip Island(racing circuit) they have worms that can grow 3mtrs in length and around 1.5 inches diameter the only reason we don't worship these instead of the kangaroo is because  no-one can work out which is the arse end (like some politicians)
http://www.langlang.net/nearby.html (http://www.langlang.net/nearby.html)

Title: Re: RPM Shocks
Post by: fj11.5 on August 18, 2013, 03:05:33 AM
At a guess id say its a giant moussse  , and sylvester the cat