Spring Time

[Pat Conlon]

In '86 I did progressive springs as my 2nd mod to my '84 (ss brake lines were first)

Re: Fork Dive: The progressives were better than the soft oem springs on the 2 half of fork travel, on the 1st half the progressive springs were only slightly better. Still overall better than oem.

It was a few years later in '88, I went with straight rate springs and cartridge emulators.

You are not going to upset your bike by installing progressive springs or cartridge emulators or RPM valves while keeping the sacked out rear shock. However, you will notice the shock's lack of dampening.(pogo)
The FJ's oem shock was sacked out the day your bike left the assembly line.

IMHO If you are looking for comfort, replace the back shock first. Yea it's expensive. Good stuff always is....

[jscgdunn]

If you are not handsome (or rich), it's best to be handy.  There are a variety of options documented on here for the rear shock:
Honda F4I
BMW K1200
Late model R6

Jeff

[Burns]

You ask for advice then argue against it.  Seems you had already made up your mind.

Following your 'logic" installing new springs up front (from your first post) would be an improvement.  But, by your logic, even installing the spacers was an improvement so you're heading for a certain crash beacuse your rear suspension is crap.

How about this logic?  The spacers appear to have made a noticeable improvement without throwing the bike to the ground.  Imagine what even a few good parts would feel like.  But, if you can't control yourself then maybe you've got the wrong bike?

Holligan,

Congratulations on mixing mis-quotation, red herring, reductio ab absurdum and ad hominem attack to achieve a dramatically tortured argument of Rumsfieldian proportion.


Had you read the thread you would know that I asked for advice about fork springs, and specifically about a certain brand of progressively wound springs.  The response was a suggestion for better dampening. But that was not off-point since it led to the conclusion that a purchase of progressively wound springs would not lend itself to the ultimate solution (since stacks don't work with progressives).  Ingesting Scott's advice I abandoned the option of progressive windings in favor of a "patch" (dully labeled) temporary solution and an ultimate game plan that includes the stacks and a good rear shock simultaneously installed.


Again if you had read the thread, you would have seen that I advocate not making DRAMATIC changes to only one end. You equivocated that to "any" improvement (your red herring) which led you to a soliloquy of silliness that ended in an ad hominem non sequitur re: my self control.

All in all a masterpiece of forensic butchery an muddy thinking.

I will not attempt to acquaint you with the concept of "harmony" as it applies to motorcycles. It is clearly beyond you, and as my father once told me "Never try to teach a pig to sing; It frustrates you and it irritates the pig."

[Burns]

I've got to say even though the front end is supremely planted now and shows the rear to be less than satisfactory, I've never felt unsafe or come close to having an incident while on the FJ. This is despite some highly *spirited* riding on the recent Jindabyne trip while loaded up, or even out and about on my own. The rear does thud along a bit,  and feels way too soft, but nervous or skittish etc, no. I think these bikes even with sagged out rear suspension are still supremely stable in my opinion.


Thank you that is a very good thing to know.  Having no base line as a field of reference for this bike I'm relying on some basic rules.  It is good to know that the FJ's fundamentally stable platform allows for perhaps more latitude than those rules would suggest.

[Burns]

"The rear's job is to lay down a solid predictable bass line and the front makes the melody."

I like that. I need to go out and tune up a little  .
George

That's why the logo is a tuning fork

BINGO!

[Burns]

If you are not handsome (or rich), it's best to be handy.  There are a variety of options documented on here for the rear shock:
Honda F4I
BMW K1200
Late model R6

Jeff

Thanks Jeff. That is exactly the information I been looking for.

[FJscott]

Burns

There are numerous Rally's this year. I plan on making the WCR in late may and the ECFR in sept. come to one and you can take my bike for a spin and decide firsthand if the RPM suspension gives you the feel you are searching for. I should have the arse end upgraded by Tellico for sure.

Scott

[Burns]

I would love to join a bunch of FJer's doin' there FJthing.
When and Where? Other than a T-shirt thread I haven't seen agenda info for the rallies.


Your offer of an educational ride is very generous, and is warmly accepted.

BTW, I see now that my (over)reaction to the idea of hyper-tuning only one end of a motorcycle's suspension was born  of my recent XS650 history which certainly  does not directly transfer to  Planet FJ.  The extra 200 lbs makes for a platform far less sensitive to suspension component synch issues.

The FJ really is geometrically sweet.

[Pat Conlon]

There is a section on this forum devoted to FJ Rallies...
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10832.0

[FJ_Hooligan]

Holligan,

Congratulations on mixing mis-quotation, red herring, reductio ab absurdum and ad hominem attack to achieve a dramatically tortured argument of Rumsfieldian proportion.

Had you read the thread you would know that I asked for advice about fork springs, and specifically about a certain brand of progressively wound springs.  The response was a suggestion for better dampening. But that was not off-point since it led to the conclusion that a purchase of progressively wound springs would not lend itself to the ultimate solution (since stacks don't work with progressives).  Ingesting Scott's advice I abandoned the option of progressive windings in favor of a "patch" (dully labeled) temporary solution and an ultimate game plan that includes the stacks and a good rear shock simultaneously installed.

Again if you had read the thread, you would have seen that I advocate not making DRAMATIC changes to only one end. You equivocated that to "any" improvement (your red herring) which led you to a soliloquy of silliness that ended in an ad hominem non sequitur re: my self control.

All in all a masterpiece of forensic butchery an muddy thinking.

I will not attempt to acquaint you with the concept of "harmony" as it applies to motorcycles. It is clearly beyond you, and as my father once told me "Never try to teach a pig to sing; It frustrates you and it irritates the pig."

WOW!  You really told me.  It's like you've known me my whole life!  

Then you should know that I'm old and get easily bored with people who like to hear themselves talk.  Maybe if I had taken more music and lit courses I might be able to have a more eloquent conversation.  But, alas, I studied engineering so I fail see the logic in your "opinion" that upgrading only one end of a motorcycle is a terrible thing.  Yes Randy's valves are impressive and they are a worthwhile upgrade for the front end of ANY FJ, no matter the state of suspension tune.  They are not a hyper-upgrade (you appear to have a tendency to over emphasize), they are simply the best option.

Plenty of owners have upgraded one end of their FJ at a time and no one that I can recall has ever reported the kind of problems that you seem to be pre-occupied with.  Yes, upgrading one end will show the weakness of the other end but it's never been cited as something bad or dangerous.

You originally asked a question about a specific spring which appears to have been ignored in favor of multiple owners giving you the best option for suspension upgrades.  These are owners who have DECADES of experience with the FJ. Yet you seem to fret about an upgrade overwhelming the bike when there is no evidence of such except for your trust in yourself.

If, as you suggest, I knew anything about motorcycles I just might know that when you change a spring or the preload on a spring, there needs to be a corresponding change to the damping (dampening means to wet something).  Progressive springs went out of favor a long time ago.  That's why we recommend the RPM fork valves, it's the complete package for both spring and damping.  

I admit that I am a terrible singer, but I do know a little bit about the FJ and, obviously,  a lot more than you do about it.  But you go right ahead and get the last word.  Be sure to wax poetic so I don't doze off in the middle of it.

Oh yeah, where are my manners.  Welcome to the group!

[simi_ed]

Oh yeah, where are my manners.  Welcome to the group!

I to would like to add my 'Welcome to the group' Mr. Burns.  You seem to be a rather opinionated member and quite knowledgeable about FJ11/12s.  It almost makes me wonder why you are bothering to waste your time on the rest of us, as a matter of fact.  Your demeanor rather reminds me of another member that was here for a short time a few years ago.  He too came across rather strong, quite aggressive towards anyone that offered a contrary opinion and loved to impute political attributes to the described contrarian(s).  Perhaps you know and/or are related to this former member...

In any event, as you will see as you mingle amongst the members here, you will note that there is not a great deal of accusation or offense is either offered nor taken.  It may suite you to note and follow that convention.  No threats implied or offered, just sound advice.  

Of course, you don't seem to need sound advice...

[Dan Filetti]

Well put, Ed.

Dan

[Mike Ramos]

Excellent summation Ed, as you state the fellow is FJ knowledgeable.

Opinionated? Well Mr. Burns, unless you can quote Plato then you are only second best.

Keep up the humor gentlemen; it's all in good fun.

Midget.

[Burns]

I'll take second to Plato (or perhaps third to Socrates) if you'll give Hooligan second to Newton. BTW as to "old" I'll be 67 this summer and have been on two wheels and a motor for over 50 of those years.

All's well that ends well and I've learned a bit about the FJ suspension as well as the culture of the board in this exchange.

My thanks to you all.

[FJ_Hooligan]

Peace. 

Good on you for still riding ... and learning.

I'm still a pup, only 45 years on a bike.