What Years had Steel Swingarms?

[fj1289]

What years had the steel swingarms?

I think I recall reading too the rear shock was offset to one side a small amount too?  Anyone know if that is true?  If so offset to which side?  By how much?

Thanks!   

[Country Joe]

Only the 3XW bikes received the steel swing arms. The offset is in the top shock mount on the frame and the relay arm. Everything about the swing arm is symmetrical.  As far as how much it is offset, I don't remember the exact number, but it's around 1/4".

[fj1289]

3XV = all '91-93? Or just the ABS models?   Thanks!

[Pat Conlon]

All '91-93's models (ABS and Non ABS) had the same steel swing arm and offset shock.

To show what Joe mentioned, here is a picture of a '89/90 relay arm (top) and a '91/93 (bottom)
You can notice the offset for the lower shock mount on the '91-93 relay arm.



Sorry for the dark picture on the top relay arm.

However, as Joe also correctly mentions, the '89/90 aluminum and '91/93 steel swing arms have the same mounting points.
The '91/93 shock offset is achieved only on by upper frame mount location and lower relay arm mounting points....not on the swing arms.

For example, here's a '89/90 aluminum swing arm replacing the oem steel arm on a '93 FJ and it fits just fine.

[fj1289]

Thanks gentlemen   

[andyoutandabout]

Double thanks Pat. I'm bumming an information ride off this thread. I know by the rust, that my 91 has a steel swingarm. Pity I threw away my old 86 aluminum one when Pat gave me a lovely polished version for that bike. Oh hum, coulda used that. Anyhow, has some clever chap actually weighed them side by side to reliably call a weight difference?

[fj1289]

Andy - PM sent!

[Pat Conlon]

Andy, you need an 89/90 swinger to fit the 91-93 bikes....they share the same dog bone linkage.

Your old aluminum swinger off your '86 has a different linkage set up.

[andyoutandabout]

Right again Mr Conlon. On reflection I thought that was probably the case after all. Well good then. I feel better about tossing that old 86 swinger in the bin. So what would you say are the advantages or disadvantages of steel v aluminum. I know aluminum is lighter but I couldn't say by how much for the swingers unit. Would the strength of the two be about the same? In the end I wonder how much real world difference it makes - probably not so much.
Actually upon changing my super trapp to the heavier standard units (thanks Paul) I can't say I notice the extra pounds while riding. It's all low down so I'm thinking the equally low down swing arm would be equally unnoticeable.

[Millietant]

Wha cares about weight and strength Andy, the 88-90 aluminium arms just look sooo much cooler 


But seriously, the paint quality on the steel ones isn't great, so rusting is an issue (even if it's mainly cosmetic) and the switch to steel was done to save cost. The bike was designed from the start with an alloy swinger. So I wouldn't worry about any weight/strength discrepancies - I'd say they both have "plenty in reserve".

I've just supplied the parts from my spare FJ and a bit of advice, to another 3XW owner so he can swap to using the 89 arm and linkage 

[Motofun]

By far the cheapest way to shave a few pounds off the combined weight is to skip McDonalds for a few weeks.  Easier said than done, though.   

[Millietant]

Must be a cultural thing, it's almost 6 years since my last McDonalds. Even though I'm a burger lover, McDonalds just does nothing to tempt me (and even less so when I'm in the USA, where everything at Maccy D's was greasier and sweeter than it is here).

I just can't resist a nice Doner Kebab, or Fish & Chips though 

[Pat Conlon]

McDonald's is an embarrassment to the USA. They sell crap food.

In-N-Out on the other hand.....yum.

[andyoutandabout]

plus one on UK fish and chips. If there is just one thing I miss, other than my Mum, its fish and chips. They are lovely. Had them every day when I went to the Isle of Wight for a week back in 2013.
Heavenly.

[Millietant]

McDonald's is an embarrassment to the USA. They sell crap food.

In-N-Out on the other hand.....yum.

McDonalds sell food ?........!!!!!!!!