Putting more weight on the front

[MTLZD]

Hi all,

I'm trying to change the geometry a little bit to make the bike slightly more eager to change direction. I will drop the forks for about 1.2cm, that's all that the slip-on risers will allow before they touch, and that's what has worked in the past for me. I'm also thinking about putting a spacer under the rear shock, so I want to see if anyone has done it before I go ahead and figure it out ony own.

Any land all suggestions welcome!

[Pat Conlon]

Please go to your profile and put into your signature line that you have a 1987 FJ1200. That info will then automatically appear in your posts, you won't have to remind us. That info will help us, help you.

Unlike the '88 and later FJ's that use the dog bone style of swingarm linkage, your '87 does not have that, so the only way I'm aware of raising your rear end height is by using a longer shock. Several aftermarket shock manufacturers have a threaded adjustable shaft on their shocks for this purpose.

You could convert your linkage over to the '88-95 FJ dog bone linkage but that's a lot of work and seeing that you probably need to replace your weak sauce oem shock anyway, it's easier to just get an adjustable length shock to begin with...

Your instincts are spot on, kudos.
IMHO one of the best improvements in FJ handling comes from getting more weight on that front tire.

Cheers

Pat

[Sparky84]

Hi all,

I'm trying to change the geometry a little bit to make the bike slightly more eager to change direction. I will drop the forks for about 1.2cm, that's all that the slip-on risers will allow before they touch, and that's what has worked in the past for me. I'm also thinking about putting a spacer under the rear shock, so I want to see if anyone has done it before I go ahead and figure it out ony own.

Any land all suggestions welcome!

Not sure how you would fit a spacer.

As suggested you can get length adjustable shock, but you can also get a shock with a longer thread for the lower eye, YSS do one but sounds like you want to do it a bit cheaper, maybe your existing shock has a removable eye you could replace.

Good Luck

[MTLZD]

Thank you both! I will keep all that in mind. I actually have an aftermarket shock, so I'll see what I can do with it.
I have amended the signature as suggested.

[MTLZD]

Hi all,

I'm trying to change the geometry a little bit to make the bike slightly more eager to change direction. I will drop the forks for about 1.2cm, that's all that the slip-on risers will allow before they touch, and that's what has worked in the past for me. I'm also thinking about putting a spacer under the rear shock, so I want to see if anyone has done it before I go ahead and figure it out ony own.

Any land all suggestions welcome!

Not sure how you would fit a spacer.

As suggested you can get length adjustable shock, but you can also get a shock with a longer thread for the lower eye, YSS do one but sounds like you want to do it a bit cheaper, maybe your existing shock has a removable eye you could replace.

Good Luck

so yeah, I have a Wilbers with remote adjustment, and I always want it cheaper, ideally elbow grease and that's it  I'll dive in over the weekend and see what I can do about it

[giantkiller]

I put the Honda shock on mine. With a 900lb spring. It put my back tire lightly on the pavement when on the center stand. And I put gixxer 1000 forks on it. I let my neighbor who raced a gixxer 1000 locally Elkhart lake raceway. And the track in Illinois that I can't remember the name. He was second in points at the time. Take it for a spin. He was gone a really long time. When he finally came back. I could see his smile through his face shield. He jumped off took his helmet off. And as he was staring at the bike.  He said I don't know what you did! But you got the geometry just right. He said it turns in better than my race bike.

[MTLZD]

I put the Honda shock on mine. With a 900lb spring. It put my back tire lightly on the pavement when on the center stand. And I put gixxer 1000 forks on it. I let my neighbor who raced a gixxer 1000 locally Elkhart lake raceway. And the track in Illinois that I can't remember the name. He was second in points at the time. Take it for a spin. He was gone a really long time. When he finally came back. I could see his smile through his face shield. He jumped off took his helmet off. And as he was staring at the bike.  He said I don't know what you did! But you got the geometry just right. He said it turns in better than my race bike.

Unfortunately I cannot swap the front end and put a 17" wheel because here it has to have the catalogue sizes, otherwise fails the test and can't be registered. If I don't manage as is, I'll definitely find a longer shock. Maybe I'll even raise the seat a little to put me higher and more forward.