Rear shock for a cheapskate

[TriumphRider]

Hello to all Yamaha FJ aficionados!

I'm posting this question for a friend who bought a 1986 FJ1200 last year but does not speak or understand english.

The rear shock on his bike is in bad shape. The rear tire hits the frame when riding 2up and has already damaged the tire quite badly.

So I searched this forum and found quite a few threads about this same issue but they all seem to come to the same conclusion: "Buy a penske!".

While the Penske is propably a great upgrade, its price is more than 50% of what he paid for the bike in the first place. His bike is otherwise in good condition but the Penske is still out of question because of its price.

The question is: Is there a cheaper alternative to the Penske? Something in the range of maybe 200-500 dollars? I already learned from this forum that rebuilding the stock shock is out of question/not worth the money. Or should he just give up riding 2up? 

Any help appreciated, thanks in advance! 

[jwh]

you could try a hagon shock, made in uk about £280 new and i am sure they would send one to finland.

[Arnie]

He could also look for a used shock from another bike with a heavier spring than the FJ's and maybe with more external adjustment.  Make sure the ends are the same as the stock shock and that it's unladen length is the same or slightly longer.

I used a Honda (showa) F4 shock and had a clevis welded onto the lower end so it would fit my '91 FJ.  This made it 20-25mm longer than the OEM FJ shock, but I was able to compensate with custom suspension links.  The '86 model doesn't have the simple links, so you'd have to measure carefully to make sure the length was not too much greater.

Most on this list seem to agree that up to 50mm more ride height is "good", especially if you modify the rear with a 17" wheel and run radial tires.  However, what others like may be unsuitable for your friend.  This is a case of "suck it and see".

BTW  I paid US$40 for the shock and another $30 to get it shipped to Australia.

Cheers,
Arnie

[craigo]

I used a Honda (showa) F4 shock and had a clevis welded onto the lower end so it would fit my '91 FJ.  This made it 20-25mm longer than the OEM FJ shock, but I was able to compensate with custom suspension links.  The '86 model doesn't have the simple links, so you'd have to measure carefully to make sure the length was not too much greater.

Cheers,
Arnie

Hi Arnie,

Just to clarify, you used a shock from a CBR600F4 similar to this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/01-06-HONDA-CBR-600-F4I-F4-REAR-SUSPENSION-SHOCK-SPRING-1148-/120809137371?hash=item1c20c924db&item=120809137371&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

Did you have to go with a heavier spring with this as well? This shock looks like it might just bolt up to the 86-87 FJ, unless the eyelets are different size. Or am I wrong?

CraigO

[Mark Olson]

Hello to all Yamaha FJ aficionados!

I'm posting this question for a friend who bought a 1986 FJ1200 last year but does not speak or understand english.

The rear shock on his bike is in bad shape. The rear tire hits the frame when riding 2up and has already damaged the tire quite badly.

So I searched this forum and found quite a few threads about this same issue but they all seem to come to the same conclusion: "Buy a penske!".

While the Penske is propably a great upgrade, its price is more than 50% of what he paid for the bike in the first place. His bike is otherwise in good condition but the Penske is still out of question because of its price.

The question is: Is there a cheaper alternative to the Penske? Something in the range of maybe 200-500 dollars? I already learned from this forum that rebuilding the stock shock is out of question/not worth the money. Or should he just give up riding 2up? 

Any help appreciated, thanks in advance! 

the way cheap is to remove the adjustment chain and tighten up the stock spring so it raises the rear up . go 1 full turn to start and 2 if the passenger is hefty . make sure you put the adj chain back on, or the shock will self adjust and loosen up. this will put some bounce in your rear as well  .

[rktmanfj]

raises the rear up . go 1 full turn to start and 2 if the passenger is hefty . make sure you put the adj chain back on, or the shock will self adjust and loosen up. this will put some bounce in your rear as well  .

+1

IIRC, my shock is currently set to 7 (on a scale 5).     

Penske coming soon, if I am lucky.

[TriumphRider]

the way cheap is to remove the adjustment chain and tighten up the stock spring so it raises the rear up . go 1 full turn to start and 2 if the passenger is hefty . make sure you put the adj chain back on, or the shock will self adjust and loosen up. this will put some bounce in your rear as well  .

We will definitely try this for starters, thanks!

[carey]

I used a Honda (showa) F4 shock and had a clevis welded onto the lower end so it would fit my '91 FJ.  This made it 20-25mm longer than the OEM FJ shock, but I was able to compensate with custom suspension links.  The '86 model doesn't have the simple links, so you'd have to measure carefully to make sure the length was not too much greater.

Arnie,

That shock might be a btter fit for an 86, if the CBR shock is at least as long as the FJ.  The 86 shock has eyes on both ends.

[Arnie]

Craigo,

I used a shock and stock spring almost exactly the same as that one.  Mine was a bit newer and had less scratching and cosmetic faults.  I did NOT change the spring and it is just about perfect IMO on my '91.
What I did have to change was cutting the eye nearer the hose in half and having a clevis welded to it to fit my '91 bike.  I hung the remote reservoir under the swingarm.  Works great.  I did have to make new links as stated below, but you may be fine since you're not extending the shock length like I did.  Check the C to C distance of the eyes.

Hope it works for you. :-)
Arnie

I used a Honda (showa) F4 shock and had a clevis welded onto the lower end so it would fit my '91 FJ.  This made it 20-25mm longer than the OEM FJ shock, but I was able to compensate with custom suspension links.  The '86 model doesn't have the simple links, so you'd have to measure carefully to make sure the length was not too much greater.

Cheers,
Arnie

Hi Arnie,

Just to clarify, you used a shock from a CBR600F4 similar to this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/01-06-HONDA-CBR-600-F4I-F4-REAR-SUSPENSION-SHOCK-SPRING-1148-/120809137371?hash=item1c20c924db&item=120809137371&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

Did you have to go with a heavier spring with this as well? This shock looks like it might just bolt up to the 86-87 FJ, unless the eyelets are different size. Or am I wrong?

CraigO

[craigo]

Hi Arnie,

Thanks for making that clear. I think I want to wait for Randy to introduce his shock first before I make a buying decision. Something about cutting and welding suspension parts just does not bode well with me. If I had a 1TX, I would look into this as a straight bolt on option.

Thanks again,

CraigO

[FJ Flyer]

I picked up a Progressive shock on closeout for less than half the cost of the Penske.  Sprung for the Penske for the FJR, tho.

[rktmanfj]

I picked up a Progressive shock on closeout for less than half the cost of the Penske.  Sprung for the Penske for the FJR, tho.

Har, har!     

[SlowOldGuy]

Yeah, but even that Progressive shock was infinitely better than your stock shock which had ZERO damping (I still don't know how you could ride that thing so well with that shock).  Bungie cords and rubber bands would have been an improvement.

How do you like the Penske on the FJR?  I've started commuting on the FZ1 and am thinking about a Penske for it.

DavidR.

[FJ Flyer]

Well, yeah, the FJ shock was pretty well spent.  

Got the Penske shock and Race Tech gold valves and springs in the forks.  It rides like a new bike, or better than new, now.  At 58K miles, both ends were feeling pretty horrible. (Still not as bad as the FJ shock was.) Harsh, really.

Now the FJR feels stable and planted and nice and smooth over rough roads.  Wish I was going to Boone to really see how well it does.

[jscgdunn]

I used a Honda (showa) F4 shock and had a clevis welded onto the lower end so it would fit my '91 FJ.  This made it 20-25mm longer than the OEM FJ shock, but I was able to compensate with custom suspension links.  The '86 model doesn't have the simple links, so you'd have to measure carefully to make sure the length was not too much greater.

Cheers,
Arnie

Hi Arnie,

Just to clarify, you used a shock from a CBR600F4 similar to this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/01-06-HONDA-CBR-600-F4I-F4-REAR-SUSPENSION-SHOCK-SPRING-1148-/120809137371?hash=item1c20c924db&item=120809137371&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

Did you have to go with a heavier spring with this as well? This shock looks like it might just bolt up to the 86-87 FJ, unless the eyelets are different size. Or am I wrong?

CraigO

This is great advice.  Although I would love to use the penske or another new one it seems over the top to spend $1,000 or more on a $1,500 bike.  If anyone has other sucessful adaptions it would be great to hear.  Lots of late model shocks on ebaby for less than $100 each. For us "slow old guy riders" they might work well enough.  Well worth researching I think.   Jeff