honda f4i rear shock

[yamaha fj rider]

I looked it up and the 17 inch is slightly smaller in diameter. That's good. I was wondering if there is a problem with having a bias play in the front and a radial in the back.

Mark

As long as they stick I don't see any problem. But the Radial seems to be the best choice...

Mark

Don't mix and match. Bias front, radial on back sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. Tires are cheap falling down is not. Hope this helps.

Kurt

[FJmonkey]

Don't mix and match. Bias front, radial on back sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. Tires are cheap falling down is not. Hope this helps.

Kurt

I have already broken that taboo, when the budget forced me to make a choice. I knew I was mixing so I felt less comfortable pushing the bias front, but I still had a good ride and no issues. I avoided the dreaded mixing bullet, maybe I just got lucky. I have yet to date seen any proof that mixing is dangerous. This would take a serious complicated and controlled experiment. Maybe some joker will convince the US government to issue a grant for this study... None of the tire companies will endorse an untested concept due to liability alone. They won't even endorse mixing tires from other manufacturers (even if both are radials), go figure.... I chose to run matched tires whenever possible. Anyone know of a documented test of this theory?

[yamaha fj rider]

Radial tires should have a larger contact patch this should equate to more traction. Radial front and bias rear should be better than bias front and radial rear. Most people can handle a little rear drift but when the front tire pushes they fall down. I hate to see people fall down over a simple tire as long as they are informed to the risk of this match up. A good sticky bias may have more grip than a more mileage oriented radial. If you can't afford a new tire at this time, fine just ride easy until you can. FJmonkey I think you have this common sense many do not. Waiting on mirrors and front brake lines for my FJ. Hay do you have that pink stripe yet??? 

Kurt     

[FJmonkey]

Hay do you have that pink stripe yet??? 
Kurt     

Many already think I am am deep into the pink. In some ways I might agree. The teasing is part of the game many play and enjoy. The contact patch is why I kept cognizant of the mixed tires. Maybe I am just a freak that is worried about this detail but is seems quite normal to me. Don't we all watch the "Big Bang Theory"?

[chocker]

The shock is on but there is a problem with the preload. I turned the collar clockwise to the highest setting which I believe is 7 and I'm getting a rider sag of 80 mm and a static sag of 45 mm. I know that I am turning it in the right direction because I tried it the other way and there was a greater distance for the sage. This seems to be way off what is normal. I weigh about 220 lbs (100 kg).

Mark

[yamaha fj rider]

Hay do you have that pink stripe yet???  
Kurt    

Many already think I am am deep into the pink. In some ways I might agree. The teasing is part of the game many play and enjoy. The contact patch is why I kept cognizant of the mixed tires. Maybe I am just a freak that is worried about this detail but is seems quite normal to me. Don't we all watch the "Big Bang Theory"?

If you know to be careful with this set up and use your head you will be fine most don't. Watch the BIG BANG you are not that old.  Isn't pink is the new red?

Kurt

[FJmonkey]

If you know to be careful with this set up and use your head you will be fine most don't. Watch the BIG BANG you are not that old.  Isn't pink is the new red
Kurt

Stop drinking the OEM Koolaid, and yes, any Red can be made Pink if you dilute it, I am Not Diluted (disillusioned maybe) ... Big Bang is not age related, it is how some very tech based people think. The show has some extreme Hollywood stereotypes. The Red Power Ranger is 45 and thinks he is still 25.... Well maybe not 25...  Maybe 30 something... But loves his FJ Kookalooo any time he can get it...

[ribbert]

Don't mix and match. Bias front, radial on back sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. Tires are cheap falling down is not. Hope this helps.

Kurt

I have already broken that taboo, when the budget forced me to make a choice. I knew I was mixing so I felt less comfortable pushing the bias front, but I still had a good ride and no issues. I avoided the dreaded mixing bullet, maybe I just got lucky. I have yet to date seen any proof that mixing is dangerous. This would take a serious complicated and controlled experiment. Maybe some joker will convince the US government to issue a grant for this study... None of the tire companies will endorse an untested concept due to liability alone. They won't even endorse mixing tires from other manufacturers (even if both are radials), go figure.... I chose to run matched tires whenever possible. Anyone know of a documented test of this theory?

Prior to my rear wheel conversion, I ran several combinations of radial/bias tyres (radial on 17"front)   No big deal, handled well enough, until I fitted a Sport Demon after 2 Macadams, within minutes of riding out of the tyre shop I pulled over convinced they had left the wheel loose, they hadn't. Checked the frame bolts, fine.  It was scary to ride and ANY imperfection in the road, particularly longitudinal ones, felt like it was about to spit me off.  Hold a line through a corner, forget it, it was more like choose a side of the road and try and stay between the centreline and the edge.  Cross the overbanding and it would jump half a lane.  Having repeatedly checked everything on the bike that could cause such a terrible trait I concluded that my new back tyre simply didn't like my current front tyre.

There was nothing wrong with the Sport Demon and it was the same size as the Macadams but was sufficiently different so as not to be compatible with the front.  I sort of got used to it, or at least could ride around it, but what a pig.  Or, as someone put it, like riding a rubber cow.  The minute I got rid of that tyre, the bike was back to normal.

I would rate how the bike handled and braked as dangerous.

So, sometimes you can, sometimes you can't.

Noel

[yamaha fj rider]

I have only mixed radial front (avon) and bias (bridgestone factory tire) rear once. Doing some tuning and time on dyno finished late had to close up shop for the night and did not want to do a tire swap at 11:00 pm. Rode it home then back to work the next day. Rode fine but took it very easy. Not just because of the mix and match but that rear tire went through hell while bike was on the dyno. That next day was a Saturday and super busy did not have time to give the old tire a proper send off. Let one of the tech's swap out the rear tire and he scratched my rim.   That was the last time I let someone else work on it. Coincidence I think not.  

Kurt

[chocker]

Once I have all the parts for the 17 inch wheel mod I will buy the radials for the front and the rear. The shock is on but there is a problem with the preload. I turned the collar clockwise to the highest setting which I believe is 7 and I'm getting a rider sag of 80 mm and a static sag of 45 mm. I know that I am turning it in the right direction because I tried it the other way and there was a greater distance for the sage. This seems to be way off what is normal. I weigh about 220 lbs (100 kg).

Mark

[Arnie]

Mark,

I weigh about the same and have only about 30mm sag.  Do you think the nitrogen may have been released from the remote?  It does contribute part of the total springing of the shock. 

Arnie

Once I have all the parts for the 17 inch wheel mod I will buy the radials for the front and the rear. The shock is on but there is a problem with the preload. I turned the collar clockwise to the highest setting which I believe is 7 and I'm getting a rider sag of 80 mm and a static sag of 45 mm. I know that I am turning it in the right direction because I tried it the other way and there was a greater distance for the sage. This seems to be way off what is normal. I weigh about 220 lbs (100 kg).

Mark

[chocker]

How would I be able to verify this?

Mark

[Arnie]

You'd probably have to take the shock to a suspension shop that can put a gauge on the valve and add gas if necessary.  Start by making sure that all the fittings are tight.

Arnie

How would I be able to verify this?

Mark

[chocker]

When I got it, it seemed to be tight. I checked the connection for the remote to the shock and it wouldn't budge. There didn't seem to be anything loose around the dampening screw either. Where is the valve on the CBR600 shock to check this. I am just curious, I won't check the pressure myself.

Mark

[chocker]

I pulled the shock and it turned out it was set at 2. I went to a suspension shop and they crancked to 7. I installed it and it is way better. I will test the sag soon and find out what it is.

Mark