Let the fun begin...RPM Rear Shock

[racerrad8]

Okay, since there has been several questions about how testing is done, so here is the way I go about it.

When I test something like the rear shock, just like the fork valves, I have to use the 80% percent rule. There the top 10% who will be able to tune and/or adjust anything and get more performance out of it. Then there are the bottom 10% that will never reach the performance potential of the product.

Then there is the 80% in the middle that will install the product and they will never give it another thought, because it does satisfy their requirements. These are the majority of the forum members and customers I have. They install a product and the performance achieved will satisfy there ability until they either step up their game and become better riders/drivers or the move on to another thing to play with.

This is a standard criteria for testing & designing any performance items for bike, car, truck, dune buggy, etc. Sure we all want to design a product that will make 100% of the customers 100% satisfied, but just like it is listed here, everyone is an individual. What works for that guy might not work for the next. I get that, but there has to be a majority rules, thus the 80% rule comes into play.

So, I have to build for the 80%. Sure a some of you might get my shock and tell me I need a little more of this or less of that, but then again you might bolt it on and it is within the range satisfied.

When I sent the Penske to the manufacture for rating, I sent them a shock with a reservoir that had all of the adjustments as well as the adjustable detent on the shaft and they ran dyno tests on the shock throughout the various adjustments of shock that could be completed. The reason I was able to get this shock was because it had just been sent in for rebuilding and I was able to get it before it went back on that bike. They then dyno'ed several O.E. shocks I sent them for the other end or the performance spectrum. All of these dyno tests are completed without the spring installed, but the spring rates were noted.

My shock is within a range of the Penske, and with all of their adjustments it has a larger adjustment range, but that is because it really is a universal shock that has been adapted to fit as many bikes as possible; not a specific product for the FJ like I have designed. Since we had the basic curb weight of the FJ, we set the standard rider weight at 190-210lbs and built the shock to perform similar to the Penske, with one big exception.

On my shock the IAT circuit allows the compression valving to be much more aggressive and offer much greater stability & control without the need of a stiff spring during low speed suspension movement (performance riding in the twisties). The soft spring and IAT allow the shock to be able to absorb the high speed suspension movement (sharp bumps & potholes) providing a comfortable ride.

The Penske, Ohlin and any other shock must compromise their performance for ride comfort or they will never sell a shock. Sure they want to adjust the shim stack for optimum performance, but if their valving is that stiff, the bike is not comfortable or even safe for that matter on the roadway as it will be too stiff and skip across the surface. So to compromise for the lighter compression valving they have to incorporate a heavy spring to control the movement.

I can tell you the Penske, Ohlin or any other aftermarket shock you have on your FJ would be laughed at if you were to take it out to the track and let a true racer ride the bike on the track only. They would say the spring is too stiff, then when the spring is lightened, the valving would be too soft. Since the race track is smooth and they do not have to deal with road hazards & potholes (high speed), they can tune the shim stack in the shock for performance only because they only have the suspension compression of the cornering (low speed). They would be adjusting the shim stack to a range much closer the the shim stack we have in my shock.

The company I have manufacturing the front & rear suspension products for me have the patented IAT circuit with allows the bypass to happen for road comfort (high speed), but then IAT does not come into play when they are in the performance mode of the twisties (low speed). But if you really go back and watch some of the videos Mike Ramos has posted documenting the front fork movement, if during the slow speed movement, you encounter a pothole the forks are able to react and absorb the hole and continue to keep the tire patch in contact with the road.

The best thing about all of this technology is you hardly ever feel a thing in the handlebars, but when you start really looking at the videos you can see how much the forks are cycling to keep the contact patch of the tire on the asphalt, but since the spring rates are soft that movement is not transferred into the handlebars or bike.

Look I understand, that everyone has held the Penske as the highest standard for the FJ shock, just like the Race-Tech forks valves as well. But to be honest, those are two major companies that build products they can generate high volumes of product sales because they are a universal item that can be adapted to many other bikes regardless of manufacture, size or weight. Just change the mounting eye, or this spring and put it in your FJ and it is the best thing since sliced bread and your FJ can't get any better. Just like David said, it doesn't take much to make the FJ handle better and to date that is what you have had to choose from; universal products that are a vast improvement over the stock suspension.

But now I have contracted with a company, that has patented technology with the latest shock valving design, manufacturing suspension product specifically for your FJ. This shock will not fit any other make or size of bike. Each of these products was designed and now will be tested by many different persons to hone the performance into the 80% range before I will have it available for sale. For as much as I would like to say I can do all of the testing myself, that is not good business. I would be limiting the product to what I feel and experience, thus the reason there will be many testers on this rear shock just as there was on the front fork valves.

We will not be comparing the suspension characteristics to any other model or make of bike, that is comparing apples & oranges. The testing is to make changes to the product(s) to improve the FJ not compare it to an FZ1, CBR or BMW. Sure during the testing someone might say, that the turn in is like the XXX bike they ride, or the compression feels like a YYY bike they rode at a riding school, but at the end of the day my goal is to offer the best product available for the FJ and nothing else.

So since the race tech website say "the best you have ridden is the best you know", it is time to open the mind to understand there is now technology that is better than you currently know and, "RPM is going to expand your knowledge" by offering you the next level of performance and comfort combined with a product specifically designed, manufactured, tested and soon to be available for your FJ only.

If there is any other question that I can answer please post it up here and I will answer it or get the information to answer it. I am here you you guys.

Randy - RPM

This brings up a question about the fork valves.  When I finally get around to installing my fork valves, the rebound circuit is still active, true?  If not, how do the RPM fork valves bypass the stock rebound circuit?

DavidR.

David, the fork valve has the rebound valving built into it, now quit procrastinating and get those valves installed you have had them for months...

[SlowOldGuy]

Okay,
I'm convinced!

I'm going to stop asking stupid questions and get my butt in gear and install the fork valves this weekend

DavidR.

[nurse]

Two quick questions:

1) will the shock come with a recomended dog bone length for the late models?, or is it a case of 'do for yourself, what you are happiest with' (given we all have different rear end set ups)?

2)What rider weights will the set up be based on?  Anecdotaly having read different threads on here, most of us (optimistically!?! - me included) put ourselves around the 100kg mark - give or take a kilo or 2 or 3 or 4 ..... 

[SlowOldGuy]

Dog bones are kind of a personal thing.  Whatever it takes to touch the rear tire ont eh ground when the bike is on the centerstand is usually the desire.

This is where an adjustable ride height shock comes in handy.  It's not an adjustment you'd need to make frequently, but different beands of tires have slightly differing radii.

Hey Pat,
Can you capture the information that Randy has generously supplied in this post and either "sticky" it or comglomerate it in the Files section somewhere?

DavidR.

[Dan Filetti]

2)What rider weights will the set up be based on?  Anecdotaly having read different threads on here, most of us (optimistically!?! - me included) put ourselves around the 100kg mark - give or take a kilo or 2 or 3 or 4 ..... 

Since we had the basic curb weight of the FJ, we set the standard rider weight at 190-210lbs and built the shock to perform similar to the Penske, with one big exception.

Randy helps those, who help themselves...

Dan

[56 CHEVY]

Very well said Randy. I will order one when it becomes available.

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Pat,
Can you capture the information that Randy has generously supplied in this post and either "sticky" it or comglomerate it in the Files section somewhere?

DavidR.

Will do. I'll also capture Randy's info he posted earlier on the fork valves and put it in the Suspension Files.

[yamaha fj rider]

Randy thanks for the updates and education. Just waiting for you to tell us it's ready to order. Please keep us posted. THANK YOU again Randy.

Kurt

[Tapartacus]

Ball park pricing?
Andrew

[racerrad8]

Ball park pricing?
Andrew

Sorry, not yet.

Randy - RPM

[yamaha fj rider]

Randy different subject, case guards? Renntec? any news? Thank you Randy.

Kurt

[racerrad8]

Randy different subject, case guards? Renntec? any news? Thank you Randy.

Kurt

Yes & no...

The other guy is out of business, they were supposed to send dealer documentation, but they have not replied to any of my other emails.

I am working on it.

Randy - RPM

[yamaha fj rider]

Randy different subject, case guards? Renntec? any news? Thank you Randy.

Kurt

Yes & no...

The other guy is out of business, they were supposed to send dealer documentation, but they have not replied to any of my other emails.

I am working on it.

Randy - RPM

You are awesome!!!! Renntec is unbelievable. Thanks again for looking into this with everything else on you plate.

Kurt   

[SlowOldGuy]

You are awesome!!!! Renntec is unbelievable.    
[/quote]

Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good about the 2 sets of Renntec bars I bought for $95 each a bunch of years ago.

DavidR.

[yamaha fj rider]

You are awesome!!!! Renntec is unbelievable.    

Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good about the 2 sets of Renntec bars I bought for $95 each a bunch of years ago.

DavidR.
[/quote]Do you want to part with one of those?

Kurt