Rear shock

[giantkiller]

 Even with the 950. I still have way too much sag. Have you ever checked to see what yours is..

But like I said it's way better than the fj shock.

If and when I have the extra cash. I'll be getting the RPM shock

[fj1289]

They are under spung. But still a lot better than stock. You can get a heavier spring from eibach for about $69. The honda guys generally think 950lb spring is as big as you want to go with stock valves.

Randy is also a dealer for Eibach...as well as all your FJ crack needs!

[Goetz]

i did the f4i mod, love it, bike sits a bit higher but then the po had cut the spring on the stocker for... I dunno... Squid power or something. Rode like a pig. much better now. Not enough spring for the weight of the bike + my 230lbs but the front is undersprung too so at least it's balanced

[movenon]

I have an Honda f4i on a 1990. I weight 206 -212 range. I feel that the stock spring is OK up to about 220 but above that with a loaded bike the preload is about maxed out. I like the f4i for the time being. Waiting for my "ship" to arrive.... I think it's at the bottom of the ocean.....
George

[fj11.5]

If your ship is the titanic ,then I think my fork valves were on it too  or was it the cash to buy them 

[movenon]

Guess I am screwed now....      
George

[Bozo]

The shock page (still needs work, but a good starting point)

http://fjowners.wikidot.com/rear-shock

Fintip, great summary, well done. I noticed you have done this on other topics.

[craigo]

The shock page (still needs work, but a good starting point)

http://fjowners.wikidot.com/rear-shock

Fintip, great summary, well done. I noticed you have done this on other topics.

I really like the fjownerswikidot. A lot of great information in one place. Easy to navigate also.
Thanks a bunch again for your hard work.

CraigO

[Arnie]

i did the f4i mod, love it, bike sits a bit higher but then the po had cut the spring on the stocker for... I dunno... Squid power or something.

Cutting the spring would make it stiffer.  You'd have to make up the height with a spacer and make sure you don't get "coil bind" at full compression.

"Waiting for my "ship" to arrive" (a variation of 'When my ship comes in')  refers to becoming rich.

Arnie

[Mike Ramos]

Good evening everyone,

Prior to the new rear shock from R.P.M. becoming available, I replaced the stock shock with a shock from a late model Yamaha sport bike.  Also installed was a heavier spring which was recommended along with an adjustment collar for spring preload.

This particular shock had adjustments for low & high speed dampening as well as rebound.  When it was tested on the dyno, its' performance matched the HondaF4i shock almost exactly.  No doubt a marked improvement over the stock unit, which quickly bit the dust once the Fork Valves were installed.

Well, once the rear shock from RPM was installed, the improvement in ride quality [under any condition] over the sport bike shock was more profound than the improvement of the sport bike shock over the stock unit; in my estimation at least several times more.

When paired with the Fork Valves (and Fork Brace) the suspension is as modern as any that is currently available from any other manufacture for the FJ's.  And bear in mind these items are FJ specific, not universal parts that are then modified for what is essentially a compromise in performance.

Notably, because of the hydraulics involved, softer shock springs are used (and lighter weight fork oil), which allow for a comfortable over the road ride yet perform quite well, actually very well indeed, during spirited back road riding.  Counter intuitive as it my seem, it really works very well.

And frankly, as far as USD's are concerned the units I have seen installed on several FJ's are old, first generation units which have been superseded by the suspension components offered by the gentleman from R.P.M.  Any statements to the contrary are just preaching to the choir.  Pricewise, where else can for a relatively modest sum can you modify your FJ into a very nice handling and modern classic?  It is a killer of a deal.

Keep smiling & ride safe,

Mike the Midget.

[baldy3853]

+1 on that Mike the front eats any USD combo I've seen on FJ's and for an even better price too. 
Baldy

[X-Ray]

Yep, just waiting on the email from Randy to say the valves are back in stock. Can't afford a new shock this year, maybe next year.

Heres a thought about fork braces. I was going to order one and a mate was over and pointed at the stamped aluminum plate that the front guard bolts to. This plate in turn is bolted to the fork legs in 4 places, so it in itself would act as a "fork brace". Its a strong piece of aluminum, certainly doesn't have the thickness of a proper brace of course, but it did get me thinking whether it would do the job as a rudimentary brace.

[fj11.5]

, I've been waiting  for the fork valves too,, as for the oem brace, check out the mounting holes, usually they are  no longer round , thus the reason for a propper rpm brace

[Goetz]

AS to the cut spring, the po shaved about %30 off it from what I could tell and did not install a spacer. IT was a rough ride.

[Bozo]

+1 on that Mike the front eats any USD combo I've seen on FJ's and for an even better price too. 
Baldy

+2 on the RPM combo, even if the budget is tight (I saved for a year to get mine after my other shock rode like crap), ride the crap out of the old suspension till you can afford the combo.