RPM Shocks

[Tom]

Hi All,
   I am looking at the RPM shock for my '88. The roads I ride on vary from tight, bumpy, twisty to open, flowing and long straights. Also city riding. Are they good shockers?

[aviationfred]

Here is the write up and subsequent ride reports of the RPM shock going through the final road tests before release to the public.

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=7469.0

Fred

[Dan Filetti]

Hi All,
   I am looking at the RPM shock for my '88. The roads I ride on vary from tight, bumpy, twisty to open, flowing and long straights. Also city riding. Are they good shockers?

An 88 you say?  There are three varieties of that shock and given that you have the rare (to the US) '88, I am not at all certain which one you'd need.  Do make sure you work closely with Randy.  All reports are that the shock completely transform/ modernizes the FJ.  I have yet to read a single bad thing about it.

Good luck,

Dan

[fj11.5]

Lots of 88,s down under, although most often look the same as the 89

[Bozo]

RPM didn't really have the right shock for my 1989 model, so I bought the 1991 shock and adapted it to suit. I have ridden bikes (many new) with the best shocks on the market, and I can tell you now none can compete with the RPM shock in a broad spectrum of riding and to top it off apart from the preload there was no other adjustment required (can't be changed anyway).

Am I happy with it? F##@ ooF I am, best value for money - try the "equivalent" (if there is one) high tech shock and see how much you'll pay and still not compete over the same spectrum of riding. I might ride like an old girl sometimes but when I do brake out I will torture my shock and it never gave me a feeling of letting go, if anything it felt better.

And no I don't work for and owe Randy any favors.

GO FOR IT.

[Tom]

Well then, thanks for the replies on the RPM shock, i'm going to do it. At the moment I'm bouncing around like a yo yo!!

[fintip]

I thought 88's were just a continuation of the 86/87 styles, not a pre-89, no?

If so, you should buy the '86/'87 style shock (an 88 was not sold in the US). Wait for someone to confirm this, though. If I'm wrong, I'll have to go edit a lot of references on fjowners.wikidot.com.

And yeah, the RPM shock is definitely the way to go.

[FJmonkey]

Most 88's were the pre 89's, but some countries, not many, extended the 86' year.

[racerrad8]

I have been in contact with Tom and we will determine what he has before moving forward.

The quick way to tell which way a specific 1988 FJ1200 bike went is the swingarm linkage.

All aluminum (84-87) or if it has dog bones (89-90)

Randy - RPM

[FJmonkey]

I have been in contact with Tom and we will determine what he has before moving forward.

The quick way to tell which way a specific 1988 FJ1200 bike went is the swingarm linkage.

All aluminum (84-87) or if it has dog bones (89-90)

Randy - RPM

Yep, that is till I upgrade to dog bones...

[Bozo]

Most 88's were the pre 89's, but some countries, not many, extended the 86' year.

Damn now even I am confused, as Randy stated he'll sort this out. I'm sure he'll pass the info on.

[FJmonkey]

Most 88's were the pre 89's, but some countries, not many, extended the 86' year.

Damn now even I am confused, as Randy stated he'll sort this out. I'm sure he'll pass the info on.

It is really simple as Randy stated. A quick look under your FJ and you will see either a solid looking aluminum link, or the dog bone shaped links. Dog bones = 89' and up. 

Dog bone shape

[racerrad8]

Okay, Tom's 88 has 89-89 shock and swing arm linkages.

I will keep track and ask each person who is ordering for the illusive 1988 version of the FJ1200 to send me a picture of the swing arm linkages to determine the correct shock for them.

Randy - RPM

[X-Ray]

I am really,really trying to find some spare cash before our Anniversary ride next year to treat my baby to a new rear shock unit. I think the last time I actually did anything to it was when Baldy got the new spring put on many many moons ago.

It is long overdue for an upgrade to perfection,

[Bozo]

I am really,really trying to find some spare cash before our Anniversary ride next year to treat my baby to a new rear shock unit. I think the last time I actually did anything to it was when Baldy got the new spring put on many many moons ago.

It is long overdue for an upgrade to perfection,

For $20 I'll let you look at my RPM shock when you get there, for $30 I might let you touch it, - cheaper than buying one.