Fencer
Why yes, I am a Smart ASS
+1 on waitingI'll be patient to hear more details.......Realize guys that these [SIZE=12pt]taint[/SIZE] easy for da host, ...
and i think my taint is itching.
Rick. better get the oinment now
+1 on waitingI'll be patient to hear more details.......Realize guys that these [SIZE=12pt]taint[/SIZE] easy for da host, ...
and i think my taint is itching.
From: Victor Pritzker (2005 FJR1300 non-ABS)
Dave,
Recently you, and your highly skilled staff, up graded the suspension on my '05 Yamaha FJR1300. In the past, I have had suspension work done on a variety of sport bikes. The improvements on the already sport oriented machines were significant but incremental. These bikes are very light, and are designed for pure handling and speed as they come from the factory. The improvements one is looking for in handling on these pure sport machines are subtle and in some cases only noticeable in regard to advanced riding skills and at elevated speeds.
The Yamaha FJR1300 is another case altogether.
Although at the sporty end of the large Sport/touring spectrum, this is a very large, heavy machine designed to transport the pilot, perhaps a passenger, two loaded panniers and a top box over long distances at speed and in relative comfort. As it comes from the factory it is credible. Its motor is powerful enough, and its suspension is good enough to keep one amused, even in very twisty circumstances-to a point. At a certain point, a point that is way too early, it reaches its limit. Even when riding without the panniers or any other load, the rear end begins to loose stability and the front end bottoms to such a degree that hard-parts start to make unwanted contact with the road. On the stock suspension, riding briskly through bumpy corners can badly unsettle the chassis. I hoped that by doing a suspension up- grade, I would be able to achieve the same subtle increments of improvement I was used to on sport bikes; and be allowed the added pleasure of increased cornering speed and perhaps even a bit more stability. I love the comfort; luggage carrying ability and long range of this bike but wanted to have the pleasure of better handling, and more stability as well.
I took your advice and had you do the full front-end rebuild; with your selection of appropriate pistons and shim stacks as well as carefully chosen Eibach springs. For the rear end, you installed a fully adjustable Ohlins shock with remote hydraulic preload adjustment.
I left you with a very good bike that had what anyone would think of as a more than adequate suspension with more than adequate capabilities. What I got back was something else. What I picked up and took for its first ride was an entirely new machine. Clearly, the chassis was capable of a lot more than the original front forks and rear shock would allow. Immediately, several things were evident:
- Increased lean angles that I had not been able to achieve without touching down or wallowing were easily achieved.
- Elevated corner speeds were possible because the rear end was no longer upset by irregular pavement.
- Higher average speeds and higher gear choices in twisties came easily as the chassis is no longer upset by anything.
- I have confidence in being able to enter corners at any lean angle the tires can take without scraping a peg.
- I feel 100% safer on my bike as I now am confidant in its abilities.
While this bike retains all of its touring capabilities, it now has the sporting capabilities I so dearly missed!
I am now able to use the whole tire-right to the edge-as it was designed to be used. It is now possible to have the Sport part of the sport/touring experience. The bike is 100% more comfortable as the suspension works so much better at smoothing out road irregularities, even during non-aggressive riding.
I am able to exercise the really good engine of this bike at will as the suspension is capable of handling more aggressive corner exit speed and more aggressive side to side transitions. The fully adjustable suspension allows for easy adjustment for passenger or luggage weight variations. The point to all this is that the result of your work exceeded my expectations. I now really love to ride this bike, where I used to just like to ride it.
I would unquestioningly recommend this up-grade to anyone that has a sport touring motorcycle. If they do have one, it's because they wanted to retain the sport aspects of riding, even though they want the comfort, luggage capacity and long range of a tour bike. I am able to report that this is completely possible with Dave's help.
Thank you again for your prompt, courteous, affordable; and entirely expert service. Once again, you have exceeded my expectations. I would be pleased to act as a reference to anyone wishing to have similar work done by your organization.
Very truly yours,
Victor Pritzker
I haven't gotten my shock yet, why haven't they sent me my forks back?, they won't return the e-mail I sent 5 minutes ago, Warchild's doing this for the money, Do I need to put my bike on the center stand to install the shock? Where do the forks tubes go? They didn't send a guy with my order to install this stuff, Do I need tools do do this? What's a torque wrench? I'm telling Mom. :clown2:Those of you who have been on the forums for a while now know full well that these more popular Group Buys can really be a total goat-rope, especially when members behave like sharks during a feeding frenzy. First they demand instantaneous information, and then many of these same folks complained loudly when they perceive that they were not being serviced fast enough, as if they are the sole customer... anyone remember that?
After only 2 days since the GP Suspension Group Buy started, the stats to date are:
Eibach fork springs - 3 orders
Ohlins rear shock: 5 orders
Wilbers overhauls - 6 orders
Penske rear shock - 13 orders
Fork Rebuilds: - 26 orders
More or less about what I expected after only 2 days, with the exception of the somewhat lean Eibach fork spring orders thus far. It could be that the multiple Wilbers GBs we had in the past already took care of a lot of folks who were inclined to upgrade the suspenders anyway....After only 2 days since the GP Suspension Group Buy started, the stats to date are:
Eibach fork springs - 3 orders
Ohlins rear shock: 5 orders
Wilbers overhauls - 6 orders
Penske rear shock - 13 orders
Fork Rebuilds: - 26 orders
Is that good?
Is that more or less than you were expecting or just right?
I asked that question by email and this was the response:Any chance of simply scoring the fork rebuild kit? :dntknw: They seem to sell others, just curious if this would apply here or should I go seek this out on my own...
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