2014A or ES: Heavy Suspension help before possible deposit

[MCRIDER007]

Newbie to the FJR forum - so this is post 1!!!OK - the '14FJR ES has many, many different suspension settings. but don't you usually find the one that suits you, and leave it that way forever? I am an ST1300 owner (for now) and i can adjust that suspension too, but I don't. I found the sweet spot and there it stays. 50% riding one up, and 50% riding two up.

Sorry, I'll go back in the corner now.

You are asking a good question. I think everyone looks for the suspension's "sweet spot" but the reality is that suspension is always a compromise that is effected by road surface, load, air temperature, speed, and oil viscosity (which in turn is effected by age and internal temperatures that vary between the forks and shock). In theory, electronic suspensions give the rider the ability to easily search for a new sweet spot when conditions change. However, the best way to do that would be for the rider to be able to individually adjust both the rebound and compression damping on the shock and forks independently (while riding) and that currently is not being offered on any of the existing ES .....which instead use preset damping positions that change all the damping adjustments in the same direction.

 

[Cal24Master]

I am putting down a deposit on a 2014 A model today. Thanks for all of the help. I have lived fine with the 2008 suspension. Most of the riding is done by myself. Occassionally my wife joins me. If the ES is not going to be better than the A model for two up, then I'll stick with the heavily discounted A model.

On my 2004 I played with the suspension when I got it (meaning I set it to the heavier side of average). Never touched it after that.

My 2008 is still set at the settings it came with (except back shock to hard). I take incredible care of my bike, but the suspension is the one thing I don't understand that well, the bike rides great, so I don't worry about it. Think the ES model would be lost on someone like me.

Thanks again.

I have to tell you, I think you will regret it. I have about 10,000 miles on my ES now. I am a 300lb rider and even with the fuel cell and fully loaded, the highest spring pre-load setting is too stiff. I typically run the pre-load at 1up+luggage, (2 out of 4). If I am riding a fast twisty road I will increase it to 2 up. I set the dampening on all settings to hard+3, std 0 and soft +3. That allows me to set it pretty soft when the road is rough, and stiffen it up in the twisties.

If you find, as some have suggested that the spring is still too soft on the ES, you can easily replace it. I had the suspension guy at Catalyst Reaction look at mine and he said it was a KYB shock that can be rebuildable and it is no big deal to replace the spring.

The reason you set the suspension and leave it is that you have no other option on standard suspension. Once you learn how to use the adjustable suspension it makes riding much, much more enjoyable. There is a reason they are dumping the A models, you get so much more with the ES that it is a no brainer. You can buy a A, put probably $2,000 in suspension work into it and it still won't be as good at the ES suspension. You will still end up setting it up at a compromise position and seldom be riding the bike at the best settings for the road conditions.

There is no reason to buy the A model other than price. I got my ES in California for over $1,000 under list price. In my opinion you would have to get a A model for at least $2,000 under list to even break even, and more like $3,000 to make it worthwhile.