More Ground Clearance Needed

[roadrash]

I'm always scraping my feet and pegs when cornering.

I want to raise the pegs, shifter and brake lever for more ground clearance to help prevent this.

Any suggestions.

Thanks, Bill

 

[Woodstock]

Feet is easy. Get on the balls of your feet.

If you shift your weight a bit more toward the inside, you'll not have to lean the bike as much. If you're "hanging off" and still grinding the pegs, then I'd say you have the wrong bike.

 

[FJRocket]

How much "sag" is there on your bike? Are you a big guy with the suspension set too soft? Maybe your bike is hunkering down too much? So perhaps you don't have to raise the bike, just stop it from squatting it too much.

If that's not the case, see Woody's post above.

 

[dobias]

roadrash,

(I think I know why you chose that name) ;-)

If the supension is taut, buy shorter shock links from WildHairAccessories. That will raise the FJR up an inch.

dobias <_<

 

[markjenn]

I agree, in stock form, the FJR's cornering clearance is an issue. I noticed it the day I bought the bike.

I started off cheap and bumped the preload up in back as far as I could, first with the lever, then with a preload washer. (The guy who was making them isn't any longer - they're still a few floating around though and it's just a simple fat washer.) With the preload on Hard and a 3/16" washer, my bike is marginally acceptable - I stil scrape now and then, but I seldom want to press any harder on this big/heavy a bike. But at the track, it would still be totally unacceptable; fortunately, I have other bikes for the track.

Next step would be a firmer spring. There's a couple outfits making FJR springs for the stock shock, or you can get a new damper too. On other bikes, I've loved Ohlins and will go with this if I decide to keep my bike long-term. A lot of folks here like the Wilburs.

I haven't tried the new dogbones, but this is a good solution on many bikes:

https://www.whaccessories.com/YamahaFJR1300accessories.htm

I'm not aware of peg-raising kits and wouldn't recommend them if there were. As soon as you raise the pegs, you're going to start hitting something else: exhaust, centerstand, etc. with more serious consequences. And, of course, you'd lose legroom.

- Mark

 

[meosborn]

Ordered my Wilber's with +1/2 inch and that has helped a lot. A full inch would probably be better but I would be careful since with the 1/2 inch extra both tires are touching the ground when the bike is on the center stand. A full inch might take too much weight off the center stand and make it unstable. Just something to consider.

 

[roadrash]

Thank you for the tips and wild hair. I will try raising the rear with the dog bones, onlins or wilbers. Adjusting the brake and shift levers up to keep my big flip flops from scraping especially the shifter when I up shift in the corner.

Question: Are there any sites or tips to help set the suspension on a fjr based on weight? I weigh 185.

Thanks, Bill

 

[markjenn]

Basic suspension setup is to adjust preload so that static sag is about 25-30% of total available suspension travel. This is a completely straightforward setup task. Then you go through the clickers based on how the bike behaves over bumps. This isn't so striaghtforward and requires some intuition and expeience.

There are a number of good books and internet sites on suspension setup. Google will find several.

Some of the magazines give suggested suspension setups in their writeups. I don't recall any for the FJR, but I bet it's been done. I view these only as interesting starting points. Each person is different.

With the cornering clearances issues of the FJR, if you're attempting to increase clearance with preload or a stiffer spring, you're likely to have to have things setup up more stiffly than sag would indicate. There's a tradeoff here.

If you redo the dogbones, I'd be interested in a ride report. It is something I'm considering doing, but if I go Ohlins I'll get a ride height adjuster making it redundant, so I'm holding off.

- Mark

 

[rene]

Thank you for the tips and wild hair. I will try raising the rear with the dog bones, onlins or wilbers. Adjusting the brake and shift levers up to keep my big flip flops from scraping especially the shifter when I up shift in the corner.
Question: Are there any sites or tips to help set the suspension on a fjr based on weight? I weigh 185.

Thanks, Bill

I asked the same question here last week and got lots of good feedback. The direct answer is:

Front Spring preload = 2 lines showing

Rebound dampning = 4 clicks from full stiff

Compression Dampning = 7 clicks from full stiff

Rear Spring preload = Hard position

Rebound dampning = 3 clicks out from full stiff

I set the bike up as such (I weigh 220lbs) and the 120 mile highway cruise to my destination (the destination included lots of twisties) was a little punishing but not horrible. Once I got into the twisties the bike had MUCH less of a floating, couch-like feel and I had no problem keeping up with my buddies (I ride with these guys: www.linesthemovie.com ) The pegs scraped regularly and the right side exhaust touched lightly once (because of a bumpy road and not the suspension), but the bike maintained it's composure.

Hope that helps.

 

[roadrash]

I tryed everybody's no cost tips and they all helped.

Thank you all

 

[Ijuggle]

For suspension setup try looking at: Go Star Racing's website. It is full of good info. I have the WildHair dogbones (18mm lift). The bike handles nicely with the bones. Does not grind on the street anymore. It still grinds when pushed hard on the track. I have the Wilbers. Wilbers shock is a good one but the customer service sucks. Buy an Ohlins or Penske (for the service).