Rear shock improvements

[ww327]

I purchased a new 2013 FJR last year. I really like the bike, BUT when I ride with my wife every bump in the road goes up the through the rear tire and shock right to her back and neck. I weigh 185 pounds and she weighs 175 pounds with all our gear on. I always flip the lever to the 2 rider mode. I softened the suspension settings and had gel installed in her seat. It improved her ride, but still not good. She prefers the ride of my old Suzuki V-Strom 650, which I sold.

From looking at other posts I see the Penske shock is popular. But which one - single, double, triple or inline?

I've also seen people switch to an 800 # spring. Is this if I keep the stock shock? Or in addition to a new shock?

I looking for any suggestions.

My goal is "Happy wife = happy life"

Thanks for your help.

Jim

 

[rickysnickers]

Depends on your budget, but that goes w/o saying. I have a Wilbers on my, but the Penske or Ohlins are both good choices as well. If you don't want to spend that kind of money, an upgraded spring for the stocker will provide an improvement. If you are going to spend the $ on a new shock, I would just get a double clicker. Unless you are really finicky about you suspension settings and like fooling w/them, you really don't need a triple. These are just my opinions, so take them for what they are worth. . Oh, and my might want to look at throwing some heavier fork springs in as well. They will compliment the new rear spring/shock. They aren't that expensive, at least they weren't for my Gen 1.

 

[exskibum]

Best I can do is link you to my report about my GP Suspension ride-in 4 years ago that finally, completely and comfortably solved my suspension complaints (including pillion issue like yours seems to have):

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/131210-gp-suspension-in-oregon-city-or/?hl=%2Bsuspension+%2Bride-in

 

[zenwhipper]

Ohlins, Penske ... best money you can spend on your bike. Period.

I just did my 2008 with an Ohlins YA707 on the rear and a revalve/upgrade on the front by GP suspension. Freakin' amazing bike now.

 

[Mihalis fjr]

The problem is not the shock,but the little suspension travel of the fjr and any road bike.With an other shock perhaps you will feel more comfortable but do not expect much..

The V-Strom as any other dual sport bike has much more suspension travel.My dual sport XTZ 750 is much much more comfortable than the fjr especially with a passenger on.It is like the day and night in compared with the fjr.My opinion...

 

[RaYzerman19]

If you had a stock V-Strom suspension, it was lightly sprung and had more travel. Not going to be the same as an FJR....

Have you checked the notched wheel on the bottom of the shock where you adjust the rebound damping? Maybe it is in too far...... compression damping is affected somewhat by the rebound adjustment.....

The other thing to try is running without having the lever in the hard setting. It is a 985 lb spring rate, might be good enough for your particular two-up

 

[Mihalis fjr]

Also as RaYzerman19 said,i have always the lever in the soft position even with a passenger on and works very good.I tried some times to the hard position and wasn't comfortable..

 

[Bungie]

Ray hit the nail on the head. I leave my Gen III on the soft position for two up riding (and the roads up here are just atrocious). Hard on the Gen III's is REALLY hard. So much so that my gf, who knows nothing about bikes, asks me if their is something wrong with the back of the bike.

 

[ww327]

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm going to start with the free ideas and work my way up. Happy Riding!