rear shock

[luvtoride]

Is there a way to make the rear shock more stiff

 

[luvtoride]

Beside the preload. Its already set to the hard setting. Running a gen 2 shock. I'm not looking for miracles... but my bike is wallowing 2up. Id like to make it the best it can be for the weekend.

 

[MCRIDER007]

The FJR OEM shock is a dual spring design that does not have preload adjustment....in spite of what you might read from Yamaha and others. Setting the shock to the "hard" setting and increasing the rebound damping is the best you can do. It is possible to change the lower spring to a heavier size but that will involve buying a new spring and installing it.....which requires a spring compressor.

 

[kamal]

Presuming your shock is similar to my Gen1 stock one, you can try moving the pre-load ramp to the firmest setting.

Sorry, that's all I've got. Have a good ride.

Edit: Not sure if 'pre-load ramp' is the correct term?

 

[MCRIDER007]

Interesting, I just looked at my old GEN2 shock and it also has the pre-load ramp.....but.....you would need a spring compressor to change the ramp position and the only change would be to the "soft" setting. The "hard" setting locks the upper spring out so that the bottom spring is all that is used in that setting.

A few riders have used spacers on the bottom spring to create preload but that was before heavier springs were available.

 

[kamal]

Interesting, I just looked at my old GEN2 shock and it also has the pre-load ramp.....but.....you would need a spring compressor to change the ramp position and the only change would be to the "soft" setting. The "hard" setting locks the upper spring out so that the bottom spring is all that is used in that setting.
A few riders have used spacers on the bottom spring to create preload but that was before heavier springs were available.

OK, thanks. I've never tried to move it, in fact I didn't know it was there until I removed it from the bike.

Looks like the OP 'has what she has'.

 

[rogdeb]

A few riders have used spacers on the bottom spring to create preload but that was before heavier springs were available.

I was one of them to do that. Spacer installed at 20k but the shock was crapped out by 25k anyway.

 

[luvtoride]

Thanks guys... made it through the weekend with a crappy shock. All I can figure is I need to ride lighter people that weight less than me.

 

[kamal]

Thanks guys... made it through the weekend with a crappy shock. All I can figure is I need to upgrade my rear shock ride lighter people that weight less than me.

Made a huge difference to mine.

Glad the ride went well.

Al.

 

[luvtoride]

Thanks guys... made it through the weekend with a crappy shock. All I can figure is I need to upgrade my rear shock ride lighter people that weight less than me.

Made a huge difference to mine.

Glad the ride went well.

Al.

Yeah, that isn't happening anytime soon. If I could afford it, it would've been done by now. Appreciate the sentiment.

 

[r5705]

Have owned my '07 FJR now for 6 months, so I'm not expert about anything. I've read a bunch in this and other forums about replacing rear shocks with rather pricey after-market stuff that is out of my reach financially. I also read something a few months back about a guy in St. Paul MN, not too far from me, who rebuilds rear shocks, and rebuilds them in a manner that allows the shock to be rebuilt every couple of years. I dunno exactly what that means. My impression is that what this guy does is renovates the OEM rear shock in such a way that it can be re-renovated periodically. I thought I had written down the name and address of the fellow in St.Paul, but damned if I can find the information now. Anyone else remember that discussion?

 

[MCRIDER007]

Post from "gramps" earlier this year:

Jeff Fischer

Motorsports Plus

150 Hardman Ave. South

South St. Paul, MN 55075

651-455-5657

Jeff is a great guy to work with. He rebuilt my '05 rear shock using RaceTech parts, you may or may not need a new spring depending on its condition but make sure you discuss it with him.

He's been doing my major maintenance work for years & is one of the most honest mechanics I've ever known, plus his work is top notch. Can't remember what I ended up paying but I think it was

a little cheaper than Sasquatch but then I didn't have the spring replaced. Great shop!

 

[r5705]

Thanks very much.

 

[dj bill]

less than you,give me a break.lol

 

[RaYzerman19]

Heidi, it might be that you've lost the damping in the original, and it 'feels' like it's too spongy and you just think the spring is weak? Maybe somebody could help you check that out by bouncing the rear and see if it's lost oil or the nitrogen/leaky seal? IF so, you need a rebuild or aftermarket, and a new stronger spring would help anyway. I would volunteer to lend you/send you my OEM off my superior Gen 2 if it fits, but perhaps there is somebody on your side of the border that could lend you one so you don't have much downtime until you can get yours rebuilt/improved.......... just a thought.

 

[kamal]

Heidi, it might be that you've lost the damping in the original, and it 'feels' like it's too spongy and you just think the spring is weak? Maybe somebody could help you check that out by bouncing the rear and see if it's lost oil or the nitrogen/leaky seal? IF so, you need a rebuild or aftermarket, and a new stronger spring would help anyway. I would volunteer to lend you/send you my OEM off my superior Gen 2 if it fits, but perhaps there is somebody on your side of the border that could lend you one so you don't have much downtime until you can get yours rebuilt/improved.......... just a thought.

Funny, I had the same thought.

My original Gen1 shock (see reply #4 above) only has 38k kilometers on it. I would offer it for free, but the cost of shipping to VA would be horrendous.

Al.