Say It Isn’t So—No upside-down forks for 2014

[tyronewildman]

I was helping w/H-D demo rides all last week at the “Bikes, Blues & Bar B Que” event in Fayetteville AR. Yamaha also had a demo unit there & I got to talk to one of their reps. When I asked about the upside-down forks for 2014, the rep told that there was no such thing! I moved away from him quickly and as I left another rep (who heard our conversation) walked over & talked to him. Hmm-wonder what he told him. At the H-D demos, we are cautioned, that if we don’t know an answer to a question, then we say “we don’t know but we’ll find out”.Later,,,De

 

[ionbeam]

It isn't so. But, it'll cost ya 1k bucks and have electronic adjustment thrown in for free.

 

[Burnspot]

For the "A", no. For the "ES", yes. https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelhome/689/0/home.aspx

 

[SkooterG]

Was it a Rep? Or a Demo Escort? Big difference. Didn't get a name by any chance?

Yeah, it's too bad you got some misinformation there. Most likely a Demo Escort who doesn't know much about the FJR other than the current (2013) model.

 

[MCRIDER007]

It isn't so. But, it'll cost ya 1k bucks and have electronic adjustment thrown in for free.

I would pay the extra 1k bucks for the inverted fork if the electronic adjustment was NOT thrown in for free.....because it is going to cost another 1k to replace it with suspension that is actually adjustable.

 

[Spud]

Was it a Rep? Or a Demo Escort? Big difference. Didn't get a name by any chance?
Yeah, it's too bad you got some misinformation there. Most likely a Demo Escort who doesn't know much about the FJR other than the current (2013) model.

You can demo an escort??!!!

 

[FJR Bill]

Please educate me. What are the significant advantages/disadvantages of upside down vrs upright front forks? Why is that so important? Thanks, Bill

 

[MCRIDER007]

Please educate me. What are the significant advantages/disadvantages of upside down vrs upright front forks? Why is that so important? Thanks, Bill

Inverted forks have less unsprung weight and are more rigid resulting in a smoother ride and better handling. They also have longer seal, bushing, and oil life.

 

[BanjoBoy]

Please educate me. What are the significant advantages/disadvantages of upside down vrs upright front forks? Why is that so important? Thanks, Bill

I believe inverted forks are usually (Always?) cartridge forks, and perverted forks is usually damper rod.

 

[MCRIDER007]

Please educate me. What are the significant advantages/disadvantages of upside down vrs upright front forks? Why is that so important? Thanks, Bill

I believe inverted forks are usually (Always?) cartridge forks, and perverted forks is usually damper rod.

I have never heard of a inverted fork that was not a cartridge fork, but most of the upper end bikes with conventional forks also have cartridges, although a couple (ST1300 and GL1800) have a damper rod in the left fork and a cartridge in the right fork.

 

[garyahouse]

Please educate me. What are the significant advantages/disadvantages of upside down vrs upright front forks? Why is that so important? Thanks, Bill

Advantage: braggin' rights

Disadvantage: $$$

 

[RadioHowie]

Same benefit as those fancy-schmancy radial calipers...

And, as seen in a Superbike forum:

...radial calipers are cool, man, and although we just got sucked into paying more for much the same - like in everything else these days - at least we're cool!

 

[AKjitsu]

Same benefit as those fancy-schmancy radial calipers...

And, as seen in a Superbike forum:

...radial calipers are cool, man, and although we just got sucked into paying more for much the same - like in everything else these days - at least we're cool!

Agreed. Not everything that's cool for the track (eg; pneumatic valves) is cool for the street. The seals on inverted forks are a lot more exposed to road crud. And woe be unto you if you do develop a seal leak with inverted forks; gravity being what it is and all. I know.

 

[MCRIDER007]

The seals on inverted forks are a lot more exposed to road crud.

How are the seals more exposed to road crud? My experience is just the opposite since the fork tubes appear to be much better protected from dried bugs which is usually the main cause of failed seals.

 

[AKjitsu]

The seals on inverted forks are a lot more exposed to road crud.

How are the seals more exposed to road crud? My experience is just the opposite since the fork tubes appear to be much better protected from dried bugs which is usually the main cause of failed seals.

I can't really speak to the environment you ride in but here in the southwest we don't have a lot of bugs in the air. What we do have is road icky composed of volcanic stuff that's about as hard as diamonds. The fork fairings don't catch all, or even most, of the stuff being thrown upward by the front wheel. Keeping seals in the inverted Ohlins on my Multistrada and every other bike I've had with inverted forks is a never ending struggle (and a damned messy one) whereas seal failures with conventional forks have been a rarity. At least for me.

 

[MCRIDER007]

The seals on inverted forks are a lot more exposed to road crud.

How are the seals more exposed to road crud? My experience is just the opposite since the fork tubes appear to be much better protected from dried bugs which is usually the main cause of failed seals.

I can't really speak to the environment you ride in but here in the southwest we don't have a lot of bugs in the air. What we do have is road icky composed of volcanic stuff that's about as hard as diamonds. The fork fairings don't catch all, or even most, of the stuff being thrown upward by the front wheel. Keeping seals in the inverted Ohlins on my Multistrada and every other bike I've had with inverted forks is a never ending struggle (and a damned messy one) whereas seal failures with conventional forks have been a rarity. At least for me.

Good response! Since we ride in different environments our experiences are also different, I have ridden about 85k with inverted forks and have yet to have a seal failure whereas I usually have a seal failure every 30-40k with conventional forks in spite of my efforts to keep them as bug free as possible.

 

[tyronewildman]

Was it a Rep? Or a Demo Escort? Big difference. Didn't get a name by any chance?
Yeah, it's too bad you got some misinformation there. Most likely a Demo Escort who doesn't know much about the FJR other than the current (2013) model.

Rep or not-I have no idea. They all had on "Star" lab coats. The one FJR in their demo fleet was a '13. H-D was the only one who just turned them loose & told them to "Follow the arrows" whereas the others had lead & trail riders. I did notice one of the Victory lead riders, ride home on his Wing , at the end of the day. Later,,,De

 

[palerider]

Was it a Rep? Or a Demo Escort? Big difference. Didn't get a name by any chance?
Yeah, it's too bad you got some misinformation there. Most likely a Demo Escort who doesn't know much about the FJR other than the current (2013) model.

You can demo an escort??!!!

In Nevada, yes. I didn't know it was legal in AZ.