The FJR's Stock Suspension SUCKS!

[Auron]

Fair enough, but where on Earth does the average man weigh 130?

I'm not dissing the stock FJR. I'm just confused how they can nail everything else on the bike and then seemingly put hardly any thought into something that costs hardly anything. EVERY japanese bike has this issue BTW, it's hardly limited to the mighty FJR, it just so happens the heavier bikes magnify the issue.

 

[Steel_Gin]

After reading all of the posts I'd love to upgrade now (actually it's been in the back of my mind even before my '12 was in the garage), but the lack of $$$ stops that for another season. Maybe next year. With that said, a FJR with a stock suspension is a million times better than not having one at all.

Let's ride................now if this damn snow would melt.

 

[MCRIDER007]

Fair enough, but where on Earth does the average man weigh 130?
I'm not dissing the stock FJR. I'm just confused how they can nail everything else on the bike and then seemingly put hardly any thought into something that costs hardly anything. EVERY japanese bike has this issue BTW, it's hardly limited to the mighty FJR, it just so happens the heavier bikes magnify the issue.

I'm not sure what you are using to assert the FJR is designed for a 130 lb man, I think the number is probably in the 150-160 lb range and that is pretty average for most of the rest of the world. The manufactures found a long time ago that the bikes that appeal in the showroom are those with soft suspension and a soft seat so that is what they build. I agree that the Japanese seem to use suspension as a cost cutting strategy and consistently use too soft of springs that they try to mask with too much compression damping....and is been going on for over 40 years (the worst suspension made is in the GL1800). The only exception is their 600 and 1000 sport bikes, everyone wants their bike to have the quickest lap times in the magazine shootouts so those bikes have better suspension.

There is a lot of evidence of cost cutting in the 2013 FJR front forks, the cost of the new replacement parts has gone down and I would guess that Yamaha's lighter damping parts are primarily made of plastic.....just like the Big Piston damping systems that were put in a few of the 600 and 1000 sport bikes.

 

[Auron]

Not designed for a 130lb man, sprung for one. And I'm pretty sure there is a passenger riding with the dude on the cover of the FJR1300 brochure, which is almost laughable.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Atleast those Beemers never need an aftermarket suspension!

Of course you need to pay $7k more to get that killa suspension....and it comes with a free final drive.

 

[MCRIDER007]

Atleast those Beemers never need an aftermarket suspension!

Of course you need to pay $7k more to get that killa suspension....and it comes with a free final drive.

Actually, if you look at the Beemer forums a lot of their members dump the ESA systems after the warranty period is over and switch to Wilbers or Ohlins.....and report big improvements.

 

[MCRIDER007]

Not designed for a 130lb man, sprung for one. And I'm pretty sure there is a passenger riding with the dude on the cover of the FJR1300 brochure, which is almost laughable.

Yes, and both the rider and passenger look pretty small in stature.

 

[Fred W]

Not designed for a 130lb man, sprung for one. And I'm pretty sure there is a passenger riding with the dude on the cover of the FJR1300 brochure, which is almost laughable.

What is really more laughable? That some people would ride the bike two up with the stock suspension and enjoy themselves, or that other people would throw a giant wad of cash into the suspension of a bike bike still weighs almost 700 lbs when all is said and done?

To each his own.

 

[Auburn]

Have you ever heard the saying "The best you know is the best you've ridden?"

I said "They do pretty well considering what we rode just a few, short years ago", not that I think the FJR can't be improved significantly if you throw enough money at it. Redfish Hunter is right that they can't please everybody, and imagine what this bike could cost if they tried. I guess I'm lucky that, at least so far, they've pleased me.

You still aren't getting it, and Redfish is not correct. Stock FJR's are spung for a ~130lb'er. Spring rate and damping are independent of each other. Putting springs on the bike that would support the average weight of the average man wouldn't cost them a dime. Changing the internals to compensate would also hardly cost anything (at least not more than they are spending to set the bike up as it is now) Pleasing a the vast majority of FJR owners would not be that difficult for the them. Having the correct spring means the suspension rides higher in the stroke, which equals better ride quality and leaves room to provide more plush damping rates. It's damn near common sense and I can only chalk it up to them being stubborn.

Probably has more to do with 130 lb japanese test riders

 

[extrememarine]

If I remember correctly, a birdie at Ohlins told me that 60-70% of their motorcycle orders are for BMW's.

Atleast those Beemers never need an aftermarket suspension!

Of course you need to pay $7k more to get that killa suspension....and it comes with a free final drive.

 

[wheatonFJR]

If I remember correctly, a birdie at Ohlins told me that 60-70% of their motorcycle orders are for BMW's.

Atleast those Beemers never need an aftermarket suspension!

Of course you need to pay $7k more to get that killa suspension....and it comes with a free final drive.

oooops.

I guess those German test riders are shrimps as well.

 

[Auron]

I believe it, but you can't fix that silly paralever thing anyway.

SO glad I got the FJR instead of an RT.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I believe it, but you can't fix that silly paralever thing anyway.
SO glad I got the FJR instead of an RT.

It's hard to tell since you complain about it so much!

Oh wait, I'm probably not correct again...

 

[FJR Bill]

I weigh in at 185. I travel with camping gear and equipment weighing around 50lbs. I've never had any suspension problems on my stock 09. I ride with very aggresive sport riders and have no problems keeping up. Sure I might be a few seconds behind them at the next stop but I don't ride on the street like its a track. Too many variables in the twisties that you might encounter so I moderate. However, I think my typical riding style is much faster than average and the stock FJR allows that. For those that want more, customise your suspension and be happy. Don't expect the stock bike offered at a competitive price to have a racetrack suspension system. Bill

 

[Auron]

I believe it, but you can't fix that silly paralever thing anyway.
SO glad I got the FJR instead of an RT.

It's hard to tell since you complain about it so much!

Oh wait, I'm probably not correct again...

That's funny you should mention that, because I do complain a lot but I'm not here to circle jerk over the FJR. It's a remarkable machine that's revitalized my interest in motorcycles in a way I didn't think was possilbe. I am however the type that like to have my cake and eat it too, which is why I'm always looking for ways to maximize it's potential, for instance not for settling for things like crappy suspension.

 

[Fred W]

I believe it, but you can't fix that silly paralever thing anyway.

Please explain why it is silly.

 

[Spud]

I weigh in at 185. I travel with camping gear and equipment weighing around 50lbs. I've never had any suspension problems on my stock 09. I ride with very aggresive sport riders and have no problems keeping up. Sure I might be a few seconds behind them at the next stop but I don't ride on the street like its a track. Too many variables in the twisties that you might encounter so I moderate. However, I think my typical riding style is much faster than average and the stock FJR allows that. For those that want more, customise you suspension and be happy. Don't expect the stock bike offered at a competitive price to have a racetrack suspension system. Bill

Ditto here--minus the camping gear. I'm 185# and somehow have managed to have a great time on my '08 for 33K miles so far with stock suspension and a stock seat. I guess I just don't know any better! Set up with my Audiovox CC and some other reasonably priced farkles (just put on a Rifle), I have no complaints.

 

[Auron]

Geez, I can't say anything right around here.

The BMW front end is silly because you lose as much as you gain. I rented an RT for a day and came away with the impression that it was silly, expensive and unnecessary. If it was that great, it wouldn't just be BMW putting it on their bikes.

 

[ndivita]

I had a Penske on my 2005 after about 12,000 miles, had it rebuilt once because it started leaking, but I think the truth of the matter is that I am not so aggressive a rider as to "need" an aftermarket shock superior to the OEM. ("Need" should not be a part of any conversation in which motorcycling is the subject). I just bought a 2013 FJR to replace the '05 but unless the shock on this one starts failing or malfunctioning out of warranty I simply don't ride fast and low enough to warrant the investment in a high end aftermarket shock. I ride my own ride and that is probably in or just above the lower quartile of riders from the standpoint of aggression. Cheers....

 

[Mossyrocks13k]

...I simply don't ride fast and low enough to warrant the investment in a high end aftermarket shock. I ride my own ride and that is probably in or just above the lower quartile of riders from the standpoint of aggression. Cheers....

Yeah, what he said .