The good news and the bad news.

[AKjitsu]

Just fitted up the Penske 8983 from the GP/KFG group buy on my Gen III.

The good news: The ride quality improvement in the rear is nothing short of remarkable. Took a little side trip down one of my favorite twisties. It feels like the rear tire has grown claws. We’re talking serious grip here.

The bad news: Now the front end feels phuktup. All harsh, jangly and unsteady. Hopefully, GP/KFG or somebody will get something sorted out for the one-legged Gen III forks.

 

[MCRIDER007]

Thanks for the ride report....can't say that I am surprised, one size that fits all is never going to work except for a few.....but you would think they could get it closer than they do.

I went the other way with my 08, I transferred my GP Suspension to the forks first and then took a test ride, with the same result you had.

 

[SkooterG]

You suck.

 

[majicmaker]

You suck.

That's Funny!! You can get one too ya know.

 

[Fontanaman]

Just fitted up the Penske 8983 from the GP/KFG group buy on my Gen III.
The good news: The ride quality improvement in the rear is nothing short of remarkable. Took a little side trip down one of my favorite twisties. It feels like the rear tire has grown claws. We’re talking serious grip here.

The bad news: Now the front end feels phuktup. All harsh, jangly and unsteady. Hopefully, GP/KFG or somebody will get something sorted out for the one-legged Gen III forks.

I wonder if the rear end is hooking up more and now pushing the front end around. It reminds me of the time I installed a stickier rear tire (the shop messed up). In the twisties the front end got pushed. I could feel the front tire dancing.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Good information for would-be '13 owners looking to upgrade the suspenders...hopefully someone helps out you one-legged pilots soon.

--G

 

[MCRIDER007]

I wonder if the rear end is hooking up more and now pushing the front end around.

I don't think so. Suspension needs to be balanced to work (and feel) right and upgraded suspension on just one end is very unbalanced, especially if involves both a spring and valving change. The forks are probably working as good as they did before, the deficiencies in spring rate and valving are just more noticeable.

 

[AKjitsu]

You suck.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet.

 

[AKjitsu]

I wonder if the rear end is hooking up more and now pushing the front end around.

I don't think so. Suspension needs to be balanced to work (and feel) right and upgraded suspension on just one end is very unbalanced, especially if involves both a spring and valving change. The forks are probably working as good as they did before, the deficiencies in spring rate and valving are just more noticeable.

That's the problem.

 

[Hudson]

Just fitted up the Penske 8983 from the GP/KFG group buy on my Gen III.
The good news: The ride quality improvement in the rear is nothing short of remarkable. Took a little side trip down one of my favorite twisties. It feels like the rear tire has grown claws. We’re talking serious grip here.

The bad news: Now the front end feels phuktup. All harsh, jangly and unsteady. Hopefully, GP/KFG or somebody will get something sorted out for the one-legged Gen III forks.

Barry at KFG said they were working on a cartridge solution for the front of the Gen III and he was hoping someone would step up to try. Worth a call.

 

[McRide]

I wonder if the rear end is hooking up more and now pushing the front end around.

I don't think so. Suspension needs to be balanced to work (and feel) right and upgraded suspension on just one end is very unbalanced, especially if involves both a spring and valving change. The forks are probably working as good as they did before, the deficiencies in spring rate and valving are just more noticeable.

That's the problem.

Not necessarily. Before going on a fork valve upgrade (it is a new bike afterall and likely working just fine), get down and dirty with fork sag, compression and rebound adjustment.

Skooter will hold the bike.

 

[beemerdons]

I wonder if the rear end is hooking up more and now pushing the front end around.

I don't think so. Suspension needs to be balanced to work (and feel) right and upgraded suspension on just one end is very unbalanced, especially if involves both a spring and valving change. The forks are probably working as good as they did before, the deficiencies in spring rate and valving are just more noticeable.

That's the problem.

Not necessarily. Before going on a fork valve upgrade (it is a new bike afterall and likely working just fine), get down and dirty with fork sag, compression and rebound adjustment.

Skooter will hold the bike.

Hello Roy, SkooterG and I had lunch together today at Cracker Barrel in Goodyear, Arizona. In the parking lot he adjusted my suspension front and rear and it made a world of difference on my ride home to Chandler (50 miles), SkooterG definitely knows his stuff regarding FJR Suspensions. I keep telling him he should become a motorcycle mechanic for his occupation, I suggested his working out of a fully equipped van so he could provide mobile servicing!

 

[AKjitsu]

I wonder if the rear end is hooking up more and now pushing the front end around.

I don't think so. Suspension needs to be balanced to work (and feel) right and upgraded suspension on just one end is very unbalanced, especially if involves both a spring and valving change. The forks are probably working as good as they did before, the deficiencies in spring rate and valving are just more noticeable.

That's the problem.

Not necessarily. Before going on a fork valve upgrade (it is a new bike afterall and likely working just fine), get down and dirty with fork sag, compression and rebound adjustment.

Skooter will hold the bike.

Sound advice that. But, I spent about 45 minutes with Dustin Apgar of DTR Motorsports (Racetech graduate and WERA champ) bouncing and twiddling things. So, I think the stock front is about as good as it's going to get. It seems to be just one of those cases where you think what you have is perfectly is dandy until you experience something (like the Penske rear) vastly better. Afetr all, the people who live in Siberia think their winters are perfectly normal.

 

[RadioHowie]

I can not believe someone whose sphincter is SO tight that they'd pop a $900~$1000 shock on a brand new bike!

I just find it amazing to think that ANY of the 3 following things are true:

1 - The stock shock on a brand new bike is THAT bad...

2 - The aftermarket shock is THAT good...

3 - The pilot's ass-dyno is THAT sensitive...

Call me cheap...but call me skeptical.

But then again, I'm riding a 9 year old motorcycle with 72,000 miles on the stock suspension with a leaking front fork and don't notice a bit of difference from the first time I climbed aboard the phucker 8 years ago.

 

[odot]

Yer one cheap sonofabitch, howie.

...almost as cheap as me............

 

[SkooterG]

I can not believe someone whose sphincter is SO tight that they'd pop a $900~$1000 shock on a brand new bike!
I just find it amazing to think that ANY of the 3 following things are true:

1 - The stock shock on a brand new bike is THAT bad...

2 - The aftermarket shock is THAT good...

3 - The pilot's ass-dyno is THAT sensitive...

Call me cheap...but call me skeptical.

But then again, I'm riding a 9 year old motorcycle with 72,000 miles on the stock suspension with a leaking front fork and don't notice a bit of difference from the first time I climbed aboard the phucker 8 years ago.

It CAN make that big a difference.

As for your FJR, suspension gets worn out gradually which makes it more difficult to notice. And you don't do a lot of aggressive curve riding. And not all ass suspension dynos are calibrated the same or at the same level of sophistication. If you were to ride some other 04 FJRs, and especially mine with the custom suspension, even your raggedy old ass would notice how good it is.

I'll never forget riding Steph's FJR in the Swiss Alps back in 2008. Damn, he had that thing (with custom suspension) dialed in oh so sweet. It was absolutely a grin generating experience to ride in any condition, road type, or riding style. For me, that was my first of two epiphanies that I had to learn to adjust my own custom suspension and get it dialed in better.

 

[Patriot]

geeze...a sure cure:

your welcome

 

[Fontanaman]

geeze...a sure cure:

your welcome

Yeah this will take care of that single damper issue on the 13 FJR.

Me I have a GP Suspension front fork mod and a Penske outback. Love it. Huge difference and it is all so good and worth every damn penny.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Call me cheap...but call me skeptical.

But then again, I'm riding a 9 year old motorcycle with 72,000 miles on the stock suspension with a leaking front fork and don't notice a bit of difference from the first time I climbed aboard the phucker 8 years ago.

You're cheap and skeptical...there!

I too was a non-believer however, whenever you can swing a ride on a FJR...any FJR with custom forks and shock. You will be truly amazed with how buttoned down and in control the bike is with good suspenders. Get the CC out and prepare to spend $2,000!

JSNS

--G