When Do You Need to Upgrade the Rear Shock?

[learnin4life]

Can a question be any more subjective? But, that is the point. I've upgraded the stocker with a new Hyperpro spring (and removed the hard-soft lever), and believe I may be able to notice a difference in some riding situations. nevertheless my question really goes to whether there is a less subjective way of determining the need for a real upgrade, e.g., Penske, Ohlins, Wilburs, etc. I ride only about 10 to 12K a year now, but expect to do more riding after I retire in a couple years. Can someone tell me how they made a determination that their FJR required a shock replacement based on factors they observed while riding?

I'm struggling to articulate the real issue which is revolves around whether spending $1K+ on a shock result in a meaningful difference in ride quality for someone that may not be that sensitive to minor, subtle changes in ride. Its not like I can go around a track and sense that 1 click of rebound, or whatever. If I had some objective criteria to go by that others have experienced, then I would be in a position to tell myself, Oh, this is what such and such said their bike did when they got to a certain level of riding that eclipsed the capability of the stocker. I don't doubt that the statements made by so many on this site are true and accurate translations of their experience of what a big difference changing shocks made. However, I don't want to plunk down the money, then miss out on the "aha" moment others have talked about. Plus, when I get down to it, I may not be a good enough rider to tell the difference despite multiple track days and training classes--which are a ton of fun.

I would appreciate feedback from anyone caring to share their objective criteria that let them determine for themselves a new, upgraded shock was necessary for their bike?

 

[Ignacio]

Can someone tell me how they made a determination that their FJR required a shock replacement based on factors they observed while riding?

Before it was....meh. After the replacement.....it rocked. I can't imagine riding my 20-25K a year now without a Penske (or Ohlins) and the upgraded front forks GP did for me riding the everyday street and occasional mountainous twisty. Objective? Good luck. Subjective? Talked about many, Many, MANY times on this forum.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I've never done track days, so I may not be as an accomplished rider as you...but I do travel, 99%of the time on trips, fully loaded. I also like to wick it up a bit at times.

Suspension $$ is the best bang for your buck that you will find out there. It will totally change the riding experience from wallowing and diving to riding on a steel rail at full lean and full confidence through a turn when the bumpity bumps hit mid-turn.

All the other farkling/mods are window dressing compared to having your suspension done if you like to have some sport in your touring. If you don't lean much when you ride...then don't bother. However, for everyone else...this is what you your farkling dollars should go towards.

Upgrading the front and rear at the same time is recommended in my book.

 

[majicmaker]

Yeah! What he said. ^^^^^^^^^

 

[Auburn]

I think you will notice a big difference in the way the bike handles. I think it was one of the best upgrades you can do for the bike. Replace the shock with a good aftermarket one and upgrade the forks to match. There are many companies out there. You just missed a GP Suspension group buy. But you might try calling them and see if they will still give it to you. The group buy ended 12/15. Look over in the vendor area for the details on it.

 

[RedPorscheKilla]

Well, that's a good question, is it subjective or objective?, well your butt will tell you which version feels better.

I'm not a track day guy either, but I use my Gixxer for Advanced Street Skill classes, which are held solely on a race track, so my Gixxer is a pure built muscle which wants to race all the time, she will tell me quickly if I focked up or not, my FeeJay is more forgiving, yet the senses I train on my Gixxer are a decent value add on my FeeJay. Meaning? Well here are two ways you can look at it. According to the maintenance calendar, the front fork revision is due every 16K miles, meaning that entire sucker has to be rebuilt, this is my starting point for the rear as well, because in order to maintain a balance on my bike, I want to make sure that all parts are of the same status and maintenance, much like, you don't change only one tire on one axle on your car, you do it by axle, well at least I do it.

So the next part is, how do you ride, aggressive sporty, sporty mellow, sporty or just cruising, the harder you use your bike, the more wear you introduce to it (Niehardt poped his rear shock.... so I suppose he took his FeeJay a tad harder, making a rebuilt necessary!). I like to do neat twisties, but I'm not out here to eliminate every fraction of an inch of my chicken stripes, for that I've got me my Gixxer, I want to enjoy the ride, knowing my bike likes it as well, so I get the biggest bang out of my enjoyment.

I went from OEM/Stock to Front Oehlins/GP and rear Penske, it cost me 2K give or take, I don't regret the choice, because I can now adjust as I like, the bike is already lifted by about 5/8 of an inch, so no special dog bones to be installed and I can feel how my bike responds better. The stock suspension is knowing to be undersprung and a tad to soft, I can relate to that, I actually never felt any difference from the hard to the soft setting on the OEM shock, now I can tell, whether one more click towards hard does it, or a few lesser clicks.

But again, this is a hefty entrance fee to do just that, yet having talked to a few and read a bunch tells me, you want to do that upgrade and get comfortable in a once over and eventually rebuild if indicated every year or so.

V

RPK

 

[gumba]

I had an 04 without and an 09 with GPS front - Penske rear in the garage at the same time. The difference was remarkable. I'm not a crotch-rocketeer, but the simple improvement in confidence was well worth the price. Just sold the 04 and the buyer remarked that it felt real tight (together). I kept my mouth shut.

 

[Chiefblueman]

To answer the question posed in the thread title: Just as soon as you can get the stocker outa there. I went with Penske 8983 and Traxxion Dynamics AK20 cartridges/ springs. No more dive upon braking, no more wiggling/wallowing 2 up through corners. Much more confident ride.

 

[extrememarine]

I went from all OE suspension on my '09 to the Ohlins YA-707 rear and spring / cartridge work on the forks. It was a hard decision for me - the bike is very good in stock form when you consider the range of use the suspension is designed to accommodate. For me, where the OE suspension was lacking and where it was most apparent was when I was loaded 2-up and traveling. The load overwhelmed the rear shock, and the spring was unable to maintain proper chassis attitude, and the fork springs were equally mushy. It just could not properly stabliize the bike at speed on some of the "roads less traveled" we so enjoyed exploring.

What the suspension upgrade did for my bike - and keep in mind - this was a balanced approached with modifications to the front and rear at the same time - the bike exibited the same crisp and plush handling characteristics whether empty & solo or loaded & 2-up. I feel that my set up is actually better when I'm loaded. No more wallowing, bobbing dump truck handling. The bike feels "light on it's feet" when loaded; turn in is crisp. Another benefit was in highway mode - I can soften it up and it soaks up the road imperfections nicely on the slab.

My wife is by no means a car nut or techy type person. The change in the bike's ride quality was substantial enough for her to notice and make mention of it on our first trip out after the upgrade. Being stranded in the great white north of Michigan, my riding season and mileage has shortened substantially since our move from South Carolina, putting us in the 12-18k miles per year range. So our quantity of riding is down, but I'd say the quality is up. We can cover more miles per day and not feel "beat up " at the end of the day or days. My wife can tolerate 6-700 mile cannonball runs to get home after playing in the mountains a couple of days.

One thing that pushed me over the edge was riding a FJR that was already set with the Ohlins front and rear. If you fortunate to know someone who trusts you with their bike, it's the best way to experience the difference. Ride a stretch of road (mine was TN-421 aka the Snake - at night...) with your bike, then with the mod'd one. The difference should be noticeable.

Hope this helps & good luck.

Wayne

 

[garyahouse]

...If you don't lean much when you ride...then don't bother...

Looks like some great advice for me. I just love the suspension on my FJR. It does an amazing job of soaking up the bumps, but it doesn't do any unnecessary nose diving when I hit the brakes. A plush suspension is the primary thing I want from the FJR. The fact that the frame is solid and the handling is predictable is a wonderful perc, and reassuring in the event of an emergency, but for my kinda driving, it's something I don't think about much. I'm just as happy with my suspension today as I was 22,000 miles ago when I first got my FJR. It works just great for the type of riding I do.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[johnny80s]

I just bought a rear shock for my FJR and it is night and day. It soaks up bumps and doesn't wallow or do weird things in the corners. If you have the money do it. If you don't save up and do it. Can't believe I waited so long to do that.

 

[learnin4life]

Great feedback! I posed a tough question, and as usual the group was up to the challenge.

Yep, but this is still good stuff.

Objective? Good luck. Subjective? Talked about many, Many, MANY times on this forum.

I've heard this mantra for years, and agree upgrading the part of the bike that is always "there" makes a lot of sense.

Suspension $$ is the best bang for your buck that you will find out there. It will totally change the riding experience from wallowing and diving to riding on a steel rail at full lean and full confidence through a turn when the bumpity bumps hit mid-turn.

I'm not a knee dragger, but I do enjoy a good lean!!

All the other farkling/mods are window dressing compared to having your suspension done if you like to have some sport in your touring. If you don't lean much when you ride...then don't bother. However, for everyone else...this is what you your farkling dollars should go towards.

My take is butt tests are both subjective and objective. Kind of like a "you know when you see it" type thing. My ride style is just sporty. Nick Ienatsch coined a description of riding called "the pace". Matching the speed to the conditions, but not crazy, because that too frequently ends badly.

Well, that's a good question, is it subjective or objective?, well your butt will tell you which version feels better.

So the next part is, how do you ride, aggressive sporty, sporty mellow, sporty or just cruising, the harder you use your bike, the more wear you introduce to it ....I like to do neat twisties, but I'm not out here to eliminate every fraction of an inch of my chicken stripes...I want to enjoy the ride, knowing my bike likes it as well, so I get the biggest bang out of my enjoyment.

This is what I would call a good outcome. Confidence = priceless.

.... the simple improvement in confidence was well worth the price.

Good stuff! The wifey feedback is very objective from a spouses perspective. As most of us that are married know, if wifey ain't happy, its prolly gonna be a short ride. My wife noticed a difference in ride quality for her with a simple change in the shock spring. I can relate to the "test" you shared.

For me, where the OE suspension was lacking and where it was most apparent was when I was loaded 2-up and traveling. The load overwhelmed the rear shock, and the spring was unable to maintain proper chassis attitude, and the fork springs were equally mushy. It just could not properly stabliize the bike at speed on some of the "roads less traveled" we so enjoyed exploring.

What the suspension upgrade did for my bike - and keep in mind - this was a balanced approached with modifications to the front and rear at the same time - the bike exibited the same crisp and plush handling characteristics whether empty & solo or loaded & 2-up. I feel that my set up is actually better when I'm loaded. No more wallowing, bobbing dump truck handling. The bike feels "light on it's feet" when loaded; turn in is crisp. Another benefit was in highway mode - I can soften it up and it soaks up the road imperfections nicely on the slab.

My wife is by no means a car nut or techy type person. The change in the bike's ride quality was substantial enough for her to notice and make mention of it on our first trip out after the upgrade. Being stranded in the great white north of Michigan, my riding season and mileage has shortened substantially since our move from South Carolina, putting us in the 12-18k miles per year range. So our quantity of riding is down, but I'd say the quality is up. We can cover more miles per day and not feel "beat up " at the end of the day or days. My wife can tolerate 6-700 mile cannonball runs to get home after playing in the mountains a couple of days.

I saw this in the group buy section earlier today and just said @^$%#%#!!!! I would like to be so lucky, but my guess is that when its over, its over........ I'll call em' anyway just to see.

You just missed a GP Suspension group buy. But you might try calling them and see if they will still give it to you. The group buy ended 12/15. Look over in the vendor area for the details on it.

Thanks guys!!

Mike

 

[flagstaff]

I just bought my FJR and I'm running stock, but I had the same discussion with myself on my R1100RT.

Because the deterioration is so gradual, you are unlikely to notice any change. What did it for me was following a friend on his R1150RT fitted with Ohlins. We were in Colorado on a twisty section with some road damage, broken pavement and small potholes. I noticed how effortlessly his bike handled compared to mine. I had a choppy wallowing ride. I purchased a set of aftermarket shocks when I returned home from that trip.

I'd suggest you do the same if possible. Link up with a rider with an upgraded suspension and follow him/her through some twisty sections, better yet, twisty sections with road surfaces that are a bit rough.

As for the "wow" moment, I didn't notice it right away because I did not have a set test road to compare. I finally realized I was taking corners faster and with ease. It was on a later ride that I noticed I was able to comfortably stay with some of the other bikes that were outfitted with aftermarket suspensions.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Bottom line, the rear shock wears out. How quickly? Depends on how hard you ride and conditions the bike is used under. No matter what, figure that the shock is toast between 15K - 20K miles.

With an aftermarket shock you get fresh suspension and the shock is rebuildable. For $150 or so every couple years the payback doesn't take long.

YMMV

--G

 

[johnny80s]

I just bought a gs1200 and it came with a stock resprung shock. While it is a little nicer it just doesn't react to road as well as a high quality shock does.

 

[learnin4life]

Good points Flagstaff. You're prolly right about the "wow" moment. Its like going slow to go fast. It just happens over time through practice, using good technique, and the better bits may get you there sooner.

Link up with a rider with an upgraded suspension and follow him/her through some twisty sections, better yet, twisty sections with road surfaces that are a bit rough.

As for the "wow" moment, I didn't notice it right away because I did not have a set test road to compare. I finally realized I was taking corners faster and with ease. It was on a later ride that I noticed I was able to comfortably stay with some of the other bikes that were outfitted with aftermarket suspensions.

I think you're right on target. There's "cents" in those words!

With an aftermarket shock you get fresh suspension and the shock is rebuildable. For $150 or so every couple years the payback doesn't take long.

Now I need to find a good tuner in my area--within a few hundred miles anyway. I've seen comments about Cogent Dynamics near Asheville, NC, Any other suggestions based on personal experience?

 

[Ignacio]

Now I need to find a good tuner in my area--within a few hundred miles anyway.

Why? Unless you're wanting to get into super custom configuration and racing--most people pick a vendor, purchase online, and have the product shipped to them. West coast people have used Cogent and East coast people GP Suspension. I'm less than 200 miles from GP and mail stuff back and forth since it's objectively cheaper and easier doing service from the comfort of my garage than their parking lot.

 

[learnin4life]

Well, good question. In retrospect maybe all I need is a recommendation. I definitely don't need a super custom configuration cuz I ain't "all that" fur sure. If its just a matter of calling up the vendor, describing my dimensions, riding style, etc, I can do that. I'm fairly handy, and can probably get the bits in place myself.

My thought was that it may be smart for this work to be completed by an experienced shop person. Maybe I'm over thinking. From your reply, sounds as though I should consider other options.

 

[Ignacio]

My thought was that it may be smart for this work to be completed by an experienced shop person. Maybe I'm over thinking. From your reply, sounds as though I should consider other options.

The hard work is setting up the suspension components. To install the shock is two main bolts a little futzing if it has a reservoir. The forks are front wheel, calipers, and 6 pinch bolts. A typical garage with a few tools can do the work.