Wilbers - is it the ride height, or lack of mush?

[OrangevaleFJR]

I bought the Wilbers 641(remote preload, remote compression, adjustable ride height) from another guy who bought them on the group buy. He sold his FJR before he got the shocks so I'm the lucky guy. I mention this, because the thing I'm noticing might be because his set up was built for 2up riding and he's taller than me so their combined weight is about 30 lbs more than me and Sherri's.

I thought this might be relevant because since I installed the Wilbers, the FJR is much easier to get the front tyre off the ground. In fact, so much easier that in taking off with wife on board, we did a high wheelie and I didn't even mean to...that, and I did a 70 mph 3rd gear wheelie for the first time ever!

Now this is all kinda fun and all, but I really think that three things might be causing this:

1) Simply that the shock has less slow speed compression than the stock and therefore gives less under acceleration resulting in the front coming up easier

2) Ride height preload isn't set high enough as we are lighter and the bike rides too high so the wheelbase is shorter

3) Ride height setting set too high and same as above

Or a combo or all above.

Anyone else notice anything like this, and what are your thoughts?

Thanks

 

[twowheelnut]

Oh, crap! Sorry O'vale, but I forgot to mention the turbocharger I slipped under the bonnet while you were in the loo! :blink:

Try sneaking the fork tubes up in the triple trees a bit. Maybe that'll help some with the BAWS (Bad Ass Wheelie Syndrome).

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Oh, crap! Sorry O'vale, but I forgot to mention the turbocharger I slipped under the bonnet while you were in the loo! :blink:
Try sneaking the fork tubes up in the triple trees a bit. Maybe that'll help some with the BAWS (Bad Ass Wheelie Syndrome).

I was just gonna lower the ride height at the rear and see if that helped. I sneaking the fork tubes up might make it worse if the shorter wheelbase issue is a reason for the BAWS. However, I think it may be a combination of all things contributing to this...I'm somewhat surprised that this hasn't had more comment. Am I the only Wilbers owner that has experienced BAWS with the Wilbers installation?

p.s. thanks for the turbo!

 

[madmike2]

I dunno, mine simply won't wheelie! :blink:

It could be that the Wilbers isn't absorbing/robbing as much horsepower or torque as the more "mushy" OEM shock, so the power is being tranmitted to the rear wheel rather than shock travel. Or you severely overpacked the topcase.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I dunno, mine simply won't wheelie! :blink:
It could be that the Wilbers isn't absorbing/robbing as much horsepower or torque as the more "mushy" OEM shock, so the power is being tranmitted to the rear wheel rather than shock travel. Or you severely overpacked the topcase.

Yeppers, your theory matches my number one and you're just a better at conveying a thought than me

But, I know that yours does wheelie.

 

[afterburn]

I was just gonna lower the ride height at the rear and see if that helped.

If you lower the ride height in the back, the rear drops and it will be even easier to wheelie. If anything, you should raise the back to put more weight on the front wheel.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I was just gonna lower the ride height at the rear and see if that helped.

If you lower the ride height in the back, the rear drops and it will be even easier to wheelie. If anything, you should raise the back to put more weight on the front wheel.

That makes sense too. The hope was to extend the swing arm a bit. I suppose my right hand will have to get used to the new power transfer like it had to when I bought the bike and went from a 1977 BMW to a 2005 Yamaha!