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Dropping The Front - How Low Can You Go.

Started by Little Pink Steve, March 25, 2020, 09:55:49 PM

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Grey runner

I have Thunder Ace fork on my FJ they are about 25mm shorter than original FJ forks. Fitted with custom springs and a Wilber shock on the back  I have a quick and light steering bike with plenty of ground clearance to go with my spirited riding.
The older I get, the faster I was

fj-f3a

This thread got me thinking it was about time for me to manufacture some new dog bones.

Having to work last night, I seized the opportunity.

These dog bones are 115mm centre to centre.

Square ends.


End rounding


View from the left.


View from the right.


Have not had a chance to test ride yet and with the lock down, it may be a while.
I do ride the FJ to work every day but, 1km, turn left, 17km, turn left. that's it.
Still, better than nothing.
Looking forward to a decent test ride.

Gavin
Wings Level

Current
1990 FJ1200, Wet Pale Brown
J17xMT5.5 rear wheel from a 2001 Kawasaki Zx9r
Stainless exhausts
Electronic cruise control
Custom seat
Yamaha R6 Blue Spot Callipers
FJR1300 Master Cylinder
Stainless brake lines

Dieselman7.3

Forgive me for sounding stupid but are those lowering or lifting the rear end?

Quote from: fj-f3a on April 05, 2020, 12:52:12 AM
This thread got me thinking it was about time for me to manufacture some new dog bones.

Having to work last night, I seized the opportunity.

These dog bones are 115mm centre to centre.

Square ends.

Gavin
Current:
85 fj1100
89 fj1200 - was for parts now a new project
16 Versys 650 - for off payment riding
Past:
86 fj1200
05 ex500
78 Ltd750

fj-f3a

Quote from: Dieselman7.3 on April 05, 2020, 06:08:46 AM
Forgive me for sounding stupid but are those lowering or lifting the rear end?


Not a stupid question.
It can be confusing.

Shortening the dog bones from 125mm to 115mm reduces the clearance between the rear tyre and the road when the bike is on the centre stand.
Therefore, when the rear tyre is on the ground, the rear end of the bike is higher. I know. I was able to place the entire sole of my foot on the road and now I have to stretch.
The dog bones are under tension.

Gavin
Wings Level

Current
1990 FJ1200, Wet Pale Brown
J17xMT5.5 rear wheel from a 2001 Kawasaki Zx9r
Stainless exhausts
Electronic cruise control
Custom seat
Yamaha R6 Blue Spot Callipers
FJR1300 Master Cylinder
Stainless brake lines

Dieselman7.3

Quote from: fj-f3a on April 05, 2020, 06:39:30 AM
Quote from: Dieselman7.3 on April 05, 2020, 06:08:46 AM
Forgive me for sounding stupid but are those lowering or lifting the rear end?


Not a stupid question.
It can be confusing.

Shortening the dog bones from 125mm to 115mm reduces the clearance between the rear tyre and the road when the bike is on the centre stand.
Therefore, when the rear tyre is on the ground, the rear end of the bike is higher. I know. I was able to place the entire sole of my foot on the road and now I have to stretch.
The dog bones are under tension.

Gavin

Okay thanks. I didn't know what stock length was. Makes plenty of sense now. Is your rear suspension stock?  I've been looking at doing the f4i shock. Not sure what it does to ride height but from what I read it'll ride and handle better with out spending the money of changing the whole rear end out
Current:
85 fj1100
89 fj1200 - was for parts now a new project
16 Versys 650 - for off payment riding
Past:
86 fj1200
05 ex500
78 Ltd750

giantkiller

The Honda shock dropped the tire raising the back of the bike on the 1350. If you do it. Unless you are really light. You can get a eibach spring 900lbs.. If I remember right. It's the highest rated spring you can put on the Honda shock that still works with the stock valving (according to the Honda forums). Been running one on the 1350. Since I resurrected it. I think I have $170 into it shock,spring, bigger bracket (washer thing) and spring compressor. It's been a long time. So don't remember. It's all in the write up for the shock.

Dan
86 fj1350r
86 fj1380t turbo drag toy (soon)
87 fj1200 865 miles crashed for parts
89 fj1200 touring 2up
87 fzr1000 crashed
87 fzr750r Human Race teams world endurance champion
93 fzr600 Vance n hines ltd for sale
Custom chopper I built
Mini chopper I built for my daughter just like the big 1

Dieselman7.3

Quote from: giantkiller on April 05, 2020, 08:59:38 AM
The Honda shock dropped the tire raising the back of the bike on the 1350. If you do it. Unless you are really light. You can get a eibach spring 900lbs.. If I remember right. It's the highest rated spring you can put on the Honda shock that still works with the stock valving (according to the Honda forums). Been running one on the 1350. Since I resurrected it. I think I have $170 into it shock,spring, bigger bracket (washer thing) and spring compressor. It's been a long time. So don't remember. It's all in the write up for the shock.

Dan

Thanks I remember seeing post about the bigger spring   Pretty easy mod?
Current:
85 fj1100
89 fj1200 - was for parts now a new project
16 Versys 650 - for off payment riding
Past:
86 fj1200
05 ex500
78 Ltd750

fj-f3a

Quote from: Dieselman7.3 on April 05, 2020, 08:02:18 AM

Is your rear suspension stock?

The shock I am using is a YSS, MZ456-300TR-29-X.

Gavin
Wings Level

Current
1990 FJ1200, Wet Pale Brown
J17xMT5.5 rear wheel from a 2001 Kawasaki Zx9r
Stainless exhausts
Electronic cruise control
Custom seat
Yamaha R6 Blue Spot Callipers
FJR1300 Master Cylinder
Stainless brake lines

giantkiller

Spring is probably the easiest part of the mod. Get a good spring compressor. And be careful. Compressed springs can be dangerous.
86 fj1350r
86 fj1380t turbo drag toy (soon)
87 fj1200 865 miles crashed for parts
89 fj1200 touring 2up
87 fzr1000 crashed
87 fzr750r Human Race teams world endurance champion
93 fzr600 Vance n hines ltd for sale
Custom chopper I built
Mini chopper I built for my daughter just like the big 1

ribbert

Quote from: giantkiller on April 06, 2020, 12:44:07 AM
Spring is probably the easiest part of the mod. Get a good spring compressor. And be careful. Compressed springs can be dangerous.

Haha, anyone who's had one let go knows!




Noel
"Tell a wise man something he doesn't know and he'll thank you, tell a fool something he doesn't know and he'll abuse you"

Dieselman7.3

Yea I have done coil overs on cars before. Can be very dangerous 
Current:
85 fj1100
89 fj1200 - was for parts now a new project
16 Versys 650 - for off payment riding
Past:
86 fj1200
05 ex500
78 Ltd750

FJ1200W

I'll just share this and slowly back out of the room......
Steve
Columbia, Missouri
USA

giantkiller

Quote from: FJ1200W on April 06, 2020, 08:59:43 AM
I'll just share this and slowly back out of the room......
That's awesome. But you went the wrong way. Your supposed to go lower in the front and raise the rear :sarcastic:
86 fj1350r
86 fj1380t turbo drag toy (soon)
87 fj1200 865 miles crashed for parts
89 fj1200 touring 2up
87 fzr1000 crashed
87 fzr750r Human Race teams world endurance champion
93 fzr600 Vance n hines ltd for sale
Custom chopper I built
Mini chopper I built for my daughter just like the big 1

Pat Conlon

Kinda opposite of a hard tail.....

An interesting design exercise, might look great on paper, but in building it, the proportions are all jacked.
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

andyoutandabout

Hmmmmm, an almost, but not quite. Cover the front end and the back single sided, three spoke set up looks tasty, but that Paris/Dakar sized tank and the scaffold pole forks need slimming. Pretty radical though. The sons of anarchy crowd will love it.
life without a bike is just life