R.P.M. REAR SHOCK... Authorized...?

[Mike Ramos]

Good evening everyone,

Since DavidR has began the conversation re: the rear shock, I can only assume the gentleman from R.P.M would authorize my observations of the new rear shock...  I could call him and ask, but who would still be awake in the middle of the night...?

By chance, I had the good fortune to be in need of a valve adjustment when the shocks arrived at the R.P.M. shop. Unlike when I had to be induced into installing the Fork Valves, I readily agreed to purchase the rear shock. In fact, almost the opposite - Randy had reservations because of the lack of actual road miles on the unit. As with everything else from R.P.M. it looks first class and performs even better.

My observations mirror DavidR's, however permit me to buttress that statement with 5,800 additional miles of testing & observations. In the past several months, I have had the opportunity to ride a WIDE variety of roads, both back road & extended freeway riding. It is a fact that I traveled the many freeways of the San Francisco Bay Area, many of which are in poor repair, for no other reason than to experience the performance of the shock under a myriad of road conditions, and have conveyed my observations to Randy via e-mails, telephone and the occasional visit to his shop. I have also encountered many types of weather, from comfortable climate to driving rain in this time period.

Also, when I installed the shock, in addition to having Randy service the motorcycle, I purchased new tires at the same time (I had then sent via UPS to my favorite tire installer) so that I would ensure I would not be limited by either tires or mechanical problems. So to speak, I started with a clean slate. Also, I have the adjustable dog bones, and I (importantly in this regard) prefer the rear wheel almost in the stock position, just a shade lower [although I am not quite 5' tall, I have never had the problem of quick side to side transitions that others have mentioned, I guess 'cause I'm not as old as some of the others].

And it should be noted that although I am by no means an expert, or perhaps even qualified from an engineering perspective to make such an evaluation, Randy is absolutely qualified and to this end, following each ride and I have provided to him numerous e-mails, phone calls and the occasional visit describing my observations. I also have turned my camera around and have taken quite a bit of video, showing how the shock works in a multitude of situations. The rear wheel is NEVER stationary. When I first made a video, I thought the freeway was smoother and thus there would be nothing to see; however when we reviewed the video, the wheel was always in motion, a true Gold Wing like ride.

Highway Ride: Davide mentions a Gold Wing like ride. That is exactly as I described it to Randy, calling it "Gold Wing territory". It floats when it should and absorbs quick, sharp impacts when needed.

And as good as the freeway and highway ride is, the quick staccato like bumps are absorbed so well that where I used to weight the pegs to minimize the pounding that would be transmitted to the rider, it is all but eliminated. I have video of the rear wheel in a right hand sweeper taking an incredible pounding as I enter a freeway, and a fabled Ducati with his suspension was unable to keep pace (in the high 80's).

As I explained it to Randy, sharp & quick bumps can only be described as follows: place the bike on the center stand and have some beat on the frame with a rubber mallet, you will feel the impact but it will not be transmitted to the rider.

Another video shows the old FJ cruising along with a Yamaha R1 at exactly 110 mph just as smooth as sitting in your easy chair.

I have an axillary fuel tank and soft luggage that I use on cross country rides. The testing included traveling the the same roads with full fuel and low fuel loads (a difference of 10 gallons, or about 60 to 70 pounds) with no felt change in the suspension action. I have not had the opportunity to ride with a passenger (the USD's gets the chicks) but I would speculate that a minimum of preload adjusting would be needed.

DavidR mentions the drive off of corners; it is a correct that the improvement is very noticeable. As with the Fork Valves, which keep the front end tracking very well (which is why I feel I was able to keep pace with the Hayabusa, which I described in a post some time ago; while he drifted wide, I was able to get the inside track and shorten the distance between corners). The wheel is tracking so well that there is a noticeably less tendency to "spool up" when applying power as you exit a turn, it is especially noticeable if the road surface is exceptionally beat up.


It is a fact that when you have the the suspension settings dialed in, there is a particular zone, or for lack of a better description, a rather eerie but very certain and definable "harmonic window" where smooth takes on a whole new sensation. Perhaps more on that later. In fact when I hit the deer recently, that is exactly what I was doing motoring along at 4:00 am on a mostly deserted freeway.

All in all, in my qualified opinion, I must say that the gentlemen from R.P.M. has achieved yet another resounding success.

Ride carefully,

Mike Ramos.   

[baldy3853]

Nice report Mike

[1tinindian]

You hit a deer?

This report makes me want (need) a new rear shock even more.

Leon

[baldy3853]

You hit a deer?

This report makes me want (need) a new rear shock even more.

Leon

Leon couldn't agree more with you I have a Penske rear and now I want
Randys new rear shock going have to work some extra shifts  

[carey]

5,800 additional miles of testing & observations. In the past several months

Mike,

You're such a slacker.  I'd expect more miles from you in a few months.     Sorry to hear about the deer, but glad you're alright.

[baldy3853]

Hey Carey screw the deer  l hope the FJ is good, deer season should be longer!!

[Firehawk068]

So, was there "flight time" involved, like in David's test.............Or did the RPM shock just absorb the whole deer? 

I hit a deer at 70mph once with my Firehawk...........It involved "flight time"................for the deer.

[Pat Conlon]

If Mike had a set of USD's he prolly could have avoided the deer....

Hey, I'm just saying......

[FJmonkey]

If Mike had a set of USD's he prolly could have avoided the deer....

Hey, I'm just saying......

stiring the shit again eh? I like it....

[Flynt]

If Mike had a set of USD's he prolly could have avoided the deer....

No doubt...  although pine cones appear to be the weakness!   

Frank

[baldy3853]

If Mike had a set of USD's he prolly could have avoided the deer....

No doubt...  although pine cones appear to be the weakness!  

Frank

Pine cones who mentioned pine cones

Monkey you would remember this corner 

[FJmonkey]

Pine cones who mentioned pine cones

Monkey you would remember this corner 

Its in my GPS titled "Klavdy's Corner", it gets the occasional salute when I ride past it.

[baldy3853]

Pine cones who mentioned pine cones

Monkey you would remember this corner 

Its my GPS titled "Klavdy's Corner", it gets the occasional salute when I ride past it.

That's quite funny have that picture stored as Klavs corner 

[FJmonkey]

That picture is close to the lane and does not show the large paved pull out area where K-Man's FJ slid nearly 300 feet scrubbing off speed. Then it hit the mountain (much like you see in the picture but covered in shrub) with enough force to bent the forks and tweak the frame. What a day... His gear did its job and had less injuries than expected for someone loosing a game of dodge the pine cones.

[Mike Ramos]

Good evening,

Here is an e-mail to the gentleman from R.P.M sent soon after the rear shock installation.

It is dated December 22, 2012. I started at about 2:00 or 3:00 am.

The reason I left the bike in Redding is that there was a considerable amount of snow where I live.

If there is additional interest, I will post other updates as I can find them in my e-mail mail box.

Ride carefully,

Mike Ramos.



Morning Randy,
I arrived at my son's home in Redding from Walnut Creek earlier this morning...
When I started to ride again I told my son that if I crash & not die, to turn off life support after 48 hours. I have since told him that if I crash and do die, to make sure that your shock is returned to you before the bike is junked. And it may not be so far fetched as it seems...!
It was raining when I left Walnut Creek and between the Carquniz Bridge and the the 505 cutoff it poured... there is indeed a "harmonic" window with your suspension & I experienced it first hand on Hwy 505 - passing a line (Holiday traffic I suppose as usually traffic is sparse) of cars riding into what appeared to be a driving wind from the front in heavy rain; it was just phenomenal.
Somewhere before Williams it stopped raining but the road remained very wet. I was able to enter the the "window" several other times as well, learning what to look for.
The rear end does drop out in a particular type of depression, it seems to be of the type when the pavement stops or begins as the road crosses a bridge - it could be at either end. But it does not have to be just at a bridge crossing. Quite comfortable...
As of now, I still feel as if the "floating" is normal & is a correct response to the road surface.
Now bear in mind that I was not in some type of Zen like utopia  on a bright sunny day; it was cold and the first half was in a pouring, driving rain. I usually stay in the low 70's on Hwy 5 but this morning despite the fine suspension experience I wished for the ride to end & I really wanted my donut & hot chocolate at my favorite donut shop in Anderson; so I bumped up my cruise speed.
My bike has always been extraordinarily smooth at particular cruise speeds (thus no Vibranators); this suspension, when it enters that "window" makes the ride a unique experience. Very cool, pretty neat.
Another 205 miles so we are up to 800 miles on the shock.
I wonder if #1 - decrease the rear spring preload two turns as suggested and if that will allow the shock valve to operate more efficiently & #2 - to decrease the fork preload a notch to balance the front & rear together. I did increase the front because of the stiff rear spring on my sport shock.
It snowed even in Redding when I was gone so it is apparent that while we may get the settings refined for the open road, the sport aspect may take awhile because of the winter weather. I may go to San Diego over the New Year Holiday and there may be some country roads there, however there will be very heavy traffic so I do not know how productive that would be. I'll let you know as plans firm up - road trips are usually rather spontaneous.
I'll be away from a computer the next day or two. Call if any questions or if I need to expound upon anything.
Mike.