Suspensions

HOME Adjusting SAG

This should really be the starting point to making any modifications to the bike. What good is more power if you can't get it to the road, or stay on it. One nice thing about this mods is that unlike engine ones a little goes a long way.

First of all, think that the suspension tuning is near a science. Personal weigh, kind of driving and handling tastes are a major factor here. Like a guide, I weight around 72-75 kg kg, think 80 kg with all the equipment.

Motorbike suspension is basically the springs. The hydraulic controls the springs, so the 1st thing you must do is adjusting the springs to the motorcycle and personal weight.

A good guide to adjust your suspension is clicking here: Adjusting SAG

KERNITE BEARING GREASE

 

Once again I repeat that for the correct suspension work it is necessary that the headstock and the relay arms bearings make their function correctly, being greased and operate smoothly. I´m tired of repeat that the head stock and relay arm bearings must be dismounted, re-greased and properly packed and refitted is a basic work in our bikes, each 2 years or 24.000 kms.

It is extended when refitting wheel bearings: before of proceeding to fit any new bearing I open carefully the plastic cover of the bearing and always add a good quality bearing grease. Usually the bearing grease look a scarce resource at the bearing factory.

The grease oxidise with the time and the molecules break because of the friction and pressures on. Along my life I've tested various quality greases in my vehicles. But never, NEVER when I've dismounted any part the grease looked like NEW, like this KERNITE grease. In this case with 3 years and 24.000kms. At the pic you can see my Honda yoke like it was dismounted, with the grease looked like it was just spreaded. Amazing!

And at the swingarm and the dogbones was something similar: the grease was clean, without apparent degradation, green and smooth. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

 

 FRONT SUSPENSION

 a) Springs

I have tested my FJs with 4 different springs: original equipment, Progressive Suspension, Hagon and öhlins.

Öhlins springs are too hard: it is difficult even refit the top fork caps compressing the springs, and after fitted, the fork has not movement at all. So don’t fit them unless you are planning to eat a lot of hamburgers or you weight more than 200 kg.

Between Progressive Suspension and Hagon I think Hagon are the best, because of more progressive and better feel. Progressive ones are a little harsh too.

Hagon are awesome and the bike gives total confidence with 25 cc less oil than OE stated quantities in each leg. With the 10-40 w engine oil the fork is perfectly dampened, absorbing bumps but with a perfect little dive when hard breaking. This is true for the 1100 and 1TX and 3CV FJ 1200s, but not with 3XW, 1991 on 1200: the longer travel fork of this model don't work very well with the STD Hagon springs. I would order a softer rated springs.

The original springs are not too bad, but the bike dives and bounce when hard riding. And with a few kms. they get soggy and tired.

With new harder springs you can rise 1cm max. the forks above the fork clamp, so you gain in agility. This is more necessary in the + 1988 versions, with 17 inch front wheel. On the latest 3XW this is a necessary adjustment, changing the whole bike impressively.

Particularly, I prefer the superior agility of the 16 inch versions

 

b) Oils

The workshop manual specifies Sae 10-30 w motor oil in the FJ 1100 forks. Use 10-40 w engine oil. Cheap than the fork oils, more resistant to degradation (so the fork inner components are more protected), more consistent damping... Excellent results!. In fact, the fork oils are cheapo oils with less additives than engine oils forced to work with more strain, more pressures and molecular degradation due to the mechanical pressures on the gear train.

 

Fork Bridge

Mingo bought it. We have tested the bikes with the bridge on and off and in a lot of situations and speeds. The best that I can say is that we can't feel any difference at all. Yeah, it looks nice

 

Double original fork bridge fitted

 

I have mounted 2 original fork bridges on my bikes but the tip gives more rigidity because my mainland Spain 3CV have not broken the original fender, which when flexing the fork breaks the anchors. RECOMMENDED

NOTE: On the 1100/1TX it is also recommended to attach a speedometer cable guide from the later models and liberate the cable out of the fender.

Simply mount another original front fork bridge on top of yours, even the original screws will do.

 

FZR 1000 87-88 Fork swap

(Work in progress)

 

My bike suspension is spot on. Front & rear sags are perfect, the bike is controllable AND comfortable, I ride with fast riders on modern bikes on weekends without complexes and only a tweak on springs let me going into closed tracks.

So It is not necessary any change. In fact the only  motivation to make this mod is the aesthetic porpoise. I look the FZR 1000 320 mm. discs, and the mod look easy at first approach because both forks look similar.

First surprise: you can not fit the FZR legs on the FJ yokes. 

The FZR wheel/spacers/speedo drive had the same dimensions as the FJ, even have the same Yamaha PN code, but there is 5 mm less material at the inner surface of the axle bosses of the FZR forks. The fork spacing is narrower by 10mm. So it would be easy to compensate with 2 0,5 mm spacers… but then neither FZR or FJ mudguard/ fork bridge fit

FJ triples have fork legs at 210mm cl to cl. FZR triples have fork legs at 200mm so if you are going to use the FZR '87-88 forks, you will need to use the yoke as well. Using the yoke is easy due to the head bearings are the same in both models and you don't have to find any problem simply fitting the complete FZR yokes into the FJ headstock.

The following problem is that the FZR forks are 3,5 cms. shorter than the FJ forks as well. And it is too much. You would have to be fiddling with other handlebars or rear height to compensate.

The measures are like follows

FJ inner legs without cap                    43.5 cm        FZR 41.5 cm

FJ fork vases from seal to axel centre 36.5 cm        FZR 35 cm

                                                 Total 80 cm                 76,5 cm

And I´ve found that inner FZR 41 mm are obsolete and near impossible to find. So a potential problem when searching for spares and clearly a BIG negative point in order to make the conversion.

The best solution is fit FJ inner tubes on FZR fork vases with a total measure of 78.5 cm

And n addition you have other problem solved: the FZR springs are too soft, so if you fit a complete FZR forks you must resprung it, with a special ordered springs. Using FJ inner tubes let you fit FJ springs, and I can keep my fabulous Hagon springs into. You can maintain even the FJ Hydraulic regulation fitting the FJ unit inside the fork. In fact the FJ damper unit is 23 cm long vs FZR 21,50

The only drawback is that FZR vases don't provide place to fit the screw that holds the FJ hydraulic unit in place when remounting the forks, so to find the hydraulic unit slot when refitting the fork caps can be a pain in the arse.

Well, this is the plan to follow. But I have to paint the FZR vases and mudguard, buy steering stem bearings and renew all the fork internals when reassemble the fork. The fork seals & bushes are the same on both FZR & FJ models, with the same Yamaha code... So like I ride near everyday day my bikes, I'm going to wait to have to change anything to do it. In the meantime, I would like to know if anyone have done it the mod and what another problems he has bought

 

REAR SUSPENSION 

 

Spring trick

The original shock fits a too soft spring, mainly with passenger and luggage. With a new OE shock and my 80 kg wearing full equipment, the spring position is ok at the OE 3rd spring position and the damping at 3, but with passenger even at 5th position was too soft. You can get more spring preload simply at this way: 

 - Adjust the remote control in the hardest position (5), disconnect it, take back the adjuster to the 1st position and connect again. Be careful that the damping adjuster is at position 3 when disconnecting and keep it there when changing the preload adjuster from 5 to 1.

But when the OE fade (all of them in all FJs because of the age) there are no solution for the poor damping: the better option is to change the shock. I have tested 4 different shocks in my bikes:

Öhlins:

this is a pretty much the state of the art in shocks, but the actual difference in performance over the other listed here is questionable. The FJ fitment takes hydraulic preload, mounted in the original remote shock adjuster place.

EMC

when I fitted in my 1st 1200 it was named Quadrant. I ordered 1 cm longer than the original. Good shock, but without remote preload adjuster, and it was a pain to change the preload

White power

 I fitted one of them in my FZR 600. It is an excellent shock, and differently to all the other shocks, it was spot on from the crate. Transformed the FZR 600 handling. RECOMMENDED

Hagon

top notch finish and superb feeling. I ordered one with remote preload adjuster, fitted at the upper rear brake screw

  It is a fantastic shock, well dampened and good value for money. And at Hagon there are excellent professional who love their jobs. The only drawback is that the damping adjuster is via an Allen screw at the down body of the shock, but it is an easy task reaching the adjuster with the Allen key supplied.

The only drawback is the reliability: it looks like the debris from the Tenerife road pavement scratch the shock rod and then start to leak oil (this is the official Hagon explanation). The shock was repaired 3 times in a year by the excellent warranty service.

APRIL 2.012: Mingo sold his Hagon 5 years ago due to the same problem that mine, repaired in warranty too. The new owner has contacted with me recently to say me that shock continues in excellent nick. So the reliability problem that we suffered was due to the tarmac. And it is a recuurent problem in other shock brands too here in Tenerife

Betor: my friend Mingo's FJ fit one of the these. Excellent shock, and very cheap, with the damping force and spring spot on. Recommended NOTE: when the Betor faded, Mingo was looking for a dealer to repair it. Well, It is impossible. Nobody want nothing to know with repairing Betors. Definitely, a poo!. Mingo bought a Hagon too. And he suffered the same problem like me, so he changed to the OE

Take note that the shocks are totally different between FJ 1100 models, FJ 1200 86-87, FJ 3CV models and FJ 91 on, so if you find a 2nd hand shock in e-bay check the year model

 

HAGON update May 2.022

Riding on Calafat closed track, circuit I had the pleasure of meeting HAGON agent in Spain. He exlpained to me that Hagon had a problem with the quality of the stem seals years ago, and all of them were replaced under warranty, and when Hagon detected the problem, all the stock in Spain was sent to GB to be remade, in line with the excellent after-sales service that I speak about above.

Today they even come with a dust seal that cleans the stem when the shock works, so that the road debris do not damage the seal, as seen in the photo, and that from then, they have sold zillions and do not even remember having to repair one under warranty.

Let's see if I test one and comment how it goes. WORK IN PROGRESS

 

YSS shock:

when ordering the shock is made adjusted to your weight and driving style. I bought it because an expert rebuilt suspension service from Madrid recommended it to me due to the high quality of the design and construction. So excellent are the original shock settings that my Honda CBX behaviour was immediately improved, being the shock spot-on. And the best of the shock is that it is  height adjustable.

In July 2017 I tested the fantastic FJ 1100 restored by my friend Javier, from Valencia, with an YSS shock fitted. AWESOME! the bike feels fantastically suspended, and completely integrated, the handling is like a toy, going side to side only with only a thought, and letting using the fantastic rev-hungry engine until the redline.

True: i have not tested a better suspension in an FJ. More: the spring tension is not so inaccessible,  with any difficult, bt it is possible to move the spring. And always you have the remote preload option RECOMMENDED

 

CONCLUSION:

Our bikes are experimenting a come back to their origins. Mingo, JC and myself mount OE new rear shocks with the spring trick done. Our bikes are spot on, the shock is very resistant and you can change your settings easy and fast.

My final settings to my 85 kg weight with equipment are:

3CV

Front fork: Hagon springs, 10-40w engine oil 25 cm3 less than recommended, around 1 cm the fork legs raised, 1st position of 3 on springs (minimum) and middle rebound (2 of 3)

Rear shock: OE shock with the spring mode done, position 2 on spring and 3 on rebound. Shorter rods fitted

1TX

Front fork: Hagon springs, 10-40w engine oil 25 cm3 less than recommended, around 1 cm the fork legs raised, 1st position of 3 on springs (minimum), middle rebound (2 of 3), minimum antidive

Rear shock: OE shock with the spring mode done, position 2 on spring and 4 on rebound.

 

HONDA CBR 600 Fi REAR SHOCK ON FJ1100 & FJ1200 1TX 86-87 (credits to Stephen Kelly from Ireland)

 

Very easy mod to do, but I HAVE NOT TESTED MYSELF, I don´t know if the spring rate is right for the FJ weight, even although Stephen assures me it works. Only apply on FJ 1100s & FJ 1200 1986-87 1TX or 1XJ, not for 1988 on models (with fuel pump).

Pat Conlon (FJ 1400 appeared in motorcycleclassics.com) say me that the stock FJ spring go between 17,88 y 14,31 kgm., 800 to 1000 lbs/inch. I suppose the higher figure comes from 1990 on- FJs, with a stock 20% stronger spring than first vacuum series.

CBR 600 spring is 14.2 kg/mm , 794 lbs/inch. Like the original softer spring from 1100s and 1TXs is 14,31 kgm. and the CBR shock is longer and rise the center of gravity uploading more the front, the mod could work for cheap money.

BUT the soft stock spring in my 1TX is for maybe 120 kgs. maximun load. Not good to carry passenger and luggage, the same with this mod, I think

A friend of my FJ Spanish owners says that the best shock comes from 2001-2003 CBR 600 F4i model, 3 way adjustable

Top mount must be enlarged with a 12 mm. drill

Lower mount must be fitted with two 18x24x18 bearings (inner 18, outer 24, long 18)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes the ride height, excelent in order to fit a rear 17" rim … so need to change sidestand leaning over too much . A stand from R6 will fix it, it’s at least an inch longer.

I don't know if the original stand with the straighten trick works.

 

SHORTER REAR SHOCK TIE-RODS FITTED

On post 88 FJ models you can shorten the rear rods legs, upping the rear of the bike and gaining in agility. This is a necessity if you fit modern rim sizes because the short total diameter of the wheel with modern tyres.

It is an  easy task.

Check the centre bearing fitted in the central rod assy: if it is in bad shape, change it. It is an expensive bearing: To extract it, make an extractor with 1 stud, nut and shim and 2 vases, 14 & 17 mm, as you can see at the photos.

 

OPTIMIZING FJ 3XWs (1991-1998)

 

The last FJ development is the heaviest and slowest of the lot, but also fits the sweeter engine which has less vibrations and a superb aerodynamic protection. And completely OE is the best of all in its role as tourism as comes from the refinement of a sport bike along the years.

My history with the 3XW comes from when my friend JC bought one in 2006. Since then we tried to improve it but we got not really emulate the behavior of my 3CV in agility, strength, manoeuvrability and stability, all toghether. Which it was a shame, because the completely std engine except for a couple of IXIL cans and a KN filter, was a marvel of smoothness, power and progressiveness, with better touch on the 3CV low down due to an optimized ignition curve at low rpm by Yamaha.

.
JC fitted wheels, good tires, R1 brakes ...

Front fork: As I commented above in the text, Hagon or Wilbers springs are too hard for this bike and do not work well. As always, the simplest thing is what worked best: original springs, fork legs raised 1 cm. above the top yoke and engine 10-40w. oil with 150 mm. air gap is how we got the best results ..

Anyway the fork behaviour was never like forks or 1TX 3CV with Hagon and with the same oil. The 3XW fork has a much longer travel that gives inconsistent feeling and were never satisfied: or the fork was very hard and jumping on potholes or very mushy and didn't give confidence, and never in accordance with the rear.

 

Rear shock: JC bought a Hagon, but without remote control spring adjustment. The first lesson learned is NEVER BUY A REAR SHOCK WITHOUT A REMOTE SPRING ADJUSTMENT CONTROL UNIT. The double nut system is sunk in the depths of the motorcycle, impossible to reach with any key to change the settings easily, and you finish peeling your knuckles... and finally not changing settings only for the work involved or using a  hammer and a screwdriver in desperation and destroying the castellated nut . Very uncomfortable. And sometimes just changing tire with different housing (eg Metzeler to a softer Dunlop) requires a small correction spring, that you will not perform due to the difficult involved, which will affect the behaviour of the bike .With these difficulties to change settings in the end you're always riding with bad settings.

 

And as always, back to the original spring and hydraulic damper in position 4 we achieved the best combination. And with the OE Yamaha shock tool the adjustment is a doddle. key home is not as difficult to adjust.

Conclusion: Although with the final adjustments set above (the cheapest and easiest way, as always) the 3XW was not as fabulous bike as a 3CV. So JC bought his actual 3CV bike, transplanted tires and brakes and I bought the 3XW that was left with the 3XW STD wheels, suspension and brakes.

And that was the best 3XW that I met until then: perfect, soft, sweet, stable, relaxed ... a workhorse bike for every day and to travel to the end of the world on weekends ... Of course, with 80% of sporty capabilities than my 3CV. When you riding was serious, you really missed brakes power and felt the tall rear tire flexing. But you have to ride very hard and strong. Most people would be happy with a 3XW with only the subtle mods exposed.


As the end it was the same bike that I had in my garage  I ended up selling it, and its owner is still happy today. And that was my story with 3XW until today ....

 

Septiembre 2.015

After all these years I have ridden different 3XWs with varying degrees of tuning or improvements. Finally, after much tinkering, we have achieved among all the perfect combination to design the best 3XW we've tested to date.
First of all I have to say that "inventions" like inverted forks like GSXRs or YZF 600 right way forks are a step in the bad direction to improve handling: it is very difficult to find the right set-up not only with a correct geometries with new elements, but pretend that a fork designed with springs and hydraulic for another model entirely different in geometries and weight is a no sense.

Hence, although very showy, these preparations go really bad, as I tested this summer with a 3XW YZF 600 fork fitted. (2nd for the left at the pic). Even although the owner had tested a lot of springs and oils, with different measurements from the top yoke, the bike didn't turn correctly and when you fight and you get it there, the bike wanted to throw to the ditch.

To the point: the best 3XW that I have ever tested is the 2nd at the pic on the left, of my friend Maxi,

Standard fork with 10-40w motor oil and 150 mm. air gap. Original springs. Fork legs raised 1 cm on top yoke. FZR front 3,5" rim with 120/70/17 tyre on it

Original shock absorber. Shorter tie-rods. Dunlop Roadsmart Tyres. GSXR SACS 5,5" rear rim with 180/55/17 tyre.

Simply perfect!

3XW July 2.020.

For our annual 2020 FJ meeting I was able to extensively test another 3XW so I was able to make a perfect suspension set up. First of all, the steering bearings proper  adjustment as specified by Yamaha is critical: it does not matter if the bearings are new, soft or hard screwed: these must be bedding right: 5.5 kgm, release and 0.3 kgm.

Alternatively, if you do not have torque wrenches on hand, the bearings must be hard tightened, released and then, with the gloved hand, tightened. Ready!.
Before this adjustment, the bike gave a sensation of riding  a tentety even on the straights, being imprecise in curves and it was impossible to choose a correct line because the bike did not want to enter on the curve and, when you forced it, the thing felt falling to the inside. Whereupon you picked her up, the bike tended to pull you out, then you force the bike and fall again to the inside... Horrible!. The correct steering bearings tightening transformed the motorcycle.

The suspension settings for 85 kg full equiped are:
- front fork raised 1 cm ion top yoke, oil 10-40 425 cc. original quantity, original springs, position 2.
FZR front 3,5" rim with 120/70/17 tyre on it
- Rear shock absorber preload 7 of 9 (85 kg) or 8 of 9 (for 95 kg.) Hydraulic all closed (12 positions), the first 3, useless, turned out, and removed one more. In other words, 4 clicks from full closed. Original tie
-rods because it had 170/60/17 fitted on 5,5" Exup rear rim.

UPDATE 2,023: the bike handling is much better than the Maxi today and with less set-up hassle. At some point the Maxi 3XW has lost its way: inappropriate SAE fork oil (20w!) that makes the compression and extension go so slow and hard that it feel stiff & mismatched with the rear. This simple 3XW, with rims, and even squared tires when tested, makes everything easier, smoother and more comfortable, even giving a less bulk feel than the other. Fitting shorter dogbones on any 3XW also raises the center of gravity of this FJ even further, the highest of all FJ models. Better, without these.