New rear shock: *what* a revelation.

I bought a replacement rear shock for the FJ1100 from ebay a couple of
months back although the original one was still 'ok', not leaking or damaged
in any way, just a bit soft on damping and spring rate. S/H rear shocks,
(especially aftermarket units in good condition) for FJs are rarer than a
very rare thing indeed so I bought it 'just in case'. I finally got round to
changing it over at the weekend, losing the usual amount of flesh from the
fingers in th process. The old one has done over 70k miles and most of that
carrying luggage and or pillion. The replacement is an EMC Dynamics/Quadrant
unit which has the valuable property of being rebuildable with easily
available standard oil seals too. I had no idea just how shagged out the old
one was compared with the newer one.
*What* a difference. It's new bike I tell you. It feels as though it's shed
about 100kgs in weight. It feels much more flickable (if that's the correct
expression for an FJ!), and gives a hell of a lot more 'feel' in the
corners. On my usual 50mile commute I take in ~20miles of nice twisty
B-roads and quiet A-roads, and I'm now taking some corners at least 10mph
quicker.
A happy bunny is I.

JB

 

If you do have to buy a new one, don't go for the Sebac 'budget' unit from
the FJClub. The Hagon is light years better as it has been designed
specifically for the FJ with 'Doc' Hacker's input. The Ohlins unit however
is not meant for actually fitting to the bike. These units are for putting
on your coffee table and *worshipping*. Such is the quality and look/feel of
the engineering it would be a crime to actually use one on a bike.
<reaches for tissues>
I'll keep my ears open for you as I put out a lot of requests for a good s/h
shock and a few eople have still got to get back to me.
cheers,
JB