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383 Posts
I'm 100% content with a SHOWA oem rear shock with adjustable dampening for 100 bucks. All day. I'll ride 1000000 miles on oem shocks haha
Completely agree. This has been my experience also. Hell I raced on the 05 R6 stock suspension for a while when I first got started, and was fine with it for the most part. Got better lap times with an Ohlins setup, but there was certainly no need for nearly $3000 worth of suspension upgrades for the street. There were some good demo videos of the FZ being ridden by some pro riders who rode the crap out of a stock FZ. A vlogger (Dodge rider) said it too, a skilled rider will have no trouble handling the stock suspension and throttle.Modifying bikes, cars, boats etc., is something I have been doing all my life.
I would have to say that all stock shocks, are not pretty much junk. Maybe on the low end bikes, sure. FZ09 included....sub par for sure.
Most late model sport bikes, have suspension better than the majority of riders need.
Trust me, I have spent many dollars over the years, purchasing aftermarket suspension, for a variety of bikes. Some for street bikes, but mostly for street bikes, that I raced in various classes.
In recent years, bikes have improved wildly, and track days are readily available......a much better situation than in the past, when it was either ride like a lunatic full bore on the street, or actually go out and *road race...........*which required quality suspension fully sorted.
The purchasing of aftermarkets parts, to improve bikes has been going on for decades. Often the enthusiastic riders, buy a wrong combination of "good" parts to
make improvements, and go backwards. Typically, the ignorant, purchase high end hardware, and set it up incorrectly.
Many late model bikes with stock suspension, do just fine on sporty rides with a competent rider.....we have all seen the young lions, out there tossing there bikes in the weeds, even with all the latest best hardware money can buy.
The FJ09 shock on a well ridden FZ09, would be a ok, and most likely, not be a bad experience.
I would have to agree with most of what you said...but a few statements threw me off a little. One...the FZ09 is certainly not a "sportbike". An FZ09 or an FZ07 are universal Japanese motorcycles. Call them naked bikes...or entry level....or cheap...yes....but not a sportbike by any stretch of the imagination. Any bike that comes with high mileage tires....non radial brakes...non radial master cylinder....small diameter front discs...and really cheap suspension on both ends...is not a sportbike. Any of us can try and ride an entry level cheap motorcycle like a sportbike .....but that endeavor completely depends on the skill level of the rider and nothing else. If you are good on a bike...you can ride anything fast.....but you didn't get "good" without first getting confidence.Modifying bikes, cars, boats etc., is something I have been doing all my life.
I would have to say that all stock shocks, are not pretty much junk. Maybe on the low end bikes, sure. FZ09 included....sub par for sure.
Most late model sport bikes, have suspension better than the majority of riders need.
Trust me, I have spent many dollars over the years, purchasing aftermarket suspension, for a variety of bikes. Some for street bikes, but mostly for street bikes, that I raced in various classes.
In recent years, bikes have improved wildly, and track days are readily available......a much better situation than in the past, when it was either ride like a lunatic full bore on the street, or actually go out and *road race...........*which required quality suspension fully sorted.
The purchasing of aftermarkets parts, to improve bikes has been going on for decades. Often the enthusiastic riders, buy a wrong combination of "good" parts to
make improvements, and go backwards. Typically, the ignorant, purchase high end hardware, and set it up incorrectly.
Many late model bikes with stock suspension, do just fine on sporty rides with a competent rider.....we have all seen the young lions, out there tossing there bikes in the weeds, even with all the latest best hardware money can buy.
The FJ09 shock on a well ridden FZ09, would be a ok, and most likely, not be a bad experience.
I've also thought of the same. Wife's cousin purchased an fj and had good things to say about the rear suspension as far as moderate to aggressive street riding. Coming from someone that hits the track on a Duc regularly I would trust his opinion.A few days back, I test rode both the FZ and FJ back/back on the same approx 15 mile back road route. I was really surprised with the improved ride quality of the FJ. After I pick up my FZ, I may try to find a cheap FJ take off shock before I spend the $ on a single clicker, which is all I really need for my riding style. Already perusing FJ classifieds.
I've also thought of the same. Wife's cousin purchased an fj and had good things to say about the rear suspension as far as moderate to aggressive street riding. Coming from someone that hits the track on a Duc regularly I would trust his opinion.
If I could get a used FJ shock for under 125 I'd likely roll the dice. It did snow in Ohio today so... maybe I'll just wait until late spring. So depressing.
Sent from my SAMSUNG
Let's bring this back from the dead.......has anyone purchased an FJ 09 shock, installed it, but never discussed the results here, due to a lot of the negative / mixed reaction, to the OP?
I was ready to off, the stock FZ shock.
Having recently ridden, several FZ 09's with shock and fork upgrades, ranging from $800 to $2,500 worth of suspension hardware, the time was ripe
to make changes to my own FZ.
I purchased a new FJ 09 shock for $265 delivered.
At the risk of reading, what I expect to see, from the internet experts....here goes.
The FJ 09 shock swap, to the FZ results, are very acceptable...the rear shock, works better than it does, on the heavier FJ 09.
With Sonic 95kg fork springs ,10wt PJ-1 fork oil, with an additional 5mm height in oil volume...the bike feels very stable over a variety for surfaces.
The fork tubes are slid up, 10mm into the triple clamps.
I weigh 215# in riding gear, no longer ride 9-10ths on the street, but often enjoy a more than "spirited pace".
After playing around with rear spring preload, and the dampening adjustment, I left the preload at the midway spot, and the dampening is still being dialed in, it is set more on the firm side.
My guess is, that if the FZ had come from the factory with this set-up, most riders would not be in a panic to upgrade stock suspension.
On the other hand, some riders never leave anything stock, no matter what hardware was installed at the factory.
Anyone else, do this swap?
I was going to do the ZX6 / 10 shock swap, but wanted to try this out instead.
As several have suspected, this shock may work out well for them.
Initially, I had a lot more detail about my riding style, area, and background, but thought, none of that would matter to most.