stretch
Well-Known Member
I’ve discovered an alternative to the popular R6 shock as an upgrade for the GEN1.
After seeing pictures of the rear suspension on the new all concurring BMW S1000RR, I suspected it may make a good choice.
I watched eBay for several months before I finally scored a new Zero mile shock for $26 delivered.
On the upside The damping is reportedly exceptional. On the S1000RR forum most of the racers recommend putting money and time into the forks first because the stock shock is so good.
Clearance will not be an issue with the gen 1 FZ1 like the R6 shock, so no clearanceing with a dremel will be required. It also feels even lighter then the R6 shock (already a light shock) I'll measure it tonight to confirm this.
Best of all the lengths are nearly identical so the shorter dog banes will not be required. The BMW shock is less then ¼” longer (R6 shock is ½” too short), so installing it with the factory dog bones will cause a slight raise at the tail (desirable for all except the vertically challenged) slightly greater cornering clearance and a little lighter steering. Also you avoid the changes to the geometry of the progressive raising rate linkage (and possible limited suspension travel) caused by the shorter dog bones required for the R6 shock mod. This problem increases if even shorter dog bones were used to provide the kind of rise at the rear the BMW shock obtains with factory length dog bones installed.
Unfortunately the spring rate while higher than the stock FZ1 spring is lower than the R6, falling almost exactly between the 2. I cannot yet say how this shock will respond to a respring, but I have no doubt I will try and let y’all know. Unfortunately I just installed a newly resprung 2012 R6 shock on my bike so it may be a while before I get around to road testing this new shock.
The mounting holes will still require drilling to fit the larger FZ1 bolts, but this should not present a problem. Of course it also includes the now comon high speed compression adjustment, as well as a threaded preload adjustment that I prefer to the ramp style.
Right now I just enjoy looking at this shock, it is a work of art, with the quality numbered adjusters that look as though the belong on an expensive aftermarket shock and gold anodized parts I just don’t want to get it dirty.
After seeing pictures of the rear suspension on the new all concurring BMW S1000RR, I suspected it may make a good choice.
I watched eBay for several months before I finally scored a new Zero mile shock for $26 delivered.
On the upside The damping is reportedly exceptional. On the S1000RR forum most of the racers recommend putting money and time into the forks first because the stock shock is so good.
Clearance will not be an issue with the gen 1 FZ1 like the R6 shock, so no clearanceing with a dremel will be required. It also feels even lighter then the R6 shock (already a light shock) I'll measure it tonight to confirm this.
Best of all the lengths are nearly identical so the shorter dog banes will not be required. The BMW shock is less then ¼” longer (R6 shock is ½” too short), so installing it with the factory dog bones will cause a slight raise at the tail (desirable for all except the vertically challenged) slightly greater cornering clearance and a little lighter steering. Also you avoid the changes to the geometry of the progressive raising rate linkage (and possible limited suspension travel) caused by the shorter dog bones required for the R6 shock mod. This problem increases if even shorter dog bones were used to provide the kind of rise at the rear the BMW shock obtains with factory length dog bones installed.
Unfortunately the spring rate while higher than the stock FZ1 spring is lower than the R6, falling almost exactly between the 2. I cannot yet say how this shock will respond to a respring, but I have no doubt I will try and let y’all know. Unfortunately I just installed a newly resprung 2012 R6 shock on my bike so it may be a while before I get around to road testing this new shock.
The mounting holes will still require drilling to fit the larger FZ1 bolts, but this should not present a problem. Of course it also includes the now comon high speed compression adjustment, as well as a threaded preload adjustment that I prefer to the ramp style.
Right now I just enjoy looking at this shock, it is a work of art, with the quality numbered adjusters that look as though the belong on an expensive aftermarket shock and gold anodized parts I just don’t want to get it dirty.
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