Ohlins YA052 rear-set for an FJR1300
It’s bad form to start with a question, particularly a rhetorical one. But why on earth didn’t I upgrade my rear suspension earlier?
Learning about motorcycles is a slow process based on distilling the various stuff one reads, hears from others and learns through first-hand experience. One thing I’m continuing to learn is that the bike that rolls off the end of a manufacturer’s production line is an imperfect compromise that leaves much to be desired.
Another thing I’m learning is that suspension and handling is what makes a bike great.
So what has triggered this latest “Aha!” moment? Replacing a shagged Yamaha standard rear suspension set with a unit made lovingly in Stockholm by a bunch of Swedes called Ohlins, that’s what.
About 10,000km ago I noted that my rear rebound damping was becoming more than a little suboptimal, and that poking at it with a stick didn’t seem to help. The effect was particularly noticeable when exiting a poorly surfaced corner (as can be found on most New Zealand roads) and winding on the power. Jjjjjjitters. Not nice.
Eventually I got around to entering into email dialogue with Robert Taylor – the suspension guru – and presently a parcel was on its way from Stockholm. On Saturday this was fitted for me by Kerry Dukie, Robert’s agent in these parts. And over the Rimutakas and jauntily around the Wairarapa did the newly-enhanced FJR and my fair self astride it go.
The difference was immediately noticeable. I realised how much the old rear set used to “talk” to me, embellishing road “noise” and other information via the bike’s handling characteristics. The new Ohlins makes the back of the bike feel like it’s stuck to the road like icecream to a blanket, as my mother would say. The ride is firm, but not harsh. Gone are the corner exiting jjjjjjitters and those previously experienced under hard braking – I’m talking emergency-stop braking. General unevenness in the road surface is also well dealt to.
The Rimutakas is a great test bed for all of a bike’s components. I hadn’t realised how much I was unsettled by the imperfections on this stretch of road and actually anticipated their effects on the bike by compromising on my preferred line through corners, braking points, acceleration points and so on. Now I feel more in control and able to enjoy the ride experience all the more.
My next “Aha!” moment was realising that my front suspension could probably be improved immeasurably by some quality aftermarket components. Ka-ching!
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Originally Posted by Hitcher
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm 
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