FJRocket
Doctor Throckenstein !!!
EDIT: I've completed swapping out my OEM fork springs for a set of HyperPro fork springs. HyperPro just listed a set of springs for the 2006+ FJRs on their website the day I bought mine. The SP-YA13-SSA008 "rising rate" (progressive...more or less) fork spring kit is for ALL FJRs, even the first generation bikes. Willem at HyperPro in Holland sez the aluminum cup at the bottom of the new series spring (shown below) makes the spring work for ALL years, and ALL weights of FJR.
There evidently was some confusion between the US distributor and the home office around the time I inquired about their springs, as these are a brand new spring series. I'm not sure what happened, but I think Annitori Dist. was expecting an additional series springs for just the new series FJR. The new spring series is in fact for ALL models through 2007. They will discontinue the SP-YA13-SSA003 series and replace it with only the "008" series springs. HyperPro makes springs for the forks and/or for shocks, and they are available as a "combi" set.
I could have bought the springs directly from the HyperPro website (US distributor), but I emailed Mike Kolstad at UM and got them from Fargo. I only saved enough to cover the shipping. These things are pretty salty, about $160 for the pair. They come with the 15 wt oil and a dollop of grease to do the install. The model specific instructions are in short hand, probably typed out in Holland by someone who's primary language is NOT English. I emailed them for some clarification on the install, and got a fairly quick response. It really isn't all that hard to install these springs, nothing special about it. Note that fork servicing is covered elsewhere, so I'm not going to get into the general removal and service processes.
When you set the OEM springs and the HyperPros side by, it's a little disconcerting. The HyperPro springs appear to be for a different motorcycle. Note the HyperPro on the right:
An interesting note is that Willem at HyperPro describes the OEM spring as a rising rate spring, just like HyperPros. In that regard perhaps all we get with swapping these springs are better quality and longer spring action?
After pulling my forks out and apart, I got the OEM spring out. It seems dainty compared to the HyperPro. Part of the HP install short hand/language barrier confusion comes from them using language that doesn't correspond to the Yamaha parts diagrams. Not the US parts diagrams, anyway. I finally figured out that the reference to the PRELOAD BUSH means the 150MM long tube ( called a "spacer" by Yamaha) that sits between the flat washer and the nut just under the cap bolt. The flat washer sits on top of the OEM Yamaha spring. Then HP refers to using the ORG RING. To me that meant ORGANIC ring, but they just mean use the ORIGINAL flat washer when reinstalling the parts.
Finally, it makes sense, because when you put the combined OEM parts together as in the pics above, the overall length is the same. No wonder these springs are twice the cost, there's nearly twice the spring! I certainly hope that translates in to some seriously good fork action once the new springs are in service.
The billet aluminum cup on the bottom of the springs is to make them work for both generations of FJRs. IOW, this spring set fits all model year FJRs.
The HyperPro instructions say the air space above the oil with the fork tubes fully compressed (metal to metal) is supposed to be 230mm. Looks like stock, my AE is more like 195. So there's actually less oil used with the HyperPro spring. Dunno why, just going to follow the instructions and do it like they tell me.
I will say this much, the instructions do have some good detail on setup of this spring set. They even go as far as to tell you that you should set your forks at 3 rings, 15 clicks of compression and 6 clicks of rebound, to get 30mm of sag. That's the range to start with, anyway. Pretty cool! (yeah, I know that's about mid range, like you would expect...)
FJRTech covers fork servicing pretty thoroughly, so there's no point in me rehashing that. I can confirm that the springs go back in just like stock, except you omit the spacer tube. Easy. The slightly tricky part is getting the center plunger pulled back up through the center of the longer spring to nut it all back together. I found my extension magnet and pulled the center plunger up with ease.
When I reassembled the forks, with them back on the bike, I used a floor jack to reposition the front end up and down to get better access to the parts. With the bike down and the tubes fully compressed, the parts stick up out of the tube just enough to get a good hold on them to reassemble. Nice.
I thought I'd share this information with you, just in case someone was interested in a set of springs other than Wilbers or Eibach, and really didn't want to fork out (p.i.) the dough for a complete fork job. I think these HyperPro springs will put me somewhat closer to what the FJR front end can deliver, and certainly should be a LOT better than stock. I'll report back after I get a test ride... after the iceflow in my driveway melts in a week or so.
There evidently was some confusion between the US distributor and the home office around the time I inquired about their springs, as these are a brand new spring series. I'm not sure what happened, but I think Annitori Dist. was expecting an additional series springs for just the new series FJR. The new spring series is in fact for ALL models through 2007. They will discontinue the SP-YA13-SSA003 series and replace it with only the "008" series springs. HyperPro makes springs for the forks and/or for shocks, and they are available as a "combi" set.
I could have bought the springs directly from the HyperPro website (US distributor), but I emailed Mike Kolstad at UM and got them from Fargo. I only saved enough to cover the shipping. These things are pretty salty, about $160 for the pair. They come with the 15 wt oil and a dollop of grease to do the install. The model specific instructions are in short hand, probably typed out in Holland by someone who's primary language is NOT English. I emailed them for some clarification on the install, and got a fairly quick response. It really isn't all that hard to install these springs, nothing special about it. Note that fork servicing is covered elsewhere, so I'm not going to get into the general removal and service processes.
When you set the OEM springs and the HyperPros side by, it's a little disconcerting. The HyperPro springs appear to be for a different motorcycle. Note the HyperPro on the right:
An interesting note is that Willem at HyperPro describes the OEM spring as a rising rate spring, just like HyperPros. In that regard perhaps all we get with swapping these springs are better quality and longer spring action?
After pulling my forks out and apart, I got the OEM spring out. It seems dainty compared to the HyperPro. Part of the HP install short hand/language barrier confusion comes from them using language that doesn't correspond to the Yamaha parts diagrams. Not the US parts diagrams, anyway. I finally figured out that the reference to the PRELOAD BUSH means the 150MM long tube ( called a "spacer" by Yamaha) that sits between the flat washer and the nut just under the cap bolt. The flat washer sits on top of the OEM Yamaha spring. Then HP refers to using the ORG RING. To me that meant ORGANIC ring, but they just mean use the ORIGINAL flat washer when reinstalling the parts.
Finally, it makes sense, because when you put the combined OEM parts together as in the pics above, the overall length is the same. No wonder these springs are twice the cost, there's nearly twice the spring! I certainly hope that translates in to some seriously good fork action once the new springs are in service.
The billet aluminum cup on the bottom of the springs is to make them work for both generations of FJRs. IOW, this spring set fits all model year FJRs.
The HyperPro instructions say the air space above the oil with the fork tubes fully compressed (metal to metal) is supposed to be 230mm. Looks like stock, my AE is more like 195. So there's actually less oil used with the HyperPro spring. Dunno why, just going to follow the instructions and do it like they tell me.
I will say this much, the instructions do have some good detail on setup of this spring set. They even go as far as to tell you that you should set your forks at 3 rings, 15 clicks of compression and 6 clicks of rebound, to get 30mm of sag. That's the range to start with, anyway. Pretty cool! (yeah, I know that's about mid range, like you would expect...)
FJRTech covers fork servicing pretty thoroughly, so there's no point in me rehashing that. I can confirm that the springs go back in just like stock, except you omit the spacer tube. Easy. The slightly tricky part is getting the center plunger pulled back up through the center of the longer spring to nut it all back together. I found my extension magnet and pulled the center plunger up with ease.
When I reassembled the forks, with them back on the bike, I used a floor jack to reposition the front end up and down to get better access to the parts. With the bike down and the tubes fully compressed, the parts stick up out of the tube just enough to get a good hold on them to reassemble. Nice.
I thought I'd share this information with you, just in case someone was interested in a set of springs other than Wilbers or Eibach, and really didn't want to fork out (p.i.) the dough for a complete fork job. I think these HyperPro springs will put me somewhat closer to what the FJR front end can deliver, and certainly should be a LOT better than stock. I'll report back after I get a test ride... after the iceflow in my driveway melts in a week or so.
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