Date: 29-03-24  Time: 00:55 am

Author Topic: R6 rear shock on the FZS600  (Read 59472 times)

kebab19

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R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« on: 05 June 2013, 05:09:47 pm »
Credit to Luke / DevilsYam for original inspiration
Credit to DCurzon for his top-hat spacer idea

These shocks fit but with a bit of hassle.

The standard spring is too soft unless you're a featherweight 8 stone or less & don't think about a pillion! A re-spring is needed to be safe


Although some people have transplanted the Fazer FZS 1000's rear shock onto their 600 (and this is a step in the right direction), these R6 shocks are an improvement again as they have separate high & low speed compression adjusters (particularly useful for overcoming those jarring, sharp-edged bumps that litter our public roads)

Save yourself a lot of p1ssing around by REMOVING the suspension linkages to allow the shock to fit more easily! While they're out, give 'em a good greasing.

The model you're after (13S) is the same one that all the 1000 owners are after, as well as GS500 twin owners(!) (2008 onwards shocks, it must have the compression adjusters together, not separate).  That means you'll have to watch ebay like a hawk or just buy one off a 1000 owner. Still, much cheaper than the likes of Nitron's basic emulsion shock & actually offers more adjustment options.
At 293mm long from eye centre to centre, its nearly 10mm shorter than the standard shock, so need different dogbones. I went with multiple height plates listed frequently on ebay that allow four different options & chose the highest ride height (normally +40mm) which is still slightly lower than standard.

Luke / Devilyam's suggested settings,

"Setting the high/low compression damping at 4 clicks out from full hard on the high speed adjusting nut, and 16 clicks out from full hard on the low speed compression blue screw worked well for me, and my weight. Rebound damping i have set at 16 clicks out from full hard, and that worked well, also."







« Last Edit: 20 November 2014, 05:48:34 pm by kebab19 »

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #1 on: 05 June 2013, 09:07:32 pm »
Nice one kebab!


I wondered what you were up to from your comment on my previous suspension post.


You could now class yourself as fazer pioneer i reckon.


Would be interesting to hear how it feels,personally im still learning so the less hassle with fitting stuff the better but for the seasoned fazer fettlers this cold be a real good option at less cost.
Easiest way to go fast........don't buy a blue bike

kebab19

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #2 on: 06 June 2013, 10:50:27 am »
Ah yes, was hinting @ what was to come  ;)
Thanks, I've made a few suspension mods in my time here (first for a 600, then for my 1000 & now back to a 600 again):

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,71.0.html

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php?topic=1722.0

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,7962.0.html

Having said that, this wasn't my idea, Luke / Devilyam came up with the great idea for fitting these shocks to the FZS1000 & they work well. Tho I am the first to have fitted one (so far).
Haven't ventured too far on the new shock yet (6 miles, all town riding) but it feels more compliant, a little softer than the original shock but perhaps it was harsh previously because the damping had gone. I'm not sure whether to aim for settings while @ standard rear ride height or jack it up a little, but at least my kidneys will survive bumps from now on. More fine tuning to come.

I'm turning my attention to the FZS600's front-end again next. Thundercat forks have been done, TRX850 forks are another option, or R6 5SL front forks if the front speedo drive can be bored out successfully (well I do have a set of 'em sitting in the garage  :lol ). Or I may just modify the damping internals of the standard forks. Decisions decisions...
« Last Edit: 12 June 2013, 01:09:40 pm by kebab19 »

kebab19

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #3 on: 11 June 2013, 06:06:11 pm »
Pics now added

Nice one of these shocks on Ebay at the moment, 1200 miles use if you can believe seller : 

Item number:111015636838
« Last Edit: 12 June 2013, 12:56:44 pm by kebab19 »

Bornagain again

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #4 on: 06 July 2013, 05:11:15 pm »
Bouncing so I don't have to look for it
 

Dead Eye

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #5 on: 06 July 2013, 07:53:14 pm »
You could bookmark the page :P

kebab19

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #6 on: 10 July 2013, 09:36:07 am »
Ok I tested her quite a bit.

The shock performs superbly BUT the standard spring is on the soft side. This is unsurprising since the donor bike is considerably lighter.
I am just over 11 stone, maybe 13 in full gear and even with the spring preload wound to maximum my rear sag with me on the bike was about 52mm. Considering there is 119mm of suspension travel this is too soft (should be between a quarter to a third of travel, 30-40mm maximum). While fine for me keeping things under a ton, things might get interesting above that speed, or if you are 16 stone, or if you were to take a pillion  :eek So if you aren't heavy & ride solo, the straight shock swap is fine. I'm a bit of a suspension perfectionist, & sadly the Fazer 600's spring was too long to fit onto the R6 shock, so I ordered & fitted a heavier Faulkner's spring (£27) to get my sag closer to optimum.

Slightly disappointing as the spring change complicates things & adds more expense, but I felt it was worth mentioning to anyone considering the swap over.

devilsyam

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #7 on: 13 July 2013, 06:26:37 am »
Hum intresting would have tried preload up one click to 5 to stiffen spring
Wot is the bone centre to centre to maintain stock ride height?
Good work not have a 600 to play with couldn't explore this so weldone
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Punkstig

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #8 on: 13 July 2013, 09:58:34 am »
Hum intresting would have tried preload up one click to 5 to stiffen spring
Wot is the bone centre to centre to maintain stock ride height?
Good work not have a 600 to play with couldn't explore this so weldone
Sag is sag,
Although adjusting preload can help temporarily if you don't have the right sag for your weight then the bike will never ever handle correctly.
This is why sag is always the first thing to be set before playing with any other adjustments!
Some say...

devilsyam

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #9 on: 13 July 2013, 10:14:51 am »
Personally I think to much weight is placed on sag lol
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Andy FZS

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #10 on: 13 July 2013, 07:06:20 pm »
I'm going to swap mine for a thou one when I get the chance, I've got the shock I just need the time.

kebab19

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #11 on: 13 July 2013, 08:23:04 pm »
It was your idea, Luke - all credit to you.
I maxed the preload out & that sag measurement was the best I could get. Not sure re correct dogbone length - I bought the four-way 'projection' adapter plates as one of them raises the standard rear height 40mm. I have it on this setting & it's still 3 or 4 mm shorter than standard setup, & makes the centre-stand more of a PITA to lift onto. next time it's off I'll measure the gap between holes.

When road testing it didn't feel like it completely bottomed out on me which was surprising as Irish 'B' roads are known to resemble the surface of the moon. But I'd be concerned that someone with a passenger or two-up with luggage could find it dangerous, so it can't be recommended without first uprating the spring weight. An uprated 650 lbs/inch shouild do the job, or possibly 700lbs/inch if you're ... big boned.

Andy, the FZS1000 shock will be an improvement over the standard unit, but as Luke will probably agree, its the separate high and low-speed compression damping circuits that elevates these R6 shocks into something pretty special, more in line with the ride sensation top aftermarket shock manufacturers like Nitron offer.   
« Last Edit: 17 July 2013, 08:34:46 pm by kebab19 »

devilsyam

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #12 on: 13 July 2013, 09:22:41 pm »
im struggling as the spring should be more than up to it can you get the swinging arm pivot to wheel spindle center to center and ill fire it over to my buddy and he can run the suspension model to see wots wot
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bwizz

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #13 on: 13 July 2013, 09:40:12 pm »
I've had a thou shock on my 600 "with 600 spring" for two seasons now. I never have cause to think about what the suspension is doing . A good sign that all is well in my books

Andy FZS

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #14 on: 13 July 2013, 11:04:12 pm »
I look forward to fitting mine then as it sounds like it should be an improvement.

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #15 on: 14 July 2013, 12:18:05 am »
The fzs 600 spring is 823 lbs/inch, so the r6 spring is way off!!

kebab19

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #16 on: 14 July 2013, 12:13:48 pm »
Luke,
According to this thread:  http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,2078.25.html
the FZS swingarm pivot to wheel spindle is about 540mm

With the standard R6 standard shock spring with preload maxed my rear sag was 52mm
With a Faulkner's 600 lb/inch spring fitted & preload maxed my sag was 40mm - getting much closer
I've just ordered a Faulkners 650lb/ inch spring, which should hopefully be perfect for me

The R6 spring length is also a PITA at 6.5 inches long; the FZS600 spring is 7 inches, so it wouldn't fit without a major amount of preload being exerted. The Faulkner springs are only 6 inches long, hence I had to have a metal spacer fitted to the bottom of the shock to take up the slack
« Last Edit: 14 July 2013, 12:52:11 pm by kebab19 »

bwizz

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #17 on: 14 July 2013, 05:03:26 pm »
When comparing spring rates it is easy to overlook the contribution of the gas in the thou, and r6 units. a  fazer 600 unit does not have gas assistance . chap at revvs reconed the gas added 70% .

wezdavo

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #18 on: 14 July 2013, 06:34:25 pm »
According to the fzs1000 manual its shock has a gas pressure of 1,200 kPa (12 kg/cm2, 170.7 psi)
 
But wait for this...
 
According to the fzs 600 manual its shock also has a gas pressure of 1,200 kPa (12 kg/cm2, 170.7 psi)
 
This info is obtained from the Yamaha workshop manuals spec section, where it has spring rate and such things...
 
So maybe the guy at revs was wrong?
 
« Last Edit: 14 July 2013, 06:56:21 pm by wezdavo »

bwizz

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #19 on: 14 July 2013, 07:55:08 pm »
Bit over my head this ,but the point is the 1000 and r6 gas assistance can be adjusted
wheras the 600 oil/spring unit is fixed so in theory either should be better than the 600 basic unit, In my experience the r6 unit on my thou and the 1000 unit (600 spring) on the 600 are much better than stock

kebab19

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #20 on: 17 July 2013, 08:34:12 pm »
Ok, I've now fitted a 650lb/inch Faulkner's spring to the shock. With the preload ring moved to maximum, sag with me on the bike is 31mm  :)
Although subjective, common consent for rear sag for roadbikes is between 30-35mm, so it looks like this is the spring weight needed to avoid bottoming out.
I'd estimate if you're over 17 stone, or regularly carry a passenger at speed, you may need to fit a heavier spring, such as 700lb/inch to the shock instead.

Some testing tomorrow, a proper workout weather permitting  :lol

wezdavo

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #21 on: 17 July 2013, 10:02:21 pm »
Very good Kebab ;)
 
Could I trouble you for the spring size, id and length?
 
 

kebab19

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #22 on: 18 July 2013, 11:43:17 am »
Sure, I ordered from here:     http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorcycle/rear-springs

The spring I went for:
Free length - 6.0 inch / 152.4mm
Internal Diameter - 2.25 inches / 58.5mm
Rate - 650lbs ins / 114N/mm

Bear in mind that this spring is half an inch shorter than the original Yam spring; I had an alloy spacer made up to take up the gap. You might be able to fit the 7 inch version of the spring instead, but there may be too much preload by the time its compressed onto the shock. I have a contact who's a dab hand at machining parts & can knock up an identical spacer for about £20 if you need one.

A decent 20 mile spin this morning and all is (very) well now. Much firmer rear end, with 31mm probably at the sporty end of the adjustment range. I'll back the preload ramp off a couple of positions for slightly more comfort, but finally the quest for rear-end perfection is coming to an end .... matching the front-end perfection of Debrix emulators with VFR750 fork springs  :D     
« Last Edit: 02 August 2013, 09:12:30 am by kebab19 »

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #23 on: 01 August 2013, 05:45:53 pm »
Great stuff kebab, good you're getting close to your perfect setup... I can only wish I was too.

An often overlooked subject is the ease of preload adjustment. Makes a big difference to me as I ride with luggage/pillion/solo in equal amounts. The standard shock is quick and easy to adjust but I want a good adjustable shock! Answer would be a Nitron or something decent with a remote preload adjuster. Without one those aftermarket shocks are a pain as they have a threaded adjuster not notched like the oem shocks, which I found out to my expense with a Wilbers.

So before I start starving myself so I can afford a £600 shock or consider another bike, how easy is it to adjust on the R6 shock? As easy as on the standard shock?

kebab19

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Re: R6 rear shock on the FZS600
« Reply #24 on: 01 August 2013, 07:41:34 pm »
Hello,
Yes, adjustment is via a preload ramp / collar, the same as the standard shock. There is the compression reservoir at the back of the shock but it doesnt get in the way of adjusting the preload ring. For speed I remove the top bolt of the footrest hanger, letting it hang down. This allows me to pull on the spanner without gouging my fingers against it. Also, I've been using the FZS600 C-spanner to make all the adjustments.

Shock has been great so far & am now getting shorter bespoke dogbones made up in order to raise the rear another 10mm or so