Hi All - before I ask my question just want to say what a great forum this is - there's a wealth of knowledge, experience and interesting info on here. It's a great place to be - so thank you to those who make it possible.

My 1993 FZR400RR 4DX rear shock is sooo soft - it's set on one setting from the hardest and just seems so soft and spongy. (Although the bike seems to handle ok-ish) I understand some people put an R6 shocker on as replacement - of which there are plenty on ebay ranging from about £35 - £120 generally. If I went down this route what else would I need to convert one to fit and not ruin the handling? Would it alter the ride height and is it an easy job to do? I don't have a lot of money but hoping I can get my bike sorted and handling better again for around £120ish - do think this is possible?
Is there a particular year/model R6 shock I should be looking for that would fit my 4DX or will they all fit?

Any info much appreciated

Mike

You'll need the later type R6 shock with the red spring and an adapter made by Kayla. Most seem to find the spring on the R6 shock very stiff and you'll need the compression backed right off or get a different spring on it.

Once you have these two bits it's a matter of unbolting the original and bolting on the new one. You need to take the wieght off the back wheel. It's possible to do it using the side stand if you have a mate to help, I have an abba stand and did it with that. It would be a good idea to more time on this and grease all the linkage bearings and if you can the swingarm bearings too. Provided you have a reasonable set of sockets it's not a complicated job.

Hi Evil - thanks for your info, - so would you recommend sticking with an original fitment shock rather than an R6 one? I don't want it to be rock hard just a bit firmer than it is and be able to have some adjustment. Also on the 'odd' time I take a pillion it's way to soft then two-up so I know it definately needs something doing. It does seem to handle ok tho - unless I've just got used to it!

a trx 850 will fit it, got a bit of adjustment and should be slightly stiffer I think. I've got one to try on my 3tj, when i get it MOT'd that is!

The problem with a TRX shock is that they're as likely to be knackered now as well, but they're the same length and will fit the 3TJ/4DX.

I have an R6 shock on my bike, in fact I have R6 shocks on all my bikes They're inexpensive cos there's loads of them around (£60-ish if you look hard on ebay and chances are you'll find a zero-mile one taken from a new bike) and they work really well. They are stiffer than standard, but the one on my 4/6 is on standard R6 settings and works fine.

Sales pitch bit (sorry)- adapters are £40 plus post. Send me a PM if you want one.

Mike Shelby wrote:Hi Evil - thanks for your info, - so would you recommend sticking with an original fitment shock rather than an R6 one? I don't want it to be rock hard just a bit firmer than it is and be able to have some adjustment. Also on the 'odd' time I take a pillion it's way to soft then two-up so I know it definately needs something doing. It does seem to handle ok tho - unless I've just got used to it!

Not really, I doubt theres any 3TJ shocks out there that aren't shagged out by now and even if they're not as good as the R6.
Try http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-r6-rear-sh ... 3cb8832b9d for the shock at £75, budget another £50 for the extension, the new spring is a nice to have and you can take the shock to a suspension place, they'll change it ... springs are about £50 ish. The same shop might set the shock up for you too but that will be some more dosh. Somebody here will give you a base setting though.

When I did the conversion on my 3TJ I was really worried about it being way too stiff etc but now its on I personally don't find it too stiff at all, I've set the high and low speed compression and rebound damping at roughly the middle of the range with pretty good results

Thanks for all the replies that's very helpful - and Kayla I might be getting intouch thanks. (I received the Wheels & header pipes ok thanks! . . . I pressume it's you!??)

Mike Shelby wrote:Thanks for all the replies that's very helpful - and Kayla I might be getting intouch thanks. (I received the Wheels & header pipes ok thanks! . . . I pressume it's you!??)

Yes! Thanks for letting me know

i got the 06-r6 shock in mine and it's made one hell of a difference, the original shock was that knackered just one up and it would rub on the hugger when ridden hard and a pillion was out of the question,

as i said i have the 06-r6 shock plus adapter and have changed the red spring (about 500lbs) for a black spring (about 400lbs) the original tj spring is about 320lbs (figures of the top of my head but near enough)

this works very well with no preload for 1up riding and 3 on preload for 2up, it's well planted with loads of feedback

you might also consider some decent fork springs and spacers i got maxton to figure it out and send something weight related to my needs' i've had to fettle away a bit to the spacers to get it right, but it's been well worth it (you have to remember if you use someone like maxton their race orientated so my be a bit hard, mine were but a bit of a trim to the spacers and you'll get the best setup for yourself in the end) and i recon their better than just a generic progressive spring which is bike not rider orientated

or if you've loads of dosh you may be able to find some sp fully adjustable jobbies which will go strait in or check out some of the other front end conversions on the forum, personally for value for money, you cant beat maxton or a similar race suspension manufacturer if you want to keep it within a budget still not cheep cheep though mine were £120 delivered