2 cents worth

[fj1200]

I have had reasonable success following Terry's instructions under "photo uploading fixed". The size just can't be too big.

Here are some of my bikes.



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[Dennis]

That's a great looking XS650.  I have one in a cafe format, although after six years of abuse its a little rough and in semi-retirement (which means taking space in my garage until I decide on its next incarnation).

Peace & Grease, Dennis

[Rusty Bucket]

I have to ask where you got the piggyback shock with the undersize foot to clear the chainguard on the XS 650?  I just bought a pair of very similar shocks from XSdirect, which sells only parts that supposedly fit 650 Yamahas, and they cannot fit with the chainguard in place, inverted or otherwise, and when right side up (as pictured in your photo) cannot even clear the chain itself. 

[Dennis]

Shocks Schmocks.  Hard tail it baby (wait a minute, you've already done that once).  My favorite tool when things don't fit is the angle grinder.  I keep two loaded (plugged in) at all time on my work bench ready for action.  My motto: "cut first, ask questions later."

[Rusty Bucket]

Shocks Schmocks.

Yeah, but you didn't just lay out $200 on remote-reservoir gas shocks from an XS650 specialist that might be made to fit anything in my shop except an XS650.  They look very like the ones Ken has here, except the spring extends all the way down to the mount, fouling both the chainguard and chain in the process. They'd have to be spaced out almost 1/2" to fit, for which you'd have to amputate the outer arm of the lower mount. Look how similar they are to what is on FJ1200's 650, except for the short spring/small leg.

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[Dennis]

Chainguard Schmainguard.  Who needs 'em?  I love Yidish responses to technical problems; unless you are trying to re-wire a 2004 883 Sportster.  I wouldn't accept the advice from a Jewish grandmother saying "ignition control module, ignition control schmodule."  If only it were so easy.

On a serious note, Ken's shocks look like what you purchased and they look like they fit his bike without the assistance of an angle grinder, so I share your inquiry about where they came from and how he mounted them.  Did xsdirect have a response to this obvious misfit?

Peace & Grease, Dennis

[fj1200]

Went out last night and checked to see what was up. It would appear as though Dennis has the more likely scenario. Someone did a nice job of cutting a hole in the chain guard to clear the  spring. But there is no interference with the chain at all.

[Rusty Bucket]

There is a factory hole in the chainguard for shock clearance, but the shocks I have here are way beyond fitting the factory clearance.  Even if you threw the chainguard away the springs would contact the chain itself;  the body of the shock is visibly bigger - extending lower -  than Ken's...anyway, when I ordered them I was expecting drama.  I thought that I'd have to mount them inverted to clear the guard, but as it turns out they don't clear upside-down, either.  But Ken's pic shows there was once an iteration of this same unit that was intended for this application, so that's interesting.  
  Did you get that New Jersy Devils logo, or whatever it was, off the tail of the Targa FJ?  Or did that tail end up on another FJ about which there was recently some news?

[2wheelsmotorcycle]

are you sure that GL1000 isn't for sale??

[fj1200]

yep