The thought of modding my 86 has been around for a few years now. It's basically bone stock other that the Supertrapp exhaust. Recently though, my girlfriend had to move further away for the summer for a new internship. This has brought the notion of modding to the forefront. She now lives 2 hours, 130 miles away; basically straight highway riding. I'm wanting to set my bike up for better (comfort, performance) and safer highway riding. I'm thinking I'm going to include:
1) CBR1000 mirrors. Do the 2004 bolt right on my 86 with no problems?
2) New front forks. I just saw a pair of 92's on ebay.
3) If I get the forks, a 17" front wheel.
4) Blue dot calipers, if the last 2 happen.
5) New Rotors, front and back. Do the FZR/FJ 17" wheel take the same rotors? Does anyone have a link for purchasing the rotors?
6) Engine bars
7) spin on oil adapter (more miles, more oil changes)
8) 18 tooth sprocket.
9) Vibranators
10) Fork Brace
11) Uni-pods? How are these in wet weather? Are they only going to add top end, or will they help at highway speeds with a new sprocket?
I figure this will make the ride much smoother and safer. I figure the logic works both ways too. "My FJ is modded, may as well go see her more often" "I want to see her more often, good excuse to upgrade"
Any answers or thoughts on other "essential" mods are appreciated.
I live in a very flat part of the country and do a lot of straight line highway riding. These are my recommendations.
1) CBR1000 mirrors. Do the 2004 bolt right on my 86 with no problems? Not a direct bolt on. Elongate the Honda mount base holes, or remove the mirror post from the base, grind a small amount of material away and it will slide into the FJ mount base.
6) Engine bars
7) spin on oil adapter (more miles, more oil changes)
8) 18 tooth sprocket. Maybe add a 38 tooth rear sprocket. Better gas mileage and lower RPM's at highway speed.
9) Vibranators
10) Fork Brace
11) Uni-pods? How are these in wet weather? Are they only going to add top end, or will they help at highway speeds with a new sprocket?
12) RPM 3/4" handle bar risers
13) MRA touring windscreen, or Power Bronze Flip screen.
14 ) Corbin seat. For some, the stock seat is too soft for long distance riding.
These can be done at a later date.
The Forks, Wheel, Calipers, and Rotors will not improve the 'Touring' aspect of your bike. Yes IMO they are a good upgrade for over all better performance and along with a 17"x5.5" rear wheel. You will have much better choices of tires.
A note on the rotors. 87'/88' FZR wheels can use OEM 89'/90' FJ rotors and 91'/92' NON-ABS rotors. FZR rotors can not be used, they are 320mm, the largest recommended rotor dia. is 300mm
Fred
" Corbin seat. For most, the stock seat is too soft for long distance riding."
If your wanting to be more comfortable on your longer rides a more comfortable seat should be pretty high on your list. I'm not that heavy and my 190 lbs would have my backside on the seat pan in less than an hour.
Having a larger windscreen would also add to your ride comfort. 130 miles isn't all that far to be riding a stock FJ. Make the run a couple times and that will tell you what needs to be improved.
Eric M
Not to many mod's there that will make long runs any better.
Best way to find out what touring mods to get is to take the bike and ride it until you need to get off. Then fix that reason and so on.
I feel the two best touring mod's are 1. good seat and 2. Cruise control (real cruise) and in that order.
Here is my cruise set-up. http://home.mysoul.com.au/rover/page05.htm (http://home.mysoul.com.au/rover/page05.htm)
Some other things that I have found help.
ear plugs
tank bag (for all the small things.)
Touring screen.(maybe and maybe not)
Good boots.
airhawk cushion.
Cheers
Quote from: GhostMerc on May 13, 2014, 04:54:33 PM
The thought of modding my 86 has been around for a few years now. Recently though, my girlfriend had to move further away for the summer for a new internship. She now lives 2 hours, 130 miles away; basically straight highway riding. I'm wanting to set my bike up for better (comfort, performance) and safer highway riding.
On my first bike (1982 Yamaha Seca 550), I used to ride from San Diego to Los Angeles and back to see my old girlfriend. It was nearly 120 miles each way and I did this every week for around two years...this worked out well until I found a girlfriend MUCH closer to home. This made me happier and put a LOT less wear and tear on me and my bike. Back then, I was young and riding comfort took a backseat to the girl who was usually on the backseat. :biggrin:
Fast forward some years and I've been known to do a bit of high-mileage riding on my FJ. There are things you can do to make life a little more comfortable...and safer on the road.
Quote from: GhostMerc on May 13, 2014, 04:54:33 PM
I'm thinking I'm going to include:
1) CBR1000 mirrors. DO THIS. It's dead-simple...reasonably cheap and man...what a difference!
2) New front forks. Not going to make a bit of difference in your comfort, but will lead you down a slippery slope of upgrades
3) If I get the forks, a 17" front wheel. Yeah...see what I mean? To be honest though, you have a much greater justification for going down this road with your '86 than I do with my '92. You'll end up with better forks, larger rotors, better calipers, a 17" front wheel/tire combination and possibly a wider wheel. The effort on my part just gets me a wider wheel...and I lose ABS in the process. I wouldn't blame you for taking this step.
4) Blue dot calipers, if the last 2 happen. If you have to buy calipers...why not? You'll do very well with SS lines, new fluid, a great bleed job and the '92 factory 4-pot calipers. Again...nothing to do with your comfort, but will get you into the modern age of braking.
5) New Rotors, front and back. Do the FZR/FJ 17" wheel take the same rotors? Did I mention slippery slope?
6) Engine bars Again...not going to add to your comfort or performance touring around, but you will be happy you have them if you stop touring suddenly and unexpectedly. :yes:
7) spin on oil adapter (more miles, more oil changes) Yep. MANY folks on here love these for just that reason. If it's easy to change your oil, you're more likely to do it...good thing!
8) 18 tooth sprocket. I've never felt a reason to mess with the stock gearing that works well for all around use...you will have to eventually ride around town and might ride two-up on occasion.
9) Vibranators Excellent! I'm on a '92 so not as much of a need here, but yeah...the bar-buzz will fatigue your hands on the long runs!
10) Fork Brace Comfort? Not really...but just a darned good idea and an easy add-on.
11) Uni-pods? How are these in wet weather? Are they only going to add top end, or will they help at highway speeds with a new sprocket? I know folks here rave about the Uni-pods...and the stock air box is a royal PITA to remove and re-install, but how often are you tearing out the carbs to start down the road of fiddling with jetting? I had the stock air box out, carbs removed and cleaned and everything back together in under three hours. IN a hotel parking lot....WITH just the hand tools I carried on my trip. Are you really looking for more top end/speed than the stock 1200 can provide? Break out your wallet..."Speed costs money. How much do you want to spend?"
I figure this will make the ride much smoother and safer. I figure the logic works both ways too. "My FJ is modded, may as well go see her more often" "I want to see her more often, good excuse to upgrade"
Any answers or thoughts on other "essential" mods are appreciated.
All good thoughts...I might add:
Something to lock your throttle...even if temporarily to "shake out" your throttle hand. I use a Throttlemeister, but just about anything that will allow you to take a break and get the blood flowing again will work fine
Seat...Corbin seems to be the pick here and you might want to try one out if the butt is in trouble. I'm still on the stock seat and not complaining.
Stand on the foot pegs from time to time on the highway. Basically, take a stretch...get the blood flowing to all the parts that have been dormant for the last 50 miles!
Buy yourself some Wickers boxer briefs. They are made with flat seems and don't chafe...where you don't really want to be chafed.
Get yourself some good riding gear. Something that flows the air when it's hot...and can be battened down when you're stuck riding home at 2:00am and you're freezing your fingers! ...or neck...or chest... Wickers also makes a good first-layer long sleeve shirt that is perfect for building some protection from the cold.
Get yourself a good sized tank bag to carry around things like a few snack bars...some water...a map...and spare gloves.
Get spare gloves. You need a hot weather pair, a cold weather pair and a wet weather pair.
Set up a RAM mount for your iPhone or some other nav device. Plot your route before you leave and it's constantly updating your ETA...time to next turn...miles remaining...etc. This will ease your mind with fuel stops, the odd directions if you get off the main highway and timing and allow you to relax and enjoy the ride...in more comfort and safety.
If your helmet is capable of a quick visor change, carry a smoked visor AND a clear visor AND a pair of sunglasses that are super comfortable to wear inside the helmet. This gives you FOUR levels of shade/comfort for your eyes no matter the conditions. This will go a long way towards reducing eye fatigue and improving your safety.
Carry a spare headlight bulb. Trust me on this one...They are cheap and if you're riding a lot at night, they tend to blow out when you are in moose country in Canada with 40 miles to go to your destination.
Cap'n Ron. . .
I took a 3000mi trip awhile back. The one thing I wished I had was a throttle lock. The right hand gets numb after a time. The other thing I did have was engine bars. Randy at RPM gave me a set of highway pegs ( I guess he took pity on an old man) and they mount very handily on the engine bars. They make a world of difference in allowing you to stretch your legs and change position. I (like Capn Ron) found the stock seat very comfortable. Dave
Being the practical sort, and knowing that fuel and maintenance will be expensive, why not just get a spare girlfriend locally? :lol:
Quote from: andyb on May 14, 2014, 03:55:18 AM
Being the practical sort, and knowing that fuel and maintenance will be expensive, why not just get a spare girlfriend locally? :lol:
Fuel and maintenance for a motorcycle is inconsequential compared to maintenance on a girlfriend. :biggrin: Dave
Oh...and if you're not on a Ramen noodle budget, suspension upgrades are definitely called for. The factory rear shock is weak at best and probably blown out by now. The front end is wildly mushy with the factory bits (from any year). Some sort of progress towards a modern suspension will add comfort, performance AND safety. Hits on all three of your criteria.
It's not cheap, but is probably the most bang for the buck in terms of upgrades. I had to solve this issue before Randy came along and worked tirelessly to come up with FJ-specific solutions. Back in the day, the hot ticket was a RaceTech prepared front fork setup with cartridge emulators and a Penske Sport shock for the rear. These days, Randy has made it pretty simple. On the front end, you want to go with a straight-rate spring that's tailored to your weight (in my case 1.00kg/mm) and the RPM fork valve. On the rear, he's got a custom (for the FJ) shock that will shock you with the improvement. It's hard to describe, but the bike will just feel more "planted." A much more "solid" feel going hot into a turn...no more front end mushiness or dive...and no longer bottoming out the rear end over bumps. Seriously, it will transform your FJ. :yes:
Cap'n Ron. . .
Awesome, thanks for all the feedback. Helps put a few things in perspective. I know that once I take the first step with the front end, I can't stop until it's over. Does anyone have the crampbuster throttle lock? I've had a throttle lock on a different bike before and it was nice to be able to take my hand off the throttle, even for half a minute.....on a flat road.
I will now knock on wood until I get a spare headlight bulb.
I do have some pretty good gear: several coats, gloves, visors, rain suit, and waterproof duffel bag. I also have a taller windscreen too. It came with the bike so I forgot it wasn't stock. I might add that I'm a regular Pee Wee Gleason over here too, 135lbs and 5'7" and I'm in pretty good shape. The seat does me pretty good, but I'll look into it. The rear shock feels like it works well enough, but I'm sure that's partly because I haven't felt the difference.
Quote from: GhostMerc on May 14, 2014, 06:27:33 AM
Does anyone have the crampbuster throttle lock?
I do. For $10, they're worth trying out. I have used one over the years, and find them very good for their intended purpose. They are not a substitute for a cruise control though.
If you're buying one, get the wide one, they're better in my opinion.
Quote from: andyb on May 14, 2014, 03:55:18 AM
Being the practical sort, and knowing that fuel and maintenance will be expensive, why not just get a spare girlfriend locally? :lol:
Didn't someone just mention a slippery slope?!?!?! Think about all the upgrades *THAT* one will REQUIRE!!!
:diablo:
Quote from: FJ1100mjk on May 14, 2014, 06:56:35 AM
Quote from: GhostMerc on May 14, 2014, 06:27:33 AM
Does anyone have the crampbuster throttle lock?
I do. For $10, they're worth trying out. I have used one over the years, and find them very good for their intended purpose. They are not a substitute for a cruise control though.
If you're buying one, get the wide one, they're better in my opinion.
I have one also. OK for on the road. I narrowed mine up. Takes some adjusting and fiddling with to get it in just the right spot but when there it works good. Easy on and off plus cheap.
George
Somewhere on your bike, tuck away a nice length of siphon hose. DAMHIKIJKOK? :sorry:
Quote from: GhostMerc on May 14, 2014, 06:27:33 AM
Does anyone have the crampbuster throttle lock? I've had a throttle lock on a different bike before and it was nice to be able to take my hand off the throttle, even for half a minute.....on a flat road.
Your talking about two different things here, a crampbuster is one thing and a throttle lock is another.
Personally, I don't like the crampbuster because you still need to leave your hand on the bars, it only allows you to release your grip.
The throttle lock lets you remove your hand entirely. I like to swing my arm around, stretch it, let it hang, rest it on the tank top or whatever and I nose pick better with my right hand anyway. I have tried both.
One thing I really appreciate with the throttle lock, and being able to release my right hand, is you can sit much more upright with only your finger tips on the left bar which is also great for a bit of a rest.
Someone should write up fatigue beating activities while riding. Any suggestions?
On the subject of seats, I, like many others here don't have a problem with the standard unit. My normal weekend rides are reasonably long at 500-700km's/day with the odd 1000km day on trips yet many here will tell you their limit is a couple of hours. I can only conclude, for reasons I don't understand, that it is entirely personal. Who would have thought arses came in so many varieties? See how you go, you arse will let you know.
Noel
Quote from: GhostMerc on May 14, 2014, 06:27:33 AM
Does anyone have the crampbuster throttle lock? I've had a throttle lock on a different bike before and it was nice to be able to take my hand off the throttle, even for half a minute.....on a flat road.
Let's not forget about the old standby Caterpillar O-ring throttle lock.
I use it along with my Throttle rocker and works well for its intended purpose.
Leon
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/Motorcycles/2012-08-14121031.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/Motorcycles/2012-08-14121031.jpg.html)
Quote from: GhostMerc on May 13, 2014, 04:54:33 PM
1) CBR1000 mirrors. Do the 2004 bolt right on my 86 with no problems?
Better mirrors are a no brainer, but you need to buy quality mirrors, not eBay/china crap.
2) New front forks. I just saw a pair of 92's on ebay.
3) If I get the forks, a 17" front wheel.
4) Blue dot calipers, if the last 2 happen.
The forks themselves, other than the anti-dive on your 86 are basically the same. So, you can find a set of late model forks, which will allow the upgrade to the 17" wheel and blue dot calipers. I know I sell it, but the RPM fork valves are going to be a major improvement over any stock fork or other fork valve on the market. This will make your commuting so much more pleasurable, you will be astounded. The ripples & expansion joints of the highway are no longer something you look ahead on the road to miss, you just ride and the suspension does the work of absorbing them. In fact many people who have changed over have told me they now seek out road imperfections and dot-bots to feel how well the RPM suspension absorbs them.
5) New Rotors, front and back. Do the FZR/FJ 17" wheel take the same rotors? Does anyone have a link for purchasing the rotors?
A lot of guys are running rotor found on eBay and I have not heard any complaints.
6) Engine bars
Not going to help the actual ride, but is good insurance in case you go down as the ignition system will be protected and the rear brake lever will not poke a hole in the clutch cover; both of those things make the bike no longer operable.
7) spin on oil adapter (more miles, more oil changes)
Ease of use for the additional filter changes.
8) 18 tooth sprocket.
Personal preference, it will increase your fuel mileage by slowing the engine RPM's
9) Vibranators
They work well, especially in the vibration laden non-rubber mount engines like your 86. My wife cannot ride more then 15 minutes without them. Plus, they are just like the O.E. bar ends and you have the groove for the o-ring Leon mentioned.
10) Fork Brace
The fork brace with also create a more stable platform to obtain the full use of your new fork upgrades
11) Uni-pods? How are these in wet weather? Are they only going to add top end, or will they help at highway speeds with a new sprocket?
No wet weather issues ever associated with the dual pod filters. The 18T sprocket will add more top-end than the filters. But like you said more oil changes due to more miles, which also means increased service intervals for the air filter too.
Like already mentioned, the rear shock you have is working well for you, but once you upgrade the front the inefficiency of the rear become almost immediately apparent. Now, the RPM rear shock performs at the same level of the fork valve and will soak up everything you can throw at it on highway miles, but when you need to take evasive action or decide to head off to the twisties, the suspension will offer you more on that front as compared to any other FJ suspension product on the market. If you want to wear out your tires, you can do the RPM suspension mods to your stock 86 and then transfer of to the later model forks when you make that change
I too recommend a better seat. I did 95% of the upgrades above to a stock FJ I bought and rode in Australia for the rally and the only thing that really sucked on that bike was the stock seat. After getting home and sitting my my Corbin again, I have decided, not matter where I go in the world to ride an FJ, it will have a Corbin seat.
Radial tires, for either wheel package you choose.
EBC HH pads for the front brakes, for whatever caliper you are running.
If you will be doing any might time commuting, then better lighting from and rear; HID in front & LED in the rear.
Randy - RPM
Randy did his shock and fork mod on my bike at his shop last year. The improvement in ride and handling is amazing. Like night and day. Dave
Quote from: TexasDave on May 14, 2014, 03:25:24 AM
I took a 3000mi trip awhile back. The one thing I wished I had was a throttle lock. The right hand gets numb after a time. The other thing I did have was engine bars. Randy at RPM gave me a set of highway pegs ( I guess he took pity on an old man) and they mount very handily on the engine bars. They make a world of difference in allowing you to stretch your legs and change position. I (like Capn Ron) found the stock seat very comfortable. Dave
+1 on the highway pegs. I'm built like a gorilla long waist and short legs. So the close pegs shouldn't be as bad. But it still killed me.
Installed highway pegs. Now I can empty my tank. And wish I didn't have to stop.
Quote from: 1tinindian on May 14, 2014, 09:26:38 AM
Quote from: GhostMerc on May 14, 2014, 06:27:33 AM
Does anyone have the crampbuster throttle lock? I've had a throttle lock on a different bike before and it was nice to be able to take my hand off the throttle, even for half a minute.....on a flat road.
Let's not forget about the old standby Caterpillar O-ring throttle lock.
I use it along with my Throttle rocker and works well for its intended purpose.
Leon
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/Motorcycles/2012-08-14121031.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/Motorcycles/2012-08-14121031.jpg.html)
Leon,
What is this o-ring throttle lock you speak of? I see the yellow o-ring in the pic, do you flip it over the grip to hold throttle position?
Scott
Quote from: FJscott on May 14, 2014, 11:29:34 AM
What is this o-ring throttle lock you speak of? I see the yellow o-ring in the pic, do you flip it over the grip to hold throttle position?
Scott
You roll it up until it falls between the bar end and the grip. Just make sure you have full length grip. Not exactly C/C , but while its in place on the flat, you can maintain speed and give your have a break.
It fits nice in the groove in the bar end, so no chance of loosing it.
When I get home, I'll try to remember to find the part number, I had to buy a bag of 10, so I have extra.
Leon
Try this linkage:::
http://www.ebay.com/itm/8M4991-YELLOW-CATERPILLAR-SILICONE-O-RINGS-MOTORCYCLE-THROTTLE-LOCK-10-PACK-/160875622737 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/8M4991-YELLOW-CATERPILLAR-SILICONE-O-RINGS-MOTORCYCLE-THROTTLE-LOCK-10-PACK-/160875622737)
Quote from: 1tinindian on May 14, 2014, 12:12:37 PM
When I get home, I'll try to remember to find the part number, I had to buy a bag of 10, so I have extra.
Leon
Or you have enough to add 8 more FJs to the stable... :pardon:
Quote from: ribbert on May 14, 2014, 09:11:10 AM
Quote from: GhostMerc on May 14, 2014, 06:27:33 AM
Does anyone have the crampbuster throttle lock? I've had a throttle lock on a different bike before and it was nice to be able to take my hand off the throttle, even for half a minute.....on a flat road.
Snip>. Who would have thought arses came in so many varieties? <Snip>
Noel
Sorry Noel, that's a no-brainer! Just look at the collection of arses we have here, both horses and other!
Quote from: 1tinindian on May 14, 2014, 12:12:37 PM
Quote from: FJscott on May 14, 2014, 11:29:34 AM
What is this o-ring throttle lock you speak of? I see the yellow o-ring in the pic, do you flip it over the grip to hold throttle position?
Scott
You roll it up until it falls between the bar end and the grip. Just make sure you have full length grip. Not exactly C/C , but while its in place on the flat, you can maintain speed and give your have a break.
It fits nice in the groove in the bar end, so no chance of loosing it.
When I get home, I'll try to remember to find the part number, I had to buy a bag of 10, so I have extra.
Leon
Try this linkage:::
http://www.ebay.com/itm/8M4991-YELLOW-CATERPILLAR-SILICONE-O-RINGS-MOTORCYCLE-THROTTLE-LOCK-10-PACK-/160875622737 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/8M4991-YELLOW-CATERPILLAR-SILICONE-O-RINGS-MOTORCYCLE-THROTTLE-LOCK-10-PACK-/160875622737)
Those look like something I'd find in my 20 yr old son's bureau drawer! If you have extras I'll send you $ for one + post. I'll give it a try...on the bike that is. :biggrin:
Honest answer, if you boring old men aren't going to go with my first suggestion (though the expense is undoubtedly true...)
RIDE THE DAMN THING.
After a long ride, what hurts? What would you change? For me, it was the seat. Bars are fine, pegs are fine, but my ass had me squirming after a few hours. A corbin fixed that.
Did you run out of space to put stuff? Get luggage.
Do your knees ache? Look at dropped pegs.
Etc.
Quote from: andyb on May 14, 2014, 02:55:52 PM
Honest answer, if you boring old men aren't going to go with my first suggestion (though the expense is undoubtedly true...)
You and fintip oughta start a 'young guys FJ club', or the like... :pardon:
If you're lucky, you'll be around long enough to discover what the complaints are about. ;)
Quote from: andyb on May 14, 2014, 02:55:52 PM
Honest answer, if you boring old men aren't going to go with my first suggestion (though the expense is undoubtedly true...)
After a long ride, what hurts? What would you change? For me, it was the seat. Bars are fine, pegs are fine, but my ass had me squirming after a few hours. A corbin fixed that.
Hey,
Who are you calling boring?
I've had 3 stock seats give me the same problem. A Corbin fixed it every time. If/when I get my next bike, a Corbin will be the very first thing I buy.
Okay, boring story for you. My brother once had an FJR. He changed the stock seat material for a nice fluffy filler thinking that softer would be more comfortable. WRONG! You couldn't ride the thing for 30 minutes.
I see both sides of the fence, when i first started to ride the fj the seat was giving me grief but the more i rode the more i got used to it. I think if you ride everyday then you get used to most issues and learn to live with others, but yeah a corbin sounds nice.
Quote from: FJ_Hooligan on May 14, 2014, 04:38:55 PM
Quote from: andyb on May 14, 2014, 02:55:52 PM
Honest answer, if you boring old men aren't going to go with my first suggestion (though the expense is undoubtedly true...)
After a long ride, what hurts? What would you change? For me, it was the seat. Bars are fine, pegs are fine, but my ass had me squirming after a few hours. A corbin fixed that.
Hey,
Who are you calling boring?
I've had 3 stock seats give me the same problem. A Corbin fixed it every time. If/when I get my next bike, a Corbin will be the very first thing I buy.
Okay, boring story for you. My brother once had an FJR. He changed the stock seat material for a nice fluffy filler thinking that softer would be more comfortable. WRONG! You couldn't ride the thing for 30 minutes.
I too found the Corbin comparatively very Hard but great on a long journey. Since Loaned it to a fellow FJ enthusiast couple to try. They now won`t give it back to me!
She loved it so much she started Googling to buy one....ended up buying another 3 FJ`s instead!....None of which had a Corbin!!! (True Story!....not that any of mine aren`t. :pardon:)
Interestingly I went to an Osteopath recently for a sore back I`ve had for ages. (Already been to Chiropractors and Physiotherapist....didn`t know an Osteopath was different!.....another mystery in the world of Education.)
He explained that the muscles on top between my knee and hip are too short from lack of exercise or sitting around too much, which tended to kink my Hip forward. Gave me some stretching exercises that fixed the prob instantly....but now I gotta do them regularly. He explained, that would be the reason (basically) why I can ride all day comfortably on any bike seat I`ve long distanced on, even the plank on my DR650!
Are ya still there? ....oh good,
That Osteo cost me $70....but it`s okay, I`ve just added the cost to Corbin Negotiations!...which happens to be way cheaper than 3 FJ`s. (so far).
The point was the things you need for comfort will be different depending on who you are. I've got good knees and have never, ever wished for more legroom on any motorcycle that I've ridden. A friend of mine immediately looks for a taller seat and lowering pegs no matter what he rides, because his knees give him troubles.
I've needed a throttle lock to keep my hands awake on some bikes, but not on others.
Some bikes have really needed a seat, some have not. For me, the FJ needed something, but after getting a corbin I'm not sure it's the right answer, as it makes me sit back too far compared to the stocker. I'm not saying that I'm the only answer, but I am saying that I don't think it's the right answer for me. Still an improvement over stock as far as buttcomfort, but then the bars need to come up or move closer a bit, and that still won't solve the rearward weight shift. Probably depends on your height and limb length, as well as what you consider comfortable.
But you don't learn these things by asking other people :) Ride the thing and see where the problems are for you, then look for specific fixes for that. We all are built differently and have different problems, and we all have bikes that act a bit differently too.
(And yes, I'm a boring old man too. I realized early on that the whole point of being young was going out and doing stupid crap so that you'll have good stories when you're too decrepit to do those things anymore. As I age, I've realized the easier way is to just lie.... also known as growing wiser, because a lot of the stupid stuff ends up turning out badly, even when you're young!) :diablo:
Quote from: andyb on May 15, 2014, 01:50:23 AM
The point was the things you need for comfort will be different depending on who you are.
Oh....I definitely got your point on the first pass. And it's a good one! Some solution that works great for one guy isn't the right solution for the next...or maybe it is. I forget what it was like to not know all the options available to me on the FJ...or riding gear that's out there...or riding techniques that will make for a more comfortable day. It's very accurate to say, "just get out and ride the thing!", but it's also nice to know when you're doing that riding to have in the back of your mind what solutions are out there.
I didn't even know Corbin existed until I bought my FJ and the previous owner threw a brand new one in on the sale. I rode with it for a while and found it lowered my ride position and I didn't really like that (long legs)...and quickly sold it off on Ebay. A dozen years later, I'm still hearing that they are the best thing going...Really? I borrowed another one last month and it's fine, but just not for me.
Somewhere in the middle of my ride report, I was barking about all the rain in Canada and Ribbert (Noel) PM'd me and gave me all sorts of life experience on how to stay dry on a bike! I was touched that he put so much well-thought effort into the weak link in my riding gear. I was also shocked that half the things he was suggesting...I had never even thought of!! Just some really good sound advice from someone who never lets rain stop him from riding. Would have taken me another year to just figure that out on my own. Priceless! :hi:
None of us are ignoring your suggestion to just get out and ride to find out for yourself...that's definitely the best way...but even for those of us who have sorted out most of the performance/comfort/safety issues...who have spent 85 days in a row in the saddle...having put most things to the ultimate real-word test...I'm picking up some new tips here that I might put into play. :good2:
Cap'n Ron. . .
Having these extra ideas will definitely help figure out what's best for me while riding. Some things here reinforce my thinking, and others are things I didn't really think about.
The first part of the trip I was riding a little fast (oops), 80 - 90 in the fast lane. When I stopped for gas after 50 miles my hands and feet were beyond numb, almost painfully so. I slowed down the rest of the trip and it got better. As long as I remember to take my wallet out of my back pocket the seat is good for me.
Sounds like the Vibranators would be worth looking into, as well as foam grips and gloves with gel pads in the palms.
You can also replace the footpeg washers and bolts for the rubber backed washers from the later model FJs. Those parts are available at www.rpmracingca.com (http://www.rpmracingca.com)
That will make a significant improvement in the buzz getting to your feet.
Joe
And a carb synch. Particularly one one at cruising rpm where you tend to settle on long runs.
Been enjoying this thread. Agree with Andy when he says you just gotta go out and ride to see what you need to "fix" to make it more comfortable.
For me riding town most days, first on the list was risers to help my old back, bought and fitted the LSL kit, then the foamy grips.
Where I live, a 900 km day is a short one. From here to Perth is 1550 kms, so I try to break it up these days.
For my 5,500 kms trip last year I bought an Airhawk seat cushion which I covered with a bit of sheeps wool. Also fitted a throttle lock, a Go Cruise, which works by friction against the brake lever.
A couple of months prior to the trip I fitted a set of Tarozzi rear set pegs which I was concerned might be a bit too far back for touring, and I was also concerned about vibration, as they weren't rubber mounted.
I do have a dicky back and dicky knees, and hadn't done long trips on a bike for over 30 years, so it was all a bit "up in the air"
I had a couple of 200 km rides to check everything out, and it all seemed to work OK, so off I went. I can now ride 2.5 hours without stopping for a bum/body rest.
The rear sets were actually very comfortable, and the vibs were less than the standard pegs, even my knees didn't complain.
Years ago I swore on my throttle lock to be able to chew kms without stopping, it is a must have to be able to rest the right hand.
Speaking of hands, mine suffered a little from the vibs, think I need to do the engine mounts.
There is only one thing I would like to change on the FJ, and I really don't know why Yamaha didn't do it sooner was to make it shaft drive. I owned a Suzi GS850G and GS1000G, and having a shaft drive is just so much nicer to live with. Oh well, you can't have everything.
The FJ is an awesome beast, I just love cruising along at about 140, and rolling it on, watch that speedo rocket up to 200 so quick, kookaloo!
Anyway, that's my 2c worth, cheers, Dazza
The GP grips used on old Brit bikes (Norton, BSA, etc) do wonders to quell bar-vibes. They are a bit hard to find, but their cousin the GT's (same shape but stiffer) are almost as good and a lot easier to find.
Personally I think they look great on the FJ, but I am rarely consulted on matters of style. I have GP's on my '89 and don't use the stock bar-end weights at all.
Quote from: Burns on June 16, 2014, 04:21:20 AM
The GP grips used on old Brit bikes (Norton, BSA, etc) do wonders to quell bar-vibes. They are a bit hard to find, but their cousin the GT's (same shape but stiffer) are almost as good and a lot easier to find.
Personally I think they look great on the FJ, but I am rarely consulted on matters of style. I have GP's on my '89 and don't use the stock bar-end weights at all.
Back in the late 60's early 70's I put GP grips on all the 2 strokes I rode and they were great. Can't even find them now. I think everyone went to foam grips just for the looks. Dave
I've got GT's on the FJ right now; they are easy to find and I'd say 85% as good as the GP's.
This style grip was designed for paint-shaker vertical twins. They are a "balloon" design - vastly superior to foam grips for vibration control - and the contour fits the curve of the hand and so requires less squeeze to hold the throttle open, which translates into less muscle fatigue of the hand.
I just ordered a set of this style grip from an English firm. It doesn't call them "GP" but they are the right shape and are advertised as "squishy". I'm hoping they are like the GP's. They'll be here in a couple of days and if the meet my expectations I'll report back and send a picture of them mounted.
Like I said, even with the GT's, which are much harder than the GP's I don't need the bar-end weights.
It's low-tech and old-school, which is cool with me.