I am getting ready to put a set of 99 yzf 600 forks wheel and brakes on my 90 fj.
I'll be using the stock fj triples to retain the switch and bars.
The fj forks are 41mm same as the yzf although the fj are spaced slightly wider.
Should be fairly easy except i havent figured out the fender yet.
I will document the process and share the info!
Use a YZF fender, there are cool carbon fiber ones available. I think if I remember correctly you will need to Fab an adapter for the clip ons. I can't remember why at the moment, the YZF forks shorter, maybe? Anyway I'm sure someone who has done this mod will chime in.
Quote from: Fred on April 02, 2010, 10:10:39 AM
Use a YZF fender, there are cool carbon fiber ones available. I think if I remember correctly you will need to Fab an adapter for the clip ons. I can't remember why at the moment, the YZF forks shorter, maybe? Anyway I'm sure someone who has done this mod will chime in.
the yzf forks are about 15mm shorter no problem
and i'll be using the fj triple clamps so no clipon issues!
Find a set of 1987-88 fzr1000 t/clamps and everything will work. The FZR t/clamps have the same offset as the FJ and the same tube c/l dimensions as the YZF 600 so the steering geometry stays the same and all the YZF parts fit with no mods. The FZR t/clamps even use the same bearings as the FJ. I've used this setup on my FJ for over 10 years.
Quote from: JCainFJ on April 02, 2010, 02:06:32 PM
Find a set of 1987-88 fzr1000 t/clamps and everything will work. The FZR t/clamps have the same offset as the FJ and the same tube c/l dimensions as the YZF 600 so the steering geometry stays the same and all the YZF parts fit with no mods. The FZR t/clamps even use the same bearings as the FJ. I've used this setup on my FJ for over 10 years.
the fzr clamps will take the fj clipons?or do you use the fzr clipons?
ps thanks for the info
The FJ bars will work with the FZR1000 t/clamps. The 6mm indexing bolt will not line up, but yes the FJ bars will still work. Some folks want to use the indexing bolts so I have made adapters.
Upgrade the YZF forks with Race-Tech valves and springs. I install 1.0KGMM springs in the conversions I've done.
OK, I could really use some help here:
I have the fzr1000 t/clamps bolted up, fork legs in place and I'm trying to install the front wheel. When I pull up the axle to anything near correct torque, the side load on the front wheel bearings basically stops the front wheel from turning. I have a top hat spacer on the curb (throttle) side of the bike, and the speedo drive on the left side. No additional spacers, and I get about 0.100 to 0.125" deflection on the legs when I try to tighten. Did I miss something?
Any & all advice appreciated (Klavdy excepted, naturally :biggrin:).
TIA,
Ed
Ed,
Side loading on the wheel bearings should not matter. Do you have the correct spacer INSIDE the wheel between the bearings? That's most likely your problem.
Cheers,
Arnie
Quote from: JCainFJ on April 02, 2010, 09:02:21 PM
The FJ bars will work with the FZR1000 t/clamps. The 6mm indexing bolt will not line up, but yes the FJ bars will still work. Some folks want to use the indexing bolts so I have made adapters.
Upgrade the YZF forks with Race-Tech valves and springs. I install 1.0KGMM springs in the conversions I've done.
I did the 1988 FZR1000 forks and triple with a 1992 FZR1000 front rim, no issues here
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e299/ccsct203/034.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e299/ccsct203/016.jpg)
OK, I think I found the problem. I do have all the correct parts, and there are no additional spacers required, so the only possible option was the bearings not being far enough into the wheel. Sure enough the throttle side bearing went in another 0.020-0.030" when enough force was applied! This cleared up the issue: I can torque the axle & the wheel still spins like it's on new bearings (it is!).
Thanks for advice! Tomorrow, a new brake line from the MC to the splitter, 1" longer.
2 1/2 weeks till the rally, no problem :dash1:.
Ed,
That is great news on the upgraded front end .
hope ya get some shake down before the rally. :good2:
""""""""""Find a set of 1987-88 fzr1000 t/clamps and everything will work. The FZR t/clamps have the same offset as the FJ and the same tube c/l dimensions as the YZF 600 so the steering geometry stays the same and all the YZF parts fit with no mods. The FZR t/clamps even use the same bearings as the FJ. I've used this setup on my FJ for over 10 years."""""""""
I have a 1986 and want to do this set up... will this work on a 1986? is it the same as a 90?
What all do I need? tripple tree, forks, rim and calipers? is that it?
Should work.
Everything from the forks down, and the different triples.
Ed, you will those cartridge forks......
Well, things are not always as they appear. I have a bent right fork tube. Bill P has generously offered to take a whack (OK, look, not whack) to see if he can straighten the leg. In the meantime, I'm back to OEM '89 parts and will have to make due until post-WCR. I got about 200 shake-down miles on the deinstall-reinstall OEM parts and everything is still as good(?) as ever.
It's usable, and it's gonna get used! Rally in 1 1/2 weeks!!! :yahoo: :yahoo:
Paddy, I can bring a few spare chairs & even a spare sleeping bag :drinks:
I just finished installing 95 YZF600R forks,speedometer drive,spacers, wheel and rotors to my 89 FJ. The forks were sent to Race Tech for polishing of the legs(a little pitting),95kg springs and emulators as well as bushings and seals. These forks are the same length and diameter as the FJ's as well as having awesome looking lowers. I know they are not state of the art, but they ride nice and look cool. Also added 05 FZ1 calipers,lines and master cylinder. I had to use 5mm spacers on the inboard side of each fork leg to make up for the FJ having a wider space between the forks, which also meant adding 5mm spacers between the fork lowers and calipers to center the caliper over the rotors. An 85 Suzuki GS700ES(previous ride) rear axle was also used because the YZF axle is too shortand the stock FJ axle is too small in diameter. This combination also requires a 5mm spacer on the outside of each fork leg as the Suzuki axle is a bit long. After torquing it altogether, it works well. Sounds worse than it looks.
where are all the pics? we want to see.
I am not much of a picture taker, but I will do my best to get some this weekend. Hoping to get it registered this week.
First off, congrats. Please do not take this the wrong way but....I gotta ask.
Why the hell did you do all that work for damper rod forks?
The whole point of the YZF600 fork swap exercise is to get CARTRIDGE forks, which started on the YZF600 in '96
Quote from: SILVERGOAT on June 07, 2010, 03:58:31 PM
I just finished installing 95 YZF600R forks,speedometer drive,spacers, wheel and rotors to my 89 FJ. The forks were sent to Race Tech for polishing of the legs(a little pitting),95kg springs and emulators as well as bushings and seals. These forks are the same length and diameter as the FJ's as well as having awesome looking lowers. I know they are not state of the art, but they ride nice and look cool. Also added 05 FZ1 calipers,lines and master cylinder. I had to use 5mm spacers on the inboard side of each fork leg to make up for the FJ having a wider space between the forks, which also meant adding 5mm spacers between the fork lowers and calipers to center the caliper over the rotors. An 85 Suzuki GS700ES(previous ride) rear axle was also used because the YZF axle is too shortand the stock FJ axle is too small in diameter. This combination also requires a 5mm spacer on the outside of each fork leg as the Suzuki axle is a bit long. After torquing it altogether, it works well. Sounds worse than it looks.
I have damper rod forks on my Bandit S and SV650S and i like the ride, pretty supple. I have cartridge forks om my VTR(Race Tech worked over) and my FZ1. Both seem to ride pretty hard. My FJ is strictly a long distance cruiser, not a corner carver plus I pulled all the parts from the same bike and I really dig how the lowers look on these particular forks. Using the parts from this particular model allows more interchange of parts i.e. the front rotors are fully interchangeable but not on a 97-up model. Blue dot calipers fit perfectly into the cutouts on these lowers looking totally factory. The front fender is kinda ugly, but works for now. Anyway having adjustable suspension on two of my other bikes, I found once I settle on a setting I pretty much leave it.
I forgot to mention, I knew about the suspension difference in 96 but trying to find a 96 was not feasible
Hey Jeff, ok fair enough. You knew the '95 YZF600 had damper rod forks, no worries. We have been harping about the Jon Cain inspired YZF600 swap for over ten years. On the Yahoo forum several years back IIRC two different folks bought '95 and earlier YZF600 forks off eBay only to find out that they did not have cartridges.
I do understand what you mean by setting it and forgetting it, like the Ronco oven. With my Honda F3 Race Tech cartridges I liked the ability to set the compression shim stack to where I wanted it (the rebound is adjustable via a needle in the fork cap) but you're right, once I set it, I ended up leaving it alone.
It is not really talked about much, but (other than the cartridges) the one major advantage of the YZF600 swap is the stiffer 17mm axle. On our heavy bikes that, IMHO, is a big deal. That coupled with a 3.5" wide rim and the ability to use larger 320mm rotors.
Take some pictures for us, show us how it looks! Cheers. Pat
Quote from: simi_ed on May 26, 2010, 07:31:15 PM
OK, I could really use some help here:
<snip>
:drinks: :yahoo::yahoo: :yahoo:
It's done! It lives!!! Strange thing though ... It seems that a bunch of my favorite roads have been resurfaced to remove all those nasty bumps I've been feeling. Unless there REALLY is something to these cartridge forks ...
I did a short shake down run this morning that became an all-day, 250 miles (relatively) high speed joy ride. Front end feels great, solidly planted, no more jolts through the bars, just nice suspension doing it job. What a pleasure!!!
For the record:RaceTech GoldValve Rebound & Compression Valves; RaceTech 1.0 Kg/mm springs; Amsoil Shock Therapy Suspension Fluid #5 Light (STL). Good stuff, good results!
Thanks to Jon Cain, Bill Prodoehl, Randy Thompson, Arnie Robbins, Gary Mastro and Mike Kolstad for the assistance and guidance to help me get this together & make it right. And it RIGHT and it's GREAT!
Quote from: simi_ed on August 10, 2010, 09:54:24 PM
:yahoo::yahoo: :yahoo:
just nice suspension doing it job. What a pleasure!!!
Quality suspension really does turn the FJ into a different motorcycle :good2:
where are the pictures ???????
KOokaloo!
Sorry, I only had my cellphone. I was only out for a test ride, not an all day adventure. Best I could do with the tools at hand :dance2:
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_I-D733lDHD0/TGI0BViVSXI/AAAAAAAAAPs/36_q89TaK04/s640/FJ_at_Wrightwood.jpg)
way to go Ed :good2:
smooth is good.
happy trails.
Well done Ed. Im glad your happy with the end result. A little bit of work makes our bikes a whole new beast. Enjoy the miles of smiles...
Eric M
Well Done!
Ed, maybe we can take that old goat trail again to test your new set up? :diablo:
I almost did that on Tuesday. Instead, from my house I did Mulholland past the Rock Store, up Stunt Rd, down Piuma Rd, then balance of Mulholland to the Valley. After lunch I felt so good & comfortable that I went up Angeles Forest, Upper Big T, Angeles Crest to Wrightwood, then home. My little test became a 250 mi. :biggrin: grin-fest!!!
Let's go. You have the number. San Dimas Mike, 3JagSteve, Mazza, who else?
Ed
Quote from: simi_ed on August 12, 2010, 08:37:19 PM
Let's go. You have the number. San Dimas Mike, 3JagSteve, Mazza, who else?
Ed
Sigh
Paddy, you're invited too! Oh, sorry. You fled the country :empathy: You're missing nice 75ªF weather too. Oh well, maybe when you come back!
Ed
Ha! I'm not missing the 110* weather in Palm Desert, no siree.
It's ~78* here in Samara, Costa Rica with 80* water and evening showers. The rain in Costa Rica is absolutely crazy. Rain is not a accurate word, it's more like a monster deluge.
I do miss riding my FJ, 'tho not in Palm Desert in the summer, and in no fucking way would a FJ work in Costa Rica..
All motorcycles in Costa Rica are 125cc dual/dirt bikes. No road bikes. The size of the numerous craters in the muddy dirt roads here would easily swallow a bike or tear the wheels off a car. For safety, the local Ticos put their old furniture in the pot holes, so drivers can see how deep they are and thus avoid them.
When these monsters get full of rain water you can not tell how deep they are so it's common to see a old kitchen chair or sofa stuck in a pot hole with just the top 6" showing above the roadway. Deep is a understatement.
Eddie, our cartridge forks are good, but not that good.....
Cheers amigo, congrats on your new improvements.
Thanks again to Jon Cain for showing us the way on the YZF600 cartridge fork conversion.
ATTGAT; Ride safe and well. Pura Vida.
Quote from: simi_ed on August 12, 2010, 09:46:52 PM
Paddy, you're invited too! Oh, sorry. You fled the country :empathy: You're missing nice 75ªF weather too. Oh well, maybe when you come back!
Ed
Quote from: simi_ed on August 12, 2010, 09:46:52 PM
Paddy, you're invited too! Oh, sorry. You fled the country :empathy: You're missing nice 75ªF weather too. Oh well, maybe when you come back!
Ed
At 0100, it's still 93 in Dallas. Heat index this weekend is supposed to be near 110. My bikes are all covered in my well insulated garage. I may have to turn on the air conditioner, though (that would be the a/c in the garage :-).
DavidR.
Quote from: simi_ed on August 12, 2010, 08:37:19 PM
I almost did that on Tuesday. Instead, from my house I did Mulholland past the Rock Store, up Stunt Rd, down Piuma Rd, then balance of Mulholland to the Valley. After lunch I felt so good & comfortable that I went up Angeles Forest, Upper Big T, Angeles Crest to Wrightwood, then home. My little test became a 250 mi. :biggrin: grin-fest!!!
Let's go. You have the number. San Dimas Mike, 3JagSteve, Mazza, who else?
Ed
Ed, are they letting traffic through the Angeles crest/forest roads now? The web sites and freeway signs still have the roads closed. I can get a ride in tomorrow (Sunday) if you want meet up somewhere. Steve is not likely to make it but I can call Mike and see what his plans are. Don't know Mazza but the more the Kookalooier it will be. More than two makes it a mini rally right? Maybe trying to keep up with you will motivate me to ditch my stock (Anti-Dive) forks and 16" wheel. :drinks:
OK, I got another 80 mile spin before the asphalt returned to a liquid state yesterday. I'm now convinced that these cartridge forks really are the :bomb:. I covered a really crappy road that FJMonkey, 3JagSteve & I did last year, with radically better results. The road surface that beat us to a pulp was still there, but at more than 15-20 mph, the forks just absorb the bumps. They're still there, you still feel the tire hitting the bumps, but there's no loss of contact/chatter, no front end push due to loss of traction, no ill effects at all.
Damn, I'm glad I listened to all YOU smart folks & did this!
If you're on the fence, Do IT! You'll be really happy! I am.
damn you Ed , you are the devil :diablo: