Hey all. My buddy bought an R1 today. He is giving me his 86 FJ1200 for a swinging deal. I have my running riding 85 FJ1100. He has the front fork swap, matching rear rim & a Barnett clutch, those are no brainers. The 1200s also has adjustable carb needles too right? cause I had to shim mine. I wouldn't mind swapping them too. Either way, here is the question I'm posting to the forum.
Is it worth it to swap motors? I read that the 1200 has negligible power difference over the 1100 so I'm not sure. Any thoughts? I want 2 running bikes so if I put the 1200 motor in the 1100 I will be swapping the other way around too. My focus is on the 1100. I love my bike & his bike has more hits than Sinatra. -Thanks
IMO.... Take the killer deal your friend is offering. Leave the motors in their perspective frames. In stock form the two motors are about 5HP difference. I don't think you will notice any difference in acceleration between the two bikes. In fact the 1100 may accelerate a wee bit quicker due to a slightly less weight. Maybe consider keeping the 1100 completely stock and continue to install mods on the 1200.
Fred
The 1200 has been dropped several times, the tank is bondo bigtime, the fairings are trashed, right side bar is bent. Im not going to ride the 1200. Also I like the way my 1100 looks (no offense to the 1200 guys)
If I kept it Id cafe it or something but I have too much going on. I will sell it for the same swinging deal to a different friend when Im done taking what I want for my 1100
You my son are blessed. Keep both and when your friend begs you to sell it back to him sell him your 1200 for a bunch of $.
Im aware that I'm Blessed, but not blessed enough to keep both bikes. If that were the case I wouldn't be asking. Id just keep the 1200 as a spare motor
What's keeping you from owning two? Room, expense?
Yes & yes. Im just trying to upgrade my FJ for the low low price of my labor & make sure that a running riding FJ gets in the hands of someone who needs to ride.
just swap side covers if both are red & white and rego plate,, how many of you have had the engine and frame numbers checked on the road by anyone
Quote from: McKilla Guerilla on March 16, 2013, 05:57:25 PM
The 1200 has been dropped several times, the tank is bondo bigtime, the fairings are trashed, right side bar is bent. Im not going to ride the 1200. Also I like the way my 1100 looks (no offense to the 1200 guys)
ahh woops, i should of read that twice, , oh well spares or a project either way i would keep both
Quote from: fj11.5 on March 16, 2013, 06:23:52 PM
just swap side covers if both are red & white and rego plate,, how many of you have had the engine and frame numbers checked on the road by anyone
I have 2 FJ's that by a stroke of good luck and uncanny coincidence have the same rego number.
anonymous
now that's bizzare,, i have the same problem with two of mine
Ok. So can anyone answer my question whether it is worth it to swap a 1200 motor into my 1100 bike?
Please; let me be clear, I am not keeping two bikes, or riding the 1200. Neither is an option.
The question is: To Swap or not to Swap.
Hey all. My buddy bought an R1 today. He is giving me his 86 FJ1200 for a swinging deal. I have my running riding 85 FJ1100. He has the front fork swap with 17" wheel, matching rear rim & a Barnett clutch, those are no brainers. The 1200s also has adjustable carb needles too right? cause I had to shim mine. I wouldn't mind swapping them too. Either way, here is the question I'm posting to the forum.
Is it worth it to swap motors? I read that the 1200 has negligible power difference over the 1100 so I'm not sure. Any thoughts? I want 2 running bikes so if I put the 1200 motor in the 1100 I will be swapping the other way around too. I want to give the 86 bike running riding to a buddy & he understands what I'm doing, he doesn't care what engine he gets, just wants a bike to ride.
The 1200 has been dropped several times, the motor case is good but the bike is ugly.
My focus is on the 1100. I cannot keep two bikes.
Personally, I would keep the bikes stock.
Don't swap.
Others may disagree. They are free to do so.
Do what makes you happy. You will, anyway.
(popcorn)
Steve
if that engine is running stronger than your engine then it isnt a big deal to swap engines. IMO it never hurts to have a spare engine :good2:
KOokaloo!
Quote from: racerman_27410 on March 17, 2013, 01:45:25 PM
if that engine is running stronger than your engine then it isnt a big deal to swap engines. IMO it never hurts to have a spare engine :good2:
KOokaloo!
....or 3.
Quote from: McKilla Guerilla on March 17, 2013, 01:18:20 PM
Ok. So can anyone answer my question whether it is worth it to swap a 1200 motor into my 1100 bike?
Please; let me be clear, I am not keeping two bikes, or riding the 1200. Neither is an option.
The question is: To Swap or not to Swap.
How does each bike run, and how many miles are on each motor? If the miles on the 1200 are significantly lower and the bike runs strong and doesn't smoke, then by all means. But if there's nothing wrong with the 1100 I'd leave it.
Quote from: Dads_FJ on March 17, 2013, 02:54:20 PMHow does each bike run, and how many miles are on each motor? If the miles on the 1200 are significantly lower and the bike runs strong and doesn't smoke, then by all means. But if there's nothing wrong with the 1100 I'd leave it.
Yea, Neither bike smokes, My 1100 has 33k miles, the 1200 has 28k miles
I was thinking of Not swapping them but the guy thats giving me the bike thinks its worth it cause he said the 1200 has more midrange torque.
I also didn't know if having the 1200 was an advantage for hi-po stuff like pistons & whatnot.
I'm not opposed to swapping it if the consensus was that it had some advantage. but it seems like alot of work for minimal gain to me. I just wanted to see what you guys thought because Im sure many of you have had both. I've only owned my 1100 & I rode his 1200 once.
If it were me I would clean up the 1200, adjust valves / go through the carbs / clean out the clutch Cly / new oil and filter then put it in storage for a back up or to install in another FJ that could be bought right with a bad engine in it. An extra motor on the shelf for a 20 year plus old bike is a good thing.
George
The differences were negligible when new and by now there are so many things that will effect how each one runs it's irrelevant. The motors are of similar mileages and should be in similar condition.
Wouldn't waste my time.
I would (and have) keep the second bike as a ready supply of spares.
There are plenty of spares around for these bikes, except when you need one in a hurry and they will be way more expensive as stand alone parts than acquiring an entire bike to raid. Very helpful too having a bikes worth of electrical and fuel parts for diagnostic work.
Noel
im with you guys,, wish i had a spare engine about now
Quote from: fj11.5 on March 18, 2013, 04:53:21 PM
im with you guys,, wish i had a spare engine about now
I acquired a complete spare bike for parts, semi dismantled and store at several locations, for $500. Not able to help myself I put it back together and to my amazement it was all there and in fact rode beautifully and I put a couple of thousand K's on it. The chain had the worst tight spot I have ever seen and it needed a battery and fuel pump (missing), all bought from the wreckers $70.
The point of my story is, the engine was the last thing I imagined I would need. However it is now in my bike (that's another story) I have not seen an engine for sale here under $1200, and then there is the entire rest of the bike for spares although I do intend to fix the original motor and return this one to the other bike.
The great thing with the spare bike is it gives you immediate access to parts that can then be replaced at your leisure or when they become available at a reasonable cost, which is never when you need them in a hurry.
Noel
If I could keep a spare bike I would. The thought has crossed my mind but there are too many reasons why I can't. Not to mention it'd kinda be selfish to hang on to a perfectly running bike just for parts. I need people to ride with.
I picked up the 1200 last night, it's kinda cold here in NJ & the roads have a healthy amount of gravel but I couldn't resist the urge to find my Kookaloo.
Regardless of which bike I fix & keep or which one I sell to a friend I love the FJ & I kinda feel bad for my buddy that bought a new R1 & gave up the best bike he will ever own but I'm thankful it found its way into my hands.
Sounds like you have answered your own question, if you like the 1100 the best then take the parts you want off the 1200 put them on the 1100 and you are good to go. I would not swap engines unless the 1100 has a problem, also the 1100 is more rare. If I owned FJ 1100 it would stay that way. JMHO hope this helps.
Kurt
thought of putting my trailbike reg on the FJ. Both the same year reg. Knowing my luck I would get busted. especially with the new mobile rego cameras the law have