Time for brakes!

[Pat Conlon]

So, you do all this work to end up with spindly 41mm stanchion tube damper rod forks and a 15mm axle on a 500lb+ bike capable of 150mph.

You do know that the *entire* USD front end of the '91-93 FZR1000 is P&P, correct?
Cartridge forks, check
R-1 calipers, check
Lighter/stiffer 17mm hollow axle, check
17 x 3.5" front rim, check
320 mm rotors, check.
A front fender that you can actually still buy, check.
Chicks hanging around your bike....check.

[Tuned forks]

Is that what's on your FJ Pat?  I keep reading this USD term bandied about.  What does it mean and how does it improve the riding experience?

Joe

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Joe, USD = Upside Down forks.
It's not just one feature but the synergistic effect of multiple improvements that makes USD's superior to the FJ's oem conventional forks. They are just a flat out better design. Time marches on.

[ZOA NOM]

You forgot to mention the chicks...


...oops, spoke to soon!

[great white]

So, you do all this work to end up with spindly 41mm stanchion tube damper rod forks and a 15mm axle on a 500lb+ bike capable of 150mph.

You do know that the *entire* USD front end of the '91-93 FZR1000 is P&P, correct?
Cartridge forks, check
R-1 calipers, check
Lighter/stiffer 17mm hollow axle, check
17 x 3.5" front rim, check
320 mm rotors, check.
A front fender that you can actually still buy, check.
Chicks hanging around your bike....check.

Nope, not interested in inverted forks.

More like 600 lbs and 140 mph. It's not like it will ever be going anywhere near that speed anyways. Hell, it probably won't even see much north of 80 mph (130 kph)...

Finding an FZR1000 front end is not an option around here. Hell, finding a complete FZR to buy isn't an option around here. I think I've seen a grand total of one in the last two decades...

41mm isn't exactly "spindly" either. Maybe in comparison to more modern tackle, but I could care less about that. When I learned to flog a bike around a track, only the most serious and well heeled riders had anything close to 41MM up front. 41MM feels plenty planted for my use. I know what it's going to do and when it's going to do it. Try running a 70's RD350 down the straight topping out at a around 110 and you'll never complain about stock FJ forks ever again! Speed wobbles and tank slappers to make you mess hour fruit of the looms! Lol!

And like I said, i'm not in to inverted forks. No offense intended to anyone running them, but they just don't "look right" on an FJ to my eye. My bike has to look right to me as well as run right. It's all part of the way I want MY bike. Wheels, brakes, swingarm (as long as it's not to radical or single sided), slipons etc you can get away with and keep the 80's superbike look. Inverted forks are from a different generation and spoil that "80's feel" for me.

Emulators and springs will be going in at a minimum. I may even make my own set of ems. I've done it before, it's not like it's a complicated piece.

If an FZ1 front end shows up, maybe. But we're back to the orginal FZR problem; I've never even seen one ride past around here, let alone up for parts. Ordering piecemeal via internet means it would likely cost more than buying a complete used R1! A swingarm? Not too bad, they come up pretty cheap from time to time because they typically don't get damaged in a crash. Forks are a different story; they usually take the brunt so when they do show up in decent/complete shape, they command a premium. Not to me tion shipping is a miller due to thier size.

Nah, FJ forks are just fine, thank you. If I luck across something better that I can afford, then; maybe.