handlebar conversion

[markfj]

Well I finally got it finished.  The LSL High Superbike bars are installed and while I was at it I did the R1 caliper, master and line conversion.  There is a clearance issue, particularly with the clutch master hitting the fairing, but it's not too bad and I will take the trade off for more comfort on my long trip upcoming.  There's still some vibs left but I need to fine tune the carbs.  I threaded the ends and put the stock bar weights on but I may additionally load the bar with lead shot to reduce as much of that as possible.  Thanks for all the comments and suggestion.  See you on the road.  BTW - Love the new brake system.

Cheers, Mark

[Pat Conlon]

Congrats Mark, take some picts for us.  I would like to start a section in the Files to show FJ's with handlebars....TIA  Pat

[Flynt]

Well I finally got it finished.  The LSL High Superbike bars are installed and while I was at it I did the R1 caliper, master and line conversion.  There is a clearance issue, particularly with the clutch master hitting the fairing, but it's not too bad and I will take the trade off for more comfort on my long trip upcoming.  There's still some vibs left but I need to fine tune the carbs.  I threaded the ends and put the stock bar weights on but I may additionally load the bar with lead shot to reduce as much of that as possible.  Thanks for all the comments and suggestion.  See you on the road.  BTW - Love the new brake system.

Cheers, Mark

Randy was able to get me some Vibranator bar ends for the hollow bar on my '92...  They work a bit better than the ones on the '90 from my uncalibrated numbness scale.  RPM has some good stuff!

Frank

[Grey runner]

If it's handle bars you want then handle bars you will have,

Having had a 3XW in the past that went through fork seals at an alarming rate I have decided to change the forks on my present one over to Thunderace forks. This will hopefully stop the fork seal problem, it will give me a 31/2" front wheel and because of the bigger diameter disks I should get better braking. I set myself a budget for the conversion at the same price or lower than a new hagon shock would cost, so after a lot of trawling through Ebay I was ready to begin,
New front wheel



Forks, which came powder coated, which is why I think no one else bid on them and mudguard.



The mudguard is painted with Halfords car paint Rover Tahiti Blue 93, it's not an exact match but very close



The top yoke was drilled to take some bar raisers one bolt had to be fixed directly on the yoke as the ignition switch block was under where the bolt should go




The steering stem on the Thunderace has to be pressed out and replaced with the Fj one which is about ¾" longer than the Ace one so the forks will be a bit shorter but at the moment that is not proving to be a problem



Low rise bars from renthal were bought and all is ready to put together.







All that is needed to complete the job is a longer brake line down to the splitter at the bottom of the yoke.



One very nice result of all this messing about is that the handle bars are slightly higher than standard which if you wanted to you could alter by cutting off some the raiser block, they also sit slightly further back which for me at five eight is very comfy I don't feel that my knees are in my chest any more.



I should mention that I got the idea from the Barry Edwards FJ mods site and although the article claims it is a simple job it would be to your benifit to have a certain level of confidence and skill in the workshop.

http://www.btinternet.com/~fj1200mods/DaveCarter/DaveCarter2.htm

For those of you with an eagle eye yes I do have two light switches, the one on the throttle side is from a TDM and works my extra "stuff".

[Pat Conlon]

If it's handle bars you want then handle bars you will have,

Very, Very cool Chris, Good Job!   I bet you a jelly donut that you love those cartridge forks. 
Chris has done away with the fork flex we see on our spindly 41mm FJ stanchion tubes. That's why we lose our seals so often, fork flex. (Hint:a fork brace helps)  The 48mm Thunder Ace fork tubes are hell for strong. IMO this is the best "conventional" fork swap for the FJ.  (exception: USD's)
Note:  For those of us here in the states, the Yamaha "Thunder Ace" came in only one year as the 1997 YZF1000.
 
Thanks Chris, I would like to copy your writeup and pictures and keep them over in the Files, ok with you?  Cheers!

A request to all others.....Please submit picts and a write up on your handlebar conversion so we can show others what we've done.  Thanks!  Pat

[markfj]

I'll snap some pics over the weekend and put them on the board.  I need to get a little more saddle time in and break in those sweet new R1 brakes anyway  

BTW - Grey Gunner, your conversion looks awesome.

[Grey runner]

Pat, feel free to do as you see fit.
Chris