FJ1100 front fork upgrade

[Gazz]

Hi guys
Is there a straight swap fork upgrade for the FJ1100.My aim here is to get rid of the poxy anti dive units once and for all,and improve the front end.I have seen posts regarding disconecting hoses,removing anti dives and fabricating a plate to cover the hole but i dont see that as a option.Have the FJ1200 forks been used on the FJ1100??.If so i would also go to a 17'' front wheel.Your thoughts?
Gazz

[Harvy]

Yes Gazz, 1200 forks are bolt in replacement.......and if you can find a set of '89-> forks (correct me if I'm wrong folks) you can then mount a set of r1/r6 pre 03 blue spot monoblock calipers or 03 r1 gold spots. You can also loose the extra brake lines and run individual lines from the master to each caliper, using the double banjo bolt from the discarded splitter at the master cylinder.....oh and of course a 17" wheel.

Harvy

[SlowOldGuy]

You can either swap complete fork assemblies, or simply use the fork lower (slider) and damper rod from an '89+ model with your existing fork tubes.

You will also need (from an '89+ model):
The 17 inch front wheel,
Axle (that screws into one of the fork sliders),
Brake rotors (the '84 to '87 rotors will not work),
You can use the stock '89+ calipers, or do the upgrade to monoblock calipers,
The wheel spacers and speedo drive are all the same.
If you use the monoblock calipers, you may need to reverse your lower brake lines (from the splitter to the caliper) to get the lines to match up with the banjo fitting location on the caliper.

I think that's it, but I believe there is a file on the Yahoo site that covers this conversion.  I'd try to post a link, but I'm sure it wouldn't work then this thread woud go horribly off-topic with everyone trashing Yahoo, browser choices, browsing technique, and I'm sure George's name would eventually come up. :-)

I will say this about upgrading the early models to the 17 inch front wheel.  It is still, by far, the most impressive mod I've done to my '85.  It totally transformed the handling characteristics of my bike.  With the new wheel/tire, the bike now floats effortlessly into curves and requires minimal countersteering to hold it there.  Previously, I would have to really pressure the inside bar to hold a line in a lean.  Also, with the 16 inch front wheel, if I was leaned over and touched the brakes, the bike tried really hard to stand back up.  That tendancy is totally gone with the new wheel.  

Needless to say, this is a highly recommended mod.  I just hope the YZF rear wheel is even half as good as the front wheel change, but I'd even be just as happy if it doesn't screw anything up.

DavidR.

[threejagsteve]

What David said, plus:

If you're gonna buy a 17" wheel, get one off an '87-'88 FZR1000 or FZR750R (not the plain FZ750). These are 3.5" wide, 1/2 in. wider than the stock FJ 17" which is 3.0". There are whole front-wheel threads here for your reading enjoyment.

The monobloc calipers David mentions are usuallly called "blue dot" or "gold dot" depending on the year and model of bike they came off. Once again, whole threads already here on these, but most consider them the best front brakes readily available, and most agree that you'll want the matching master cylinder to go with these calipers.

HTH...

[Gazz]

Thanks Guys for all your comments. Some great info in there. I also like the idea of the FZR front wheel.The FJ's look really smart with that mod.I might as well do the lot.Thanks again

Gazz