News:

This forum is run by RPM and donations from members.

It is the donations of the members that help offset the operating cost of the forum. The secondary benefit of being a contributing member is the ability to save big during RPM Holiday sales. For more information please check out this link: Membership has its privileges 

Thank you for your support of the all mighty FJ.

Main Menu

USD fork conversion advice

Started by FJ-Heretic, October 01, 2017, 12:13:07 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Pat Conlon

Quote from: MarioR on March 18, 2025, 12:13:19 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on March 14, 2025, 09:36:05 PM
Quote from: JohnnyTheCraneGuy on March 14, 2025, 09:00:48 PMComing back to this, with the FZR front end, will it accept gold dots from a '03 R1?
Yes...
 I needed to grind a very small relief on the forks to clear the cast hose line fitting on the R-1 caliper body.
You've got to look closely to notice it.
 



Pat, do you think FZR 92 USD fork set is better than Thunder Ace big conventional fork?

There is a reason you have never seen an oem or aftermarket fork brace for USD forks.
Yes, USD's are superior to conventional forks...even the TAce beefy tostada (48mm) forks.

Just as cartridge forks are always superior to damper rod forks.

1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

MarioR

Quote from: Pat Conlon on March 18, 2025, 12:59:24 PM
Quote from: MarioR on March 18, 2025, 12:13:19 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on March 14, 2025, 09:36:05 PM
Quote from: JohnnyTheCraneGuy on March 14, 2025, 09:00:48 PMComing back to this, with the FZR front end, will it accept gold dots from a '03 R1?
Yes...
 I needed to grind a very small relief on the forks to clear the cast hose line fitting on the R-1 caliper body.
You've got to look closely to notice it.
 



Pat, do you think FZR 92 USD fork set is better than Thunder Ace big conventional fork?

There is a reason you have never seen an oem or aftermarket fork brace for USD forks.
Yes, USD's are superior to conventional forks...even the TAce beefy tostada (48mm) forks.

Just as cartridge forks are always superior to damper rod forks.



Pat,

Did some homework and you are right. I was wrong about tostadas....  :Facepalm: They are not bad fork especially they are adjustable but cartridge is way better. Can't cheat on physics.... I have FZR 1000 92 USD full front end still on the bike so this is what I will use moving forward. What will be the best for the top clamp to use/modify in your experience?

Never to late to learn something new...

Thanks
It does not matter how slowly I go as long as I do not stop.

Pat Conlon

I used the oem FZR top clamp with 7/8" dia. aftermarket handle bar clamps and a FZ-1 bar.

 

1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

Millietant

I used a pair of 2001-2005 Yamaha FZ1 handlebar risers (need to drill the 2 holes in the FZR top clamp out an extra 2mm), with a couple of penny washers sitting in the recesses on the top of the top clamps (and under the rubber pad that goes under the risers).

A perfect mount for the FZ1 bars to get the same hand grip position as the original FJ grips.
Dean

'89 FJ 1200 3CV - owned from new.
'89 FJ 1200 3CV - no engine, tank, seat....parts bike for the future.
'88 FJ 1200 3CV - complete runner 2024 resto project
'88 FJ 1200 3CV - became a race bike, no longer with us.
'86 FJ 1200 1TX - sold to my boss to finance the '89 3CV I still own.

MarioR

Quote from: Millietant on March 19, 2025, 07:01:54 PMI used a pair of 2001-2005 Yamaha FZ1 handlebar risers (need to drill the 2 holes in the FZR top clamp out an extra 2mm), with a couple of penny washers sitting in the recesses on the top of the top clamps (and under the rubber pad that goes under the risers).

A perfect mount for the FZ1 bars to get the same hand grip position as the original FJ grips.

Only one issue that I have, I prefer stock handlebar mounts. Not fan of the FZ1 style. Any other options for US conversion and stock mounting? Or lags are to short to pursue this way??
It does not matter how slowly I go as long as I do not stop.

giantkiller

I made my bars. Using the clamps off of the gixxer clip ons and made them to match the fj clip ons with risers. On my 2008 gsxr1000 front-ends.
I don't like the tube bars either.  They look like dirt bike bars to me. Lol.
86 fj1350r
86 fj1380t turbo drag toy (soon)
87 fj1200 865 miles crashed for parts
89 fj1200 touring 2up
87 fzr1000 crashed
87 fzr750r Human Race teams world endurance champion
93 fzr600 Vance n hines ltd for sale
Custom chopper I built
Mini chopper I built for my daughter just like the big 1

MarioR

Quote from: giantkiller on April 08, 2025, 09:53:11 PMI made my bars. Using the clamps off of the gixxer clip ons and made them to match the fj clip ons with risers. On my 2008 gsxr1000 front-ends.
I don't like the tube bars either.  They look like dirt bike bars to me. Lol.

How they secured to the tubes? Just with one Allen bolt or there is another to the top triple?

Yes, you are right with the cross bike look.....
It does not matter how slowly I go as long as I do not stop.

giantkiller

It's just the clamp with the one alen. They have a pin that sticks down into a hole. On the top of the triple clamp. I fabricated spacers. So I could raise them up on the extensions. For touring. And remove them when riding the curves. I don't really think the alignment is really needed.  If you  tighten the clamps they aren't going anywhere. If you're worried about it you could mount them under the triple. Like they are on the gixxer. The pins originally stuck up under the gixxer triple. I flipped them over when I fabricated mine because I wanted to slide them up on the extensions I designed for the gixxer forks. So I could sit up a little. For highway miles.
86 fj1350r
86 fj1380t turbo drag toy (soon)
87 fj1200 865 miles crashed for parts
89 fj1200 touring 2up
87 fzr1000 crashed
87 fzr750r Human Race teams world endurance champion
93 fzr600 Vance n hines ltd for sale
Custom chopper I built
Mini chopper I built for my daughter just like the big 1

fj1289

Motocross bars!  The horrors!   :sarcastic:

MarioR

Quote from: fj1289 on April 09, 2025, 05:07:44 PMMotocross bars!  The horrors!   :sarcastic:


For sure not my cup of tea......
It does not matter how slowly I go as long as I do not stop.

Millietant

Quote from: MarioR on April 10, 2025, 08:37:54 AM
Quote from: fj1289 on April 09, 2025, 05:07:44 PMMotocross bars!  The horrors!   :sarcastic:


For sure not my cup of tea......

My 2001-2005 FZ1 bars and risers match my original FJ bars for width and can be adjusted to match for height and hand position too - they're not high and wide, like motocross bars. I found the greater range of adjustment in hand position (forward and rearward) helped me find an ultimately more comfortable riding position.
Dean

'89 FJ 1200 3CV - owned from new.
'89 FJ 1200 3CV - no engine, tank, seat....parts bike for the future.
'88 FJ 1200 3CV - complete runner 2024 resto project
'88 FJ 1200 3CV - became a race bike, no longer with us.
'86 FJ 1200 1TX - sold to my boss to finance the '89 3CV I still own.