84 FJ1100 Brakes and Rotors Upgrade

[Cboy1100]

I am looking for a direct bolt on upgrade of brake rotors and pads for my 1984 FJ 1100 does anyone have a reccommendation? Also, any opinions on the Pirellii Sport Demon Tires?

[ribbert]

I am looking for a direct bolt on upgrade of brake rotors and pads for my 1984 FJ 1100 does anyone have a reccommendation? Also, any opinions on the Pirellii Sport Demon Tires?

There are new rotors on ebay between $150-$200 / pair.
EBC HH pads will make a big difference. They are the grippiest pads you can get. Widely used and endorsed by members here. Although just replacing discs and pads is not really an "upgrade"

If you REALLY want a brake upgrade you need later model forks, 17" wheel, R1 or similar calipers, braided steel lines, EBC HH pads and adjustable 14mm M/C. This is one of the most popular mods here. All direct bolt on, second hand parts readily available. Not that expensive.

The FJ already goes, this makes it stop.

If you are talking 16" wheels, you don't have a lot of choice. The Pirelli's are probably as good as any.

Noel

[red]

I am looking for a direct bolt on upgrade of brake rotors and pads for my 1984 FJ 1100 does anyone have a reccommendation? Also, any opinions on the Pirellii Sport Demon Tires?

Cboy1100,

Can't help with brakes, but I just replaced my old hard-as-a-rock Metzler Match tires with Sport Demons.  I should have done that a long time ago.  The Pirellis are very much better in turning and braking; they made a world of difference in my bike's handling.  I hear that you can wear them out in 5000+ miles, but I don't ride hard unless I'm 'way out of town.  So I prefer the good handling, over miles-per-tire.  Most important to me, I can stop far shorter than before, and without locking up the rear wheel.  On 16" wheels, you really do not have many choices in tires, so my experience is limited to just those two brands, but the Pirellis sure feel good to me.  Google can find lots of reviews for the Sport Demons, so see what others say as well, but it does no good if people compare them to tires that are not available in the 16" sizes for you.

Cheers,
Red

[FJmonkey]

Red, just so you know, Avon AV45/46 front/rear combo are also in 16" and they are radials. I ran on them before I upgraded to 17". You won't get any more miles out of them but they are one more option for you.

[aviationfred]

Here is a set of replacement front rotors. The diameter of the rotors is a misprint in the add, should say 282mm.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAMAHA-FJ-1100-Front-Brake-Rotor-Disc-Pro-Factory-Braking-1983-1987-2-Rotors-/280996083985?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item416cabf911&vxp=mtr

I am not affiliated with this sale.

Fred

[red]

Red, just so you know, Avon AV45/46 front/rear combo are also in 16" and they are radials. I ran on them before I upgraded to 17". You won't get any more miles out of them but they are one more option for you.

FJmonkey,

Thanks.  Yeah, I did look at the Avons, and thought they looked equal or maybe better than the Pirellis, at least by the reviews that I found.  Since my suspension is all stock, it seemed wiser to me to go with the bias-plies, since Yamaha designed the bike for bias-ply tires.  Upgrades to the suspension now would cost me more than I paid for the bike, and money is tight, here.  I'm really happy with the Sport Demons, and I think a lot of expensive upgrades would not make me that much happier, dollar-for-dollar.

Cheers,
Red

[FJ1100mjk]

Red:

Regarding the tires...

I don't think that you need to gravitate towards bias-ply tires because of your stock suspension. You're only limiting yourself further in your choices. I've been running radials on bikes from the bias-ply era, and they work fine, if not better.

I have no experience with the Avon Azzaros, but I am running the Avon Roadriders on one FJ, and the Sport Demons on the other FJ. I'm very happy with Roadriders, and they (in my humble opinion) are comparable to the Sport Demons.

One thing I know for sure, stay away from the Bridgestone BT-045's. They are marginally okay in the dry, but downright scary when the pavement is wet. I took a set off way before there time. When the Service Manager asked me if I wanted back after the new Roadriders were installed, he looked at me funny when I said they could have them.

Good luck!

Marty

[FJ_Hooligan]

Thanks.  Yeah, I did look at the Avons, and thought they looked equal or maybe better than the Pirellis, at least by the reviews that I found.  Since my suspension is all stock, it seemed wiser to me to go with the bias-plies, since Yamaha designed the bike for bias-ply tires.  Upgrades to the suspension now would cost me more than I paid for the bike, and money is tight, here.

Let me ask this question before Noel does.
I've seen this mentioned several times but it have a hard time believing it.

Which design parameters did the engineers at Yamaha tailor specifically for bias ply tires?
Chassis geometry? Suspension components? Brake components?  I can't think of anything I'd need to change if I swapped tire types.

Personally, I think they used the best components they could to make the bike perform and still be affordable.  When they got around to it, there were only bias ply tires available, so that's what they used.  Although I do recall a very old discussion about Yamaha contracting Bridgestone (or someone) to make a tire specifically for the FJ.

[Pat Conlon]

Yep, in the development of the FJ, Yamaha needed a set of 16" V rated (150mph) tires, so Bridgestone was the oem choice.

I recall that there were not a lot of choices for V rated street tires back then.

If you think about it, a bias ply donut V rated for 150mph, it was pretty impressive.

Tire technology has come a long way since then...thank God.

[red]

Red:
Regarding the tires...  I don't think that you need to gravitate towards bias-ply tires because of your stock suspension. You're only limiting yourself further in your choices. I've been running radials on bikes from the bias-ply era, and they work fine, if not better.
I have no experience with the Avon Azzaros, but I am running the Avon Roadriders on one FJ, and the Sport Demons on the other FJ. I'm very happy with Roadriders, and they (in my humble opinion) are comparable to the Sport Demons.
Marty

Marty,

Cboy1100 asked about the Pirellis, and I do like them.  My old tires weren't half as good as these Sport Demons. 
I will be checking out the Avons, next time around, so I appreciate your advice.  There's a lot for me to learn, here.

Cheers,
Red

[Alf]

Thanks.  Yeah, I did look at the Avons, and thought they looked equal or maybe better than the Pirellis, at least by the reviews that I found.  Since my suspension is all stock, it seemed wiser to me to go with the bias-plies, since Yamaha designed the bike for bias-ply tires.  Upgrades to the suspension now would cost me more than I paid for the bike, and money is tight, here.

Let me ask this question before Noel does.
I've seen this mentioned several times but it have a hard time believing it.

Which design parameters did the engineers at Yamaha tailor specifically for bias ply tires?
Chassis geometry? Suspension components? Brake components?  I can't think of anything I'd need to change if I swapped tire types.

Personally, I think they used the best components they could to make the bike perform and still be affordable.  When they got around to it, there were only bias ply tires available, so that's what they used.  Although I do recall a very old discussion about Yamaha contracting Bridgestone (or someone) to make a tire specifically for the FJ.

I posted this opinion months ago
When Michelin M/A59X and Pirelli MP7 appeared, the first radial tyres, these brands had in mind the Yamaha FJ 1100 and the production races around the world. 1100s ate byas-ply tires, becase these didn´t support the power and weight of the FJS on races
All that era tests spoken about the "new" FJ with radial tyres
The bike was not designed to mount bias-ply. Its an error or a myth. There were no other tyres when the bike was designed, completely different issue
With OE rims fit radials, Avon or new ContiAttack. These new tyres are fantastic

[ribbert]

Let me ask this question before Noel does.

Ha Ha, while the same thought briefly ran through my mind I was not even remotely tempted to comment. It becomes apparent over time that some things just aren't worth commenting on any more.

Noel

[fj11.5]

As fjmonkey said , upgrade the front end and fit late model brakes ect,, but for direct bolt on calipers , if you can find them , fzr400 rr calipers will fit ,, or if you want adapter plates can be found on ebay and blue spot clipers can be used

[Alf]

[/quote]

I posted this opinion months ago
When Michelin M/A59X and Pirelli MP7 appeared, the first radial tyres, these brands had in mind the Yamaha FJ 1100 and the production races around the world. 1100s ate byas-ply tires, becase these didn´t support the power and weight of the FJS on races
All that era tests spoken about the "new" FJ with radial tyres
The bike was not designed to mount bias-ply. Its an error or a myth. There were no other tyres when the bike was designed, completely different issue
With OE rims fit radials, Avon or new ContiAttack. These new tyres are fantastic
[/quote]

Again

[ribbert]

Who could argue with that!