Spring Time

[movenon]

Just a note from personal experience. I played around with raising the bar position and pulling them back. I had them pulled back as far as you can without extending throttle cables. I did have to get a longer front brake line.  It was an experiment to see if I liked it.

While a little more comfortable around town, on the road I didn't like it. Yamaha didn't design the front end (fairing and windscreen) for me to sit that in that position.  At 70 to 80 there was a lot of wind resistance on my upper body.  At 115 plus it was not good at all.  That's just my experience.  I went back to the stock bars and a windscreen that is around 1 1/2 inch's taller. 

I the risers are about the most I would go now.  I understand about the desire for more pull back. To bad the 3/4" riser don't have a adjustment to pull back 10 or 15 degrees.  Somewhere I have seen some that do but never for the FJ.

George

[Dan Filetti]

Looks like it gives 3/4" rise, no pull back and no adjustability.  I'm thinkin' that 1" rise and 3" pull back is ball park, though I'd have to play with it a bit to get it spot-on. 

Do be careful you do not impact the throttle and brake lines with this mod.  For the Gixxer, I bought a set of the Heli-Bars, nice pieces and they claimed I could use the stock lines.  I could, but not without building a bracket for the throttle lines to hold them down below the ignition switch.  Otherwise it would hang up on the switch and prevent the bars from turning all the way to the right.

Worth considering, and factoring in the cost of new brake/ throttle lines if indicated.

Dan 

[Burns]

That may be the way to go.  I'll check it out.  Thanks.

[Burns]

Just a note from personal experience. I played around with raising the bar position and pulling them back. I had them pulled back as far as you can without extending throttle cables. I did have to get a longer front brake line.  It was an experiment to see if I liked it.

While a little more comfortable around town, on the road I didn't like it. Yamaha didn't design the front end (fairing and windscreen) for me to sit that in that position.  At 70 to 80 there was a lot of wind resistance on my upper body.  At 115 plus it was not good at all.  That's just my experience.  I went back to the stock bars and a windscreen that is around 1 1/2 inch's taller. 

I the risers are about the most I would go now.  I understand about the desire for more pull back. To bad the 3/4" riser don't have a adjustment to pull back 10 or 15 degrees.  Somewhere I have seen some that do but never for the FJ.

George

The aerodynamics of this bike are a real challenge. "comfort zone" does not seem to have been a major consideration for Yamaha.

[jscgdunn]

"The aerodynamics of this bike are a real challenge. "comfort zone" does not seem to have been a major consideration for Yamaha."

Ok, I'll bite.  I am an old guy who is 6'3.  It is a sport tourer...not a Goldwing.  It is the sport touring pioneer not an 2014 FJR.  I find it very comfortable. 

When I need more comfort, I get in the Cadillac.

[Pat Conlon]

I needed longer throttle cables for my fat bar conversion.
A painless procedure, just call Motion Pro, they have the cable specifications for the FJ's on file.
I asked for 2" longer push/pull cables and 2 weeks later they came to my doorstep. Plug and play.

[Mike Ramos]

Spring time greetings everyone,

I will conceded that the seating position of an FJ may not suit everyone, luckily for me being rather short and rotund it fits me just fine.

As far as ride quality, with modern suspension the old FJ rivals just about any thing on the road.  It floats down the highway as needed and is very competent when sport riding is encountered.

I have encountered touring, sport touring and sport motorcycles (and even a few automobiles) and the FJ has acquitted itself very well in all circumstances.  From my experience, for all around performance the FJ cannot be surpassed.   

I not only have the miles to make such a broad statement but [to appease the Forum's resident 'scholar'] I also have the video to support such a claim.

That suspension is available to all from the gentleman at R.P.M.

Ride safe, stay in good humor & keep smiling,

Midget.

[Burns]

"The aerodynamics of this bike are a real challenge. "comfort zone" does not seem to have been a major consideration for Yamaha."

Ok, I'll bite.  I am an old guy who is 6'3.  It is a sport tourer...not a Goldwing.  It is the sport touring pioneer not an 2014 FJR.  I find it very comfortable. 

When I need more comfort, I get in the Cadillac.
====================================================

My FJ is an '89, so it's kinda out of the "pioneer" stage.  And since Yamaha went with a rubber mounted motor on this one I don't think a bit more touring orientation with the fairing would have been a bad idea.

As is it's a great bike.  I would like to modify it for the use that I intend ( a 4000 mile trip I'm planning) and the "sport" aerodynamics are the greatest challenge.

[Pat Conlon]

Negative Burnsie, on your '89 having rubber mounts....the rubber mounts came out in '91.

[aviationfred]

As is it's a great bike.  I would like to modify it for the use that I intend ( a 4000 mile trip I'm planning) and the "sport" aerodynamics are the greatest challenge.

[/quote]


Comparing apples to apples. I have an 89' just like yours. For rider size, I am 5' 7" tall and 180lbs.

I do have the 3/4" RPM bar risers, a Corbin seat, lower foot pegs and 3 different windscreens to choose from. Finding the comfort zone to your liking is a trial and error proposition. Given my experience with my 89', you have not mentioned the item that actually has the most impact on rider comfort.

The windscreen. Where the wind hits your body while at speed has a HUGE effect on rider comfort. The 3 windscreens I have are each used for a different riding function.

1. Zero Gravity +2" windscreen -I use this screen in the summer months for long rides and touring. The airflow hits me near the chin of my helmet. The airstream is easily deflected with very little helmet buffeting.



2. Powerbronze flip windscreen - This windscreen I use for Fall/Winter/Spring riding. The flip feature directs the airflow to the top of my helmet, creating an almost vacuum like area between the fairing and my head and chest. Absolutely zero head buffeting. A strange side effect is during the colder rides, I stay much warmer due to no direct wind on my chest while at speed.



3. Honda CBR1100xx Superbird Double Bubble - I have just very recently added this windscreen. (2 days ago) With the couple of short rides in the short amount of time with this windscreen. My intentions are that this will be my summer riding windscreen. At highway speeds. (70+mph) The airflow hits me squarely in the chest between my sternum and bottom of my helmet. Should allow for max cooling affect during the 90*-100* days that we have. I do experience a very small amount of head buffeting.



Fred

[Burns]

Negative Burnsie, on your '89 having rubber mounts....the rubber mounts came out in '91.

Thanks for the edification. Guess it is more "pioneer" than I thought. BTW compared to the paint shaker I'd been riding the FJ is glass smooth and I have no comfort issues there.

[Burns]

Fred,

"The windscreen. Where the wind hits your body while at speed has a HUGE effect on rider comfort."

I totally agree - numero uno comfort issue - and it looks like you have done my "aerodynamics" homework for me.

Sounds like the Powerbronze flip is my cup of tea.

BTW your lower fairing doesn't look like mine, is it after-market?