Machine Shop Idea: Oil Pump Cover

[Capn Ron]

You're welcome to stop by sometime and I'll give you a tour of the shop.

Steve

Steve,

If I were anywhere near Florida, I'd take you up on that offer!  I started life as a bicycle mechanic...outstanding work those two are doing!

[simi_ed]

Noel & I are in opposite sides of this page.  It seems pretty obvious that Yamaha found some "minor" improvement in braking feel/performance here or they would have gone back to the original 2 piece design, rather than stay with the monobloc-blue dot type of caliper. I would be willing to bet that 99% of the folks that have upgraded the brakes feel like its a worthwhile improvement.

Or you & Noel may continue to tell yourselves that there's really nothing to be gained.  Your choice, I think the rest of the 'moditess' victims will disagree.

Ed

[simi_ed]

Noel & I are in opposite sides of this page.  It seems pretty obvious that Yamaha found some "minor" improvement in braking feel/performance here or they would have gone back to the original 2 piece design, rather than stay with the monobloc-blue dot type of caliper. I would be willing to bet that 99% of the folks that have upgraded the brakes feel like its a worthwhile improvement.

Or you & Noel may continue to tell yourselves that there's really nothing to be gained.  Your choice, I think the rest of the 'moditess' victims will disagree.

Ed

Interesting side note here.  Looking at the pictures from the recent WCR, there are 23 FJs in the group (along with some invading KTM).  21 of the 23 FJs have blue or gold dot calipers, including all but 1 of the pre '89 bikes, along wtih Ron's 'as issued' 92.  Seems like a lot of work for no gain...

[FJ1100mjk]

Do the blue dots really offer more then the stock calliper, or is it all the other upgrades like master cylinder and braided lines?

The weight of the stock callipers without pads are only 750grams vs 650 grams for blue dots so not much advantage there.

Well, the adapter brackets if utilized on the earlier models would add mass back into the equation too. Maybe if the adapter brackets are pursued, they could be made more lightweight. The ones that I've seen look overkill, and do not add anything to the bling factor of the Blue Dots.

[FJ1100mjk]

Seems like a lot of work for no gain...

Seems like a little herd mentality too. 

[TexasDave]

Why did all the manufactures of larger bikes go to 4 and even 6 caliper pads? Even if there is no improvement in braking force there has to be a reason. I am sure it cost more to do it. If you have more area pressing on the disk which is more drag you can use less pressure. Less pressure means less wear. Those pads and disks are going to last longer.  Dave

[simi_ed]

Seems like a lot of work for no gain...

Seems like a little herd mentality too. 

I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of your FJ brethren.

[Arnie]

I rode Ribbert's bike back to back with my FJ one day several years ago.
His had OEM 4pot brakes, and my bike had Blue-Dots.
I'm not sure if he had SS braided lines then or not, but I certainly did.
I also had R6 brake master and OEM R6 pads.  I don't know what pads Ribbert was using.

His bike braked harder than any other FJ I have ridden with stock brakes.
His bike braked about equal to mine.  He must know some magic spells.

PS: there's no question about "herd mentality", it exists.

Oh yeah, IMnsHO

Arnie

[FJ1100mjk]

I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of your FJ brethren.

Your assumption is incorrect,  I hold you and many others on this site in high regards.

[rktmanfj]

Seems like a lot of work for no gain...

Seems like a little herd mentality too. 

I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of your FJ brethren.

Don't worry about it, Ed... in a crowd this large, there's always going to be a few proud Luddites.   

[TexasDave]

I don't think you are going to see a dramatic improvement using bllue dots over OEM 4 pots. But changing over to blue dots from the 2 pot early models with an adapter certainly would be.  Proud to be a luddite.    Dave

[Arnie]

I don't think you are going to see a dramatic improvement using bllue dots over OEM 4 pots. But changing over to blue dots from the single pot early models with an adapter certainly would be.  Proud to be a luddite.     Dave

IIRC, it was either Motorcycling or Cycle World magazine that ran tests of both the early and late model FJs.  The brake stop distance was shorter with the original 2-pot brakes.
There wasn't a lot of difference, but......  Could also be other factors at work.

[TexasDave]

I don't think you are going to see a dramatic improvement using bllue dots over OEM 4 pots. But changing over to blue dots from the single pot early models with an adapter certainly would be.  Proud to be a luddite.     Dave

IIRC, it was either Motorcycling or Cycle World magazine that ran tests of both the early and late model FJs.  The brake stop distance was shorter with the original 2-pot brakes.
There wasn't a lot of difference, but......  Could also be other factors at work.

Other factors would certainly be the lighter weight of the early models.  Dave

[JCainFJ]

I'm with Ed on this mod. If the split calipers are just as good as the monoblocks Yamaha would still be using them on the R1.

[TexasDave]

I guess the weight is not a factor as figures I found state weights both lighter and heavier between early and late models.  Dave