Stock headers

[Sakitumei]

To Whom it may concern,

I have just acquired a Yamaha FJ 1200 with 15,894 miles on it. It sat for a long time so I have been doing overdue maintenance and cleaning it up.

I'd like to re-finish the headers since they have some pitting and surface rust. I can get a set of the downpipes for refinishing so I can simply swap them out for the existing ones and then re-finish those as well.

However my bike is a 91 and the pipes I can get are from an 86.

My question is are the 86 pipes compatible with the 91 positions and collector configuration or are they not?

Thank you in advance,

Mark

[Pat Conlon]

Hello Mark, welcome to the forum.

Yes, the '86 header tubes are interchangeable with your '91 collector box. They are plug and play.
Note that on the bottom of the header tubes there is a model number stamped on the tubes, the last single digit of this number is a -1,-2,-3 and -4, which corresponds to the cylinders they connect .
As you sit on the bike #1 is on the far left and #4 on the far right.
Be sure you connect the pipes in right order to the collector box.

Also, just so you know, those tubes are stainless steel (both '86 and '91) The black finish on those header tubes comes off, and with a little work you can have a beautiful polished finish, if you want to go that route.

Hope this helps.  Pat

[1tinindian]

Right on, Pat!

Get to buffing, Mark!

[Sakitumei]

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the advice. I had read that 91 was an upgrade year so felt a bit unsure if there were changes to exhaust. Now I can move forward but want to ask the next poster about buffing/chrome finish. My last bike was an 82 CBX & was always impressed by those pipes when walking up to it no matter how many times I did.

I'll get my profile completed in a couple days and am sure will have more things to wonder about even though I do have the manuals.

Also, now I am on alert about the OEM brake lines, hmmm.

Mark

Hello Mark, welcome to the forum.

Yes, the '86 header tubes are interchangeable with your '91 collector box. They are plug and play.
Note that on the bottom of the header tubes there is a model number stamped on the tubes, the last single digit of this number is a -1,-2,-3 and -4, which corresponds to the cylinders they connect .
As you sit on the bike #1 is on the far left and #4 on the far right.
Be sure you connect the pipes in right order to the collector box.

Also, just so you know, those tubes are stainless steel (both '86 and '91) The black finish on those header tubes comes off, and with a little work you can have a beautiful polished finish, if you want to go that route.

Hope this helps.  Pat

[Sakitumei]

Hi Tinindian,

Can you tell me more about the pipes in your picture? Are they chrome plated stock? Are they ceramic coat? Are they aftermarket/if so what brand? Are you happy with the finish/quality?

I do miss the look off the chrome pipes on my last bike, a CBX.

Also as I am learning about FJs it seems to me the bike in the pictures is also a 91, is that right?

Thanks in advance,

Mark

Right on, Pat!

Get to buffing, Mark!

[aviationfred]

Also, now I am on alert about the OEM brake lines, hmmm.

Unless you know the previous owner personally, I would assume the OEM brake lines are 23 year old original equipment. My recommendation is to replace them with braided lines. There are many brands to chose from that still make lines for the FJ's.

Venhill,
Galfer,
Speigler,
Goodridge,
and a few other brands that escape me at the moment.

Fred

[ken65]

Those polished headers look really good.  Do you have to keep at them to keep them looking that good or is a periodic thing like a good rub every month or so?

ken

[Sakitumei]

Hi Fred,

I just did a little research and re-inspected the lines on the bike. They look stock although I am not too sure. I bought it off a lady who bought it new but did not ride at all for the last 8 years. However she had it serviced from new until she stopped riding it by the Yamaha dealer. I have it running well, I think, and it passed a Massachusetts USA state inspection. The lines on it are shielded by a metal spring like thing that I was able to slide up and down the lines for a close look. Visually they seem fine and the braking on this bike is superior to the CBX I just sold. The other thing is I need to discover if this has anti dive (I am certain it does not have ABS) since the line kits seem to be sold with variances for that. For brands I have it narrowed down to Galfer, Speigler & Goodridge so far. Based on my re-inspection and the bleeding I'd done with clean fluid coming out (that was a bit of a surprise) I am not too rushed on this and am seeing it as just one of the winter things I'll be doing to it.

Thanks for the input, it helps a lot what with the brands you mentioned being ones I picked up on.

You know this forum is great. For every other bike I've had I always had to figure things out with some learning from mistakes. Also at my age I simply do not know people who ride anymore to consult with about product brands and other experiences.

Mark

Also, now I am on alert about the OEM brake lines, hmmm.

Unless you know the previous owner personally, I would assume the OEM brake lines are 23 year old original equipment. My recommendation is to replace them with braided lines. There are many brands to chose from that still make lines for the FJ's.

Venhill,
Galfer,
Speigler,
Goodridge,
and a few other brands that escape me at the moment.

Fred

[Firehawk068]

Hi Tinindian,

Can you tell me more about the pipes in your picture? Are they chrome plated stock? Are they ceramic coat? Are they aftermarket/if so what brand? Are you happy with the finish/quality?

I do miss the look off the chrome pipes on my last bike, a CBX.

Also as I am learning about FJs it seems to me the bike in the pictures is also a 91, is that right?

Thanks in advance,

Mark

Right on, Pat!

Get to buffing, Mark!

Leon's pipes are not coated..........................He polished the factory pipes. They are stainless steel, that were painted black from the factory............
If you polish yours, you could make them look like Leon's 

[aviationfred]

Here is another option for exhaust. The RPM 4-2-1 exhaust system is stainless and extremely light weight. Roughly 30 pounds lighter than stock. They turn a deep gold color once they have a few heat cycles on them. I am not into the highly polished look, but I am sure the RPM head pipes would shine up real good.






Also, the 91' did not come with Anti-dive or ABS. If you look close at Leon's 91' and my 89', the front ends
are about the same, (other than mine not being polished). The common mods that you can see are. Blue dot calipers, Stainless brake lines, Arashi brake rotors, and 87'/88' FZR1000/750R front wheel. Braking is on par with most late model bikes.

Fred

[ribbert]

This is what's hiding under the crud on your pipes.

These were polished in just two steps and did not take very long.



But beware, everything you polish you gotta keep clean.

Noel

[1tinindian]

This is what's hiding under the crud on your pipes.

These were polished in just two steps and did not take very long.



But beware, everything you polish you gotta keep clean.

Noel

Excellent comparison picture Noel.
That is exactly what mine looked like after polishing, but the heat cycles do turn them a bronze/ copper tint.
I have not done much to mine since 2010 when they were first polished.
I think they maintain very well with soap and water and look great.
Factory S/S pipes are a great project for just a little time invested.

Leon

[Pat Conlon]

I think that was a smart move Leon, your fender extender.
Helps keep most of the mud spray off those hot pipes.

[1tinindian]

I think that was a smart move Leon, your fender extender.
Helps keep most of the mud spray off those hot pipes.

I was really trying to keep the rock chips on the lower fairing to a minimum, but it still gets its share of abuse. I hate going off hard surfaced roads!

[1tinindian]

Hi Tinindian,

Can you tell me more about the pipes in your picture? Are they chrome plated stock? Are they ceramic coat? Are they aftermarket/if so what brand? Are you happy with the finish/quality?

I do miss the look off the chrome pipes on my last bike, a CBX.

Also as I am learning about FJs it seems to me the bike in the pictures is also a 91, is that right?

Thanks in advance,

Mark

Right on, Pat!

Get to buffing, Mark!

Yes Mark, mine is a 91, the pipes are the stock pieces, stainless steel and polished.
Link to my thread when I polished them: http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=2746.0

I have been very happy with the results and wouldn't have it any other way.

They only look like chrome for a short time, then they start to turn a cool golden color, or whatever you would call it.

Leon