heavy and squirmy cornering?

[sebwiers]

Probably a premature question since I haven't done a complete inspection, but I'm wondering what might account for my new FJ1100's odd handling.  It seems that when I try to lean past a rather moderate angle, the effort needed to do so goes WAY up, and the handling gets rather squirmy, as if I were riding on rain groves.  I wasn't expecting to drag knee, but its silly that I don't feel comfortable out-pacing a truck on curved freeway entrance ramps (some of ours have passing lanes specifically for buses, car-pools, and motorcycles).

From locking the front brake and rocking the bike, I think the headset bearings are good, same goes for the wheel bearings and fork sliders from trying to twist / shift the wheel side to side.  My current bet (from research and inspection) is a worn / damaged front tire, with some combination of of-center flat spots, cupping, and maybe even ply damage.  It looks pretty clean, but is far from new and feels uneven in places to the fingers.

Anything else I should check for / inspections to do? 

[Mark Olson]

If the tires are old change them first . Sounds like you are thinking that already . Next change out your fork oil and go with a 15w .
Your year fj will have adjustments for fork damping , make sure they are set equally ...check your manual . If you are an aggressive rider , go ahead and max them out .
After all that is done you can adj front tire pressure higher(40psi) for quicker turn in.

Beware the front brakes on the early FJ's with anti-dive as these are prone to stand up in a corner and run wide if you grab the brakes.. try trail braking instead with the rear.

When set up correctly a stock fj will fall into corners with deceleration and rise up with acceleration out of them .. If you sit too far back from the tank it will mess this up.

Many of us have modified our fj's with 17"wheels, fork springs , cartridge emulators , brakes , rear shock and radial tires.  The list goes on.

That said, I used to downright cook it on my fj in stock form with no mods ... Just have to use a lot of engine braking in the corners and stay off the front brakes. 

[FJmonkey]

As Mark said, what do you know about your tires? Tire pressure, age, wear? I saw what seemed like a decent condition tire cause all kinds of havoc during a recent FJ rally, once the front tire was changed, all was good again. So even a tire in good visual condition is not enough to judge properly. The less expensive change you can make is tire pressure. I run close to max on both front and rear and enjoy a sporty ride. See if that makes a change in feel on your next ride. Keep us posted, we love the feed back.

[red]

Sebwiers,

Check your tire pressures, first of all, certainly.  A few pounds either way in the front can let the bike fall into a turn (low pressure) or try to stay upright when you want a turn (high pressure).  Check the steering head bearings on the center stand, with somebody sitting on the bike to make the front end almost weightless; use the handlebars to try to lift and compress the front wheel then.  With the front wheel off the ground, the handlebars should then turn to either side with little or no effort, and very smoothly.  Tapered roller bearings are available, if needed there.  Do the best you can to see that the front wheel is balanced.  Watch the tire near the rim, and rotate the wheel to check that the tire is seated on the rim equally, all the way around, on each side.  Make sure that all of the front axle hardware is torqued correctly, and the same at the triple clamp.

Tire brand and tire age are probably at fault, if all else is good.  When I switched to Pirelli Sport Demons, I thought I had put a whole new bike under me.  Avons might be even better, but others can say more there.  Keep in touch . . .

Cheers,
Red

[sebwiers]

By Avon, do you mean the AV45?  I've read cautions about running radials on the FJ, but the concern seems to be that most 16 radials have the wrong width &/or aspect ratio.  The AV45 120.80 16" looks to be made specifically to fit narrower 16" wheels.  Seems I can get one at a good price.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5982/i/avon-av45-azaro-sport-touring-front-tire

[red]

By Avon, do you mean the AV45?  I've read cautions about running radials on the FJ, but the concern seems to be that most 16 radials have the wrong width &/or aspect ratio.  The AV45 120.80 16" looks to be made specifically to fit narrower 16" wheels.  Seems I can get one at a good price.

Sebwiers,
I have no experience with the Avons, but I'm sure that others here can tell you more.  All you 16" wheel guys, chime in here!      

Cheers,
Red

[FeralJuggernaut]

First guess...  front tire cupped and pressure.   Second guess, rear tire pressure and possibly alignment.   Check/fix simple stuff first.   If you are like us 'typical' guys, it is important to know exactly what was wrong, so fix one thing at a time for your own sanity.   Also know, it can be a combo of multiple simple things.   Be methodical, and document for entertainment miles down the road.

[FJmonkey]

I ran about 4 sets of the AV45/46 tires on my stock '86 wheels. I think the 120 width in the front is a little pinched, I would be looking for a 110 width if still riding on them. But now that I have 17" front and rear I found a tire I like.

Here is a post of my first set.
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=287.msg2088#msg2088

Over all I was happy with them, and you can see that they stick in the corners.

Hope this helps.

[FJ1100mjk]

By Avon, do you mean the AV45?  I've read cautions about running radials on the FJ, but the concern seems to be that most 16 radials have the wrong width &/or aspect ratio.  The AV45 120.80 16" looks to be made specifically to fit narrower 16" wheels.  Seems I can get one at a good price.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5982/i/avon-av45-azaro-sport-touring-front-tire

Here's an earlier post regarding 16" tire options for the FJ...

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10894.0

[moparman70]

I run the AVons --- its in some other postings but if you check  AVON specs

120/80-16  made for 3 - 3.5 inch tire----  thus the tire rim being 3 inch on a stock FJ is on the lower end of width  --- so will work but as you say they look more pinched -- ( to which I agree)  -- I have this tire on my 86 and the curve near the edges is almost vertical

110/80-16  ( if available ) has a spec of 2.75 in -3 inch --- you will be on the upper end of the spec and thus the tire will have a more normal shape.

I have an 86 with the 120 Avon 45 --- ( this hasn't been replaced yet and is still good ) but if it needs to be replaced I will go with the 110 width.

My 90 with 17 inch rims but same 3 inch width runs the new AVON 3D Xm or something like that but in the 110/80 size ---

I like the Avons and have run them since switching.  

stevecc

[Pat Conlon]

Steve and others who run the 110 front tires....check the load rating on the tire.

http://www.maxxis.com/other-motorcycle-information/motorcycle-tire-school%23motorcycle_load_indexes

FJ's fully laden with fuel, rider, passenger and luggage can be heavier than you expect.
Remember the % of load transferred to that front tire when braking.

[PaulG]

I had a similar feeling with my '92 when I bought it in '07. My first summer I noticed it would wander in long corners, and was difficult to hold a line.  I also (for the most part) am not a knee dragger.

That winter I replaced all the bearings for wheels, steering, swing arm, and rear suspension because I realized the poor girl got no TLC until I bought her. In my case, the rear linkage bearings were toast. Next season, it was like a new bike. I still rode with the tires that came with the bike.

If the tires are not the issue, then definitely check the rear linkage. There are  several needle bearings (5 or 6 or more?) and if they're worn, the linkage will be sloppy and may contribute to your problem.  If you feel they need replacing, a complete set of OEMs will cost around $300 (that's what it cost me anyhow, incl. labour to get them pressed out/in). I'm assuming even a good name brand aftermarket set would be considerably cheaper.

Good luck.

[moparman70]

Steve and others who run the 110 front tires....check the load rating on the tire.

http://www.maxxis.com/other-motorcycle-information/motorcycle-tire-school%23motorcycle_load_indexes

FJ's fully laden with fuel, rider, passenger and luggage can be heavier than you expect.
Remember the % of load transferred to that front tire when braking.

http://www.avonmoto.com/products/sport-touring/storm-3d-x-m

going to assume the 54W and the 58 W is the load rating  467 vs 520 -- still prefer the profile of the tire better and will sacrifice the weight diff. ---

but I also noticed that the width size recommended changes for the 17 inch rim --- the data I gave earlier was what I got from AVON for the storm 2's from memory but it also  it may have been for the 16 inch rim tire size though --  or they changed it for these new 3D-XM tires--- not really sure but I do remember the information I gave earlier to be true at one point   but Now  ---- as according to this you should not run the 120 on a 3 inch rim ( 17 inch )   -- I could not find any 16 inch tires in 110 or 120 to find the FJ --- so maybe all this is moot ---- and if I do need a front for the 86 I will probably go back to the Bias Ply Metzeler Lasers --- I always like that one and the profile on the bias ply 120-80-16 is normal -- no pinching  ------if I find data on the AV45 I will post separate but not likely to find anymore as they stopped making those a few years back now

[Ponty]

I had this symptom with my FJ1200 - sort of uncertain feeling in corners and a lot of tracking on white lines. After checking the front end and tyres I decided the original rear shock probably was worn out, so I replaced it with a Hagon. In the process of so doing I discovered the linkage bolts were slack! So I would disassemble the rear linkage, check and grease everything and reassemble it before I did much else. I also reset the front suspension to the medium setting - I'm not sure what the settings are on the 1100 but on a 1200 3CV the softest is too soft and the hardest is too hard for me - I weigh 14.5 stone. My bike's rock steady now.

[yamaha fj rider]

Steve and others who run the 110 front tires....check the load rating on the tire.

http://www.maxxis.com/other-motorcycle-information/motorcycle-tire-school%23motorcycle_load_indexes

FJ's fully laden with fuel, rider, passenger and luggage can be heavier than you expect.
Remember the % of load transferred to that front tire when braking.

http://www.avonmoto.com/products/sport-touring/storm-3d-x-m

going to assume the 54W and the 58 W is the load rating  467 vs 520 -- still prefer the profile of the tire better and will sacrifice the weight diff. ---

but I also noticed that the width size recommended changes for the 17 inch rim --- the data I gave earlier was what I got from AVON for the storm 2's from memory but it also  it may have been for the 16 inch rim tire size though --  or they changed it for these new 3D-XM tires--- not really sure but I do remember the information I gave earlier to be true at one point   but Now  ---- as according to this you should not run the 120 on a 3 inch rim ( 17 inch )   -- I could not find any 16 inch tires in 110 or 120 to find the FJ --- so maybe all this is moot ---- and if I do need a front for the 86 I will probably go back to the Bias Ply Metzeler Lasers --- I always like that one and the profile on the bias ply 120-80-16 is normal -- no pinching  ------if I find data on the AV45 I will post separate but not likely to find anymore as they stopped making those a few years back now

A few years ago, I did some research on this and Avon, on there web site said 3" rim use the 110. The 120 requires a 3.5" rim, as per website and confirmed by a tech over the phone. This data is for the storm 2 Ultra and the AV45 Azro. This was one of the factors that convinced me to change the front wheel.

Kurt