Happy New Year All FJ Lovers

[Mattman]

Happy New Year All FJ Lovers!

Here s my newest one of my three in the last couple decades

[Mattman]

anyone have a lower in perfect shape? lol

[ribbert]

anyone have a lower in perfect shape? lol

It does happen. I have one still in the parts bag from new, factory painted and never fitted. $180 on eBay a couple of years ago. Not that I needed it but you could spend a lifetime waiting for that opportunity to come up.

Noel

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Matt, don't hold your breath waiting for a decent oem cowl.

Last year I rebuilt Jason Lawson's '93 and I bought an aftermarket replica cowl.
http://www.beasleycomposites.com/dragbike_yamaha.htm
I took it and a side panel down to my local expert paint shop and they matched the Smokey Silver dead nuts. Cost me $60 for the paint job.
Then I used FJ Monkey's (Mark) most excellent template (in the Files) and cut and glue new insulation.

The only trick was ordering the oem decals, which I was lucky in finding thru Partszilla
All in, a brand new painted cowl, with decals and insulation was ~$260

Hope this helps. I'm looking forward to meeting you at the 2017 WCR. Happy New Year!
Enjoy that new FJ....you picked a good one. 

Pat

[FJmonkey]

Pat, don't we have a member that makes decals for us?

[Pat Conlon]

Letter Graphics, yes....not sure about the accent decals....good to check 'thou.

[jscgdunn]

Hey Matt, don't hold your breath waiting for a decent oem cowl.

Last year I rebuilt Jason Lawson's '93 and I bought an aftermarket replica cowl.
http://www.beasleycomposites.com/dragbike_yamaha.htm
I took it and a side panel down to my local expert paint shop and they matched the Smokey Silver dead nuts. Cost me $60 for the paint job.
Then I used FJ Monkey's (Mark) most excellent template (in the Files) and cut and glue new insulation.

The only trick was ordering the oem decals, which I was lucky in finding thru Partszilla
All in, a brand new painted cowl, with decals and insulation was ~$260

Hope this helps. I'm looking forward to meeting you at the 2017 WCR. Happy New Year!
Enjoy that new FJ....you picked a good one. 

Pat

Pat,

Do these fairings come with the cut outs completed?


Thx,

Jeff

[Pat Conlon]

Hi Jeff

No cut outs on the '86+ chin fairing. You do have to drill the mounting holes, no biggie (drill before paint)



These guys have the best '84/85 chin fairings:



http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/yamaz/FJ11001984-85.htm

[Mattman]

Hi Pat,
I did get a chin fairing with the bike but it needs some serious repair.(see pics) Looks like Ill be using it. I was thinking of the this to begin-http://easyabsrepair.com/  unless you have a better Idea.
If I can get the plastic repair done right and modify where the pipe was hitting the lower (see pic) I just have to get a painter to finish and as you said and use the templates for the heat shielding. Then I just have to get the stripe decals (hardest part) Maybe a good painter could paint the stripes?

Thank you for your input so cool!

Matt

[Mattman]

Thanks Noel,

Ill probably try and repair the one I have and keep an eye out for one.

[Pat Conlon]

Matt, the chin fairing repair is easy, however getting it to work with that V&H header is entirely something else.
Looking at the right rear cowl mounting point and where the header collector pipe is located, and factoring in the thickness of the cowl (with the needed insulation) I don't see how you could get something to fit that would not cause problems down the road.

On the long crack repair, I would try the 'paper clip repair' procedure outlined in the Files. You definately need good reinforcement on that long crack. I've never tried the paper clip method, perhaps the thickness of the ABS is not enough for a good embedment of the steel paper clips? I would hate to melt through the ABS.
If that is the case (too thin) then I would do it the tried and true way with netting used to reinforce the crack repair.

I will defer to FJ Monkey (Mark) on the ABS repair advice. He's my go to expert who knows more on the subject than I...

Matt, I hate to say this, but I suspect, if you want to go thru the time and expense of repairing your chin fairing, you will need to consider replacing your V&H header with something else.
Good riddance in my book. I'm not a fan of V&H headers on the FJ.
There are many other better choices for a header system that will play nice with your chin fairing.

Yes, a good painter can duplicate the decal accents. Key word being "good" If you find one, treat him (or her) well....they are a dying breed. They are artists.

[FJmonkey]

To supplement what Pat said the ABS can be repaired and look like new again. There is no magic to it, just technique and time. The paperclip method when done properly is a very strong fix. Play with scrap plastic till you get it right. I have played with it on sample pieces and find it impressive. The professional tools for this fix make it very easy but has a cost for the equipment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VN6lxdC9LY. No specific endorsement, just the first thing I found on the net.

The parts you have can also be fixed with standard ABS welding methods and will be as strong as the original ABS. The same welding can also modify the lower to clear the aftermarket headers. But this will be more likely with a repair shop near by to see what exactly needs to be done. Keep us posted on what did and how it turned out.   

[Mattman]

Very good advice Pat, My last two FJs had stock exhaust and I liked it, nice and quiet but still good sound to me. This Vance and Hines does not look good to me it doesn't look good on the bike and to be honest a bit loud for my liking yet when on the open road I like to hear it. I see other exhausts that fit the style of the bike with a muffler on each side like on Jons old bike from Seattle. I would much prefer that or even a very nice stock setup yet not too excited about the weight. I even like the stock look best to be honest I am not into all the mods so much except those that don't change the look. This bike has the R1 calipers and I wonder does it really make that much difference? I prefer the stock caliper look even with the reflectors on the forks. lol I will have to hold off for a while due to cash flow but any Ideas or know of any exhaust Idea's? I want a black header and I really dont care for the muffler hanger brackets that wrap around the muffler either. so picky but I'm going to keep the stock look as close as possible. For now I will go thru the carbs as they are a bit off on the jetting and check the valve clearances. It has the foam filters from RPM. which makes pulling the carbs much easier yet I am even tempted to put the stock airbox on because I am not a fan of hearing the intake noise. How much power do you get really from  properly jetted carbs. with a header and pods maybe 10 HP? The values may not be there for me as the stock look is more appealing to me.

Matt

[Mattman]

Ill keep you updated and thank you Mark!

[Pat Conlon]

Other than some high strung, expensive, temperamental, sexy, red Italian mistress with Desmo valves,  you can argue all day, but you can not convince me that there is isn't a better looking bike made than the Yamaha FJ1100/1200's