FZR 400 front brakes

[Greenlander]

Hi all,
I've been a member for 2 years now and have found the forum to be a treassure trove of FJ knowledge which I have put to good use many a time, either by finding solutions to running problems and maintenance but also to to modest upgrade mods such as fork valves and vibranators from RPM to name a few.
Going back through the maintenance files a came across a post from Rover (the red and white Danish Dynamite  ) where he had just scored some NOS FJ parts and posted a photo which no longer loads up.
He also mentioned finding a set of FZR 400 RR front brake calipers which can fit on a early FJ fork without any special bracket as its the same bolt pattern. He says this is a good upgrade compared to stock but that was before he put them on,so I'm curious if it is a worthwhile improvement in performance?
The images of the early FZR 400 shows two piston calipers that looks like a  golden version of the FJ's.The 1990 FZR images show four piston calipers! Hence I'm assuming what he found at the scrapper was the four Pistons  since the two Pistons probably won't improve braking any vs FJ's,assuming they are just different colored versions of the same calipers. So If the four pistons are ready to bolt on and improves braking,would it be worth pursuing given that my stock ones are ready for a rebuild?
I will appreciate any input and advice and hope to someday host a ride here in Santa Barbara county (yeah I know:we get to ride year round...SO BITCHIN  Love my FJ
Cheers, Hans
PS. I grew up in Denmark so I take my hat off to anybody who can handle a FJ in that shitty weather. (So shitty it made me move to So.Cal.)

[Pat Conlon]

Hello Hans, several years ago I looked for a set of those special FZR 400 RR front calipers to no avail.
I learned a few things
1) I learned the hard way that the 4 piston front calipers on the regular 1990 FZR 400 are not the same as the calipers on the rare FZR 400 RR model. I still have a pair in my garage somewhere.
2) There will be little to no chance on finding the RR calipers here in the US.
3) There will be little chance of finding them in the EU. Not many FZR400 RR's were made.
4) The 2 piece split caliper body on the RR caliper is nothing special.
5) Fact: The Yamaha monoblock calipers (blue/gold/silver spot) are superior to any 2 piece caliper.

Until you decide to pull the trigger on the monoblocks, (adaptor plates or '89-93 fork lowers) just get some quality HH brake pads, scrub clean your rotors, SS brake lines with fresh fluid....call it a day.

Based on my experience, you are chasing a dream to think that the FZR 400 RR calipers can be found.....

....again, don't be fooled into buying the 4 piston FZR400 calipers.....it's the same split body 4 piston caliper that's on our '89/93 FJ's.
https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/yamaha/motorcycle/1990/fzr400a/front-brake-caliper

It's only the rare FZR400RR that fit the early FJ's.

Cheers

Pat

[Greenlander]

Hello Pat,
Thanks for your quick response and saving me from chasing a pie in the sky even though I did find some FZR RR's on eBay in England but they looked toasted for the $135 asking price. Anyway I got going on this after brakes got sticky after front tire and bearing replacement. Cleaned M/C including pinhole, flushed and replaced fluid which helped but brakes still felt mushy,so I taped the braked lever closed with the res. lid off over night as one member suggested somewhere and BINGO mush is gone.
The PO had already installed S/S lines,Supertrap pipes,Olin rear shock since he raced it at Laguna Seca a few times. He had a special race exhaust for it which I have never used.  The bike was so well maintained and so fast when I got it with 44.000 miles on it in 89 and I'll never forget the first time I gave it WOT on a deserted stretch of highway; Whoa Kookaloo Nelly!  Backed it off when I hit 135 MPH and was amazed how stable it was at that speed. My GS 850 started dirty dancing at around 125MPH.
Again thanks for saving me undue footwork and HA's with your nuggets of advice
BTW forgot to mention I ditched the AD system by flipping them as suggested here and what do you know;
USD Anti Dives also gets the chicks attention 
Cheers, Hans

[Pat Conlon]

....BTW forgot to mention I ditched the AD system by flipping them as suggested here and what do you know;
USD Anti Dives also gets the chicks attention  

If you find a chick that notices that you have your Anti Dives flipped upside down.....be cautious, she is not really a she.....

[oldktmdude]

Hello Pat,
Thanks for your quick response and saving me from chasing a pie in the sky even though I did find some FZR RR's on eBay in England but they looked toasted for the $135 asking price. Anyway I got going on this after brakes got sticky after front tire and bearing replacement. Cleaned M/C including pinhole, flushed and replaced fluid which helped but brakes still felt mushy,so I taped the braked lever closed with the res. lid off over night as one member suggested somewhere and BINGO mush is gone.

You might think you have good brakes now but honestly standard brakes are absolute shit compared to the upgrade of blue spots, 320mm rotors, EBC HH pads and braided lines. If you tend to ride on the faster and harder side, don't settle for the very average brake set-up that these bikes came with.
   Regards, Pete.

[Greenlander]

....BTW forgot to mention I ditched the AD system by flipping them as suggested here and what do you know;
USD Anti Dives also gets the chicks attention 

If you find a chick that notices that you have your Anti Dives flipped upside down.....be cautious, she is not really a she.....

LOL..You bet I'll be cautious knowing that USD AD's could attract such a person. Do you speak from personal experience?    Well you gave me another reason to start looking for some 87/93 lowers discs and Blue Dots. Will they work with the FJ M/S ?
BTW it was my girlfriend who noticed my flipped AD's and hoses gone, obviously not because it looks sexy but she was curious as to their purpose. I set about to explain how it keeps the front end from diving with braking allowing faster cornering,to which she replied: "you mean it's like a little box of Viagra bolted on there?" I'm
Like: "well kind of in a way but not really Babe..Viagra doesn't make you go faster ,just longer "
So onto eBay I go sourcing upgraded lowers.
Cheers 


....BTW forgot to mention I ditched the AD system by flipping them as suggested here and what do you know;
USD Anti Dives also gets the chicks attention  

If you find a chick that notices that you have your Anti Dives flipped upside down.....be cautious, she is not really a she.....

[Greenlander]

Hello Pat,
Thanks for your quick response and saving me from chasing a pie in the sky even though I did find some FZR RR's on eBay in England but they looked toasted for the $135 asking price. Anyway I got going on this after brakes got sticky after front tire and bearing replacement. Cleaned M/C including pinhole, flushed and replaced fluid which helped but brakes still felt mushy,so I taped the braked lever closed with the res. lid off over night as one member suggested somewhere and BINGO mush is gone.

You might think you have good brakes now but honestly standard brakes are absolute shit compared to the upgrade of blue spots, 320mm rotors, EBC HH pads and braided lines. If you tend to ride on the faster and harder side, don't settle for the very average brake set-up that these bikes came with.

Hello Pete,
Hope you are safe with all the fires down there. We just barely escaped having our community burn up here a month ago. Very scary!
I have no doubt the blue dots with bigger discs offer superior braking compared to what I have now. I would imagine it would be comparable to switching from rim brakes to Disc on a Mt.bike or road bicycle  I still have rim brakes on my bicycles since discs hadn't come around yet when I raced them. Now that I mainly ride by myself,I don't feel a need for them but if I still raced they would be on already. Same thing with my FJ, I ride by myself without a need to push the braking limits of the bike. But don't get me wrong,I like to ride fast if conditions are right (safe) so yes better brakes improves the safety and they are on the list.
Cheers, Hans
 

[Pat Conlon]

Seriously, your girlfriend noticed your AD's? She has an eye for detail....Marry her....

IMHO the best feel from the monoblock blue/gold/silver spots comes from a 14mm dia. piston m/c and not the 5/8" dia. (16mm) oem FJ m/c. I got my front brake m/c from a 2002 FZ-1 and it works bitchen with my silver spots. True 2 finger braking with superb feel. Just what we need for our heavy 550lb motorcycles that will travel at a buck fifty.

There are many other offerings for front brake m/c's with a 14mm dia. piston.

Cheers....

[FJmonkey]

Welcome Hans, nice to have another FJowner in SoCal. If you are open to ride invites then look for the "Dollar bill run" coming soon.

[CutterBill]

We're doing another Dollar Bill run? I'm in...
Bill