which year is the most stable at maximum speed?

[mtc]

i know there are a lot of factors, condition being one, but a properly maintained and dialed in bike, does it feel you need to white knuckle death grab the bike, or is it a breeze? can it do max speed while leaning over? does it shake a rattle? i never went that fast before 115 on a xs1100 bagger once, that machine was a beast as well loved it and miss it

i took my bike to 90 yesterday and ridding the .85 racetech spring and going back to stock, albeit with more 15wt, i felt comfortable i could do more

[T Legg]

I have two 84  fj1100's and one 86 fj1200. One 84 has a Penske rear shock and the antidive controls the other is stock. Both are rock steady no shake or wobble at well over 100 there is nothing scary at high speed . They both handle great in the corners but the Penske shock is better in bumpy corners. I try not to lean over at maximum speed. The 86 I just got still handles well at high speed but it wobbled if you take your hands off the bars and in bumpy corners. Tires and a new rear shock would probably cure the problem. I don't think the year makes much difference .they already handle well and better with modifications.

[Troyskie]

I've taken 4 FJ's to top speed, some multiple times. An 84 11, an 85 11, an 86 12, and a 90 12.
I've no idea how fast I was really going as either the speedo was waving around like a Californian seismometer, or I was too focused on the road ahead.
Anyhoo, the FJ is stable at WOT till rev limit, road limit (loss of rear traction at speed from slight undulations or bumps, condition and dryness), and courage limit (on a long straight).

As for high speed corners, I've only been game to get up to 180km/h in a sweeper (and young enough to look at the speedo at the time ).
This was quite different. On the same corner I had two different results. First attempt I had a low frequency weave as the road was a tad damp, not much, just a little, but I think the main ingredient was a steady crosswind of about 10-15kts. I re-did the corner from the other direction and no weave (but still damp).
The weave was not much, and only enough that I decided to maintain the speed and ride through.
Stable on the second run, but the first try gave me the willies and I didn't want to go any quicker, but did want to see if the crosswind made a difference, which it seemed to do.

I'm no peg scraper & don't think I was anywhere near the limit of the bike. Based on this I think any year FJ would be stable at speed in highspeed corners.

Here's where you can all shoot me down. In 88 or 89 I took my bothers worked 85 11 out for a straight line highspeed test run (legally? Suuuuuuuurrre!).
The speedo was waving like crazy and inaccurate as hell, but it did wave as far as the 'h' of the km/h at the bottom of the speed and back to the 270 mark.
What speed was I doing? NFI, but to my sketchy memory it felt like the fastest I'd ever ridden a bike.
The bike had more in it, but the 'race track' undulated slightly and the rear would break loose and the revs would bounce to limit for a very short time, but the undulations were regular enough that I ran out of 'race track' before horsepower. I don't think the rear tire actually left the road because of the undulations. Plus I was looking so far ahead it really was like a speed 'tunnel vision' effect.
Parts of the 'race track' were wet, not damp, but wet from cloud bursts. I'm not sure if I actually lost traction in these sections, but the revs went up slightly (but not to limit), and at that point I wasn't looking at the speedo.

As I state above, the FJ speedo is not accurate, so I genuinely don't know what speed I was doing.

There are some cool videos on YT from Europe of FJers going WOT on the autobahn. IIRC one was a Dutch FJowners member doing crazy speeds, straight and corners.

The bike seemed from the vid that it was stable.

[Bones]

The frame geometry and wheelbase are the same for all models so by rights they should all handle basically the same when standard, of course worn suspension etc will affect it. The only difference between models is fairing sizes got bigger and the later models had bigger frame rails and rubber mounted engine. Later models with the bigger fairing would probably feel more secure at high speed because of the better wind protection. I've had mine up to 210kph/130 mph and was rock solid doing it, aftermarket suspension and good tyres make the handling even better.

[Troyskie]

Good point mate. I forgot to mention that each of the bikes I mentioned had good tires and suspension (and brakes ). Only two had upgrade suspension, one with 17" mod wheels. The other two were stock (84 11 & 90 12).

[mtc]

The frame geometry and wheelbase are the same for all models so by rights they should all handle basically the same when standard, of course worn suspension etc will affect it. The only difference between models is fairing sizes got bigger and the later models had bigger frame rails and rubber mounted engine. Later models with the bigger fairing would probably feel more secure at high speed because of the better wind protection. I've had mine up to 210kph/130 mph and was rock solid doing it, aftermarket suspension and good tyres make the handling even better.

what is meant by good tires? new or make and model?

[T Legg]

New tires by date code not tread and they have to have the proper speed rating.If you have sixtee inch rims I like sport demons for handling but they wear quickly.                            

Troy if you still have your swinging needle speedo you should try greasing the cable receptacle on the speedometer with bearing grease. I made a zirk fitting tool and greased mine and now it is steady all the way up. It still says you are going faster than you are.


                 

[TomJK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKRAG1e215o&t=526s
This is mine, doing near topspeed in the Netherlands...it is a 3CV, build in 1989...at 6.08 in the video...

[Millietant]

Possibly the 3XW's might lose a little stability at top speed vs the earlier models IF it's being ridden with the large touring screen. Otherwise I doubt there's much difference between any of them.

As others have said, tyre age, condition, pressure and suspension quality/set up will have a bearing, the scale of which depends on the road and riding conditions.

My 1TX was perfectly stable at an indicated 165 mph (numerous times between Osnabruck and Hannover).

My current 3CV has done quite a few Nurburgring Nordschleife laps with no weaves/wobbles, even leaned over at +130mph after Flugplatz and was totally stable at near 160mph indicated on the back straight between the Gantry and the exit lane. It was also perfectly stable on that stretch at 150mph when I took one hand off the bars to clamp my visor down.

All of those rides were with the standard wheel sizes, but with fairly new good condition tyres. Since I've gone to the FZR USD front end and 17" rear wheel, I've not had the chance to do any top speed runs, but at every speed, the bike feels just as stable and even more linear in response, even is if does steer into corners much easier and more predictably (Likely down to the more modern tyres).

[FJ1200W]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKRAG1e215o&t=526s
This is mine, doing near topspeed in the Netherlands...it is a 3CV, build in 1989...at 6.08 in the video...

That was awesome, thanks for sharing.

My '89 is also stable at all speeds.

[Millietant]

The frame geometry and wheelbase are the same for all models so by rights they should all handle basically the same when standard, of course worn suspension etc will affect it. The only difference between models is fairing sizes got bigger and the later models had bigger frame rails and rubber mounted engine. Later models with the bigger fairing would probably feel more secure at high speed because of the better wind protection. I've had mine up to 210kph/130 mph and was rock solid doing it, aftermarket suspension and good tyres make the handling even better.

what is meant by good tires? new or make and model?

Tyres that are not over 5 years old (from manufacture date), the right sizes and speed ratings (preferably a matched pair), with good tread, not squared off from lots of motorway/interstate riding and at the right pressures, should just about cover it   

[ribbert]

The frame geometry and wheelbase are the same for all models so by rights they should all handle basically the same when standard, of course worn suspension etc will affect it. The only difference between models is fairing sizes got bigger and the later models had bigger frame rails and rubber mounted engine. Later models with the bigger fairing would probably feel more secure at high speed because of the better wind protection. I've had mine up to 210kph/130 mph and was rock solid doing it, aftermarket suspension and good tyres make the handling even better.

what is meant by good tires? new or make and model?

Tyres that are not over 5 years old (from manufacture date), the right sizes and speed ratings (preferably a matched pair), with good tread, not squared off from lots of motorway/interstate riding and at the right pressures, should just about cover it  

Dean, your advice is all sound and highly recommended, however, FJ's seem to be a particularly forgiving beast and while all your suggestions are wise precautions, ignoring them doesn't seem to unsettle these bikes at terminal speed.

I have experienced the problem Troyskie had of the back wheel chattering at high speed under full throttle and fighting for traction although he's the only other person I recall ever mentioning it, but it doesn't affect stability.

Noel

[ribbert]

Possibly the 3XW's might lose a little stability at top speed vs the earlier models IF it's being ridden with the large touring screen. Otherwise I doubt there's much difference between any of them.

Can't say I've ever noticed this and I've had mine flat out many times with all sorts of adverse conditions conspiring to unsettle it.

Noel

[giantkiller]

There was an article in one of the bike magazines. When I bought my first FJ back in 86. That said the Speedo was off by almost 10mph at top speed. And actual top speed was 153mph. (10 mph faster on the Speedo than actual speed)
That being said. I've had every bike I've owned. Or gotten to take for a ride by myself. Up to top speed. And honestly think the FJ was the most stable.  I haven't ridden anything newer like a busa. I'm sure they are probably better.

When I was young and stupid back in 86. I had my FJ topped out and forgot about a major drop out in the road. For a small Creek. Probably down about 10' and 30'- 40' across. Didn't have time to do anything about it. Went straight across. Didn't even boble at all. Just a slight churp of the tire. I really don't know why I'm still alive. Maybe the Lord likes to look down and see what stupid things McCoy is up to today and laugh.

[mtc]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKRAG1e215o&t=526s
This is mine, doing near topspeed in the Netherlands...it is a 3CV, build in 1989...at 6.08 in the video...

that was a nice ride, how fast was that....all i can say is smooth, that what you need at those speed, not a bucnh of suspension hopping and crashing, and weaving and shaking and wobbling