which year is the most stable at maximum speed?

[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?

?
so if the tires are old but supple and meaty, don't twist the throttle?

will  all tires for the bike rated to go at least the 150?

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   

[mtc]

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.

ha ha ha

[Bill_Rockoff]

On empty interstates at night, when mine was still so new it was on its original tires, I had it out in central Illinois for work and took it to redline in 5th on the interstate at night. I was reasonably sure there was nobody else around at 1am, and there was catch fencing to stop any animals bigger than 4"x4", and I saw redline in 5th gear a few different times. The bike was solid as can be; there was a bit of wind buffeting, but the bike itself was fine.

The 165 mph speedometer was off the end, but all contemporary tests said top speed was 149 mph at redline in 5th gear. I just figured "the speedometer on this bike is about 10% high."

I got it as high as redline in 4th gear on the back "straight" at Road Atlanta, ten or eleven times in a row during each 20 minute session, for six sessions during my C.L.A.S.S. in 1998. Road Atlanta has a gentle right-hand bend that feels mostly straight at 110 mph in a Miata with fat tires, but it feels like a big ol' curve on a 580-lb FJ1200 at 130 mph. It felt stable as could be. The limitation at that point was definitely me, not the bike.

There was an earlier FJ, can't remember if it was an FJ1200 or FJ1100, with a loud exhaust who could pull me a bit on the straights. I was stuck behind him in all the corners (no passing without a point-by in the Novice group, and he never would point me by) but again, I think that was rider and not bike that was the limiting factor.

Later that same weekend, it was rock-stable loaded with me and some camping gear and clothing at triple-digit speeds to NYC and back.

For the last 15 years or so, it has had RaceTech cartridge-emulator valves and 1.1kg/mm springs in the forks, and a Penske shock, and a 17x5 rear wheel from a YZF600R. It will happily go as fast as the aging engine (120,000 miles) or my willingness to get a ticket will allow me to go.

125 mph and above can feel like a bit of work, but anything below that, mine still feels like it'll do forever. These are fantastic fast-touring bikes.

[mtc]

On empty interstates at night, when mine was still so new it was on its original tires, I had it out in central Illinois for work and took it to redline in 5th on the interstate at night. I was reasonably sure there was nobody else around at 1am, and there was catch fencing to stop any animals bigger than 4"x4", and I saw redline in 5th gear a few different times. The bike was solid as can be; there was a bit of wind buffeting, but the bike itself was fine.

The 165 mph speedometer was off the end, but all contemporary tests said top speed was 149 mph at redline in 5th gear. I just figured "the speedometer on this bike is about 10% high."

I got it as high as redline in 4th gear on the back "straight" at Road Atlanta, ten or eleven times in a row during each 20 minute session, for six sessions during my C.L.A.S.S. in 1998. Road Atlanta has a gentle right-hand bend that feels mostly straight at 110 mph in a Miata with fat tires, but it feels like a big ol' curve on a 580-lb FJ1200 at 130 mph. It felt stable as could be. The limitation at that point was definitely me, not the bike.

There was an earlier FJ, can't remember if it was an FJ1200 or FJ1100, with a loud exhaust who could pull me a bit on the straights. I was stuck behind him in all the corners (no passing without a point-by in the Novice group, and he never would point me by) but again, I think that was rider and not bike that was the limiting factor.

Later that same weekend, it was rock-stable loaded with me and some camping gear and clothing at triple-digit speeds to NYC and back.

For the last 15 years or so, it has had RaceTech cartridge-emulator valves and 1.1kg/mm springs in the forks, and a Penske shock, and a 17x5 rear wheel from a YZF600R. It will happily go as fast as the aging engine (120,000 miles) or my willingness to get a ticket will allow me to go.

125 mph and above can feel like a bit of work, but anything below that, mine still feels like it'll do forever. These are fantastic fast-touring bikes.

one word.....engine

[mtc]

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.

name a supermotard that can do it today

[Millietant]

Yup, if the tyres are old (+5 years) I wouldn't be trying to see how fast (+120 mph) I can corner the bike.

Maybe I'm just an old pussy, but that's me 

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?

?
so if the tires are old but supple and meaty, don't twist the throttle?

will  all tires for the bike rated to go at least the 150?

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   

[Bill_Rockoff]

Even with the greater ride height, mine will touch the pegs at ~70 mph, but sure as hell not with ME riding it. I'm slowly fading into the back, clinging to the 998, while my kid runs off and leaves me in the dust.

After a few corners, the only way I can tell the difference between "the road ahead is empty because he is THAT far ahead of me" and "he has gone off the side of the mountain" is by the smoke trail from the FJ's engine.

Everyone who has ridden both bikes is convinced they can go down a road faster on my FJ than on the Ducati.

[FJ1200W]

Many years ago I had a couple of Honda's.

Kept one - the scooter.

The XX, top speed, well, It was the fastest bike I've ever owned. 

The simplicity of the FJ kept it around.

The wife loves the scooter - that's why it's still around.

[Millietant]

On the bumpy roads we used to ride on Bill, that was actually the case. A couple of lads with 916's (in the late 90's) and one particularly on GSXR 750, were really pissed off that they couldn't keep up with me on my FJ.

What they didn't know was that on those same roads, I couldn't keep up with my best friend on his BMW R 80 RT  

[giantkiller]

That reminds me of the first year I went to the east coast fall rally. I'm terrible with names. But there was an older couple. They both rode. Anyway I was following her. She was wearing all black leathers helmet and bike, with a grey hair pony out of her helmet. Well we came up behind a group of new Ducatis . All matching racer replica leathers.. and I could tell she was getting pissed off that they were holding her up. Her head shaking back and forth. She passed the whole group. In short order. I laughed my ass off, them getting passed by the little old lady. Grey pony flying on an old 80s bike. As I followed her around them in the corners.

[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.

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

That's why I said "might" Noel. My only experience with a 3XW at high speed was when a couple of us did some laps around the Spa Francorchamps Circuit.

The 3XW with us had a bit of a weave flat out, when my 3CV didn't. It could easily have been something to do with tyre wear, tyre pressures, rider position, suspension settings, rider size etc etc. But I do recall thinking that at really high speed, the ribs in the fairing screen might have some effect.

The screen in question is visible in this first pic from Spa (not very good pics, they're about 25 years old, from the days before digital camera's, and taken by idiots) - that's a much younger me sitting on my 3CV (and my brother on his GSXR 750).



And a couple of the 2 FJ's coming up to Eau Rouge

3XW


3CV

[Bones]

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...

Great video, looks like you hit 255kph and not even at the redline yet. Going by your speed vs revs I'm guessing you've got 18/38 gearing, and still looking for sixth gear.

[fj1289]

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

As long as everything is in good condition - tires, bearings, suspension, steering head, etc - these bikes have pretty conservative geometry and are stable as freight trains

[ribbert]

The 3XW with us had a bit of a weave flat out, ........ But I do recall thinking that at really high speed, the ribs in the fairing screen might have some effect.

That's a great shot Dean, there is a lot going on in it.  It must put a smile on your face every time you look at it.

Did the guy on the 3XW leave his panniers on by any chance? that would probably unsettle it at top speed. Those screens I believe were more the rule than the exception, being fitted for every market except the US. Fred will know this for sure.

There must be some FJ's out there in terrible shape that get ridden hard but I've never heard of anyone reporting high speed instability. Anyone that owned a Z1 (and many others) in the day knows how scary it can be.

Noel

[Millietant]

  - no Noel, we took all the luggage off the bikes before doing any laps......we learned our lesson the evening before when we did a couple of laps of the Nordschleife on the bikes with the luggage.

It was a lovely evening, there was virtually no-one there, so we thought we'd each buy a 6 lap ticket and go riding. That was fuuun......but definitely a bit hairy. It's amazing how on a 14 mile long track, you don't realise how much faster you're going at the end that's you were at the start. After 3 laps, everything was scraping, so each time we went out, one stayed back and kept an eye on the luggage.

I think it was much more likely at Spa that there was an issue with tyre pressures or tyre wear on Andy's 3XW, as by then we were pushing a lot harder than at the Nurburgring (we had limited time and needed to get in as many laps as possible before heading home), Andy did weigh quite a bit more than me and he got the weaving then when flat out.

To be honest, at the Nurburgring, not knowing the track, we were never going "flat out", but at Spa we definitely rode harder.