Has anyone ever fitted a 1986 fairing to a 1991 3xw

[jono]

I've just purchased a 86 model as a donor for my 3xw ,I need a couple of engine covers and Im going to fit the lower bikini fairing off it as well  ,and I thinking the earlier upper fairing and screen would look good on a 3xw ,What I'm thinking is modifying the 86 fairing to fit the 3xw fairing frame probably by widening the 86 fairing  and gluing tab mounts where needed.  Has anyone tried this?   I like the look of the smaller earlier fairings over the larger later model ones ,the fairing and screen on mine has been severely hacked and look like crap

jono

[aviationfred]

I can't recall if anyone has.

Consider this in your plans.

The 3CV 88-90 main fairing is 2 inches wider and 2 inches taller than the 1TX 86/87 fairing.

The 3XW 91-96 main fairing is 2 inches wider and 2 inches taller than the 3CV 88-90 fairing AND the 3XW has a completely different frame.



Fred

[jono]

OK thanks Fred
the 86 fairing is smaller than the 89 and the 89 is smaller than the 91 so I have to adapt the sub frame, either the 86 to fit my 91 of i think the better option will be to use the original 91 sub frame and narrow it to accept the 86 fairing skin and screen as the electrics are laid out differently in the nose cone ,I personally like the look of the smaller earlier fairings. This is all the fairing ive got at the moment

jono

[2big]

The last owner didn't leave you much of a fairing there Jonno, completely agree with the wish to make it smaller they look so much better. I have a '91 3XW - it looks like an ambulance. Keep thinking I should go to a smaller fairing. always liked the look of the FZ 750 fairing and have spoken to a race fairing moulder here and he was happy to make it wider for me. Loads of effort and it could end up looking like a hideous bodge job.

The other option was to buy & modify/ cut down a spare a 3XW fairing and screen, lose the side scoops and replace with flush infill panels, cut off the bottom to that FZ stepped fairing profile. Possibly cut off & fair in the indicator bulges too....

Would it adversely affect the carbs & performance if I ditched the airbox & used pod filters? 

Is it wrong to think like this? messing with the very essence of the bike - a big fast comfy tourer?

Jan

[Pat Conlon]

Keep in mind that the FZ1 was water cooled, thus the side air scoops were not needed, however, our air cooled FJ's really need those air scoops IMHO...

[Millietant]

I remember the FJ Racers over here were always looking for ways to get cool air to, and warm air away from, the engine and to get more oil cooling capacity.

Small under-seat fuel tanks meant that the petrol tanks could have the bases removed and holes cut in the top for extra cooling, bigger, high capacity oil coolers and extra coolers in the fairing where the headlight sat (perforated plate in front as the number plate).

I know mine has been VERY hot in heavy traffic on hot summers days in the south of France, Italy, or Spain - and even a couple of times here in the UK (engine got very chattery until it cooled down) in summer and traffic jams.

For those reasons, I'd be looking to keep the side scoops....but that's just me   

[jono]

I finally got all the plastics for my 3xw  and now the fun begins I've dummy mounted the nose cone, I tried the itx sub frame but the fairing sits to far forward so reverted to the 3xw one it looks like it will fit and I will just have to move the mirror mounts and narrow the top retaining arms . I'm happy with the look of it and cant see any problems in fitting it except the headlight might need a bit of thinking about.  In regards too cutting down a 3xw fairing I wouldn't Jan Ive seen a couple of cut down 3xw's and they look crappy   I was very lucky to get a 87 with all the plastics in reasonable condition only problem now is the mufflers i was going to fit do not really suit the new look of the bike

ps my old FZ750 went real good for a 750 until the water pump drive broke off the gearbox main shaft

AIR COOLING FOREVER

Jono

[2big]

Nice work Jono looks much tidier
what's your plan for the colour scheme?

Pat, Dean - thanks for the heads up on the vents
It it works don't fix it

I know it works well as a fairing but personally i like to feel the breeze when I'm riding a bike, slows me down too
Sure theres some shocking hack jobs out there
Any good ones?

[Millietant]

Must admit Jan, I keep the smaller "sports" screen on my 3CV now almost all the time, but use my bike out of choice now, rather than necessity.

When I was using my FJ a lot in winter, I always put the bigger touring screen on. My son also said that he found much less buffeting as a pillion, when I had the big screen too, so I did use it more when touring with kids, even in good weather.

[2big]

Good shout Dean, a lower or 'standard' screen is a simple fix
I keep going round in circles, standard or mod, standard or mod...

As Jono said the smaller 1100 or 1TX fairing looks in better proportion - you have a 1TX right?
Wondering if I bought the wrong model...If you modify the steel fairing frame could you fit an 1100 fairing to a 3xw?

That or a subtle trim down the existing fairing. Might buy a spare to have a go at....Looking at the engine vents last night you could remake them to fit in the top of the frame triangle as long as you kept the same sectional area and direct it to cylinders 2&3. 3D print some new scoops to fit

I know it's an air cooled bike but could you drop the vents & fit a 10 row oil cooler instead?
(Ps it's filthy under the tank!)

[jono]

hi Jan check out the replys to my earlier post about those air scoops ,the problem I've found with trimming the fairing either in height or width is the  screen so i think it's just a matter of

adjusting the steel fairing frame of the fairing you desire to your main frame I think there all pretty similar

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=19028.msg192901#msg192901

jono

[2big]

Thanks Jono wow! yes I can see where you're coming from. That's a fairly unsubtle chop you started from and a lot of experience shared on loss of cooling scoops!

The 1100 ones are smaller and work ok? The scoops look to go more directly through the same triangular frame hole as the later bikes...they just threw a bit more air at it....

Tho you can almost hear the frustration - there's no stupid questions - right?

Im aware it's a well trodden path & thanks to you all guys this is without question one of the best forums I've ever engaged with. Apologies to all if I'm going over old ground...Guess I'm a bit naive - like a kid in a candy store that's never tasted sugar

[ribbert]

I wouldn't worry too much about having the scoops, this subject comes up here from time to time and most of the opinions are speculative.

The conditions mentioned under which FJ's tend to overheat are not going to be improved with scoops, such as moving through heavy slow traffic, if there's little or no airflow into the ducts they're doing nothing.

Last time this was discussed, this interesting thought was put forward.....

The FJ has the front wheel & forks along with the header in the way of airflow to the cylinder cooling fins.

There's no doubt Police bikes lead a tough life and FJ's were a popular choice in many parts of the world and as you can see below, were not fitted with scoops.



Think of the hundreds of makes and models of air cooled in-line 4's made through the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's, and even beyond for some, that didn't have scoops, and had wheels, forks and headers blocking air flow. Yamaha even went scoopless post FJ:



Yes, the scoops are a good idea to have fitted but I wouldn't panic if they weren't. I have a bike without them, oddly enough, it's the bike I crawl through the traffic on if I'm going into the city because I am unconcerned about the body work or where I park it. I've had my FJ hotter than most, I actually cooked an engine on a road bike and I've had it extraordinarily hot many times over the years, to the point of a whole cacophony of previously unheard noises and terrible smells coming from it and literally unable to stand the radiated heat on my legs, even with them spread and the fuel tank too hot to leave my hand on. It always recovers to ride another day, a quarter of a million km's on it's still strong!

IMO of course.

Noel

[racerrad8]

I fixed your post for you Noel.

Jono, I would not put much stock into Noel's recommendations. If he actually believed the scoops were not required he would remove them from his FJ to improve the mileage by reducing drag.

Oh, by the way Noel, since you posted the XJR1300 as scoopless, obviously you have never worked on one and your statement is one of ignorance.

The XJR1300 in fact does have scoops to direct air to the cylinder head for cooling. The proof is in the pudding, or in this case, the attached photos, #23 & 24.


I'm sure Yamaha would not have spent the money and designed the scoops of they were not a necessity, unless Noel knows more than the collective of the Yamaha Motor Corporation.

I stand by my position stated in Noel's quoted post, the scoops should be used.

Randy - RPM

[Millietant]

Mine's a 3CV Jan, but I had a 1TX  before it. The 1TX fairing did give me the impression that the bike was "smaller"/"sportier", when I rode it with its low screen on, but it too came with 2 screens and I used the tall screen the most, as I was riding all year round. When I got the 3CV, my initial impression was that the short screen on the 3CV sat between the tall and short screens on the 1TX and the tall screen on the 3CV was much bigger all round than the tall screen on the 1TX.

If a 1TX fairing will fit easily on your 3XW I'd be tempted to look for a cheap one and mock it up on the bike  anyway.