Newbie wanting to know the must-do mods to my new FJ

[aviationfred]

.... that I hate to make any modifications.....

I understand the feeling of having found a mint example and your reluctance to mess with it, but there are tens of thousands of FJ's out there and mint, museum quality bikes are neither rare nor valuable (do not confuse asking prices with actual values).

A standard bike is still extremely ridable even all these years later, but if you intend to put some decent miles on it, the wheel, suspension, brake upgrade package delivers improvements way beyond expectations and propels the bike into the next century.

Noel

IMO, Noel nails FJ reality.

Pete, you have found a Beautiful FJ. If you do many of the mods mentioned, they can always be undone and revert back to the OEM parts.

Fred

[Millietant]

-Range of years for the FZR600 wheel? Is there a definitive link on this forum to a professional-quality swap?
-Recommendations for a rear shock.

I'm a bit worried that you talk about the FZR 600 front wheel Pete - I think you might have been confused by a couple of things, but the FZR 600 front wheel is not a conversion I'm familiar with. Both Fred and I discussed the YZF 600 R (Thundercat) rear wheel, which not the FZR. I also mentioned that the 17" rear wheel from this 600 "matched" the FJ front wheel - I only meant in spoke design and type (i.e. Yamaha 3 spoke) and they're both 17" diameter.

The appropriate FZR front wheel swap for the FJ is the 1988 FZR 1000 front wheel. Or you could do a complete front end swap, again using the YZR 600 R parts. But again be careful, the donor bike is neither a
The FZR 600, nor the YZF R6.

In terms of shock absorbers, it all depends on your budget. For the very best, go Penske/RPM, Ohlins, Wilbers -they'll likely cost as much as the bike is worth, but if you have the cash and you're a good enough rider to use/need the phenomenal performance they provide (I'm not) they're worth it. For the best value, where you get great performance and build quality but at about 1/2 to 1/3 the price of those others, the go for either Hagon or YSS. There's nothing to choose between them and they're both in a different league to the stock Yamaha shock, performance and quality wise.

I went for Hagen on my FJ, because of value and as they're based only 90 mins from me, their service - they provide an over-the-counter, while you wait service (it takes about 4 hours) if you book in advance.  

[Flynt]

Follow up on the above suggestions. The shop manual I ordered hasn't arrived so some of these questions may sound stupid, but I'm anxious to get on this thing.

-New tires, obviously
-Oil change and adjust valves
-Check all bearings and seals
-New brake lines
-What is involved in removing the ABS system, and what needs to be purchased once it's removed? Some things mentioned in the above comments are master cylinder and brake lines. What else is necessary?
-Suggestions for fork springs, valving, and brace? Or is swapping in a modern fork a viable or better option?
-Range of years for the FZR600 wheel? Is there a definitive link on this forum to a professional-quality swap?
-Recommendations for a rear shock.

Thank you, Pete

Get the rear wheel you need, refinish it, and put a tire on it.  Then make an appointment and take to RPM...  with your checkbook.  There are few better ways to "get on this thing" than to take it there and have it sorted while you wait/participate.  If you order stuff in advance and get it all lined up, this and more can all be done in a day...  and the carbs can be clean/balanced/tuned to wake that thing right up...  you're probably going to want the doubled up clutch spring if you get it making full power, otherwise it will slip at about 6K and WOT.  They can do that for you while you're there too.

Frank

[aviationfred]

Something else to ponder..... using the YZF600R Thundercat rear wheel (17" x 5"). The optimum tire size is a 170/60/17. All of the major players in the Sport-Touring tire lines offer the 170 in their latest and greatest. I could be wrong, but Metzeler.... the Roadtec 01 SE does not come in a 170 and Continental.... the soon to be released Road Attack 4 does not come in a 170

Michelin offers a 170
https://www.michelinman.com/motorcycle/tires/michelin-road-6

Dunlop offers a 170
https://www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com/tire-line/sportmax-roadsmart-iv/

Pirelli offers a 170
https://www.cyclegear.com/tires/pirelli-angel-gt-ii-tires?sku_id=1592347

Bridgestone offers a 170
https://www.cyclegear.com/tires/bridgestone-battlax-t32-sport-touring-tires?sku_id=10066722

Avon offers a 170
https://www.cyclegear.com/tires/avon-spirit-st-tires?sku_id=1274126

Metzeler offers a 170
https://www.cyclegear.com/tires/metzeler-roadtec-01-tires?sku_id=1127127

Continental offers a 170
https://www.cyclegear.com/tires/continental-road-attack-3-tires?sku_id=1205609


Fred

[ribbert]

......I could be wrong, but Metzeler.... the Roadtec 01 SE does not come in a 170 and Continental.... the soon to be released Road Attack 4 does not come in a 170


Fred

No, you're spot on about the sizing Fred, I just fitted a set of Metzeler 01 SE's and enquired about the Conti RA's as they are an old favourite of mine but I couldn't wait for the 4's. The first thing they mentioned with both tyres was the limited range of sizes, fortunately I run 180's.

That's a very comprehensive list you've put together there Fred.

Noel

[Millietant]

There's also the BT023 and BT023GT available from Bridgestone - I'm running a matched pair of BT023's (although I do have a FZR 1000 3.5" wide front wheel) and love them.

[Millietant]

Pete, you have found a Beautiful FJ. If you do many of the mods mentioned, they can always be undone and revert back to the OEM parts.

Fred

Fred is absolutely right ! With the exception of the exhaust and the brake lines, I have everything on the shelf in my garage to turn my FJ back to completely stock in a couple of hours - and anyway, yours has already been modified from stock by changing the seat 

Can you spot the all modifications that have "ruined" my (what some call) mint FJ Pete?

[ribbert]

....If you do many of the mods mentioned, they can always be undone and revert back to the OEM parts.

Fred

....I have everything on the shelf in my garage to turn my FJ back to completely stock in a couple of hours...

This comes up often, but why would anyone want to return it to standard? The bike is better to ride with the mods and is more desirable and worth more if you sell it, win win.

Noel

[ribbert]

There's also the BT023 and BT023GT available from Bridgestone - I'm running a matched pair of BT023's (although I do have a FZR 1000 3.5" wide front wheel) and love them.

Dean, Bridgestone's have never even been on my radar, are they a tyre you'd ride the Nürburgring or the road at 10/10th's on?

Noel

[Millietant]

There's also the BT023 and BT023GT available from Bridgestone - I'm running a matched pair of BT023's (although I do have a FZR 1000 3.5" wide front wheel) and love them.

Dean, Bridgestone's have never even been on my radar, are they a tyre you'd ride the Nürburgring or the road at 10/10th's on?

Noel

So far, yes Noel. I've done around 8k kms on the current pair and never had any issues. The front is wearing a bit thin on the edges now, but the rear looks perfect - but then again I avoid riding a straight line like the plague.

Having said that I also rode at 10/10ths around the Nurburgring on my FJ with BT45 crossplies on it and my brother couldn't keep up on his GSXR 750. They're all better tyres than I am a rider 

[aviationfred]

There's also the BT023 and BT023GT available from Bridgestone - I'm running a matched pair of BT023's (although I do have a FZR 1000 3.5" wide front wheel) and love them.

Yes, there are many other Sport-Touring oriented tires available. The list I made was of the latest premium rubber.

I know that the Metzeler Z8 and Z6, Michelin Road 5, Pilot Road 4, and Pilot Road 3, Dunlop Roadsmart 3 and Roadsmart 2, Continental Road Attack 3 and Road Attack 2, Bridgestone T31 and T30 tires are still available.

Fred

[fj1289]

***YZF600R Rims***   FZR600 are NOT what you want!  >> Dean already hit that one in his post!  http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=20232.msg207109#msg207109

I'd suggest the full lot of the suspension tweaks from RPM - full rebuild for the forks with their valves and recommended springs and fork brace joined by their rear shock.   You can do it all cheaper, you can do it all more expensive, you can do it all more complicated, but going with their tried and true setup will get you a very large increase in performance, nearly completely stock looking, and a "known" setup ready to go.  

http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M%2FC%3AFJ41ForkR%2FBKit
http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M%2FC%3ARPMForkValve
http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M%2FC%3AFS.85
http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M%2FC%3AForkBrace

http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M%2FC%3ARPMShock%2891-95%29

[ribbert]

....you're probably going to want the doubled up clutch spring if you get it making full power, otherwise it will slip at about 6K and WOT.

Frank

Frank, the guy below doesn't agree.

....who (correctly in my opinion) believes the FJ clutch was designed to handle full power from the stock engine...  I believe the engineers at Yamaha did their job designing a great product.  

Frank

[ribbert]

Both Fred and I discussed the YZF 600 R (Thundercat) rear wheel, which not the FZR. I also mentioned that the 17" rear wheel from this 600 "matched" the FJ front wheel - I only meant in spoke design and type (i.e. Yamaha 3 spoke) and they're both 17" diameter.

Dean, isn't there considerable confusion over the whole FZR/YZF/R/RR designations depending on where in the world your referencing and isn't the Thundercat wheel different to the FZR? I had a hell of a time trying to get a sprocket first time round, the wheel I have is an FZR600R/RR (4JH)

Haha, nature has been kind and I've forgotten the details but I do still have a new brake rotor and sprocket in the cupboard for god knows what!

Noel

[ribbert]

There's also the BT023 and BT023GT available from Bridgestone - I'm running a matched pair of BT023's (although I do have a FZR 1000 3.5" wide front wheel) and love them.

Dean, Bridgestone's have never even been on my radar, are they a tyre you'd ride the Nürburgring or the road at 10/10th's on?

Noel

So far, yes Noel. I've done around 8k kms on the current pair and never had any issues. The front is wearing a bit thin on the edges now, but the rear looks perfect - but then again I avoid riding a straight line like the plague.

Having said that I also rode at 10/10ths around the Nurburgring on my FJ with BT45 crossplies on it and my brother couldn't keep up on his GSXR 750. They're all better tyres than I am a rider 

Thanks for the feedback Dean, I had never considered them before.

Noel