Just picked up a 1985 FJ1100

[81Delorean]

I won't argue with your assessment of the bike. Not sure if comparing it to a 11 year newer sport bike is fair either though. I have an '89 FJ, the weight doesn't bother me at all but I am also 6ft 2in and 210lbs, not sure what your build is. When I bought mine I cleaned the carbs and the first real trip was a 2200 mile trip mixed with interstate and curvy roads. I found it to be fine with the stock windscreen and fairings but I also like to have a little wind on me while riding. I tried a BWM RT on a 2000 mile trip, while it was comfortable and nice to burn miles on, I also hated the heat because of all the wind protection. The only time I did like it was when it was pouring down rain for about 2 hours, I hardly got wet at all. It went up for sale the next weekend after I got home.

Now, your ZX9. That bike is on my short list of bikes to get if I can find a mid 90's one in green/white/blue. I really want to do a road trip on one.

[Pat Conlon]

Your assessment sounds about right.
Stock FJ suspension is too soft, both front and back. Poor dampening.
The front anti dive system is ineffective, always has been.
The stock 16" tires and rims are narrow, heavy and outdated by today's 17" standards.
Stock FJ front Brakes are just ok, nothing special.

Old FJ's don't die....because we modify! 

Add Fork springs, fork valves, anti dive delete and a height adjustable aftermarket shock and the effect will be immediately noticeable. Night and day.
Add Modern, lighter 17x3.5" front and 17x5" or 17x5.5" back rims will allow better tires.
Add R-1 Yamaha monoblock calipers, HH pads, lighter rotors and 14mm m/c with SS lines and they will transform the brakes.

Yes, she's still a big girl by today's sport standards, no getting around that.....
...but now she is a better dancer, much better than the day she left Iwata, Japan... 41 years ago...

[Gearbox Paul]

I won't argue with your assessment of the bike. Not sure if comparing it to a 11 year newer sport bike is fair either though. I have an '89 FJ, the weight doesn't bother me at all but I am also 6ft 2in and 210lbs, not sure what your build is. When I bought mine I cleaned the carbs and the first real trip was a 2200 mile trip mixed with interstate and curvy roads. I found it to be fine with the stock windscreen and fairings but I also like to have a little wind on me while riding. I tried a BWM RT on a 2000 mile trip, while it was comfortable and nice to burn miles on, I also hated the heat because of all the wind protection. The only time I did like it was when it was pouring down rain for about 2 hours, I hardly got wet at all. It went up for sale the next weekend after I got home.

Now, your ZX9. That bike is on my short list of bikes to get if I can find a mid 90's one in green/white/blue. I really want to do a road trip on one.

I agree that comparing to newer (although still old!) sport bikes isn't a fair comparison, but that's all I have.  I've never owned any sport tourers, or cruiser bikes, so this is a first for me.  And I'm smaller and lighter to you so low speed maneuvering on that beast feels like a chore. 

Regarding my ZX9, I just purchased it late last year and put it on the road last week.  So I'm also getting to know that bike.  So far,  it's much like my Gixxer, just smoother, faster and better.  It also higher clip ons (mounted over the triple tree) so the riding position is more comfortable and less aggressive than on the Gixxer, which would be good for a long road trip.       

[Gearbox Paul]

Your assessment sounds about right.
Stock FJ suspension is too soft, both front and back. Poor dampening.
The front anti dive system is ineffective, always has been.
The stock 16" tires and rims are narrow, heavy and outdated by today's 17" standards.
Stock FJ front Brakes are just ok, nothing special.

Old FJ's don't die....because we modify! 

Add Fork springs, fork valves, anti dive delete and a height adjustable aftermarket shock and the effect will be immediately noticeable. Night and day.
Add Modern, lighter 17x3.5" front and 17x5" or 17x5.5" back rims will allow better tires.
Add R-1 Yamaha monoblock calipers, HH pads, lighter rotors and 14mm m/c with SS lines and they will transform the brakes.

Yes, she's still a big girl by today's sport standards, no getting around that.....
...but now she is a better dancer, much better than the day she left Iwata, Japan... 41 years ago...

Thanks Pat.  Those all sound like nice improvements to make.  I'm just not sure I want to put that much time and $ into that bike.  If it was in pristine condition, that would make sense, but it isn't.  And there are other bikes I'm interested in buying and my wife is already giving me a hard time about keeping 3 bikes around (it's just 3 bikes Honey...)!

[red]

Paul,
I agree with Pat; stainless steel braided brake lines are a good investment there. Those old rubber lines are about done by time, and the braided lines will make the brakes more assertive. I would do the front lines, at least. It will be more complicated with an ABS, but I think we can find you good sources for braided lines here, if you wish. A very good local hydraulics shop *may* be able to duplicate your old lines in SS, so investigate locally, but don't give up if the locals can't help.
Hang tough.   

[T Legg]

  "The FJ seems very comfortable at 3000 rpm, and feels and sounds like I'm pushing it hard at 5000+ rpm.  I have to think that's just me getting used to that bike.  Low end torque is good, but I was expecting it to be better.  I haven't pushed the bike much higher than 7000 rpm but it felt like there wasn't that much left in it if I did".

The FJ wouldn't be a match hp wise with your other bikes but I wonder if you might have some carburetor issues. All my FJ's have decent torque between 3500 and 4500 rpm but the real power starts at about 5500 rpm and continues all the way to redline at 9500 .
 I had an 84 FJ that had dissappointing top end performance compared to my other FJ's.I checked the compression and it was low around 105 to 120 psi. I attributed the lack of power to the low compression .One day I had the rs36 mikuni carbs from my other 1100 off so I put them on to the weak 1100 and I was surprised that it completely changed the performance.I later put a set of stock carbs from another bike and it ran well at the high rpm's with those carbs also.

[/quote]

[red]

Paul,
I have an FJ1100 (1985) and my experience is very similar to T Legg's, for performance at top RPM. If you find any lack of "hang on!" motivation there, I would suspect there are carb, air-flow, or fuel-flow problems with the bike. Instead of guesswork, a good dyno run might nail down the cause in one move. Otherwise, check fuel filters, air filters, and (at a minimum) run a can of high-quality carb cleaner/fuel injector cleaner through the tank. Mix it as the label directs. It will take maybe two tanks of fuel + one can of cleaner to do the magic, but that may be all you need. Add the cleaner just before you fill the tank, to get good mixing action in there. Carb cleaner on a schedule is just routine maintenance with these bikes. HTH.

[Gearbox Paul]

The FJ wouldn't be a match hp wise with your other bikes but I wonder if you might have some carburetor issues.

thanks for the replies and thoughts.  Regarding horsepower, the FJ with the 1188 cc piston kit should be around 130 HP at the crank (similar to FJ1200).  My GSXR 750 is 128 and the ZX9R is 143.  So the FJ is in the same ballpark as the other two bikes, albeit with lower redline and higher torque. 

I've been riding the bike some more and I think it's just me getting used to it.  The FJ has much higher engine braking than the other two bikes, which is likely confusing me.  I do notice signicant vibration as I rev past 4000 rpm as well.  Not sure if that's a normal harmonic or perhaps my engine mounts are shot.  I've removed, cleaned and recleaned the carbs so many times in the last year as I was chasing leaking carbs (now fixed), that I a reluctant to tear into the carbs again.  I'm confident they are as clean as they can be.  I don't have a fuel filter (other than the stainer on the petcock), and the air filter is clean.  It's quite possible that compression is low, I haven't tested it. 

The bike starts, idles and runs generally well, so there's no rush in changing anything.  For the moment, I'll keep riding the bike as is and get used to what I got. 

[Warp84]

The FJ wouldn't be a match hp wise with your other bikes but I wonder if you might have some carburetor issues.

thanks for the replies and thoughts.  Regarding horsepower, the FJ with the 1188 cc piston kit should be around 130 HP at the crank (similar to FJ1200).  My GSXR 750 is 128 and the ZX9R is 143.  So the FJ is in the same ballpark as the other two bikes, albeit with lower redline and higher torque. 

I've been riding the bike some more and I think it's just me getting used to it.  The FJ has much higher engine braking than the other two bikes, which is likely confusing me.  I do notice signicant vibration as I rev past 4000 rpm as well.  Not sure if that's a normal harmonic or perhaps my engine mounts are shot.  I've removed, cleaned and recleaned the carbs so many times in the last year as I was chasing leaking carbs (now fixed), that I a reluctant to tear into the carbs again.  I'm confident they are as clean as they can be.  I don't have a fuel filter (other than the stainer on the petcock), and the air filter is clean.  It's quite possible that compression is low, I haven't tested it. 

The bike starts, idles and runs generally well, so there's no rush in changing anything.  For the moment, I'll keep riding the bike as is and get used to what I got. 

I tried looking back in the post's but I didn't definitely see; When the engine was upbore to the 1188cc, did you also change the jet's in the carb to match the increased size?

[Gearbox Paul]

I tried looking back in the post's but I didn't definitely see; When the engine was upbore to the 1188cc, did you also change the jet's in the carb to match the increased size?

Good question.  I did not install the piston kit, that was done by one of the previous owners.  So I can't tell you else was changed when this was installed, but I can tell you what I have now.  My present set up is as follows:

Main jet is 112.5
Pilot jet is 40
Pilot air jet is 155
Needle is 5FZ74 with circlip on 3rd notch (5 notches total)
Fuel air mixture screws 2.5 turns out
Air box is original, and air filter is OEM.
Exhausts are OEM.

Does that seem about right for an 1188 cc overbore kit?

[RPM - Robert]

Post a picture of a slide and the main jet needle.