New to the FJ but not to Yamaha

[The Notorious YZF]

Greetings all.

I am an experienced Yamaha owner and have been riding for about 20 years.  I'm curently in Cleveland Ohio and I'm always looking for riding partners if anyone is around. 

Until I bought my YZF600R back in '02, I always kept my bikes completely stock.  I decided to start modding the bike when I stumbled across www.yzf600r.com and it's wonderful forums.  That forum, along with forums for the VStar and the R6 led me to purchase a complete wreck of an FJ1200.  This will be my project bike and will take a year or two....depending on what I decide to do.....to get it complete.  I'll be picking the bike up sometime this week and I'll get some pictures up so everyone can see what I'll be working with.  It's a 1990 FJ1200.  The engine sounds good and the frame is straight.  Other than that, everything else is up in the air.  I'll have to wait until I take it all apart. 

What I do know is that it has the Stainless 4-1 Supertrapp Exhaust, Individual Air Pods, it's been jetted but not sure to what.  The starter switch does not work, but it does fire up on a jump.  The fairings are not quite good enough to call sh!t.  I realize I'm planning on putting in more money than it's worth (That would be $500) but I'm excited at the prospect. 

I've been looking around the forums and it looks like I've chosen the right one with the best information.  I've also already ordered the manuals to help me out. 

Here is my current stable........

VStar 1100


2007 R6


2002 YZF 600R


I look forward to working with you all.
Thanks
The Notorious YZF

[andyb]

Now you need a picture of the FJ in there....

[The Notorious YZF]

I'll post up a picture as soon as I pick it up.....it's a horror story. 

thanks

[racerman_27410]

welcome to the group NOtorious   


nice looking stable o'bikes you got there. I'm sure the FJ is going to fit right in!


Kookaloo!


Frank

[fj1289]

Now you need a picture of the FJ in there....

I'm thinking a good photo of the avatar girl!

[fj1289]

Also check out Barry's FJMods site: http://www.fjmods.btinternet.co.uk/

I think the "cleanest" total suspension mod is to swap both ends from a 1st gen FZ1000.

The R1 front end mod does work well, but involves more work.  The cleanest way to do that is to have the FJ stem welded up and turned to size for the R1 lower triple.  Marc Rittner did his YZF 750 front end swap that way - it is detailed on the FJMods site.  With the R1 forks, you can use a YZF 1000 rim with the speedo drive by milling off the appropriate amount from a "boss" that is cast into the left leg of the R1 forks.  I think you take off 8mm (possibly 12mm)?  Don't remember for sure but should be fairly easy to determine once you mock it up.

Good luck!
Chris

[The Notorious YZF]

I think the "cleanest" total suspension mod is to swap both ends from a 1st gen FZ1000.

Thanks for the link and the info.  I'll check it out. 

So is it a direct change over from the FJ to the FZ1000 front end?  Is that what you mean by cleanest?   

The front forks on the bike I'm picking up Thursday are straight.  What is the big reason people swap them out?  Just to get a bigger tire up front?  Better to rebuild stock forks or swap out to the FZ?  I'm trying to put a plan together so I can organize and line up parts for the winter.

Thanks for the info.
The Notorious YZF

[fj1289]

For the lowdown on the FZ1000 swap see Frank Moore's write up on the FJMods site.  The biggest reason to swap the forks is to go from damper rod forks to cartridg forks.  The stock forks can be set up nicely with a set of straight rate springs of the correct weight and emmulator valves.  If you want a 3.5 inch front rim with the stock forks you can use a 87/88 FZR 1000 front rim.  FZR600 rims do not work easily and neither do 89 and later FZR1000 front rims. 

There's lots of info on mods here - it would be hours/days well spent searching the old posts. 

Chris

[the fan]

Another popular mod is the YZF600 front end along with the rear wheel. Its fairly easy to respring and valve it to work. Several members have done it with good results.

[The Notorious YZF]

I've been reading the other site recommended.  Has anyone tried front end from a 1st gen R6 or maybe the 2nd Gen? 

Is the big hold up the speedo on the front wheel.  I believe the 2nd gen R6's starting in 2003 were all electronic dashes.  The front end from a 1st gen may work, ok.

Just wondering

[the fan]

All R6 are too short in length. first gen were 43mm, same as first gem FZ1. All R6 ran the countershaft driven speedo. I had a set laying around for a while that I considered putting on my YZF600 but they were too short even for that bike with the clip-ons mounted below the triples.


Another option would be to modify the stock forks to run honda CBR f3 tubes and internals. This retains a stock look with improved performance.

[Harvy]

Notorious....... I am very close now to installing 2002 FZ1 front end into my FJ.
The forks have just landed in Aus and am awaiting delivery.

I already have 2002 FZ1 rear end.

I had a spare FJ stem and top plate that have been bored to 43mm.......and Arnie sent a couple of handlebars that will be bored soon.

When the mod is done I can compare the FZ1 to the OEM with RT springs and emulators that I have been running for the past 4 years.

Harvy

[racerman_27410]

i think you are really going to like the difference.....   


KOokaloo!



Frank

When the mod is done I can compare the FZ1 to the OEM with RT springs and emulators that I have been running for the past 4 years.

Harvy

[Harvy]

Frank........really hang out to get this done finally....... its been in the pipeline for over a year now!..... just taken so long to source the parts at a price I was happy with........ but than again the rear end swap took just as long to compile the bits and pieces, so its not that bad.
Now for some serious saving for the rear Penske 

Anway...... onwards and upwards 

Hary

[The Notorious YZF]

Another option would be to modify the stock forks to run honda CBR f3 tubes and internals. This retains a stock look with improved performance.

Can you provide the link to the "HOW TO:" for this modification.

I'll either do this or just swap out the entire front end.  I'm thinking of the FZ1000 front....any year better than the others?

Thanks