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top 3?

Started by Carterc, March 21, 2011, 08:03:27 PM

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Carterc

im looking for some mods to do to my bike, but im curious... what are your top 3 favorite mods youve done to your bike?
1986 FJ1200

the fan


turbocamino

Quote from: Carterc on March 21, 2011, 08:03:27 PM
im looking for some mods to do to my bike, but im curious... what are your top 3 favorite mods youve done to your bike?
The best bang for the buck i did was front brake caliper upgrade(yam.R6)..I also switched from regular motor oil the Rotella Synthetic and my trans shifts SO much better...like butta.   After that it would have to be the Pipe/Uni-fliters/jetkit.  Good rubber goes a long way too :yes:
89 FJ1200 saphire.blu owned 8-9 years.  By far the most satisfying of them all. Constant tinkering got me the best bike you could ever want.

turbocamino

Quote from: the fan on March 21, 2011, 08:25:15 PM
shock
wheels
fork
OH yeah....that too..new springs and shock are a wonderful addition to say the least!!
89 FJ1200 saphire.blu owned 8-9 years.  By far the most satisfying of them all. Constant tinkering got me the best bike you could ever want.

simi_ed

I agree,

Wheels,
Shock,
Fork.
HID

-- RKBA Regards,

Ed
===
Ed Thiele 
Simi Valley, CA -- I no longer have SoCal manners.
'89 FJ12C (Theft deterrent Silver/White)


- All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for
enough good men to do nothing.

- Edmund Burke

Hersey289

I've got an '85 and the best bang for my buck was a Penske rear shock, then R6 blue dot front calipers (stock calipers are like bricks), followed by 17" front & rear rims. To get the R6 calipers, I installed '89 FJ forks - they're nice, but not a huge improvement over a working set of '85's.

My 2 cents...

Pat Conlon

Chris, in looking at the pictures of your new bike, it looks like the PO already has done the 17" rear rim conversion and along with braided ss lines and the hot motor, I would recommend:
Big ticket costly items :
1) Penske rear shock. The oem FJ shock was weak the moment the FJ left the assembly line. Getting the rear end raised will help the handling. $700
2) Front end upgrade. Get rid of that heavy narrow 16" front wheel and get some modern radial rubber on the front: Buy 1989 or newer FJ lower sliders, 17" FZR 3.5" rim or 3.0" FJ rim, .90-1.0kg/mm fork springs with cartridge emulators and R-1 monoblock calipers w/14mm brake master cylinder. $300-$600
3) 14mm FJR clutch master cylinder and Barnett spring conversion.

For cheap upgrades: 1) lighting and coil relays 2) Vibranators and foam grips. 3) LED's

When you upgrade the bike, don't forget to upgrade the rider. Full protective gear and track school.
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

andyb

1) maintenance that hadn't been done in years
2) ss bolts in the carbs
3) 17" wheel

carsick

 Chris, what do you plan to do most with the bike?  Drag race/bar hop, long haul touring, twisties (maybe not in FL), show? Usage would dictate mods, it's a compromise when stock and we tend to mod in the direction that suits our riding style. A point often overlooked by eager newbies (I'm guilty!) is how how much doing all the scheduled maintenance that's likely been skipped can contribute to your peace of mind and safety, and sort the bike out so it's smoother, faster, more efficient, just less stressful and more fun. Have you gotten a manual yet? Beyond that, if you're going to explore whatever extra power the P.O. made, I'm thinking quality gear for you, the forks (from an 88-95 FJ) with stiffer springs and front brakes (R6,R1,FZ1 etc. blue dot calipers) might be the most fulfilling mod. Some would argue it's easier to go right to non FJ forks (USD [UpSide Down] from Thunderace and others) with cartridge internals instead of old tech stock FJ damper rod style. A 17" front wheel (comes with the newer forks) with sticky modern rubber and responsive brakes will add some whoa to your go. Looks like the rear wheel is fixed for ya already. For the long haul, quieter pipes (sounds like your's bark good, gets old quick on a trip, especially with a passenger) and a better seat (Corbin), taller windscreen, different sprockets to raise the gearing and lower RPMs. Renntec bars so you don't mangle you and the bike WHEN an oops occurs. I think we've all had one or two.
I could go on forever but I don't want to overwhelm you with choices. The burning question I have is what's the staus on your compression/ fuel/ timing deal? That may limit other things until it's sorted!
Doug
PS- I forgot to answer your question!
MY favorite mods-
1. Rear 17" GSX-R wheel, flashy and grippy tire.
2. Blue dot calipers, R1 master and braided lines, stopping is fun too.
3. 0.95 kg/mm fork springs and 15W oil. My stock forks were like a rocking horse when I used the front brake.

Carterc

wow thanks for all the ideas!

are there any advantages to the foam grips? and this might be a really dumb question, but would changing the exhaust pipe take the thunder away from the bike? cause youre right, it gets really loud  :shok:

and the status of my compression/fuel/timing deal will get answered this Wednesday! someone on this forum heard my cry and talked to their friend who lives close by and hes coming over with his tools and we'll try to figure out whats going on in the inside. which reminds me, how should i repay this guy? good ol' fashion beer?

one more question, the vibranator...does it really work?

and dont worry about my gear, my father was so excited that i got my bike, he flew in and for the first time in my life, welcomed me to the family lol
1986 FJ1200

andyoutandabout

r1 calipers
17 inch rims
traxxion dynamics fork springs

then
corbin seat
givi rack
braided hoses

then you have a nice base from which to start your more radical mods - see the R1 mod thread for really involved stuff

life without a bike is just life

racerrad8

Quote from: Carterc on March 21, 2011, 11:40:09 PM
one more question, the vibranator...does it really work?

Here are a few testimonials:

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3447.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1562.msg30227#msg30227
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1562.msg30293#msg30293
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1562.msg30341#msg30341

There are also a few reviews listed here; http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M/C:Vibranator

I also anticipate as the spring weather is upon us, more of the people who bought them over the dead of winter will get a chance to give theirs a whirl as well.

I know my wife can go for more than 30-45minutes without stopping due to the cramping/tingling she used to get in her hands and forearms.

Randy - RPM

Randy - RPM

fj1250

Three words:
suspension
suspension
suspension!

MIke C

jykkeh

Top 3

1. Six pot calipers (front)
2. Rear shock
3. Anti dive away

jykkeh

Quote from: jykkeh on March 31, 2011, 11:48:55 AM
Top 3

1. Six pot calipers (front)
2. Rear shock
3. Anti dive away