Streetfighter or Stock?

[Lotsokids]

I've been seriously considering turning my FJ into a streetfighter. My fairing has a lot of vibrations and my reserve switch and my fuel guage don't work anyway. I would remove the fairing completely and rig a sportbike tail with seats. I would keep my exhaust and rear foot pegs. The only challenge I see would be the guage cluster - keeping it neat. And then there's getting the parts here. I can do it, but it would take some time.

Here are my options.

Stock:



Or Streetfighter:
Please overlook my less than perfect photo editing.

[weymouth399]

I vote for stock, there are plenty of FJs out there that are better for project bikes.
My 2 cents

Bob W

[carsick]

To preface, I'm in favor of modifications generally. Streetfighter is good for a wrecked bike, but to take off mostly good parts seems wrong. Your rather rare (to us) '88 looks very nice in the pics, I second the notion that there are much better candidates for the knife. If you've got the itch for something different try changing the gearing, wheels, or suspension.  My bike was wrecked when I got it (damn PO) and I put a different headlight setup on it with no fairing. The wind and bugs were awful. As I made improvements to the forks, wheels and brakes I decided it would be more enjoyable with the fairing for long distance travel.
Weren't you going to leave this bike behind soon anyway?  That would be a lot of work to not keep...

[Pat Conlon]

I vote for stock, there are plenty of FJs out there that are better for project bikes.

Streetfighter is good for a wrecked bike, but to take off mostly good parts seems wrong. Your rather rare (to us) '88 looks very nice in the pics, I second the notion that there are much better candidates for the knife......

I agree with Bob and Doug. It would be wrong to cut up your beautiful '88 for the sake of style....
There are much better candidates out there.

[andyb]

Why not do the best of both worlds?  Fix the plastic, repaint it.  Pull it to bits, powder the frame.  Throw away the old suspension bits and stick a YZF750 arm on it with a 5.5 or 5.0 17" wheel.  Find an inverted fork setup that you like and replace the entire front end, wheel included.  Throw the dash away and swap in a good aftermarket one in.  Etc, etc.

Fighters are cool, but they don't look quite right to me without a more beefy frame.

[craigo]

I vote for stock, there are plenty of FJs out there that are better for project bikes.

Streetfighter is good for a wrecked bike, but to take off mostly good parts seems wrong. Your rather rare (to us) '88 looks very nice in the pics, I second the notion that there are much better candidates for the knife......

I agree with Bob and Doug. It would be wrong to cut up your beautiful '88 for the sake of style....
There are much better candidates out there.

+1 on the stock look.

CraigO

[FJmonkey]

I voted "Stock with chin scoop". I really like the Black and Red look of your stock bike. It is a nice contrast to my 86' Red and White. The 86' screams sporty while your 88' looks a little more more formal and refined with a threat or sporty. I would love to have one of each in my garage. Too bad you are going leave it behind. Enjoy it while you got it.....

[Lotsokids]

Weren't you going to leave this bike behind soon anyway?  That would be a lot of work to not keep...

Well, my job is changing somewhat, so I might stay here a little longer. My management was driving everyone out (long story - 1/3 of our workers already bailed). Things are turning around and looks good for the future. There are a lot of other details I'll leave out for the sake of hijacking my own thread.

[andyoutandabout]

See the top mods thread.
Certainly wheels, brakes, suspension, but leave the paint job, it looks ace.

[Brook]

....... I say, go with your heart, your gut feeling..... If your not happy with the way it looks or you want a different look from others........... change out !!

                                        Jeff