what ya gonna do during the off season to your fj in 2011-2012?

[Alf]

This will work, but it is going to depend on your budget...

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=2379.0

Randy - RPM
[/quote]

WOW! Awesome system and expensive!

I´m still saving for a Sigma slippery clutch. I NEED it  so I´ll continue looking for the 6th gear in my FJ

[Striker]

Hmm I didn't realize all that could be done in an afternoon...definitely will have to rethink what I can do on the fj this winter! Well Pat there are some incredible roads here in AZ for riding!haha 

[Pat Conlon]

I´m still saving for a Sigma slippery clutch. I NEED it.... 

Hola Alf. Seriously? Pardon the questions but I am curious....
What have you done where you "need" a slipper clutch? Do you have a big block motor and/or a lightened crank? Do you track your FJ? Are you experiencing wheel hop or wiggles on deceleration or down shifting? If not, what are your symptoms where you think you need a slipper?

[Alf]

I´m still saving for a Sigma slippery clutch. I NEED it.... 

Hola Alf. Seriously? Pardon the questions but I am curious....
What have you done where you "need" a slipper clutch? Do you have a big block motor and/or a lightened crank? Do you track your FJ? Are you experiencing wheel hop or wiggles on deceleration or down shifting? If not, what are your symptoms where you think you need a slipper?

Hola Pat
Well, I NEED each gizmo that I could fit to my FJ,   
Seriously: after riding my CBX on the Tenerife tortuose roads with its slippery clutch really this clutch is an inversion in safe riding. And yes, when riding the Yamaha after riding the Honda you can´t down shifting with the same careless.
Scenary: 2nd gear 90 or 120º bend, 50 - 150 mts straight, 3rd gear, 8.000 rpm. furious brake, 2nd gear, 120º or 180º bend again. And in a road that  2 cars at opposite ways near must stop when crossing
That 2nd gear change is problematic with the FJ. Yes, I could do it in 3rd, but then the R1 guy could trap me 

[andyb]

Have a slipper on my kawi.  Never really use the effect, too many years of releasing the clutch gently. 

Your money, though, do what you want with it!

big block motor and/or a lightened crank?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a lightened crank (all else assumed to be equal, but who does 'just' the crank and not everything else also?!) should be less skittish than a heavy crank on downshifting, less inertia to spin up, ya?  The engine should gain revs faster and lose them faster as well.

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Andy...Yep, often the lightened crank goes along with big pistons, so with the lighter crank the rpms drop fast to begin with, coupled with the added volume and compression from the pistons, it just increases the effect..
On my 1349, I kept my crank stock but with the 82mm pistons, and I noticed that with just the big pistons, the added compression braking slows things down quicker when I let off the throttle. It's not bad, but I'm very sure a lighter crank would have made it more pronounced. No big deal.
Like Frank says, you just have to control the throttle more precisely. Rev matching with little throttle blips seem to help downshifting.

With a slipper, slowing down hard from 90 to 20, squeezing the front brake lever, it would be nice to bang down a couple of downshifts from 4th to 2nd without dicking around with clutch engagement and throttle blips. Try as I have,  I have not been able to master the technique to roll my wrist and blip the throttle (rev match) while squeezing the brake lever.
Although I have been able to heel toe the brake and gas pedal in my Miata, which makes downshifting fun while standing on the brakes....

Slipper would be useful on a track bike but how many of us (besides the UK blokes) track our FJ's?
Would you use it on the street?  Dunno, sounds like Alf would.... How much added maintenance would a slipper clutch add to our FJ chores? Dunno.

[Alf]

.... How much added maintenance would a slipper clutch add to our FJ chores? Dunno.

Mmmmmmm. I´ve not thinking about that. I don´t want to disassembly the clutch twice in a year. Thanks, Pat.

[andyb]

Not that much added maintenance.  You'd just need to check your stack height periodically (yearly perhaps, more often if you were wanting more consistency from it at trackdays or races), and the clutch will wear out a bit quicker, as you're intentionally slipping it more often... but not remotely as fast as if it's just slipping at high revs while on the gas because of a lack of static pressure, for example.

[Sour1]

Everything.  The bike is in pieces right now.  Every nut and bolt off the FJ has a place in a labeled Ziploc bag.  There are also two bags of stainless bolts and screws to replace the old hardware.  On the list for winter:

Head rebuild
Powder coat frame (& rims...?)
Hone cylinders
Clean engine (outside)
Replace wheel bearings/chain/brake & clutch lines/tires/plugs/oil/etc...
Repair cracks in fairing
Paint plastic pieces
Reassemble the whole bike

Good thing there is a heater in the garage.

[1tinindian]

what to do, what to do...!

Seeing as how I just finished up my 17" rear wheel swap, I will be continuing with the 3.5" wide front wheel swap.

Then I have this nice FJR clutch master and steel braided clutch line to install.

I've also been very interested in doing the HID headlight conversion, too.
After that, who knows what will catch my interest...but I'm sure there will be SOMETHING to do!

Leon

[FJTillDeath]

I dont really have an off season but with the addition of the new bike I can finely tear into the FJ

I am gonna start off with all the basic checks my manual tells me, then some more of the attention areas.

Once all the problems are routed out, a good advanced riding class, a set of UNI pods from Randy, some service work, shim the heads, carb work etc, then hook up the cam Im getting for xmas and hit a few laps at the local race track. Also gonna go on a hunt for the gixxer 17inch rear swap, then I should be happy with the FJ.. well until I can afford a big block kit and some heavy end motor work

[fj1250]

I've got my motor apart on the bench taking out many of the "goodies"
1250 big bore kit, and Falicon Supercrank are listed on ebay right now.
Putting it back together with a 1219 fresh top end, new main and rod bearing on a low milage crank
and will be putting the old girl up for sale when back together.
I'll list here first, then ebay if no activity.
Drop me a line if your interested in any/all of it,
Mike

[SlowOldGuy]

Also gonna go on a hunt for the gixxer 17inch rear swap, then I should be happy with the FJ.. well until I can afford a big block kit and some heavy end motor work

Jesse,
Do the 17 inch FRONT wheel mod first.  Much more bang for the buck on an '85 model.  That 16 inch front wheel is a turd for handling on the early models. 

You'll need the fork sliders (lowers), front wheel, axle, and brake rotors off of an '89 and up FJ.  You will also need the brake calipers, but this is a good time to swap to the R1/R6/FZ1 monoblock calipers.  Also a good time to put in straight rate springs and new fork seals and oil.

This mod is well documented in here somewhere. 

Screw the engine work, suspension and wheel mods are FAR MORE EFFICIENT at making you go quicker in everyday riding and on the track (note that I didn't say faster).  You can have a monster motor, but if you don't handle worth a snot, the 250s will be blowing right by you. 

Quick, someone back me up on this!

DavidR.

[1tinindian]

+1 David.
I know my 91 FJ will stay with the other bikes at the  ECFR , power wise, but it's all about the handling that makes a bike fast through the twisties, and also knowing HOW to ride is the other part of that.
Horse power has very little to do with it.

Leon

[gripit_N_ripit]

Just received my 92 GSXR wheel today!!! I will be installing that, rear brake system, 4 into 1 exhaust, rejetting carbs, fix oil leak at valve cover, front suspension upgrade aaaand..........whatever else you gents can think of hah!! OH and the smoke integrated tail light from randy!