Oh Boy, this is going to be good!!!

[craigo]

I have the front wheel and forks off my FJ and am starting to buff out the forks. Already a major improvement.



The wheel is at my tire guys shop to remove the bearings and old front tire. Then off to the powdercoating place to have it done in gloss black.

Can't wait for all the dust to settle.  This is going to be real nice.

CraigO

[moparman70]

Craig did the forks have clear coat on them -- if so was it tough to remove

stevecc

[craigo]

No it was not. I used a scotch pad on the other end of the buffing wheel and it striped it off PDQ. Had to be careful not to put too much pressure on it or it would start to cut into the metal. Not serious but a blemish that made it harder to buff out.

Used a bit of ruse on the buffing wheel and wow, instant shine. I have to thank my friend, Bernie, for the equipment and motivation to do the forks.

On another note, the rotor bolts are out of the wheel, along with the bearings and tire. Tomorrow it's off to the powdercoaters.

Good luck on the installation of the new lump into your 86. Should migrate the 90's forks and wheel there too. But then again, why?

Take care, lets all ride soon,

CraigO

[moparman70]

I was hoping to find a beat up 89-90 model with a good motor that way I could do the front end at the same time.... but not the case.  I don't think I will change the front -- but it would be nice.

[craigo]

A quick scan of Ebay and all I find are the 86-87 forks, no good for upgrading to a 17" wheel or the blue spots.
Keep an eye out and be quick like bunny to snag a set. They seem to be snapped up pretty quickly by all you red/white riders out there.

Really, such loyalty towards such an out dated FJ is beyond me.  Must be the colors. However, until I actually ride one, I can't judge. 

CraigO

[Dads_FJ]

A quick scan of Ebay and all I find are the 86-87 forks, no good for upgrading to a 17" wheel or the blue spots.
Keep an eye out and be quick like bunny to snag a set. They seem to be snapped up pretty quickly by all you red/white riders out there.

Really, such loyalty towards such an out dated FJ is beyond me.  Must be the colors. However, until I actually ride one, I can't judge. 

CraigO

The 86/87 were the fast ones.

http://wiki.gfm.net:443/FJ1200_Specs

[craigo]

Yep, they were the fast ones for sure. But, life is not a drag strip and it's really all about the rider and set up. Back in the day, we all left the older KZ1000s alone because the owners always seemed to build the engines. Didn't handle worth a damn but fast as snot in the straights. but that was many years ago.

Now we all know how much fun it is to make the newer bikes all go "WTF are you doing keeping up with me on that old thing?"  Makes me giggle.

I was not at all serious about that knock on the 1st gens. As soon as I saw one, I wanted one. To bad it took so long to get my 1st one. I am now on my third.

CraigO

[racerrad8]

Craig did the forks have clear coat on them -- if so was it tough to remove

stevecc

No it was not. I used a scotch pad on the other end of the buffing wheel and it striped it off PDQ. Had to be careful not to put too much pressure on it or it would start to cut into the metal. Not serious but a blemish that made it harder to buff out.

CraigO

If you tape off the dust seal, put paint stripper on them and the clear will boil right up. I usually miss a spot or two and have to do a second application on the spots I missed.

I have done this on the last 5-6 sets of forks I built with great success.

When I built Scott's, those were the last ones and they look pretty good.

[craigo]

A week has gone by and my FJ sat there, untouched. Until today. I got the wheel back from the powdercoat people yesterday and took it to my tire guy. He installed new wheel bearings and the new Conti Motion tire. Looks a whole lot better than the white.



Then I spent 4 hours buffing out the forks and hardware




Put it all back together and this is how it looks now.






Just waiting for one of the tabs on the fender to cure over night and the whole thing will be done.

Can't wait  

CraigO

[FJmonkey]

A week has gone by and my FJ sat there, untouched. Until today. I got the wheel back from the powdercoat people yesterday and took it to my tire guy. He installed new wheel bearings and the new Conti Motion tire. Looks a whole lot better than the white.



Then I spent 4 hours buffing out the forks and hardware




Put it all back together and this is how it looks now.
Awesome dude!!!!! I really want to have time to polish my forks before the WCFJR....






Just waiting for one of the tabs on the fender to cure over night and the whole thing will be done.

Can't wait  

CraigO

[craigo]

Mark,

Can be done. Just ride her on down here some weekend and we'll take her apart and do it. It's not difficult, just time consuming.

Cheers,

CraigO

[X-Ray]

Looks tops Craig. Have you put a clear coat over the polished fork legs? Do you think they will tarnish/discolour?

Ray

[craigo]

No clearcoat, just highly polished. I waxed the lower sliders before putting the wheel on. See how that goes as I never ride her in the rain or adverse weather.

If it tarnishes quickly. I will re-polish out the forks and then clear coat.

CraigO

[craigo]

I put the front fender and fork brace on and the finished product looks like:





Now the rest of the bike looks real dirty. I wonder how much effort that's all going to take to make it as pretty as the front?



CraigO

[racerman_27410]

mmm shiney!   

nice work Craigo


KOokaloo!