front wheel

[chixson]

Hello,
  I know the '86 front end is lamely weak for the sport rideing most of all of you do. I do a lot of town rideing witha little highway thrown in for good measure, so I dont encounter a lot of twisty roads.
  I wonder if it's possible to just change out the oem 16" wheel for the '92 oem wheel on my '86, to go to a more modern tire. As everyone knows the 16" is getting a bit scarce and the 17" offers a radial design not to mention its easier to find. What I've been able to find here isn't real clear on just a wheel exchange.
thanks for all the topics  and knowlege on your site..
chris

[FJmonkey]

Chris, the front is easy to change up to a 17" x 3" or 17" x 3.5". The wider tire may or may not be more expensive. You need an 89" or newer front end from an FJ to get the 3.0" wide wheel. I am in the process of putting an 88" FZR1000 front wheel to get the wider 3.5" on my 86'. Basically you need all the bits from the wheel to the triple tree.... Wheel, Blue or Gold dot calipers, 89' forks (lowers will do). Upgrade to braided lines while you are at it. 14MM brake master, put a set of straight rate springs and some of Randy's cartridge inserts. You can do it on a budget but remember your brake lines are really old now.... Did I miss anything???

[chixson]

Then you can't just change the front wheel to a '92 with the rotors and calipers and ride off into the sunset..lol

[chixson]

Thanks for the help, I'll start shopping...

Have a great week every one

[FJmonkey]

Then you can't just change the front wheel to a '92 with the rotors and calipers and ride off into the sunset..lol

Yes I think you can, The master and calipers might be a miss match, not sure... Might have to grab really hard to brake properly. The old lines will add some spongy feel and possibly failure from being so old. I am not there yet so I cannot say...

[E Double]

I guess it depends on how you look at things.  Most of the 12-15K miles I do a in an average year are in the twisties, and I have a blast;  Quite often I keep up with or run away from folks on much newer bikes.  I run Avon Azarro AV45/46 tires.  They are radials designed for narrow wheels.  I've enjoyed them immensely for the 55K miles I've been using them.  They have fantastic grip, and wear well.  Now, if Avon decides to stop making them I guess I'll be doing the fork/swingarm projects many have done around here (Pat Conlon knows a lot about this, as do others).  But until then I'm pretty damn satisfied.

The fork brace Randy at RPM sells will tighten up the front end, and setting up your fork with springs rated for your weight will help.  I'm about to do this this week-I'm trying to wait for the new RPM fork valves but something tells me I'll be pleased as punch even with the Racetech emulators if the RPM ones are delayed.

I grew up with the dirt bikes of the late 70's and 80's, and sport bikes of the early 90's.  All of them were lacking up front when compared to today's USD fork equipped bikes.  But folks rode what they brought to show, so to speak.  If folks could race these bikes professionally back in the day, there's no reason why you and I can't hit some twisties and have a good time doing it.  These bikes were light years ahead of anything at the time (at least the early models were);  You're not riding a 750 cc two stroke triple from the 70's that's all motor and zero handling.  Yeah, you can definitely kick things up a lot of notches investing money in the fork and larger wheels, but until then a corner certainly is rideable.  Even at go to jail right now speeds.

As for the larger wheel I think you'll have to get '89 fork lowers in order to go to a 17" wheel.  Upside is if you do this you'll be able to go with better brakes too.  Good luck.

[chixson]

THANKS FOR THE INFO!! I'm gonna check out the tires first! It really is a good day....

[Pat Conlon]

Chris, actually the '89 rim will fit the early FJ forks, it uses the same size 15mm axle, spacers and speedo drive and will bolt right up....

The problem is the brake rotors. The early FJ rotors will not fit the '89 rim. A different bolt pattern.
So you have to use the '89+ rotors on your '89 rim
.
Ok so you do that, now you have a '89+ rim and rotors on your '86 forks lowers, bolting up fine....so far, so good....

Now you try and bolt on your '86 brake calipers ....aaaagh, they won't fit over the '89+ rotors. The mounting points are wrong on the '86's lower fork legs.

So now you need the '89+ lower fork legs so the mounting points for the calipers match the '89+ rotors...

See where I'm going with this..?

Now you have found a set of '89+ lower forks legs, to make the calipers fit on your '89+ rotors which are bolted up to your '89+ rim, but wait, you are not done.....noooo sireee me bucko...

Now, we are telling you to throw those '89+ calipers in the trash and get some '2000+ YZF R-1 blue spot mono block calipers (non radial mount) to bolt on your '89+ lower fork legs, which fit (nicely) over your '89+ rotors which are bolted to your '89+ rim.

But wait there's more....

To make those YZF R-1 calipers work the best you should throw away any old oem rubber brake lines you have and install some stainless flex brake lines...

So now you have some new SS brake lines bolted up to your R-1 mono block blue spot calipers, which are bolted up to your '89+ lower fork legs which fit over the '89+ brake rotors which are bolted on your '89+ front rim.

You think you are done yet?  Nooooooo

Now we are gonna tell you, to get the best brake feel and best control of those R-1 brake calipers, you need to throw away your FJ's oem 5/8" master cylinder (m/c) and install a 14mm m/c....

So let's review shall we? (sing along)
The 14mm m/c is connected to the SS braaake lines,
The brake lines are connected to the Blue spot calipeeers..
The Blue spots are connected to the '89+ forrrrk lowers
The fork lowers are connected to the '89 froooont rim
The '89 rim is connected to the '89 rooooters

Now some sickos here on this forum will tell you to throw that narrow 3" wide 17" rim in the trash and get........

**Makes those 16" Avon radials look pretty damn good huh?**

[andyb]

You can also swap just the lower legs down as an entire unit, and perform the braking upgrades and such later.

Pat's mostly right, just really strange...

[Mark Olson]

once you start modifying your fj, there is a sickness that will engulf your life and drain your bank acct.

IT is worth it .   

[ally]

I too have the '86 with 16" wheel and am none too happy with the damping nor brakes

being (very) poor I have been collecting bits to swap over in time

I have found that fzx750 baby v-max braided hoses fir and 83mm centre callipers from a TZR250 (either 3XV or 3MA) although not sure if you get them in the states, also the fzr400rr calliper fits too

there is a useful link: http://www.geocities.jp/motorcity6943/technote/break/cariper.htm, use google chrome and it will translate for you

might help.........




ps - for those with later front end there is a nice 6-pot system fitted to the YZF750SP (some on the uk ebay for £10!)

[Pat Conlon]

Pat's mostly right, just really strange...

Mostly right? As in, almost right? Did I miss something? 

[andyb]

Pat's mostly right, just really strange...

Mostly right? As in, almost right? Did I miss something?  

Anyone singing the <front end component> is connected to the <other front end component> song very obviously isn't entirely right... in the head.  

[miked]

Anyone singing the <front end component> is connected to the <other front end component> song very obviously isn't entirely right... in the head.

I had that stupid song stuck in my head all day after reading Paddy's post......

[SlowOldGuy]

Must have been the crash and the hit he took on the noggin.  :-)

Then again, he may have some left-over oxycotin.....

DavidR.