Front fork damage

[VidJunky]

First let me say hello. I'm a noob here and to riding, well kind of.  The FJ1200 is my first motorcycle and may be my last without the advice and help of those that know.  I slid off the side of the road into a fence and bent one fork arm (right) which also bent my axle.  The axle I can find but not the inner tube for the fork.  I am also having zero luck finding a whole fork.  A friend said that others had replaced the whole shebang, but could remember with what.  I found one site about modifications that showed a couple of examples of bikes that had there forks and trip changed out, but one was ugly (tubular bars) and the other involved equipment I don't have.  So I guess I really have two questions; Is there a straight replacement that anyone knows of or has used? Or does anyone know of a source for parts that I might tap?  Internet and eBay searches have turned up nil.

92 FJ1200 (not CA or ABS)

[Dads_FJ]

greetings, and sorry to hear of your misfortune!  Forks can sometimes be straightened, such as at a place like this in MN: http://www.billbune.com/services.html  minimum fork charge is $25.00.

Good luck.

[Pat Conlon]

Welcome, glad you're ok.  Forks are easy, broken bones.... a bit harder.

The upper fork tube is called the stanchion tube and that's what most commonly gets bent.

As John said above, straightening a bent fork is the least expensive option. (Depending on how badly it's bent)

eBay would be the next option, but beware you may end up buying a "less bent" fork tube.

Buying a aftermarket stanchion tube is a bit dear at $260 from Race Tech: http://www.racetech.com/TNKProductSearch/YAMAHA/FJ%201200/1991-1992

Looking at the Powersports.com web site, where I get my factory parts, I see that they list the oem replacements from Yamaha as obsolete...bummer.
http://www.powersportsplus.com/parts/search/Yamaha/Motorcycle/1992/FJ1200D/FRONT+FORK/parts.html

Hope this helps getting you back on the road.  Cheers! Pat

[tmkaos]

Hi there,

I got new tarrozzi fork tubes from this place, excellent service and they shipped them international for me, Australia to NZ. Cost me $400 NZD for 2 tubes, landed and ready to bolt in.
http://www.motorcycle-parts.com.au/

Good luck 

James

[candieandy]

i have an entire front end off of an 89 fzr1000 which is an ungrade and direct swap to the FJ1200. considering the cost of buying forks for 260, bucks, i can get you a whole front end. are you interested. this includes triple tree, wheel, axlew bolt and forks.

[Zwartie]

VidJunky,

You have definitely found the right group that can help you with all your FJ needs. Most importantly, I'm glad to hear you're OK. The FJ is a mighty beast and if you are new to motorcycling as you said, then you may want to take a lesson or two. As a motorcycle riding instructor, I am most definitely biased toward training - it is money well spent and can save your life. At the least, go out and buy (or borrow) some books on riding techniques, specifically on street riding. A couple of great books to start with are "Proficient Motorcycling" and "More Proficient Motorcycling", both written by David L. Hough (Huff).

All the best and keep the shiny side up!

Ben Zwart
London, ON

[VidJunky]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Yeah, I'm ok. Actually I barely felt anything, didn't even scratch the paint. Just got caught a little of guard by the early season grit on the road.  I got a line on a fairly local motorcycle salvage yard I'll try there tomorrow when I go to pick up the axle. If they don't have exactly what I'm looking for all your suggestions should help make it easier. If that fails I may take candy up on the offer if the price is right and shipping doesn't kill me.

While I haven't gotten my full licence yet, I put over 5000 miles on her last season and have read 'sport riding' for tips. I also plan on taking the state course. Ohio has a really good program from everyone I've talked to. Thanks again for all the tips. See you on the road.

[Klavdy]

Mate, please heed Ben and go get some lessons.
You'll have much more fun once you get taught.
They teach how to learn to ride,not just how to pass a licence test.
Look into using one of the training schools bikes, something around the 250cc mark for your first few lessons.
It takes away the need to manage  a big, heavy, powerful bike that is absolutely unsuitable to learn on plus they usually have crash bars etc on them and won't get too damaged if you drop them.

[Antonn3]

Hello,
if you still  have the items after VidJunky thinks about it, I might be interested in the FZR items.

Thanks,
Tony

[Pat Conlon]

Hello, if you still  have the items after VidJunky thinks about it, I might be interested in the FZR items.

Tony, you know the '89+ FZR rim uses a 17mm dia. axle, not a 15mm that the FJ uses...

The front end swap that candieandy offers is a good deal, except that the '89 FZR  still uses damper rod forks (not cartridge)
Perhaps Randy's new valves will drop in the FZR forks? That would be a great enhancement.

Still...The FZR forks have a few things going for them:
1) 43mm dia. stanchion tubes vs. the FJ's spindley 41mm. Less flex for our heavy bikes.
2) A stiffer (lighter) 17mm dia. axle vs. the 15mm FJ axle. Less bending.
3) Stouter fork lowers which fit the blue spots.
4) larger 320mm rotors
5) 3.5" x 17" front rim.

[Antonn3]

Thank you Pat... yes if I  recall, the FZR1000 axle change happened in 89 to the 17mm axle?
I have a stock (for now) 85  FJ .. I do have a 88 FZR1000 front rim and blue dot calipers so far,for the front end upgrade...
So to finish I require....later FJ forks and 320mm rotors?
I have seen info on the 41mm YZF600 forks...will they work and is the spacing between the forks correct in the 85 triple tree?
....not easy trying to find later FJ forks!
Thanks again

[Pat Conlon]

Thank you Pat... yes if I  recall, the FZR1000 axle change happened in 89 to the 17mm axle?

Yes, the '87/88's were 15mm and '89+ 17mm

I have a stock (for now) 85  FJ .. I do have a 88 FZR1000 front rim and blue dot calipers so far,for the front end upgrade...
So to finish I require....later FJ forks and 320mm rotors?

Yes to all except the rotors, use the oem FJ '89-'93 rotors which are 298mm dia. The 320's won't fit on the FJ fork lowers.
Here's a list of other Yamahas which use the same 298mm rotor:
http://www.powersportsplus.com/parts/detail/yamaha/YP-3HE-2581T-00-00.html

I have seen info on the 41mm YZF600 forks...will they work and is the spacing between the forks correct in the 85 triple tree?

No.
To use the YZF600 forks you need essentially the complete YZF front end. Triples, forks, axles, spacers, speedo drive, axle and fender. Note that the YZF600 uses a 17mm axle .
To quote the YZF600 guru, Jon Cain, " The FJ/YZF600 conversion is not for the faint of heart."

....not easy trying to find later FJ forks! Thanks again

You're welcome Tony....
That's true, it seems all the '84-'87 FJ guys know about the value of the '89+ lowers.
That's why candieandy's '89 FZR front end conversion looks so tasty (so to speak) Even though the '89 FZR is a damper rod fork, just add some Race Tech springs and RPM valves (Randy?) and you're golden.
I think just the FZR's 43mm stanchion tubes are worth the effort rather than the YZF600 front end's 41mm tubes.
I notice that all the modern retro bikes which still use conventional forks (not USD's) are using 43mm tubes. e.g. Suzuki Bandit, etc.
Here's some good reading: http://www.fjmods.btinternet.co.uk/FrontForks.htm
Cheers!

[ribbert]

Thank you Pat... yes if I  recall, the FZR1000 axle change happened in 89 to the 17mm axle?
I have a stock (for now) 85  FJ .. I do have a 88 FZR1000 front rim and blue dot calipers so far,for the front end upgrade...
So to finish I require....later FJ forks and 320mm rotors?
I have seen info on the 41mm YZF600 forks...will they work and is the spacing between the forks correct in the 85 triple tree?
....not easy trying to find later FJ forks!
Thanks again

[cyclenutk75]

VidJunky,
Welcome.  There's a couple places in OH that specialize in used metric bike parts - Rice Paddy (Columbus) and Pinwall Cycle Parts (Massillon).  Where are you in OH?  I'm in Shreve (near Wooster, Canton, Mansfield).  Will keep my eyes and ears peeled for anything that might be suitable for you.

BTW, my son hit a near-vertical bank at about 50 mph on an SV650.  Should have killed him or at least put him in a wheel chair.  He jumped on impact - the bike climbed the bank and the wind screen tore up his chest as he flew over it.  Other than that, not a scratch.  Best thing is he's alive.  Second best thing is my wife never questioned why the bike was hanging from the garage rafters for two weeks while we rounded up a new front end.  Those bent forks are still hanging in my garage.  And his mother never found out about it until two years later when we attended his Air Force Spec Ops graduation.  He still rides (R1) and every time he comes home on leave, I show him the bent forks.  Truly glad you're OK, and definitely sign up for the MSF Basic Rider Course.  I went through it with my son.  Classroom stuf was a little boring for an experienced rider, but the two days of riding were very good - and fun.  They do provide bikes and helmets for the BRC.

GT

[rktmanfj]

No.
To use the YZF600 forks you need essentially the complete YZF front end. Triples, forks, axles, spacers, speedo drive, axle and fender. Note that the YZF600 uses a 17mm axle .
To quote the YZF600 guru, Jon Cain, " The FJ/YZF600 conversion is not for the faint of heart."

Also per Jon, you use '87 or ''88 FZR1000 triples with the YZF600 forks.  You also gain the 3.5" YZF wheel.

Jon coached me through getting a set of these on my bike, and Bill P built them up right, with Traxxion springs and all the Race Tech goodies.

Well worth the (relatively low) cost of admission, IMO.