What to do first?!?!?!?!?

[mrluckey]

 
So I finally got my first motorcycle and It is a dream come true with a 92 FJ1200, stock... except for a aftermarket corbin seat which is sweat.
Now I love it and all but STOCK! come on!
So where do I start? exaust, head, pistons, I want power before beauty.
And where is the best place for parts?
I need ideas, I have resources and time until my next deployment so some advice, please?

Thank You FJowners

[yamaha fj rider]

Try starting with brakes and suspension. Make it stop and handle. This will keep out of trouble. After that, then worry about more power.

Kurt

[racerman_27410]

Try starting with brakes and suspension. Make it stop and handle. This will keep out of trouble. After that, then worry about more power.

Kurt

+1    Once you get the brakes and handling up to snuff adding more power is easy (and safer)


congrats on the new ride!

KOokaloo!   

[Pat Conlon]

Congrats Mr Lucky, '92's are good bikes. I enjoy mine. Ditto to what has been said....
Brakes and suspension first. There's plenty of poop in the motor to get you into trouble.
1) If you still have the 20 year old rubber brake lines, start with those, they are long over due for replacement.
2) R1 blue spot calipers will bolt right up to your '92 fork legs, easy peesey.
3) Get a 14mm front brake master cylinder for the best feel.
4) New Fork springs and RPM fork valves are the best bang for the buck for the front.
5) That oem rear shock was weak sauce, the day it rolled off the Yamaha assembly line so a RPM shock would be a major enhancement along with some slightly shorter dogbones (shock links) to get more weight on the front tire.
Finally...
6) A 17" rear rim conversion will allow you to remove that outdated 150/80-16 rear donut and allow a wide selection of modern radial tires.
7) Meantime...Keep a eye out for A 1987 or '88 FZR front rim which is 3.5" wide (vs. your oem 3.0" rim) for better sidewall support of a modern 120/70-17 front tire, and is a direct replacement....like plug and play.

Leave the motor alone, it's a great engine as it is....

Cheers!  Pat

[Klavdy]

The FJ 1100/1200 is a lot of bike, especially as your first one.
The posters above have been messing about with them for decades.
Their advice is tried and true,those are well tested mods that will bring your bike into 2012.
Best mod you may find however is rider training.

[yamaha fj rider]

Best mod you may find however is rider training.

+1 One day of training will do more for you than all the engine mods. If you go around a corner faster you will be faster down the strait away. Also buy some gear if you don't have it already. Good helmet one that fits, gloves, jacket, boots and pants.

Kurt

[Tapartacus]

Let's not forget the engine mounts. ;-D

Andrew

[flips]

Hi Mrlucky & welcome.

Ditto to all the above.I wouldn't worry about pistons/head etc unless the engine was tired and in need of a rebuild.Once you have brakes/suspension/wheels sorted you might think about a four into one exhaust or free flowing slip ons and a set of rpm uni pod air filters with some minor carb tweaking for sweeter top end power (might lose a little bottom end).Throw an ignition advancer in for even more kick!

WARNING-moditis is a contagious and compulsive addiction that afflicts many forum members but usually results in superior fjs and fj owners with silly grins!

Obviously ebay is a good source of parts but an awsome source of parts and excellent advice is Randy from rpm ( racerrad8 here on the forum)

http://www.rpmracingca.com/products.asp?cat=39

Cheers  

Jeff P

P.S for ideas/inspiration...you have already found the best place....this site  
here's a couple more...
Alfs site...
http://www.fj1200.info/Home.htm
From the UK....
http://www.fjmods.co.uk/

[FJmonkey]

Welcome Mrlucky, I guess I don't need to tell you how helpful this group is. The mods I have enjoyed on 86' are upgrading the wheels, GSXR rear 17" 180 x 55 and the front FZR1000 17" 120 x 70. Now I have way too many choices of really good rubber to run on. I also put on 89" FJ forks with the RPM valves, a fantastic improvement in front end feel and handling. Blue dots with HH pads and steel braided lines, with the stock 5/8" master it is still a much improved feel in braking. I will never need more that two fingers to stop from any speed. With the front end sorted I am waiting for RPM to release the rear shock. Then on to some slip-on pipes and UNI pods. It just keeps getting better...

[nurse]

Congrats Mr Lucky, '92's are good bikes. I enjoy mine. Ditto to what has been said....
Brakes and suspension first. There's plenty of poop in the motor to get you into trouble.
1) If you still have the 20 year old rubber brake lines, start with those, they are long over due for replacement.
2) R1 blue spot calipers will bolt right up to your '92 fork legs, easy peesey.
3) Get a 14mm front brake master cylinder for the best feel.
4) New Fork springs and RPM fork valves are the best bang for the buck for the front.
5) That oem rear shock was weak sauce, the day it rolled off the Yamaha assembly line so a RPM shock would be a major enhancement along with some slightly shorter dogbones (shock links) to get more weight on the front tire.
Finally...
6) A 17" rear rim conversion will allow you to remove that outdated 150/80-16 rear donut and allow a wide selection of modern radial tires.
7) Meantime...Keep a eye out for A 1987 or '88 FZR front rim which is 3.5" wide (vs. your oem 3.0" rim) for better sidewall support of a modern 120/70-17 front tire, and is a direct replacement....like plug and play.

Leave the motor alone, it's a great engine as it is....

Cheers!  Pat

This list is pretty much what i did but not necesarily in that order.  Before i did any of this i would +1 on the rider training but even before that i would get down the gym and bulk up as the FJ is one heavy cruise liner and just moving it about by hand can be a struggle!!

Have just done the 3.5" front mod (will update post ASAP), but next on the list without excuse is the RPM front valves (i have even gone to the length of getting the correct fork oil ready!!)

Have fun!

[yamaha fj rider]

  Welcome to the group.

Kurt

[John Hopkins]

If this really is your first bike, the first things you should do is replace the brake pads, drain and bleed the brakes and clutch, drain the oil and replace it and the filter, replace the fuel and air filters, check the battery and charging system, and take the bike for a long run..at least 200 miles, a lot more if you can..

I wouldn't try to improve the speed until you know the bike is not going to let you down.

John.

[andyb]

Screw the bike.

Improved rider comfort, from a properly-fitted helmet and good gear, will prevent mistakes from fatigue.  

Improved rider comfort, from familiarity and knowledge in what to do in a given situation, will prevent problems, and getting as much training as possible is the ideal answer.

Best part?  Both of those will be things you carry with you to your next bike.


Past that, the only real question is how much do you want to spend?  There's at least one >400hp FJ on the streets, breathing through a turbo, but as you'd guess it isn't an inexpensive route to go.

[fj11.5]

400hp Fj, sounds like fun, but also a good way to get in trouble , must chew through rear tyres quick even with a light right hand

[fintip]

I hate to say it, but this is really a kind of poor choice for a first bike; too heavy and powerful for a beginner. I hope you had lots of experience on other people's smaller bikes before hand or grew up on dirtbikes.

I'm not telling you what to do, but that's exactly what I'd tell any of my friends just now getting into motorcycling--get something 500cc or smaller. You've made your choice, and it's a great bikes by all accounts, so I doubt you'll go take it back. But please be properly afraid and cautious.

I'd say go read the HURT report, and definitely do the upgrades on the brakes. Then DEFINITELY go do a rider course if you don't have prior dirtbike experience--if you do, it's still not a bad idea if your dirtbike experience isn't extensive.

In any case, go really easy these first 6 months... That's when a huge percentage of motorcycle accidents happen, a rider's first 6 months.

Best of luck, and thanks for serving our country.