What to do first?

[keand3]

Hi.

Got my self an 86 FJ1200 Stock which need some modding and maintenance this winter.
So, i have decided to start with changing forks, breaks and the spin-on oil filter adapter.

The question is however, changing into what? I would like to change to something that's better then stock of course, and i am not all to familiar with what is compatible with the FJ1200.
There are also a ton of different brands to choose from, any suggestion for breaks and fork?


Ken

[FJmonkey]

Start with the Search function, the forks and brakes have been covered so many times here you can't miss the posts. Your budget will be your main guide with all the options you have. The smaller your budget is, the less options you will have. The kind of riding you do can also influence the mods you chose to make. A serious rider that wants maximum performance or the casual commuter or long distance cruzer? Many of us are in between. Do some research first, it will help you get a better feel for what mods will fit you and your FJ.

My 86 has 89 forks, RPM valves with .85 straight rate springs, 88 FZR1000 front wheel, Blue dot calipers, Galfer knock-off wave rotors and steel braided lines. And I am really happy with it. Good luck.

[keand3]

Thanks for the tips FJmonkey (funny nickname by the way)
Will start with the search function.

You say you have an 88 FZR1000 front wheel, is your rear wheel also FZR or stock?
The Front Fork Spring (ex.85kg/mm) at RPM, what is the difference between .85kg/mm to 1.0 kg/mm?
I am a newbie to modding so i try to grasp as much information as possible

Cheers,
Ken

[FJmonkey]

Thanks for the tips FJmonkey (funny nickname by the way)
Will start with the search function.

You say you have an 88 FZR1000 front wheel, is your rear wheel also FZR or stock?
The Front Fork Spring (ex.85kg/mm) at RPM, what is the difference between .85kg/mm to 1.0 kg/mm?
I am a newbie to modding so i try to grasp as much information as possible

Cheers,
Ken

Rear wheel is 92 GSXR 750, it bolts on easy like the 87/88 FZR1000 front.

The .85 spring is light unless you also use the RPM valve. If you just changing springs you will need go heavier like .95 or 1.0 but you will just have the same old 26 year old technology. The RPM valves transformed the front end in handling. The Anti-Dive you think you have (84 to 87 years) either don't work or at all or so little you can't tell. With the RPM valves the dive under breaking is incredibly reduced. But the forks are less stiff and absorb the bumps in the road so quickly you don't notice much of it. I am not a racer but I like to get spirited in the corners and these valves make the front feel very planted even under rough road conditions.  The single best mod I have made to my FJ to date.

You can get a lot of FJ and Yamaha stuff from www.rpmracing.com. Randy keeps adding FJ stuff to his store and if you need anything Yamaha just ask him. He can order it and have it shipped to your door faster and for less than buying from the steelers.

Ironically in side car racing the person in the side car that is constantly shifting around to better distribute weight is called the monkey.  But how I chose my moniker was before I knew that. It does seem to fit though.

[Pat Conlon]

If you still have the oem rubber brake lines on your '86, start with replacing those first. Just a suggestion.

[Mike Ramos]

Pat is correct re: brake lines.

FJ Monkey's front end mirrors mine although I did add the Fork Brace as well, which improved things even more by tying everything together. An added plus is that the fork seals, which weeped or leaked constantly, have never seeped at all since the Fork Brace was installed.

My goofy moniker was chosen for me & it has been hell ever since...!

Ride safe,

Mike Ramos.

[fj11.5]

that's a dam good reason to buy a fork brace 

[Mike Ramos]

Well,

There are those who feel it is the fork tube misalignment during their up & down action that causes the seals to leak. (There is a web site with an illustration of this but I do not recall which one).

Given the fact that the Brace eliminates this misalignment completely, which lends credence or empirical evidence to this point of view.

And the cost of a Fork Brace is well spent and recouped when you factor in the cost of buying new seals & the labor involved.

Ride carefully,

Mike Ramos.

[Arnie]

The ONLY way a fork brace can do ANYTHING is if your front axle or the fork tubes bend.

Prior to understanding this fact, I did have a brace on a previous bike.  It did nothing.

Arnie

[Marsh White]

Well,

There are those who feel it is the fork tube misalignment during their up & down action that causes the seals to leak. (There is a web site with an illustration of this but I do not recall which one).

Mike Ramos.

Is this the illustration you were thinking of?
http://www.superbrace.com/simulation.html

[Pat Conlon]

 Arnie, here's a test for you to try...
...the aluminum strap between the front and back half of your front fender....take it off....see those 4 holes in the strap? They are not round are they? They were round when your bike was new but what caused them to be elongated?

You bet your ass those spindley (by today's standards) 41mm fork tubes move on our heavy bikes....absolutely.

Another thing I noticed with a fork brace was that I stopped cracking the fender tabs....

[FJmonkey]

Pat is correct re: brake lines.

FJ Monkey's front end mirrors mine although I did add the Fork Brace as well, which improved things even more by tying everything together. An added plus is that the fork seals, which weeped or leaked constantly, have never seeped at all since the Fork Brace was installed.

My goofy moniker was chosen for me & it has been hell ever since...!

Ride safe,

Mike Ramos.

Bad Monkey, I forgot that I also have an RPM fork brace installed by Randy himself just before a ride during a rally....Priceless...

[keand3]

Hi.
A lot of good tips, thanks guys.
I will defiantly start by checking the brake lines and replace them with something better.
The fork seems to be a bit more expensive upgrade, but it defiantly seems worth it. RPM valves is a must i see. No point in staying with the old technology when you can improve it with the valves.

Cheers
Ken

[Mike Ramos]

Hey Arnie,

I have to disagree with you concerning the fork brace:

Thanks Marsh; that was the illustration I was thinking of.

And thanks to Mr. Conlon; you summed it up nicely.

Finally the FJ Monkey; you and I had a spirited ride not too long ago - the modifications that you & I have installed put the spirit into it & made it all possible...

Or perhaps I should say that the gentleman from R.P. M. has made it possible for all FJ owners. Cheers to Randy & R.P.M.

And Arnie - cheer up...!

Ride carefully,

Mike Ramos.

[keand3]

Hi again.
After doing some research i have found several forks to a reasonable price.
Those i have fitted are stock 41mm with antidive.

So, the question is wether to change to newer 43mm from 91, also think this means i have to change the mounting brackets for the fork, am i correct? Does the wheel need to be changed to?

Al sow got a good price on a fork foam an FZR1000, but i am more unfamiliar with this on, but i am guessing brackets would need to be changed to?

There is always the option to keep stock, and mood with RPM parts. But i gone take the whole thing out anyway, so i might just change it..

I would apricot some feedback from others that have experience with the forks mentioned above.

Cheers

Ken