mods

[moonrunnah]

okay im working on a budget......
tires/wheels....... i doubt i can afford to do a 17inch rim swap sor for tires can i go wider with stock rims (180/60 -16 insted of 150/80 - 16) also what about the front
f4i shock - they are cheap enough is it difficult to do
blue spots (difficulty and price)
and new frok springs and oil (the rpm fork valve are to much for now)

any input is helpfull as always

[FJmonkey]

okay im working on a budget......
tires/wheels....... i doubt i can afford to do a 17inch rim swap sor for tires can i go wider with stock rims (180/60 -16 insted of 150/80 - 16) also what about the front
f4i shock - they are cheap enough is it difficult to do
blue spots (difficulty and price)
and new frok springs and oil (the rpm fork valve are to much for now)

any input is helpfull as always

Don't go wider on your stock rims. Not even sure if you can find much wider in 16" for the rear. The front will be like cold custard in an old sock, not safe unless you keep it under 45MPH and don't turn. You get radials if you put Avon AV45/46 tires on. I ran on them for a few years, good tires.

f4i shock will be better than stock, good upgrade if on a budget.

Blue dots will not bolt on to your 86/87 unless you get adapter plates or make your own. Upgrading to 89+ FJ forks will work, that is how I did my 17" wheel swap.

Straight rate springs and new fork oil will likely improve the front over the original progressive springs and old oil. Also a good upgrade for a budget. You can play with oil thickness and pre-load to change fork performance.   

Consider losing the old brake lines and putting on steel braided lines and HH pads. It will improve the bite during braking and feel more controlled at the lever. Unless you go wider on the front tire, then the old spongy brakes will be just fine under 45 MPH and no corners....

[SlowOldGuy]

Wider tires offer no advantages.  Does anyone even make a 180-16 tire?  Maybe a Harley or Goldwing tire?  If anything, it would make matter worse by severely distorting the contact patch.

In my opinion (and experience), the best bang for the buck on an early model FJ (with 16 inch front wheel) is to make the conversion to a 17 inch front wheel.  I've got several mods on my '85 FJ, but if I had to keep only one it would be the front end conversion.  To get the full benefit, proper springs would also be a must.

Cheapest way is to use fork/wheel/brake components from an '89+ FJ.

The handling improvement from this mod was amazimg (be quiet Alf).  This mod also lets you do monobloc caliper change when you get around to fitting it in the budget.

DavidR.

[FJmonkey]

Wider tires offer no advantages.  Does anyone even make a 180-16 tire?  Maybe a Harley or Goldwing tire?  If anything, it would make matter worse by severely distorting the contact patch.

In my opinion (and experience), the best bang for the buck on an early model FJ (with 16 inch front wheel) is to make the conversion to a 17 inch front wheel.  I've got several mods on my '85 FJ, but if I had to keep only one it would be the front end conversion.  To get the full benefit, proper springs would also be a must.

Cheapest way is to use fork/wheel/brake components from an '89+ FJ.

The handling improvement from this mod was amazimg (be quiet Alf).  This mod also lets you do monobloc caliper change when you get around to fitting it in the budget.

DavidR.

David, were you typing when I posted?

[movenon]

I know this is off the farm so please don't laugh to hard. IF you want to stiffen up your front forks on a real budget the go get 2 BMW motorcycle valve springs (old boxer springs, R 100 or what ever) and stack them on top of your existing springs. 
George

[SlowOldGuy]

David, were you typing when I posted?

Must have been.   Great minds think alike.

DavidR.

[93fj1200]

Wider tires offer no advantages.  Does anyone even make a 180-16 tire?  Maybe a Harley or Goldwing tire?  If anything, it would make matter worse by severely distorting the contact patch.
In my opinion (and experience), the best bang for the buck on an early model FJ (with 16 inch front wheel) is to make the conversion to a 17 inch front wheel.  I've got several mods on my '85 FJ, but if I had to keep only one it would be the front end conversion.  To get the full benefit, proper springs would also be a must.
Cheapest way is to use fork/wheel/brake components from an '89+ FJ.
The handling improvement from this mod was amazimg (be quiet Alf).  This mod also lets you do monobloc caliper change when you get around to fitting it in the budget.
DavidR.

Here is a good website to buy tires.  I have used them and was very happy. No problems at all.  http://swmotorubber.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_134_136&products_id=616
Bridgestone 180/70ZR16 VTX
I used 2 of these tires during my trip from Canada to Panama before I switched over to my Suzuki rim.  They make the bike ride a little higher but handled like a totally different bike.  Much better in the corners, felt more stable than the usual 150s. Together I put about 25,000 kms on both tires so not bad for mileage considering the roads in Mexico and Central America are not nice, straight and high quality like North America.  If you don´t want to change the rim but want a big tire, they work great.  They also give it a badass look from the rear also.

[Arnie]

What you are doing here is adding the BMW springs as a preload spacer.  You'll get the same result by just putting a longer spacer in your forks.

Arnie

I know this is off the farm so please don't laugh to hard. IF you want to stiffen up your front forks on a real budget the go get 2 BMW motorcycle valve springs (old boxer springs, R 100 or what ever) and stack them on top of your existing springs. 
George

[Arnie]

The OEM 16" rear rim on the FJ is only 3.5" wide.
NONE of the tire or bike manufactures recommend a tire wider than a 150 with the exception of Avon with their 160/80x16.  Putting a wider tire than this on your OEM rim is only going to pinch the profile and give you a SMALLER contact patch.
If you want a wider tire for the extra wear and load carrying capacity change to a wider rim.
If you want a wide tire to look "badass" (aka stupid) then change to a wider rim first.
Putting a (too) wide tire on a narrow rim can be dangerous and offers you NO benefits.

Arnie

[movenon]

What you are doing here is adding the BMW springs as a preload spacer.  You'll get the same result by just putting a longer spacer in your forks.

Arnie

I know this is off the farm so please don't laugh to hard. IF you want to stiffen up your front forks on a real budget the go get 2 BMW motorcycle valve springs (old boxer springs, R 100 or what ever) and stack them on top of your existing springs.  
George

Yes, that will work to. I have done that on other bikes in the past. The springs just happen to be about the same diameter and might be easier to get a hold of. Both ideas work. Going that route is hit or miss and can lead to a lot of time dinking around. Everything is scaled as to how much money and time you have plus what you can get your hands on.

I would like to take a bit of time here to thank you Arnie and the others for your work in reference to GSXR rear wheel conversion and the F4i shock guidance. I am just about ready to pull my rear end down and get into the change. Waiting on the last few bits to arrive.
George

[moonrunnah]

okay so unless some one is selling cheap ass rims ill just put stock size tires on (for this season)
what springs/oil weight would be good (im about 180lbs and some times ride with my girl friend)
ill do brake lines and and pads if i cant find decent priced calipers
what about changing both my m/c the clutch is leaking and the brake mc felles like is crap.
and ill through in an f4i shock

a bit off topic but is street fighering my fj considered bad and also im going to be changing the exhaust and air box if anyone is interested buying them cheap and ill probably have more stock parts for sale cheap as i rip in to her and find things i dont like

[rktmanfj]

okay so unless some one is selling cheap ass rims ill just put stock size tires on (for this season)
what springs/oil weight would be good (im about 180lbs and some times ride with my girl friend)
ill do brake lines and and pads if i cant find decent priced calipers
what about changing both my m/c the clutch is leaking and the brake mc felles like is crap.
and ill through in an f4i shock

a bit off topic but is street fighering my fj considered bad and also im going to be changing the exhaust and air box if anyone is interested buying them cheap and ill probably have more stock parts for sale cheap as i rip in to her and find things i dont like

Budgets suck.   

I have a 17x3" front (I think... I'm in SoCal right now and can't look at it until I get home on Tuesday)

You can have it for shipping cost if you want it.

[racerrad8]

...I'm in SoCal right now and can't look at it until I get home on Tuesday

You still coming up to San Fran?

I am 90ish miles east if you want to drop by.

Randy - RPM

[rktmanfj]

...I'm in SoCal right now and can't look at it until I get home on Tuesday

You still coming up to San Fran?

I am 90ish miles east if you want to drop by.

Randy - RPM

Must be somebody else, Randy.     

I just got to SD, flying back to the icebox overnight on Sunday (low Tues is forecast to be -2F).

Next time will be a longer trip, I hope.

[racerrad8]

No worries, I just remember someone saying the were headed west to SF recently.

Randy - RPM