XJ/FZ Cafe Project

Hi all, I've been having a look around all the projects on here and you guys are certainly a talented bunch when it comes to your builds.

So, before I start let me introduce my main ride, a 1990 XJ600 in pretty much imaculate condition, this bike I will never sell as I love it's characteristics.


Anyway, on with the project, I got to talking with a guy recently who had a garage full of spares for the XJ and for the princely sum of £10 and a crate of beer, I was the proud owner of a motor, electrics, carbs, and a whole host of other stuff. So it sat in my garage for a year before I realised there was almost enough to build a bike. I just needed a rolling chasis. so here's the plan. XJ frame cos I like old skool round tubes on a bike and the frame rales are wide enough to accomadate the bigger carbs the FZ couldn't.

I decided to go with FZ forks and top yoke (triple clamps) and FZ wheels (16" front 18"rear). The FZ's bottom yoke's stem is far too long to fit, so simple solution was to use the XJ bottom with the FZ top. Job Jobbed.

so we have this mess.

The way I build is to start by doing a "dirty" build, I build as I get parts, once I get what resembles a bike I'll strip 'er down for powder coat and paint.

I now need to get an FZ swing arm, just a case of waiting for one to come up on E-bay at the right price.

Right I gotta warn you guys, This is probably gonna take a long time to build, but I will put up progress pics and add some info when I can.

 

I had to sell a few bits and peices in order to fund the frame, forks wheels and yokes.
Like I mentioned I am just waiting on a suitable swinger coming up for sale before I can continue the Dirty.

So to amuse myself, I spent a couple of hours freeing off and cleaning up this here master cylinder,

next will be the carbs, but I know they are in good working order, cos I tried them on my XJ!

anyway, more as it happens

 

Welcome kevw, I'm new as well. Recently came across a 1984 FJ600 that I was going to part out then had a change of heart. If the dirty bike comes out half as good as your other one you'll have a couple of fine rides there.

 

Cool bike, sir!

And holy cow, I would love to have your lower front fairing for my Seca

 

I have a swinger, shock and bits from a 1988 FZ600, to bad shipping would be a nightmare.

 

Thanks guys!
Hey Raven, Ebay uk or Ebay europe have these cowls on from time to time, standard fit on a euro xj600

Thrasher, I'd love to come and pick 'em up :lol:

I spent a few weeks in the U.S. a few years ago and absolutely love it. mmmmm happy days.

ah well I have just got the scottish highland roads to play with!!!!!

 

Check out this post and note where tiff lives - he may have a standard xj swing arm.

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... =tiff.html

You must ride past each other!

 

Probably do markie, probably do

It's not an XJ swinger I am looking for though. It's the FZ one!!!

Such are these "bitsa" projects!

 

Interesting project.. Are the FZ parts a straight swap or is there some "jobbing" to be done?

 

I'm curious about that as well. Seems like there should be a lot of "like" components but what year range is most equivalent? And as far as exhaust goes, will 4-1 for a FZ or XJ bolt up to a FJ? Lot more part options when you throw the XJ and FZ into the mix.

 

Haynes workshop manual covers the fj/xj and FZ together.

It's only the air cooled FZ which shares the same engine with the XJ. I believe up until about 1988 in the UK. The FZ carbs are smaller diameter - maybe to accomodate the more sporting body of the FZ?

There are size differences like wheels and the swing arms and suspension linkages are different although "Similar".

I reckon it would be a case of offering things up and adapting them.

Kevw is in the best position!

 

Hey guys!


The FZ and The XJ 600 share the same engine.
Quick history, The XJ600 was Yam's mid weight Sports bike in the early 80's.....and then Honda brought out the CBR600. This left Yamaha lagging so they took their Japan only FZ400 and crammed the 600 motor into it. The FZ600 was a stop gap until Yamaha could develop the FZR600 Genesis. Now because the FZ's frame was meant for a 400 30mm carbs were fitted to the 600 as the 32's just physically can't get in the space.
So ironicaly the new FZ sports bike had smaller carbs and less agressive cams, my plan is to use the best of both worlds and have a light weight "full power" XJ

As for parts fitting, at the moment I am just testing to see what fits. and so far I can tell you, the FZ steering stem is waaaaay to long so I've used an XJ bottom yoke with the FZ top.

The FZ forks are the same length as the xj's and both are 32mm diameter, but the wheel spindle is a smaller diameter, which means you can't stick an FZ front wheel straight on an XJ. the discs and calipers are identical on the front. Reason for using FZ forks? So I can use the FZ wheels, which carry slightly wider rubber, and because they are "stiffer" than the XJ ( I am building to a tight budget so am not really concidering trying to fit more exotic stuff)

The front wheel is 16" instead of 18", this suits me fine as this should incourage faster steering.

And finaly, I have measured the swing arms and they seem to have the same dimensions, so the FZ arm should fit in the frame without too much hassle.

(Oh and I amy have sourced the parts I need to complete my rolling chassis!)

More soon guys!

 

oh, I forgot to add, the FJ600 is the same bike as the XJ600

1984-1985 in the USA and 1984-1992 in the UK I believe

the FZ ran from 86 - 88 in the uk at least. and should not be confused with the later FZ6 Fazer.

exhausts for each are interchangable (although the FZ's may need a little fettling to fit the XJ!)

 

quick update, still waiting for the parts I need to become available, so I have spent my time cleaning up some parts.

I know I said I was doing a "Dirty" build, but some parts should be cleaned up before fitting.

So here's a pic of the carbs before and after cleaning. I seperated them out and cleaned them in my parts washer. also making an apearance are the brake torque arm and the fork brace.

Boring I know, but at least its a little bit of progress!!!!

 

you've got a wild hair!

 

no idea what you mean, but thanks! :lol:

 

good day,

projects looking good. i have an 86 fz600 track bike.

the 32 mm FJ (XJ)carbs don't fit the fz because of the frame/airbox clearance. i am installing 32mm fj carbs on the fz with pods. pods are the only way to fit the larger 32mm carbs. i will be using a dynojet stage 3 jet kit (stage 3 is for fj600 with pods and 4-1).

here in canada the only difference between the fj and fz engines are the carbs - 32mm vs 30mm. cams and timing are identical.
the forks in canada are 36mm (on both bikes).
cheers

 

Yup my mistake, the forks are 36mm.
was cheking the specs, and the uk XJ has a larger exhaust cam than the FZ, but the US FJ uses the same cams as the FZ.

Also the UK XJ uses a larger pilot jet than the FZ or FJ.

weird stuff.

 

Thats a very clean XJ Kev! I'll be watching this project with interest! Nice one

 

I'm looking at using another inlet cam on the exhaust side, it's a common mod in the late GSXR1000 and gives more lift (not sure on duration)