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Post by BC on Nov 16, 2014 6:08:24 GMT 10
Hi everyone im Chris. I bought myself an FZ8 as a gift to myself for serving 5 years in the Marines. Ive been riding now for 4 months. I love my bike and its the only one I've ever ridden. Toke awhile choosing a bike didn't know if I wanted a sports bike or a cruiser.But when i saw the FZ* i was in love it just called to me i guess. So now i wanna modify my bike and do add on and replacements. For starters I wanna increase the performance. So any suggestions for the performance or looks im listening. Also anything that's work or has failed in the mod department would be great to hear,
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Post by woody146 on Nov 16, 2014 6:43:02 GMT 10
Welcome! This is sure as shit the right place for you!
Some kind of slip on of full exhaust
Ecu flash from turbo Joe.
Suspension upgrades
Brakes upgrades
Headlight upgrade? For night time riding (stock is shit.)
Search function sucks so just start reading and ask any questions
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Post by Camo on Nov 16, 2014 7:06:21 GMT 10
Welcome aboard Chris and good choice!
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Post by Dewey John on Nov 16, 2014 8:39:06 GMT 10
Great bike man!
For starters since you are just getting on two wheels, I would suggest starting with your brakes and suspension. There is plenty of power stock for you to get yourself in a bunch of trouble. Does no good to go fast if you can not handle it or stop it. Front brakes I would suggest putting an R1 or R6 radial master cylinder, steel brake lines, and some HH front pads. Rear replace the pads and lines and you should be good.
Now for the suspension, spring replacements (there are a ton of companies that have springs for your weight), oil, and have someone install it if you are not very mechanically inclined. The next option would be to swap your stock forks out for an FZ1 front end. I believe you will need forks, calipers, rotors, wheel, axle, spacers, and fender. IT is a pretty straight forward swap, not very difficult. Other options would be to do an R1 front end swap, this will drop your front end like 5mm, but gives you full adjustable front suspension.
Dig through the site, if you have questions just ask, our search function sucks!!!!
Congrats
DJ
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Post by BC on Nov 16, 2014 8:42:53 GMT 10
So far i ordered a slip on yoshimura should be in by Tuesday next week. Now im looking at forums on here and have decided on a Nitron rear suspension. Now i need to decide whats the best set up for my front. I was gonna try to increase my power first, but now im thinking performance like steering an cornering. Im also thinking of doing Apex Riser Clip ons so i can have a more aggressive forward position but can still refit the bars for cruising/commuting. Also thinking about a new rear set because the stock are small for me being 6ft 3 and 240lbs. I want something more adjustable and try out gp/reverse shifting. One Day I will make my bike pretty but for now i care more about performance. As i said any suggestions an thoughts will help greatly.
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Post by BC on Nov 16, 2014 8:50:05 GMT 10
So what are the advantages of the R1 front end compared to the the FZ1 forks. And couldn't I just swap R1 forks or would i need the whole front end. Which brings me back to what counts as the whole front end? So i know this all seems very Noobish to everyone but i am fairly new.
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Post by Dewey John on Nov 16, 2014 10:06:55 GMT 10
I think the real difference is the drop and you can get black forks instead of the gold. I don't remember if the fz1 are fully adjustable. Someone will chime in. The whole front end is the forks, axle, spacers, wheel, calipers, rotors, and fender. The whole front will run somewhere around 800-1000. Doom can chime in, you might not have to do the wheel, axle, and such with the fz1, I cant remember exactly.
DJ
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Post by BC on Nov 16, 2014 11:04:04 GMT 10
Have you ever seen someone do this conversion? How much work is usually associated? and dont R1 come stock with ABS?
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Post by Cracker on Nov 16, 2014 11:12:34 GMT 10
Have you ever seen someone do this conversion? How much work is usually associated? and dont R1 come stock with ABS? Welcome to Madness!!
Dj actually had the 8 with the R1 conversion so he would know. I myself have the race tech fork springs and fz1 rear shock setup and love it.
Where you from?
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Post by BC on Nov 16, 2014 11:17:15 GMT 10
Houston, Texas. And also I should mention my FZ8 is a 2012 i noticed i didnt mention that earlier. And DJ already has a conversion hhmm time to stalk his profile and find some pictures and any words from DJ i am listening to since i am a Noob.
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Post by Cracker on Nov 16, 2014 11:25:06 GMT 10
Houston, Texas. And also I should mention my FZ8 is a 2012 i noticed i didnt mention that earlier. And DJ already has a conversion hhmm time to stalk his profile and find some pictures and any words from DJ i am listening to since i am a Noob. Fellow Texan... Sweet!! I think you make 5 of us from Texas. I'm sittin in Fort Worth.
And Dj doesn't have the conversion anymore because he sold his 8 and got him a 9
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Post by BC on Nov 16, 2014 11:33:10 GMT 10
Still I would like to know what it looked like and how much work was behind it. Im thinking of making my FZ8 my everything. And once I paid her off i will expand and get more like a cheap track bike. And i have a great uncle with an old cruiser i wanna look at. For now I wanna do all I can with this bike. It being my first it means alot to me.
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Post by BC on Nov 16, 2014 11:35:54 GMT 10
And I need to meet more riders and tour more of Texas. Didnt really travel until i joined the military. Now its strange riding alone I had friends and fellow Marines to ride with in Cali. Good times and good memories.
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Post by fz8kansas on Nov 16, 2014 11:37:54 GMT 10
Welcome, you seem to have a good start on the site. You'll love this bike, I have had a blast with mine.
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Post by BC on Nov 16, 2014 11:47:20 GMT 10
Thank you thats all I can hope for is a good time from oth my bike and this site. I have alot to learn though. lol my motorcycle my new money pit/funniest toy ive ever owned.
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Post by Cracker on Nov 16, 2014 12:59:26 GMT 10
Thank you thats all I can hope for is a good time from oth my bike and this site. I have alot to learn though. lol my motorcycle my new money pit/funniest toy ive ever owned. Check Out this old thread fz8central.proboards.com/thread/36/front-forks has some good info on the conversion. |
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Post by BC on Nov 16, 2014 13:41:58 GMT 10
Okay I think I have a better grasp of how this project will go. Now time to shop around and see whats available.
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Post by Dewey John on Nov 16, 2014 23:18:59 GMT 10
Look through the gallery, I had a ton of pics in the thread "the Evolution of the beast". I had done a lot to my 8, R1 cams, R1 front end, R1 brakes, FZ1 rear shock, handle bars, my own tune for the cams, rear passenger grab handles, LED everything, Barnett clutches, shorty levers, custom Marthy header, power port for my phone, I cant remember everything, like 5 grand in aftermarket parts. Anyways look through the gallery, there are a ton of nice looking bikes that everyone has put a ton of money and time into.
The first bike is the one you will always remember. No matter how many bikes I have had, I always compare them to the feeling I had on my first 1989 Hurricane 600. Was a pile of shit, but I fucking loved that bike. 30 some odd bikes later and I still remember every detail of that old POS!!!!!!!
DJ
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Post by DanS on Nov 17, 2014 5:20:21 GMT 10
Hey Chris, congrats on the new bike and welcome to the forum! Let's see some pic's of your new baby.
What part of the Houston are you in? I'm in Pearland.
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Post by BC on Nov 17, 2014 8:11:19 GMT 10
Im NW up by Katy/Houston boarder. I will be uploading pics soon just the rain has been ruining the days.
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