Converting FJR from shaft drive to chain drive

[Jeff D]

I had an in depth discussion with Oldmike who told me it was possible to convert an FJR to chain drive. He explained that it was a relatively easy process and was going to email me details of the conversion but I have yet to see them. Anyone know about doing this sort of conversion?

JD

 

[Old Michael]

You're going straight to hell.

 

[Ignacio]

OK, I'll play along......I dunno why....but sometimes a starting a train wreck just seems like the thing to do.

Why? :dribble:

Otherwise, send him a PM and you too lover can figure it out. <_<

 

[FJReady]

Unfortunately (fortunately, on second thought) this topic will be long forgotten by the time Friday rolls around.

 

[Jeff D]

Mike had mentioned that it is much easier to do wheelies from stop lights around town with the chain conversion.

 

[Medic Man]

If you want to do wheelies buy a R-1. End of story

 

[Tenchi]

... Why?! I'd rather have shaft drive. No more adjusting chains every 300-600mi... no more oiling the chain... no more expensive chain and sprocket overhauls after 18k miles... if you want to wheelie, just put something heavy on the back.

 

[DailyCommuter]

sell your FJR and buy a Busa. You'd be much happier thee. Maybe you can post about buying some kind of crappy japaneese shitto tire for it too, and really drive warchild to the moon....

 

[madmike2]

Mike had mentioned that it is much easier to do wheelies from stop lights around town with the chain conversion.

OR....you could have purchased a Gen I bike with the 10 mm shorter swing arm and taller gearing.

If wheelies are your "thing", there are nice deals on used FZ-1s and Bandit 1200s.........

Since they're lighter and shorter wheel based, it would probably be a little easier on the forks should you "slam" it down than having the heavier FJR land hard.

Riding a 650 lb. bike on the rear wheel isn't for the faint of heart.

All of the above opinion is strictly theoretical as I would never presume to actually achieve the aforementioned act of exhibition or speed, and should I ever do so, it would certainly never be on the public roadways and absolutely not where anyone might take a photograph. (Therefore, the Bart Simpson defense applies in this case: "I didn't do it man! Nobody saw me do it and even if they did, there are no have pictures to prove it, so I didn't do it.)

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I had an in depth discussion with Oldmike who told me it was possible to convert an FJR to chain drive. He explained that it was a relatively easy process and was going to email me details of the conversion but I have yet to see them. Anyone know about doing this sort of conversion?

Well, most likely possible -- but, not easy for most folks. I've been lucky enough to know machinists, fabricators, and founders who've shown me, time and again, what's possible. Belt drive conversions, car engines in bikes, turbocharging/supercharging, etc. And..., chain drive would probably make a better FJR -- in terms of: lower unsprung weight, less weight, better rear suspension (shock not confounded by the dreaded "shaft effect"), and maybe? slicker shifting.

On the negative side (unless, you like that sort of thing...?) is increased maintenance: chain cleaning, lubricating, and adjusting (and periodic replacement of chain & sprockets).

Other manufactureres have offered both shaft-driven and chain-driven models of, basically, the same bike.

H**** has gone so far as to 'retro-build' shaft-drive to chain-drive on some models -- I think it must've been for either cost reasons or (hoping for) increased sales? :huh:

 

[twowheelnut]

Are you high? Wait, are both of you high?

 

[SkooterG]

Screw the chain. And the shaft for that matter.

Warp Drive is the only way to go!

 

[feejer222]

In an effort to stop wrist ache, I was thinking of fitting a steering wheel and am sure someone mentioned on here that it was easy enough, can you help?

 

[ionbeam]

Well, ya know... The FJR's final drive is lifted from the V-Max and there have been a lot of Max conversions. The first shaft to chain conversion was done by Cycle World in '86. There is a company called MadMax that makes kits for this. One part of the kit is the engine output shaft/sprocket and the other half is a wheel hub conversion. If you want to go drag racing big time they sell GSXR swing arms as part of the kit.

The FJR is kind of like a high quality Swiss Army Knife; it does a lot of things very well. Changing it over to a chain drive is like converting the Swiss Army Knife into a Bowie knife, large, powerful and single purpose.

Chain Drive

More power delivered to rear wheel

Lower cost for repair or replacement parts

Much less weight

No 'shaft jacking' on throttle transitions for more predictable and stable handling

(Looks better?)

Lowers the costs of the bike

Easier to modify -- different sprocket sizes & ratios

Quicker response

Cons of Chain drive

More maintenance

Messy

Pros of Shaft drive

Smoother

Almost no maintenance

Cons of Shaft drive

Expensive to repair/replace

Very heavy compared to a chain drive

Difficult for a shade tree mechanic to fix

Chassis rise and fall with throttle transitions (Shaft jacking) -- (some BMWs excepted)

Longer rear swing arms help (Gen II?) The FJR is very good at managing shaft effect
Unless I want to go all out racing I'm sold on shaft drives. I don't miss the chain maintenance or the mess. There are some solutions to chain maintenance such as the Pro Oiler for $250, but for long trips, give me the shaft :blink:

 

[jjsC6]

If I wanted to convert mine to chain drive (which I don't - why the hell do you think we buy these bikes to begin with?) I'd pull it out of the garage, down by the street, and put a for sale sign on it and go buy a Kawasaki ZX-14. Simple, no?

 

[TriggerT]

Converting a shaft drive to a chain drive was pretty common in the V-Max world I used to live in, but it made a little sense on that bike. Most of the people who ride V-Max's are going for maximum speed, and they could shed a few pounds with the conversion. making the change on the FJR just makes NO sense to me at all, but hell do what you like.

 

[SPORT]

Mike had mentioned that it is much easier to do wheelies from stop lights around town with the chain conversion.

I don't have problems doing wheelies with my shaft driven FJR...

As others mentioned, might want to consider buying a lighter litre bike for that kind of playing around. The FJR was designed and built for a particular purpose and riding wheelies really wasn't one of them.

Either way you go, always enjoy the ride!

 

[SPORT]

In an effort to stop wrist ache, I was thinking of fitting a steering wheel and am sure someone mentioned on here that it was easy enough, can you help?

Is that one of those little cromed out chained welded types? That would be cool!

 

[FJRMGM]

Dang, I think you should do the conversion.

Please keep us posted on your progress.