torch
Well-known member
Short version: For those that have done your valve shims: what sizes were installed in your FJR?
Long version:
In my own, NA 03 FJR, the largest installed was 190 and the smallest 182 to a maximum of 186. In 3 rounds of adjustments, replacements included one 175, all 3 180 shims that came in the kit, some swapping around and one custom ground shim that is now a 180 because the kit didn't have enough of that size.
"What kit" you ask? Ahhh. Guess I should back up. I purchased and aftermarket kit from a company that makes performance products for dirt bikes and ATVs. Yamaha actually "borrowed" the FJR shims from their XTZ750 Super Tenere and used them in a number of other models too.
The kit actually came in 2 cases, the first covering 120 to 240 and the second filled with a similar number of shims from 245-up. Yamaha doesn't even list shims over 240 for the FJR, so I wrote the manufacturer and asked if it would be possible for them to offer a kit with just the first case of 120 to 240, but 5 or 6 shims each. They are not interested at all, saying they don't have the manpower and are overworked and cannot produce custom kits for different bikes. So I then asked if we could negotiate a price break on the refills if we bought 50 or 100 in one shot. The reply was a very curt: "I'm sorry but no."
The name of the manufacturer is "Hot Cams" and the link to the shim kits on their site is https://www.hotcamsinc.com/index.cfm?fuseac...amp;enter=Go%21
Now, they are selling to dealers for less because the kits are readily found for less elsewhere, including e-bay. I bought the full kit for around $65 + shipping. I'm trying to find a source of the refill kits for less $$$ than their website price. They did say they were considering offering packets of individual sizes in the future, but for now the refill kits only come in their arbitrary ranges.
To completely cover Yamaha's possible range, one would need 4 of their refills: 120 - 145, 150 - 175, 180 - 205 and 210 -235. Now, I know from experience with other Yamaha designs that it is extremely rare to find any in the top 20% of the range or the bottom 20% of the range. So my gut feeling was that the FJR owner would only ever require the two refill size ranges: 150 - 175 and 180 - 205. My bike and one other I know of would both seem to fit this assumption, but that's still a small sample. I guess it's time to go to the FJR community and see what others have found thus far.
Once we know what sizes we need, maybe we can approach another retailer for a group price on the shims. And/or we could start a shim pool like the XJ Owner's group does.
Long version:
In my own, NA 03 FJR, the largest installed was 190 and the smallest 182 to a maximum of 186. In 3 rounds of adjustments, replacements included one 175, all 3 180 shims that came in the kit, some swapping around and one custom ground shim that is now a 180 because the kit didn't have enough of that size.
"What kit" you ask? Ahhh. Guess I should back up. I purchased and aftermarket kit from a company that makes performance products for dirt bikes and ATVs. Yamaha actually "borrowed" the FJR shims from their XTZ750 Super Tenere and used them in a number of other models too.
The kit actually came in 2 cases, the first covering 120 to 240 and the second filled with a similar number of shims from 245-up. Yamaha doesn't even list shims over 240 for the FJR, so I wrote the manufacturer and asked if it would be possible for them to offer a kit with just the first case of 120 to 240, but 5 or 6 shims each. They are not interested at all, saying they don't have the manpower and are overworked and cannot produce custom kits for different bikes. So I then asked if we could negotiate a price break on the refills if we bought 50 or 100 in one shot. The reply was a very curt: "I'm sorry but no."
The name of the manufacturer is "Hot Cams" and the link to the shim kits on their site is https://www.hotcamsinc.com/index.cfm?fuseac...amp;enter=Go%21
Now, they are selling to dealers for less because the kits are readily found for less elsewhere, including e-bay. I bought the full kit for around $65 + shipping. I'm trying to find a source of the refill kits for less $$$ than their website price. They did say they were considering offering packets of individual sizes in the future, but for now the refill kits only come in their arbitrary ranges.
To completely cover Yamaha's possible range, one would need 4 of their refills: 120 - 145, 150 - 175, 180 - 205 and 210 -235. Now, I know from experience with other Yamaha designs that it is extremely rare to find any in the top 20% of the range or the bottom 20% of the range. So my gut feeling was that the FJR owner would only ever require the two refill size ranges: 150 - 175 and 180 - 205. My bike and one other I know of would both seem to fit this assumption, but that's still a small sample. I guess it's time to go to the FJR community and see what others have found thus far.
Once we know what sizes we need, maybe we can approach another retailer for a group price on the shims. And/or we could start a shim pool like the XJ Owner's group does.
