front brakes

[OkieRex]

I'm in the U.S. and appearantly the only one here with a TRX. I'm getting a pulsing in my front brakes, working on a set of blue spots(thanks TRX forum). But i need to know if there are any rotors interchangeable from other models. Working on a budget ya know. By the way, any haedlight upgrade ideas? I've gone to a 85w/100w bulb but still weak.

[idl1975]

I'm in the U.S. and appearantly the only one here with a TRX. I'm getting a pulsing in my front brakes, working on a set of blue spots(thanks TRX forum). But i need to know if there are any rotors interchangeable from other models. Working on a budget ya know. By the way, any haedlight upgrade ideas? I've gone to a 85w/100w bulb but still weak.

Wow, impressive! How did you manage that? You must get a lot of stupid questions.

One of the standard conversions in Europe or the UK is to get hold of the headlight from a Japanese import FZR-400-RR, which as I understand it has the same dimensions as our TRX unit, but has twin bulbs. Does the US spec FZR-600 (you know, that ancient 80s piece of metal they were selling until a few years ago) have the same unit? Other than that, I believe a few people have done HID conversions - search or the members' rides forum will find them.

On your brakes, the standard units are very prone to dust & dirt contamination and seizing one or more pistons. If you haven't tried this, I suggest spending 30 minutes with a can of brake cleaner before buying new discs. Try cleaning and scouring (scouring pad should do, or gently with steel wool) the disc, removing the calipers and pads, soaking the caliper in brake cleaner and scrubbing everything thoroughly with an old soft-bristle toothbrush. Move the pistons if you can to get as much crap off them as you can. You may well find the pulsing, which could be a sticking piston or contaminated pads + contaminated or glazed disc, goes away.

Also, bleed the brakes (a little hand-held vacuum pump or even a big syringe to suck fluid through at the caliper end makes this pretty painless, especially if you have a buddy pouring new fluid in at the top).

[OkieRex]

Short version of a long story, a guy in the military bought it in Italy and had it shipped back. Unfortunately the week before I bought it the guys roomate layed it down running about 55mph. Nothing a little TLC cannot fix.

I have seen a couple FZR's with a headlight that I thought was like the TRX, but mostly they are the dual round sealed beam bulbs.

I have given the calipers and rotors a modest cleaning, maybe I should quit being lazy and do a thourough job. Fluid was completely drained about a year ago. Might as well do it at the same time, at least the fluid is cheap.

[Greg]

TBH if the lever's pulsing then it sounds more like warped discs, no amount of cleaning will cure this particular problem.

EBC do a set as a pair - it looks like early FZRs (600 & 750) have the same patters as well as early FJ1200... worth a look just to check .

Cheers

Greg

[Killerwhale]

I'm in the U.S. and appearantly the only one here with a TRX. I'm getting a pulsing in my front brakes, working on a set of blue spots(thanks TRX forum). But i need to know if there are any rotors interchangeable from other models. Working on a budget ya know. By the way, any haedlight upgrade ideas? I've gone to a 85w/100w bulb but still weak.

The list:

TZ250, FZ400 fazer, FZR400RR, XJR400R, FZS600 Fazer, FZR600 Genesis, FZ750R, TDM850, FJ1200

[devlin]

[quote="Killerwhale]The list:

TZ250, FZ400 fazer, FZR400RR, XJR400R, FZS600 Fazer, FZR600 Genesis, FZ750R, TDM850, FJ1200[/quote]


Woah! TZ250. It must just about flip everytime you use the brakes. Is it a single disc or dual disc setup for them?

I am having a pulsing feel in my just acquired TRX. I haven't had a god look at the discs yet, but it feels more like warping than dirty spots. A job for this weekend.

[OkieRex]

Upon closer inspection I noticed a fork seal leak running down the inside of the left fork. This may be my problem. I'm not getting a pulsing from the lever. Will do a good cleaning this weekend to see.

Are the fork seals a shade tree mechanic job or should I have them done?

Are the blue spots an upgrade worth pursuing at this time or should I wait until I need them?

[twinlovin]

Defintely Grab yourself some bluespots. They transform the initial bite and feel at the lever.

Fork seals are easy enough to do if you don't mind getting your hands dirty.

[idl1975]

Upon closer inspection I noticed a fork seal leak running down the inside of the left fork. This may be my problem. I'm not getting a pulsing from the lever. Will do a good cleaning this weekend to see.

Are the fork seals a shade tree mechanic job or should I have them done?

Are the blue spots an upgrade worth pursuing at this time or should I wait until I need them?

Forks seals are easily do-able - TRX forks are actually simpler than the ones on my TY. Once the fork is apart, you basically prise the seals out carefully with a screwdriver, push in new ones in and reassemble. BUT you may need to make up a tool to remove the rebound damper cylinder so you can get the fork sliders out. I think it's a case of "YMMV" on that one. Apparently you can use an air ratchet (take them to your local car mechanic BEFORE taking the forks apart) with the appropriate socket and that will remove the bolt anyway. You might as well replace the internal bushings and the dust seals while you're at it, and do a bit of searching on the forum to find out what oil weight and air gap you want to use. Depending on what you use the bike for and how much money you want to spend, many people also use fork springs appropriate to their weight.

Blue spots are 100% a good idea and you can get them cheap from e-bay. Probably the best bang for the buck you get with the TRX. You will want the matching master cylinder (smaller internal diameter = better feel and power), but you can use the TRX one if you can't find the matching M/C at the right price.

[Greg]

TRX forks are actually simpler than the ones on my TY.

Same size as on a Pinky too..!