RZ 350 swingarm and wheel swap

[boris]

I have been looking for an upgrade swing arm and wheel option for my rz but do would like to stay close to the original wheel base. I see the aftermarket builders are no longer building swing arms any longer, and I do not really want to use a banana style swinger.
Is there anyone who still has an FZ600 / 400 aluminum swinger that they would like to sell?
I also see the use of the CBR F2 wheel works for the rear but does anyone know if an FZ600 fazer rear wheel would fit? I have a chance to get a full fazer rear and front end.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[brrrappp]

I'm getting old so my memory isn't what it used to be......Here in the USA, the Yamaha Fazer FZX700 USA 1986-87 was a 700cc 5-valve and looked a little like a baby v-max. Fazer had a 16 inch front wheel and the forks were larger diameter tubes than an RZ but they had lousy damping characteristics that were not adjustable- so, not much better than a stock RZ. As I remember the Fazer swing arm was steel, dual shock, and it was kind of short for a 700cc bike but I don't know how it's length compares to an RZ350. The Fazer OEM rear tire was 18 inch and a lot bigger than a stock RZ. The Fazer rim looked almost like a solid aluminum disk, so I see the appeal. Unfortunately I have no idea how the axle size and hub width compares. That's no help but I really wanted to see if that is the bike you are talking about- some have been know to call an FZR Fazer in the same way people call GSX-R a "Gixer."
The FZ600 (1986-1988) is the air-cooled predecessor to the (1989-1999) FZR600. The FZ600 also had a 16 inch front wheel. The forks were non-adjustable but worked well enough if you weighed about 160 pounds. The OEM rear tire wasn't much wider than the RZ350 tire but it was 18 inch.
In 1989 the FZR went liquid. I think the FZ600 swingarm was aluminum and would fit up to a 150mm wide tire. At that time, most of the 150mm tires were too tall and jacked the back end up causing a wobble on decel. The '89-'99 liquid cooled FZR, I think had a steel swingarm 17 inch front and 18 inch rear. I don't think there was any difference in rear tire/rim width from the 86-88 to the 89-99 model. 150mm low profile tires did become popular and readily available over that time span but be aware the low-profile 150mm tire on that skinny rim gives you less tire patch in a turn.
Newer FZR 600's (late 2000 forward) have far better running gear since Yamaha did a complete redesign. The newer models had some adjustable damping with much wider rims that were designed for low-profile radials. The brakes got a huge upgrade as well.

[85RZwade]

I have the FZ600 aluminum swingarm on both of my RZs, as well as ride-height adjustable Fox shocks. My daily rider has the 18" FZ rear wheel with a 130 tire, and the other RZ is getting a 17" Katana wheel and a 140 tire.
Yes, the FZ swingarms are tough to find anymore...as are the Fox shocks. FZR swingarms have been done, they're steel and look good. FZR forks are a big upgrade over the RZ forks and have also been done; a search here should get you the information. I suggest the FZR parts for availability and don't know about the Fazer bits...you could be the first!

[Yellow and Black RZ]

From what I remember when I did mine.

FZ600 swingarm
GSX600 wheel (17x3.5).
GS500 cush drive.
150 tire.

I remember buying 3 or 4 "GS500" cush drives before I found the right one.
GS500E pops out of my memory but I'm not positive.

While the images might be gone I do have descriptions of my build deep in this forum.

Found it.
http://www.rzrd500.com/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 2c271f2c97

It's a bit sporadic on information because I was post as I progressed through the build.
I'm mistaken saying its a 4.5" wheel. It's 3.5".

[crogthomas]

In the UK at least from 2004 the Fazer is also known as the FZ6, a naked bike using a engine based on the R6.
I've no idea if the swinging arm is related to the FZ600, but it certainly looks similar.

[Questo vecchio rz]

From what I remember when I did mine.

FZ600 swingarm
GSX600 wheel (17x3.5).
GS500 cush drive.
150 tire.

I remember buying 3 or 4 "GS500" cush drives before I found the right one.
GS500E pops out of my memory but I'm not positive.

While the images might be gone I do have descriptions of my build deep in this forum.

Found it.
http://www.rzrd500.com/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 2c271f2c97

It's a bit sporadic on information because I was post as I progressed through the build.
I'm mistaken saying its a 4.5" wheel. It's 3.5".

That's pretty much it right there, I used a 88 17 GSXR rear run w GS500 cush drive, and a 150 radial.
I don't have that setup anymore I swapped it for a 1990 alum FZR400RR deltabox swingarm. IMO a ride height adj shock is the most important part of he final conversion.

None of these conversions are a bolt on nagal require modifications and some welding best to find what others have done in the past and try and copy it I believe in my workshop somewhere buried in boxes his 7 page tutorial I have a guy here that had done several of them along with the 18in fz600 rim you can go to a 17 that is definitely where the adjustable shock comes into play.

Next time I'm at my shed...I'll see if I can find it if I can maybe I'll try and copy them and post them here for people

Just to make sure you are clear.

ALL FZR 600 swingarms are (steel).

Only the 86-87 FZ 600 is aluminum.

If I were you I'd join a few racing organization we sites and start asking for ol RZ race bike parts. One will come around eventually or a bare swing arm.