In my area there are two FJs for sale for the same price and I'm having a tough time deciding which to buy. Opinions?
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/mcy/4344176676.html (http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/mcy/4344176676.html)
http://tucson.craigslist.org/mcy/4366845131.html (http://tucson.craigslist.org/mcy/4366845131.html)
Targan,
For the same money, I'd take the '90. It's had a few sensible things done to it over the years and is mostly original. The '89 has been a near complete tear-down and built with a LOT of modifications that can be good...or can be terribly wrong. In the '89 you are buying each and every modification, part choice, gasket installation, torque of a bolt and potential shortcuts. Mind you, each of these nearly hundreds of decisions and executions may have been done perfectly and it's the dream bike you've always wanted...but the potential of sorting out the previous owner's vision is grand. The '89 reads more like a well cared for, low mileage example that hasn't been messed with too much and has the suspension sorted. Seems like a more sane platform to start with.
Cap'n Ron. . .
Quote from: Capn Ron on March 11, 2014, 04:09:50 AM
Targan,
For the same money, I'd take the '90. It's had a few sensible things done to it over the years and is mostly original. The '89 has been a near complete tear-down and built with a LOT of modifications that can be good...or can be terribly wrong. In the '89 you are buying each and every modification, part choice, gasket installation, torque of a bolt and potential shortcuts. Mind you, each of these nearly hundreds of decisions and executions may have been done perfectly and it's the dream bike you've always wanted...but the potential of sorting out the previous owner's vision is grand. The '89 reads more like a well cared for, low mileage example that hasn't been messed with too much. Seems like a more sane platform to start with.
Cap'n Ron. . .
Ok, that's exactly the answer I was looking for, but not the one I wanted to hear lol. Thanks for the advice. I'm still going to check out the 89 in person though. The 90 is another story because it's a bit farther away and I'd be dissapointed in not returning home with a bike. I'm going to ask both owners for maintenance records first, that may help with my decision. That freakin 90 though looks AMAZING. Super clean.
Well, good luck in whichever you end up with. When I started looking for an FJ1200 in 1997, I looked at about a dozen all around Los Angeles. It was amazing the range of care...or lack thereof...I came across. Some that had been wrecked, highly modified, some with mega miles on the clock...in the end I found a very low mileage '92 ABS that was owned by a helicopter mechanic and the precision in his work spilled over into his personal vehicles. I knew there wouldn't be any surprises down the road and the typical grousing over the previous owner's work would be kept to a minimum. Here it is 17 years later and I'm still lovin' my FJ! :good2:
Cap'n Ron. . .
Quote from: Capn Ron on March 11, 2014, 04:09:50 AM
Targan,
For the same money, I'd take the '90. It's had a few sensible things done to it over the years and is mostly original. The '89 has been a near complete tear-down and built with a LOT of modifications that can be good...or can be terribly wrong. In the '89 you are buying each and every modification, part choice, gasket installation, torque of a bolt and potential shortcuts. Mind you, each of these nearly hundreds of decisions and executions may have been done perfectly and it's the dream bike you've always wanted...but the potential of sorting out the previous owner's vision is grand. The '89 reads more like a well cared for, low mileage example that hasn't been messed with too much and has the suspension sorted. Seems like a more sane platform to start with.
Cap'n Ron. . .
+1. Excellent advice, especially if this is your first FJ. You'll learn more, and the stock motor is more than adequate, performance-wise.
rossi
two fjs for sale in the same area....must be a disturbance in the force
Quote from: Vsekvsek on March 11, 2014, 07:07:47 AM
two fjs for sale in the same area....must be a disturbance in the force
That is the disturbance in the Force!!!
Meet both owners and feel them out. Nothing wrong with a bike that already has a bucketload of the mods you'd want already done, IF they're the ones you want done, and they were done well. Find out who did the motor work, etc etc.
Otherwise, get ready for the joy that is finding wheels, swapping stuff, etc. I think my choice would depend heavily on how much you were comfortable doing yourself, as well as the impression you get from each owner and the up-close detail appearance of each.
Quote from: andyb on March 11, 2014, 05:39:37 PM
Meet both owners and feel them out.
..........as well as the impression you get from each owner ........
That is an excellent point. I have always believed you can tell almost as much about a vehicle by your impressions of the owner as you can with a cursory inspection of the machine. This can extend to peripheral things like the state of their house, the condition of other vehicles in the driveway, even their personal appearance, body language, their enthusiasm when talking about the bike etc.
This touches on another subject I don't understand. I have been buying vehicles all my life, In two jobs it was a major part of what I did and in one job it was all I did. Even with my background as a mechanic, there is still only so much you can check out on a prospective purchase, but you check what you can and hopefully hedge the bet but you still get caught out from time to time.
I cannot for the life of me understand the growing popularity of buying used, and in the case of FJ's, old motorbikes or cars over the net, sight unseen. Yes, there are exceptions and yes, people do get lucky but age alone suggests most of these are going to be knocked around and tired.
Photos are next to useless in determining condition and owners (sellers) are biased, can be ignorant or straight out dishonest.
I don't get it.
Noel
I agree with Noel. However I bought my FJ off Ebay sight unseen as it was 3000 miles from where I live. The pictures looked good but who knew if they were pictures of the actual bike. The add stated " 2nd owner, low mileage, always garaged, never down, new battery, new rear tire, battery tender, manual, cover and completely stock. Left out "only ridden slowly to church every Sunday by an old lady". Since it was a buy it now at a good price I pulled the trigger. Called the PO (an old guy like me) who assured me add was correct. Sometimes you luck out. Part of what sold me was bike was stock and not modified. The other thing was second old man owner so it couldn't have been ridden too hard. Together they owned it for over 29yrs and if the mileage was right didn't ride it much and took care of it. Its now on the third old man owner, garaged and covered. Dave
It's so hard picking the right bike l can never decide. Now if you looking for a wife just go with the one with the biggest, well you know. Anyway check them both out and rember these are not the only two FJ's left. I would have a good look at the one with the big bore kit that kind of goes with my advice on wives though.
seen's how ape is mentioned you might ask if they used ape studs in the build, if they had l would pass on it.
Don't acquire bikes or women on looks or biggest ______ . I've done that with girlfriends and one wife. Big mistake! Test ride! Test ride! Dave :lol:
Thanks for the continued advice guys. Unfortunately NEITHER of these guys are responding back to my emails :dash2: I sold my Seca and am ready to buy! Anxiety is going to kill me.
Meh... They'll get around to it. Why don't you just call the Tucson guy? He has his number listed.
I've always made decisions based off of my evaluation of the owner, I don't really even want to see the car or bike first. Hasn't failed me yet. By the time we've talked a bit, I have a good feel whether I even want to see the bike or not. (I like the Tucson bike, looks stock, nice mods, great shape. The Phoenix bike is nice too, but you're buying someone else's hot-rod project. If you like that sort of thing, good, but I'd really need to trust the previous owner and his mechanical skills. It'd either be wild fun, or a rolling hand grenade.)
Good luck :hi: (God, I wish I still lived down there... sob.)
Both of those look like fun bikes to ride. If I only had those two to choose from, I would go for the 90 as it looks to be mostly unmolested(you can be the one to do the molesting).
If you have the time and patience to wait, I recommend waiting for a 91 or newer model to come available. The rubber mounted engine really does make for a nice ride.
Derek
I do agree with most about the unmolested J but I would want find out about the build up on the big bore, how many trouble free miles on her, who did the work, does that guy stand behind his mods, is he known to work on and love the FJ, how does it sound, perform, feel etc. This decision would drive me nuts. Just imagine if we all passed on that bike to find out 5 years later its still ripping the guys arms off from all that farging torque :wacko3:
Buy 'em BOTH.
Problem solved! Thank me later.....
Quote from: FJ_Hooligan on March 12, 2014, 11:06:32 AM
Buy 'em BOTH.
Problem solved! Thank me later.....
Where's the "like" button
Quote from: Vsekvsek on March 12, 2014, 11:29:39 AM
Quote from: FJ_Hooligan on March 12, 2014, 11:06:32 AM
Buy 'em BOTH.
Problem solved! Thank me later.....
Where's the "like" button
We use to have a Karma button or something like it. It brough out the juvenile in too many members at the time, what a cluster #$%& that was. Oil & politic threads are bad enough... I guess a "Like" button :good2: with no "Hate" button might work...
I would definitely get the built one because of the;
1. The horror show factor :crazy:
2. It's pretty much impossible to beat on that much power and still have your license :wacko1:
3. With 6k miles, it is proofed. It's gonna run. :drinks:
GAH! The guy isn't responding to my emails!! I have been motorcycle-less for 2 days now; I'm going crazy! :dash2: I have tried looking for other bikes under $3k but nothing else interests me. I want an FJ!
Quote from: Targan on March 12, 2014, 07:11:23 PM
GAH! The guy isn't responding to my emails!! I have been motorcycle-less for 2 days now; I'm going crazy! :dash2: I have tried looking for other bikes under $3k but nothing else interests me. I want an FJ!
Dude, you are going to be OK... I am stuck in Mexico away from my FJ for 3 weeks (during some great riding weather in SoCal right now), I am only half a week into it and I am still holding together. You can do it. I can be your sponsor. Give you support when you need it, etc... You need a mantra to meditate with... Lets see... "I am riding my FJ, I am riding my FJ, I twist the throttle, hold on tight as I find the Kookaloo zone". That might work, close your eyes, say this over and over again till you fell the kookaloo, go on, give it a try. It might help having a strong fan blow in your face when you do this...
I bought the black big bore one! Officially an FJ owner now! Kookaloo!
PS: HOLY HELL THIS THING IS FAST! :lol:
Good for you. I bet it is quite different than the XJ600 you're use to..... :crazy:
One good thing about your (correct) decision is that your FJ already has all the good mods done to it.
Now, get out and ride!
The day after Memorial Day, plan on coming out I-10 to Palm Desert and we will leave for the WCR in Willits.
Congratulations.
Happy for ya, man. (good call) :drinks:
A modded, hopped up FJ 1314?? Oh, dude. You made the right choice :greeting: :yahoo: Enjoy the kookaloo.....frequently!
Joe
Quote from: Pat Conlon on March 14, 2014, 07:37:02 PM
Good for you. I bet it is quite different than the XJ600 you're use to..... :crazy:
One good thing about your (correct) decision is that your FJ already has all the good mods done to it.
Now, get out and ride!
The day after Memorial Day, plan on coming out I-10 to Palm Desert and we will leave for the WCR in Willits.
Congratulations.
I already promised my XJ buddies I'd attend their rally on June 6th-8th. BUT if it is in my budget (Paid time off from work) I might just go :) It would definitely be cool to ride out there with other people. I'm riding out solo to Yosemite for the XJ rally lol.
Take your XJ to the XJ Rally and your FJ to the FJ Rally...easy.
Also, a bit of advice on your bike:
I see the ad mentions about slow starting and needing a better battery (Braille lithium) while a better battery will help, before you buy one, the best results I have found is upgrading the starter motor to the newer design 4 brush XJR motor.
I have a 1350 and even on the hottest summer days, that XJR motor never fails to turn the beast over.
http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Electrical%3AStarter&cat=39 (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Electrical%3AStarter&cat=39)
While you're ordering, throw away those paper K&N pod filters and get some UniPod foam filters.
They fit better and they filter better. With the dust you get out in the Phoenix desert (same here) your engine will thank you.
http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Carb%3ARPMPod (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Carb%3ARPMPod)
Cheers and I hope you can join us....
Quote from: Pat Conlon on March 14, 2014, 08:32:39 PM
Take your XJ to the XJ Rally and your FJ to the FJ Rally...easy.
Also, a bit of advice on your bike:
I see the ad mentions about slow starting and needing a better battery (Braille lithium) while a better battery will help, before you buy one, the best results I have found is upgrading the starter motor to the newer design 4 brush XJR motor.
I have a 1350 and even on the hottest summer days, that XJR motor never fails to turn the beast over.
http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Electrical%3AStarter&cat=39 (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Electrical%3AStarter&cat=39)
While you're ordering, throw away those paper K&N pod filters and get some UniPod foam filters.
They fit better and they filter better. With the dust you get out in the Phoenix desert (same here) your engine will thank you.
http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Carb%3ARPMPod (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Carb%3ARPMPod)
Cheers and I hope you can join us....
Oh wow thank you for the info. Cheaper than a battery too! Well I had $3500 budgeted for a bike including registration and insurance, so I have leftovers to spend on upgrades. That way I can say I atleast did SOMETHING to my own bike lol
Quote from: Targan on March 14, 2014, 06:43:09 PM
I bought the black big bore one! Officially an FJ owner now! Kookaloo!
PS: HOLY HELL THIS THING IS FAST! :lol:
Most excellent! Seems like we will need to see this big bore FJ up close and in person at the WCR... The Monkey and I will be rolling up there from Los Angeles. If you want to roll on over to the coast, you're more than welcome to ride with us. We'll be doing PCH up to San Jose on day one...
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/6/697_17_02_14_11_34_04.jpeg)
Then arriving in Willits early in the week on day two. Would be great to have a new owner along for the adventure!
Cap'n Ron. . .