Hi my name is Tom. I'm new to this forum but not to FJ's. I got the first one the dealer in Killeen Texas got in early 1984. I actually put a $1200.00 deposit on it in late 1983 after reading in article in Cycle magazine (see attachment). That article changed my mind about buying a 1983 Suzuki GS1100 (thank god). No offence to any Suzuki fans out there but I couldn't imagine anything better than that first ride on that bike. I crashed the bike in 1990 and stopped riding because I got married and had a kid. Well now that I'm divorced and the kid is grown I thought I do something with it. While looking for a parts bike last year I came across a 1985 in very nice condition but very low on compression in two cylinders for $1000. So I'm in the process of rebuilding the motor ( bored to 1188cc w/12:1 comp. pistons) but I'll get in to that in another thread so I can get some ideas from anyone who wants to chat with me. I'm thinking about building a drag bike out of the 84 or restoring it.
Welcome, Tom! You sound like you will fit in around here just fine.
Joe
Thanks Joe
:hi:Welcome to the forum
Ask questions when in doubt or need a second opinion. There is a huge wealth of knowledge here.
Fred
Welcome, there are a few original owners here and some are the first year '84 FJs. Happy you could join.
Welcome Brother J.
You have a very familiar story. Quite a few of us seem to have had a bike, sold it when we got married and and had a family. Lots of year break, then divorce and along comes a bike again. FJ's seem to be infectious and a lot of us can't stop at owning just one of them. The other bug associated with them is moditis. Again we just can't seem to stop at just one modification. There are a few FJ drag bike around and there should be plenty of info on good set ups in here some where.
Have fun
Mark
There is a FJowner locator that is completely voluntary. Pin yourself at your location. It also helps with knowing if there are other FJ owners near by, on a travel route or near a destination during a persons travel.
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10618.0 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10618.0)
Fred
A belated welcome Tom! Sorry, I was out of town the last couple of days...
Yep, our stories are close, except I managed to hold on to my '84. I do remember reading the teasers in '83 about this new Yamaha soon to be introduced.
Here's my story: http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1601.msg12714#msg12714 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1601.msg12714#msg12714)
Welcome to our group. I hope you can get to a FJ rally to meet some us. Pat
Now that's a funny story
Quote from: aviationfred on January 03, 2017, 10:56:10 PM
:hi:Welcome to the forum
Ask questions when in doubt or need a second opinion. There is a huge wealth of knowledge here.
Fred
Thanks Fred
Quote from: Pat Conlon on January 05, 2017, 10:51:02 AM
A belated welcome Tom! Sorry, I was out of town the last couple of days...
Yep, our stories are close, except I managed to hold on to my '84. I do remember reading the teasers in '83 about this new Yamaha soon to be introduced.
Here's my story: http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1601.msg12714#msg12714 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1601.msg12714#msg12714)
Welcome to our group. I hope you can get to a FJ rally to meet some us. Pat
Now that's a funny story Thanks Pat
Quote from: Pat Conlon on January 05, 2017, 10:51:02 AM
Here's my story..........
Pat
I hadn't heard that before Pat, very funny. I suspect you're not the only one to have pulled that stunt, although I'm sure they didn't all end as well.
There was a legitmate ad here a few years back for a near new Kawasaki. It said "Newly married, did not understand what "
do what you like" meant"
Noel
Welcome to the community Tom!
Keep us informed about your progress, please
Best regards
Alf
Quote from: Alf on January 06, 2017, 04:04:17 PM
Welcome to the community Tom!
Keep us informed about your progress, please
Best regards
Alf
Thanks Alf, I will do
Kinda amazing how many of us have similar life stories. My last bike before my FJ was a new 86 Ninja 1000 that was stolen out of a motel parking lot in LA during an overnight stay back in March 1987. Shortly afterward I got reassigned to the east coast and then on to other parts of the world - got married, raised a daughter, and never thought about getting back on a bike till my FJ and I crossed paths back in 2006. Similar to Pat, I bought my FJ while on a business trip to Alabama and kept it there for many years while my family was stationed in Korea... not sure if it would meet their approval should they find out. Eventually, to my surprise, when I finally told my wife about the FJ, she really didn't have an objection to me having it and it's been a welcome addition in the garage here in California ever since. But I like Pat's story best.
Quote from: fjbiker84 on January 06, 2017, 08:55:25 PM
Kinda amazing how many of us have similar life stories. My last bike before my FJ was a new 86 Ninja 1000 that was stolen out of a motel parking lot in LA during an overnight stay back in March 1987. Shortly afterward I got reassigned to the east coast and then on to other parts of the world - got married, raised a daughter, and never thought about getting back on a bike till my FJ and I crossed paths back in 2006. Similar to Pat, I bought my FJ while on a business trip to Alabama and kept it there for many years while my family was stationed in Korea... not sure if it would meet their approval should they find out. Eventually, to my surprise, when I finally told my wife about the FJ, she really didn't have an objection to me having it and it's been a welcome addition in the garage here in California ever since. But I like Pat's story best.
Yes it is. I was station at camp carol Korea in 82-83. As soon as I got back to the states (Fort Hood TX) I put the down payment on my "84" I'm 55yo, I wonder if this would be classified as a mid life crisis.
It's a small world... or a big Army. I spent 4 years at Ft Hood in the early 90s after returning from my first tour in Korea. I recommend you put the 84 back on the street rather than turn it into a drag bike. It's amazing how often someone will comment on my bike while I'm at a stop light or gas station, etc. That happened to me again just yesterday. A young man in a Chevy S10 pulled up next to me at a stop light and said, "Does your odometer say 40,000 miles?" After complimenting him on his eyesight (it actually has 43,000+) I asked him if he was familiar with the FJ since he appeared to younger than the bike. "Yeah, my older brother had one when I was a kid." It's a classic.
Quote from: fjbiker84 on January 08, 2017, 07:11:10 AM
It's a small world... or a big Army. I spent 4 years at Ft Hood in the early 90s after returning from my first tour in Korea. I recommend you put the 84 back on the street rather than turn it into a drag bike. It's amazing how often someone will comment on my bike while I'm at a stop light or gas station, etc. That happened to me again just yesterday. A young man in a Chevy S10 pulled up next to me at a stop light and said, "Does your odometer say 40,000 miles?" After complimenting him on his eyesight (it actually has 43,000+) I asked him if he was familiar with the FJ since he appeared to younger than the bike. "Yeah, my older brother had one when I was a kid." It's a classic.
I just got a PM from another member offering me an extended swing arm but I'm pretty sure I'm going to restore it. I think it'll be cheaper the catching the racing bug. Tx. was a great place for riding the FJ.
Quote from: Brother-J on January 08, 2017, 07:36:58 AM
Tx. was a great place for riding the FJ.
Yep.....except for the armadillos .
Back in '72 I took my AIT at Ft Sam Houston (medic) and on weekends used to ride my trusty CB500 up to Austin and visit the UT college gals.
Those pesky armadillo's will take you down. Little boulders with legs.