FJowners.com

General Category => Introductions => Topic started by: rpo83 on February 01, 2017, 02:27:39 AM

Title: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: rpo83 on February 01, 2017, 02:27:39 AM
Hi All,

I've just bought an FJ1200 powered bike, so i've joined to gain some knowledge on these great engines.

My bike is a Bimota YB5, 1988 model with 9,200 original kilometers. Unfortunately i have had a little electrical problem where the main loom has been shorting to the frame, so i'm now trying to formalise a plan on how best to proceed.

Here are a few pics...
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: camo on February 01, 2017, 03:56:55 AM
ouch dude those wires look ugly......but I never knew there was a bimota with a FJ12 engine in it....cool!
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: big r on February 01, 2017, 08:09:59 AM
That is a rare bird you have there. Not that many made with the FJ engine. Looks to be in really great shape, except for the wiring. Good luck in getting her back up running. Big R
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: aviationfred on February 01, 2017, 08:11:55 AM
Welcome to the forum  :hi:

It is nice that you want to ride the beautiful piece of art. Most YB5 owners are collectors and they are stored away for safe keeping.

Is this the YB5 that was for sale in New Zealand awhile back??

Send me a PM about your electrical problem. I am an electrician by trade.


Fred
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: jscgdunn on February 01, 2017, 10:00:27 AM
Wow.....lucky find!
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: rpo83 on February 01, 2017, 02:40:06 PM
Quote from: camo on February 01, 2017, 03:56:55 AM
ouch dude those wires look ugly......but I never knew there was a bimota with a FJ12 engine in it....cool!


Thanks Camo, it is a very nice bike, and a sweet motor.
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: rpo83 on February 01, 2017, 02:42:01 PM
Quote from: big r on February 01, 2017, 08:09:59 AM
That is a rare bird you have there. Not that many made with the FJ engine. Looks to be in really great shape, except for the wiring. Good luck in getting her back up running. Big R

Thanks big r,

a total of 208 were made, 12 delivered as kits and 7 in red/silver, so that brings it down to 189 units produced almost 30 years ago, no idea of how many are left.
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: rpo83 on February 01, 2017, 02:45:40 PM
Quote from: aviationfred on February 01, 2017, 08:11:55 AM
Welcome to the forum  :hi:

It is nice that you want to ride the beautiful piece of art. Most YB5 owners are collectors and they are stored away for safe keeping.

Is this the YB5 that was for sale in New Zealand awhile back??

Send me a PM about your electrical problem. I am an electrician by trade.


Fred

Thanks Fred,

Not a NZ bike, i bought it from its second owner down near Eden in NSW, he had owned it for about 10 years and traveled 2,000 k's on it, he bought it from the original owner in Sydney who had ridden it 7,000 k's in 20 years!

It is in fantastic condition.... well except for the loom... i'll send you a PM later thanks.
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: rpo83 on February 01, 2017, 02:46:41 PM
Quote from: jscgdunn on February 01, 2017, 10:00:27 AM
Wow.....lucky find!

Thanks jscdunn,

as soon as i saw it i swooped on it, not many steel framed Bimotas around.
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: Harvy on February 01, 2017, 02:57:55 PM
Steve, Around a year ago there was a YB5 on eBay that had also had a similar electrics shorted out problem, but it had burned pretty seriously..... must be a common problem.

Nice find!

Cheers
Harvy
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: camo on February 01, 2017, 04:24:12 PM
Typical Italian electrics.....growing up my old man had several Lancia cars....amazing cars!.....when the electrics worked :dash2:

Do you have a service manual for it?
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: Zwartie on February 01, 2017, 05:58:06 PM
Nice rare find indeed!

Here's an article on a YB5 you may find of interest: /http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bimota/1987-bimota-yb5-racer-tested-on-track.html (http://www.fjowners.com/http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bimota/1987-bimota-yb5-racer-tested-on-track.html)

Zwartie
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: rpo83 on February 02, 2017, 01:37:52 AM
Quote from: Zwartie on February 01, 2017, 05:58:06 PM
Nice rare find indeed!

Here's an article on a YB5 you may find of interest: /http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bimota/1987-bimota-yb5-racer-tested-on-track.html (http://www.fjowners.com/http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bimota/1987-bimota-yb5-racer-tested-on-track.html)

Zwartie

Hi Zwartie,

i have seen T-rex's YB5, hopefully i'll be taking my Bimotas to Easter Creek Raceway in March for this event https://www.internationalfestivalofspeed.com/ (https://www.internationalfestivalofspeed.com/) There is going to be a large Bimota gathering and the T-Rex YB will be there...
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: jscgdunn on February 02, 2017, 09:02:19 AM
Could you adapt a FJ wiring harness? (popcorn)
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: bikemad on February 02, 2017, 05:19:02 PM
There was a story in "Practical Sportsbike" recently where there was only 5 sold in the UK.
A great find and certainly a rare bird!
I have a mate overseas rebuilding a YB6 and Bimota build quality is just stunning!!javascript:void(0);
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: bikemad on February 02, 2017, 05:26:18 PM
From what I understand Bimota use a lot of Yamaha parts in their builds, switchgear, clocks etc.etc. so
the wiring can't be much different to a std fj1200 loom?
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: rpo83 on February 03, 2017, 04:26:00 AM
Quote from: jscgdunn on February 02, 2017, 09:02:19 AM
Could you adapt a FJ wiring harness? (popcorn)

Hi, i should have been a little more specific in my post. What ever brand of motor Bimota fit to their frame, they also use the matching loom and switchgear, this makes for an easier transition for them, so when you look closely at the pics, you will see FJ switchgear, dash and loom, Bimota do have to modify the loom to make it fit as the FJ is a much larger bike than the YB.
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: rpo83 on February 03, 2017, 04:28:03 AM
Quote from: bikemad on February 02, 2017, 05:26:18 PM
From what I understand Bimota use a lot of Yamaha parts in their builds, switchgear, clocks etc.etc. so
the wiring can't be much different to a std fj1200 loom?


Hi bikemad,

yes you are correct, it is a modified FJ loom.... I might be on to an original YB5 loom, so if i get it, i'll fit it to the bike to get it up to the race meet in March, then i might pull it out and have an auto elec, use it as a map for a new loom...
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: bikemad on February 03, 2017, 06:25:34 AM
Good news really!
That makes the job a lot easier and something you can do on the bike, shortening wiring is not that difficult.
Fiddly and long winded but doable.
Title: Re: New sort of FJ1200 owner in Australia...
Post by: ribbert on February 03, 2017, 07:41:42 AM
Quote from: Harvy on February 01, 2017, 02:57:55 PM
Steve, Around a year ago there was a YB5 on eBay that had also had a similar electrics shorted out problem, but it had burned pretty seriously..... must be a common problem.

Nice find!

Cheers
Harvy

Wiring looms are not insulated, secured, wrapped and routed randomly, it is the result of much testing and experience.  Small volume producers like Bimota would not have the facilities to test this sort of thing.

IMO

Besides that, it's proof of its Italian heritage. :biggrin:

Noel