Hey everyone, and let me tell you, it's hot man. really hot in phoenix because its the doggone desert.
First time motorcycle owner. Could not pass up my 92' FJ1200 with less than 4k original miles.
I AM BEYOND THRILLED TO RIDE THIS BIKE.
Really. This is a dream come true for me and to have such a quality machine, well, you get the idea.
Looking forward to learning a lot from everyone here! Lets get out and ride!
Welcome to the forum. Ive read your post about 5 times and it still says 4K miles. That is probably a forum record breaker right there, albeit a bitter, sweet one. Sweet for you, but incredibly sour for the previous owner who missed out big time. I'm assuming that you must be the second owner, otherwise there are some strange things going on in Phoenix.
it's hot man,
Lucky find! If I were you, I'd go buy a lottery ticket. You'll probably only need to buy one. :biggrin:
Lucky you stopped by here, too. Lotsa good info and experience here, to keep you and the FJ happy.
First thing, the FJ is a big, strong bike. It can be hard on tires, and old tires are a big risk, no matter about the tread depth remaining. I believe our tires are done after maybe five to eight years old. Click the link and scroll down a bit:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11 (https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11)
Make all of your luck to be good luck . . .
Welcome aboard :hi:
I'm currently up the road from you in Sedona, but previously I was in Palm Desert for 45 years so I know about hot climates and FJ's. You can't do much with an air cooled bike when it's 120* and you're stuck in traffic....other than carb jetting and good oil.
The USA FJ's were jetted lean due to EPA regs. Lean bikes run hotter.
As an example...The rest of the world enjoyed #42.5 Pilot jets and the USA bikes had smaller 37.5 Pilot jets.
Want to run cooler in hot weather? Change your jets. Fatten them up.
Enjoy your bike. This summer hop on the I-17 and come up to the cool country and we'll go for a ride.
PM me and I'll send you my cell#...what's your name?
Cheers Pat
ps. On your personal profile (button at top) modify your signature info. to add the year FJ you have. That way in the future when you ask a question, we will be sure to give you accurate info. for your specific FJ.
Quote from: andyoutandabout on April 16, 2021, 03:01:00 AM
Welcome to the forum. Ive read your post about 5 times and it still says 4K miles. That is probably a forum record breaker right there, albeit a bitter, sweet one. Sweet for you, but incredibly sour for the previous owner who missed out big time. I'm assuming that you must be the second owner, otherwise there are some strange things going on in Phoenix.
its actually kinda funny. I'm the third/fourth owner. Someone bought it and i assume it was repoed and sold at an auction of some sort. The person that bought it there got it and another bike as a pair but only wanted the other so into the garage the FJ went. Cue the guy I purchased it from who had an ad online for SIX MONTHS with a price reduction of roughly $2.5K. Messaged the guy and got no response. Two weeks go buy and I'm out looking around for one to buy and he messages me back. I go see it and he explains that he bought it from the guy who kept it in the garage. Cleaned it all out and got it running again and his wife explained to him that no. there will not be a motorcycle.
So we both figured itd be a great first bike for me and it would give his wife the peace of mind she wanted. Win-win.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on April 16, 2021, 09:57:56 AM
Welcome aboard :hi:
I'm currently up the road from you in Sedona, but previously I was in Palm Desert for 45 years so I know about hot climates and FJ's. You can't do much with an air cooled bike when it's 120* and you're stuck in traffic....other than carb jetting and good oil.
The USA FJ's were jetted lean due to EPA regs. Lean bikes run hotter.
As an example...The rest of the world enjoyed #42.5 Pilot jets and the USA bikes had smaller 37.5 Pilot jets.
Want to run cooler in hot weather? Change your jets. Fatten them up.
Enjoy your bike. This summer hop on the I-17 and come up to the cool country and we'll go for a ride.
PM me and I'll send you my cell#...what's your name?
Cheers Pat
ps. On your personal profile (button at top) modify your signature info. to add the year FJ you have. That way in the future when you ask a question, we will be sure to give you accurate info. for your specific FJ.
Man, thank you so much for that information. It really sounds like i need to make a list of things to help me out this summer :lol:
My name is Brian and I'll definitely shoot you a PM. It'll be nice to get out with more experienced riders and learn some stuff.
The FJ seems like a lot for a first bike. I recommend picking up a GN400 to learn to ride on.
Quote from: red on April 16, 2021, 08:50:13 AM
it's hot man,
Lucky find! If I were you, I'd go buy a lottery ticket. You'll probably only need to buy one. :biggrin:
Lucky you stopped by here, too. Lotsa good info and experience here, to keep you and the FJ happy.
First thing, the FJ is a big, strong bike. It can be hard on tires, and old tires are a big risk, no matter about the tread depth remaining. I believe our tires are done after maybe five to eight years old. Click the link and scroll down a bit:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11 (https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11)
Make all of your luck to be good luck . . .
Then I am absolutely due for a new set ASAP.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Quote from: Waiex191 on April 16, 2021, 08:46:49 PM
The FJ seems like a lot for a first bike. I recommend picking up a GN400 to learn to ride on.
I don't disagree at all honestly. My biggest worry though was buying a smaller bike, outgrowing it, and then being stuck with it or attempting to sell it.
That's one handful of a bike first up. After many years on dirt bikes my first "big" road bike was a '77 CB650 - it was a hoot to ride. From that I went to the FJ. The CB felt like a scooter compared to the FJ.
As a former rider instructor I would recommend you take a skills course, presuming you are already licensed. Something like this should fill the bill.
https://motorcycletraining.com/
Quote from: ItsHotMan on April 16, 2021, 08:54:37 PM
I don't disagree at all honestly. My biggest worry though was buying a smaller bike, outgrowing it, and then being stuck with it or attempting to sell it.
When my dad was in his 40s, his midlife crisis was manifested in him buying his first motorcycle - a 1981 GS650. It was a sort of tall and heavy bike and he was never quite comfortable especially in low speed situations. That is why I taught my kid to ride on my GN400, which was my first bike (I still have it). I've just seen more than one friend start on a large bike and it generally doesn't work out the best. A motorcycle training class is a good idea.
All that aside, the FJ is an awesome bike and it sounds like you found a good one.
The first bike I ever owned was an 86 fj1200. But rode my dads cb750. Alot before I even had a driver's license. Even took it trail riding. Over some small jumps. If my dad had known. I wouldn't have lived to get a driver's license. That being said. I also rode that first fj for 14,000 miles in 2 1/2 months and totaled it out when a guy on a cb1100 crashed in front of me @ 135mph+.
You have an awesome first bike. Just respect it. And it'll be good to you.
Quote from: ItsHotMan on April 16, 2021, 08:50:25 PM
Then I am absolutely due for a new set ASAP.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Gaaakkkk!!!! You just started a tire thread!! :sarcastic: but since you asked...
The stock 16" rear has few options now. Bridgestone and Avon come to mind, but there are probably a few more. I have a 92ABS and I've been using Avon radials for the last few seasons. Buy good quality brands. Don't cheap out on them. Many owners upgrade to a 17" rear rim which opens up the choice a lot (but that's another thread).
Also , as soon as you can, chuck the stock front brake lines (I'm assuming) and get steel braided ones. They may look ok on the outside but they'll be rotten on the inside. Being a new rider you won't have any idea how spongy your brakes are now. (I'm psychic too) :mail1:
Welcome to the forum :hi:
Fred
Welcome. If my first bike had been an FJ, I would have been in WAY over my head. I'm not saying you are in the same boat, but, I am saying you might want to follow up your purchase (great deal, by the way) with some of what has been suggested, above. Get as much training as you can. Don't ride on the edge until you have some miles and months comfortably in the middle.
30 years ago is a lifetime of motorcycle evolution. Almost everybody here owns a bike that has been modified from stock, as in those 30 years people discovered things that helped keep the bikes on the road, safer, and more reliable then they had been. 17" tires and improved brakes, improved electrics, forks rebuilt with improved components, fork braces, and the list goes on. Running all stock is getting harder to do as the bikes get older.
You will learn a lot hanging around here. I did, and owned many bikes, including two FJ1200s.
Ride safe.
Ted
ItsHotMan,
You have seen some good advice here. I hope you are a listener. For your own good, please keep the RPM down below 5000 for a good while, as you learn. The time will come when you can be safe above that range, but please do not rush things - it just ain't gonna be safe for you, yet.
Please be aware that the FJ can put you into speeds that the brakes will need time and space to shut down. As a new rider, you want to leave yourself twice as much space as you think you need, at any given speed, for braking.
I would not recommend an FJ as your first bike. It would be best (as in, safer for you) if you buy a used 400cc~500cc bike, for a decent price. You can a nice return on that price later, when you sell it. This smaller bike should not be a large expense, once you sell it later.
All the best . . .
wow thanks I'm taking it easy on my bike also going to class course been doing lot of practices in parking lot wearing safety gear also on you tube there's a motorcycle cop Robert Simmons paying it forward he teaches slow speed skill on motorcycle for free he's awesome. like this site most just read haven't dealt with RPM yet he's kind of high so little at a time just simple upgrades bike is plenty fast enough.
91 FJ1200
David Cruz
Any competent sport bike is capable of getting you into the area where your skill set is not up to the bikes performance. You will begin to write checks your riding skills can't cash. The bike is the writing instrument, in this case. One of my very first observations with my brand new, still under Yamaha factory warranty 1991 FJ was that it was as competent at 130mph, as it was at 65. I, however, was not. Coming off a Honda CB 900F, that was eye opening. I realized very early in the payment book history that I had a ways to go. That lesson came into even sharper focus with my 1995 750 GSXR.
The bad news is I ain't Wayne Rainey. But, the good news is, I ain't Wayne Rainey. I think about that before every ride.
Enjoy, but, ride safe.
Ted
Welcome on board Brian - this is a great place for FJ owners.
Can I also add to the rider training advice...get what you can as soon as you can...but if you're stuck, watch and practice some of the basic stuff from here -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjLVwTGt2Ds (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjLVwTGt2Ds)
Despite the name, "Canyon Chasers" are full of great advice for beginners and longer term riders as well.
I remember being told many years ago at my first racing school (in the early 1980's) that there is a difference between someone who has been riding/racing for 25 years (saying they have 25 years of years of experience) and someone who has been developing their riding for 25 years.
In that first instance, it was described to me as "having 1 year of experience, repeated 25 times"........always critique yourself and don't be afraid of critique from those who know.
Ride it carefully, know your limitations and grow into the bike and you will love it for a long time.......even today the FJ is a valid choice for a fast, reliable mile-eating bike. :good2: