Hello, former UK native living in Finland here.
Recentley swapped my old CBR1000F chopper for a stock 1988 FJ1200 and some €, it was a bit scabby but well looked after. I was going to sell it on but after 2 hours with a paint polisher for sales pics the dull black paint turned out to be a very good looking metalic and after riding it around a bit I just can't let it go.
I have been enjoying reading the modifications & upgrades as I like to build chops and upgrade stock bikes so thank you for sharing your knowledge and I look forward to seeing more.
Take care out there
Cheers
Jonno
Aliens MC Helsinki.
Welcome to the group Jonno, it looks like you've bagged yourself a decent FJ there.
To make sure you order the right things when you're buying parts, your bike might have been registered in 88, but it's a 86-87 1TX model FJ 1200 - that's important if your ordering/buying suspension and brake parts, as well a few other bits.
The 88-90 model was the 3CV, which also came with different wheels and a different fairing, as well as a fuel pump, rather than gravity feed abs different forest plates and silencers/mounts.
Given you've got such a good base, please don't chopperise it (better to use less well cared for examples for choppers) - there are plenty of east upgrades to improve braking and handling and bring the FJ up-to-date a bit, while keeping the essence of what makes it so great. Comfort wise and performance wise, your bike is perfectly capable of giving you tens of thousands of miles/kms of brilliant riding, so just tweak it and enjoy it :good2:
Good eye Dean! Welcome Moi!