This sort of forum is a major reason why I bought my FJ. Been a KLR rider for years and appreciate a good online fan/support base. Been lurking here a while, but now that I'm regularly working on the beast, figured I'd say hello before I start throwing questions out there in the maintenance and mods boards.
I bought a slightly neglected '90 FJ1200 about a year and a half ago. Rode it for a few months and the carbs started overflowing. Didn't have time for it, and let it sit for a year. Now it's got a new battery, turns over and runs fine. Rebuilt the carbs last weekend... the sticky floats, rust and regular gunk cleaned up nice with five cans of carb spray and water boil. New float valves, various o-rings and float bowl gaskets. Just dropped off the rusty tank to have it treated by my local shop here in LA, Cycle Depot in Eagle Rock. Plan to have it running later next week. Oil change and air in the tires should be all that's left on the checklist.
The bike is still stripped of plastics in my garage now. It was rattling a bunch from the fairing and I found some cracked mount points and loose bits after the teardown. Might mend them with epoxy or whatnot just to get it all back together and street legal. However, I've been looking into streetfighter mods. It was kinda the plan all along. No offense to any fans out there, but the red, white, navy, lavenderish-silver scheme on the '90 makes absolutely no aesthetic sense whatsoever! I'm not planning anything crazy like frame or suspension swaps... just wanna get it looking okay naked. Let's say one part Road Warrior to two parts Road Whatever. Project bike indeed!
I'll post my questions in the proper boards... CA model emissions system stripping, recommended streetfighter parts, stock parts for sale.
Pleased to meet ya!
Welcome SoCal FJ owner, get your ride working and ready for some canyon rides. There are a few of us that get together for rides and good times. WCR is coming up, maybe you can see us there in June. Glad to have one more FJ near by. Cheers mate!
Thanks FJmonkey! I'll be around after June 6th. When's the meetup?
You might see me occasionally in the canyons on my KLR. Best part of living on the east side of LA!
welcome to the group, :hi:
them LA guys are crazy :wacko3:
Great to have you here Silas, good luck with the FJ work.
Quote from: silas on April 16, 2011, 07:48:53 PM
Thanks FJmonkey! I'll be around after June 6th. When's the meetup?
You might see me occasionally in the canyons on my KLR. Best part of living on the east side of LA!
The rally is June 2 to 5. Guess your gonna miss it. We can hook up and ride to Newcome's ranch some time.
Welcome Silas! Yeah, we've got all the helpful info and wiseass remarks a fella could ever need. You have come to the right place!
Doug
Welcome Silas, don't forget the desert! I consider Hwy 74 my driveway. Hope you can get your FJ together in time for our West Coast Rally. Pat
Heya Pat!
Tell us what the surface on HWY 74 is like, last time it was due for a resurfacing.
Have Caltrans done it?
I might do a shake down run on the Friday before we leave for the Rally out past Pine Cove then down to Palm Methert.
Quote from: Klavdy on April 17, 2011, 03:03:49 AM
Heya Pat!
Tell us what the surface on HWY 74 is like, last time it was due for a resurfacing.
Have Caltrans done it?
I might do a shake down run on the Friday before we leave for the Rally out past Pine Cove then down to Palm Methert.
Avoid the Hwy 74 leg from Palm Desert to the Anza Hwy 371 turnoff. It's so rough that it will shake your fillings out.
However the Hemet side Hwy 74 to Hwy 371 is ok.
Idyllwild Hwy 243 is good but be careful, currently there's still snow up there. The sun's out and the snow is melting so the inside corners can be wet.
No pinecones. Check that, 243 will be fine by the time you get here.
Hwy 371 from Hwy 74 to Anza has been repaved as is a fun road with open sweepers. Kinda short 'thou.
Julian/Borrego Hwy 79 is in good shape. S2, S3 and S22 are bitchen as usual.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on April 17, 2011, 12:06:11 PM
Quote from: Klavdy on April 17, 2011, 03:03:49 AM
Heya Pat!
Tell us what the surface on HWY 74 is like, last time it was due for a resurfacing.
Have Caltrans done it?
I might do a shake down run on the Friday before we leave for the Rally out past Pine Cove then down to Palm Methert.
Avoid the Hwy 74 leg from Palm Desert to the Anza Hwy 371 turnoff. It's so rough that it will shake your fillings out.
However the Hemet side Hwy 74 to Hwy 371 is ok.
Idyllwild Hwy 243 is good but be careful, currently there's still snow up there. The sun's out and the snow is melting so the inside corners can be wet.
No pinecones. Check that, 243 will be fine by the time you get here.
Hwy 371 from Hwy 74 to Anza has been repaved as is a fun road with open sweepers. Kinda short 'thou.
Julian/Borrego Hwy 79 is in good shape. S2, S3 and S22 are bitchen as usual.
who hoo , all those roads used to be my playground , used to live on sorenson rd off the 371 in agunaga .
there are still pieces of my fj on the 74 just past the fire station where a left hander got me. still lookin for the remote to the garage door I left there.
have fun and enjoy yourselves. :good:
Quote from: Klavdy on April 17, 2011, 03:03:49 AM
I might do a shake down run on the Friday before we leave for the Rally out past Pine Cove....
Low hangin' fruit, that is...
Welcome to the group Silas,
We're always happy to throw another log on the fire for a new FJ'er!
KOokaloo!
Frank
Quote from: Dan Filetti on April 17, 2011, 01:48:34 PM
Quote from: Klavdy on April 17, 2011, 03:03:49 AM
I might do a shake down run on the Friday before we leave for the Rally out past Pine Cove....
Low hangin' fruit, that is...
Yeah, but this guy's intro thread has been hi-jacked enough as it is. :biggrin:
Randy T
Indy
Quote from: Dan Filetti on April 17, 2011, 01:48:34 PM
Quote from: Klavdy on April 17, 2011, 03:03:49 AM
I might do a shake down run on the Friday before we leave for the Rally out past Pine Cove....
Low hangin' fruit, that is...
Nyuck nyuck,gotta leave an opening.
Hiya Silas,welcome to the F.J group.
You know you're well received when your thread gets Pirated,,,,
Hijack away! I'm takin notes. Rarely get a chance to venture too far from the house on a leisure ride. Usually just head up Big Tujunga and Angeles Crest. Trying to keep this year open for more distance runs on the FJ.
I did ride out to Joshua Tree my first year here on the KLR. Coming back through the wind funnel on the 10 at Palm Desert was quite a fright on such a tall bike. Another reason why I plunked down on a heavier, lower, faster machine. In fact, if I manage to silence all the plastic rattling, I may just forego the streetfighter stripdown and have the bodywork painted. I do appreciate the comfort factor of the fairing.
Quote from: silas on April 17, 2011, 09:12:04 PM
Hijack away! I'm takin notes. Rarely get a chance to venture too far from the house on a leisure ride. Usually just head up Big Tujunga and Angeles Crest. Trying to keep this year open for more distance runs on the FJ.
I did ride out to Joshua Tree my first year here on the KLR. Coming back through the wind funnel on the 10 at Palm Desert was quite a fright on such a tall bike. Another reason why I plunked down on a heavier, lower, faster machine. In fact, if I manage to silence all the plastic rattling, I may just forego the streetfighter stripdown and have the bodywork painted. I do appreciate the comfort factor of the fairing.
Be glad you did not run Angeles Crest today. My 2 hour ride turned into 4+, I watched at least three riders get air lifted out. I almost rear-ended a trailer parked in the middle of a blind corner (the first of two accidents on my way home). Man am I glad I practice hard stops on open roads when I don't really need too. All the people that stopped were either helping the rider that went over the rail and down the hill some, or just standing around watching. I turned around and parked well before the turn and slowed traffic way down before the corner. The bike was totaled, he was going real fast. I just keep reminding myself, don't any ride faster than my guardian angel can fly. Keep it safe everyone.
Tis the season. Sundays are way too crowded on the 2.
I never judge a rider down, but I've let a lot of "aggressive" riders (and drivers) pass me up in the canyons. The risk isn't worth a quick trip down the other side of the guardrail.
Just checked in on a certain Facebook page, "Angeles Crest Highway". It's just a local who posts news from the 2. Two crashes confirmed. Even a road closure due to the mess. Glad I stayed home to refinish the patio furniture.