FJowners.com

General Category => Introductions => Topic started by: Natalie on February 02, 2012, 05:50:15 PM

Title: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Natalie on February 02, 2012, 05:50:15 PM
Hello!

First of all I want to say sorry for my bad english. My German is much better but I guess if I want you to understand what I am writing it's better to tell you in (bad) english.
I bought my '91 FJ 1200 ABS last July - and I just love her. She is perfect for me. 2 years ago I rent a BMW Enduro - I hated this bike. Just didn't feel comfortable with the BMW. But when I first got on the FJ it was like she was built for me. I made more than 3000 km until September with this Lady.

I don't know much about motorcycles. So I hope you can give me information and good tips when I have any problems.

Cheers,

Natalie
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: oldktmdude on February 02, 2012, 06:24:07 PM
  G'day and welcome Natalie. You've come to the best place to find out more about your FJ and how to fix or modify it. No need to worry about your english, it's fine, so feel free to ask for any information or tips you want to know about.  Regards, Pete.
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: racerman_27410 on February 02, 2012, 09:34:30 PM
Welcome to the group!

I'm happy your FJ found its way to you.   They have a way of doing that.  :biggrin:

if you need help post up and we'll do our best.  :good2:

KOokaloo!
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Mike 86 in San Dimas on February 02, 2012, 09:37:50 PM
Welcome!! This site is a great find. Your English is gooder than mine. Enjoy the ride.
Mike
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Dan Filetti on February 02, 2012, 10:52:02 PM
Welcome Natalie, lots of good folks and information here!

Dan
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: FJmonkey on February 02, 2012, 10:57:36 PM
You joined the best group for FJ help and knowledge. We can help you get your Kookalooo on......
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: craigo on February 03, 2012, 06:47:28 PM
Hallo Natalie, Willkommen auf der FJ Eigentümer. Wir haben Mitglieder aus aller Welt, die sich daran beteiligen. Was sind sie Teil von Deutschland. Ich habe Verwandte in Zwickau. Sehr schönes Land. Noch einmal, herzlich willkommen und genießen sie ihre neue "Dame"

Cheers,

CraigO
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Mike 86 in San Dimas on February 03, 2012, 07:46:20 PM
I think he just asked if Natalie is married and if she also owns a boat.
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Dan Filetti on February 03, 2012, 08:23:57 PM
Per Google Translate:

Hi Natalie, Welcome to the FJ owners. We have members from all over the world who participate in it. What they are part of Germany. I have relatives in Zwickau. Very beautiful country. Once again, welcome and enjoy their new "lady"

But I think I like Mike's translation better,

Dan
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: craigo on February 03, 2012, 08:31:50 PM
Quote from: Dan Filetti on February 03, 2012, 08:23:57 PM
Per Google Translate:

Hi Natalie, Welcome to the FJ owners. We have members from all over the world who participate in it. What they are part of Germany. I have relatives in Zwickau. Very beautiful country. Once again, welcome and enjoy their new "lady"

But I think I like Mike's translation better,

Dan

Jeez Dan,

For such a conservative, you to use Google translation is almost treasonous.  :blum1:

From my translator, it reads:
Hi Natalie, welcome to the FJ owners. We have members from all over the world, are participating. What are you part of Germany. I have relatives in Zwickau. Very nice country. Once again, welcome and enjoy your new "lady"

My German wife will have fits for sure.  :flag_of_truce:

CraigO
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Natalie on February 03, 2012, 11:06:17 PM
Thanks for all your nice welcomes!
I live close to Mönchengladbach, a town near the dutch border. The sea is far away - so no need for a boat, Mike! :nyam1:

Natalie

Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Mike 86 in San Dimas on February 04, 2012, 09:39:22 AM
Quote from: Natalie on February 03, 2012, 11:06:17 PM
Thanks for all your nice welcomes!
I live close to Mönchengladbach, a town near the dutch border. The sea is far away - so no need for a boat, Mike! :nyam1:

Natalie

I guess nobody is perfect.
Mike
come on Klavdy!
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: nvmike24 on February 04, 2012, 03:22:36 PM
Welcome Natalie, enjoy the ride and the group. There are a few wise guys here and this adds to the fun. There is a wealth of knowledge here and if you have a question please ask.
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Pat Conlon on February 05, 2012, 10:52:06 PM
Yep, just what others have already said. Welcome Natalie. Let us know how we can help you!  Prost!  Pat
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Steve_in_Florida on February 06, 2012, 02:05:32 PM
Welcome, Natalie.

I spent 11 years in Germany with the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Ramstein Air Base, near Kaiserslautern, in the Rhineland Pfaltz. Many, many good memories of FJ riding over there.

I sure do miss the autobahn Kookaloo!

Steve
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Natalie on February 06, 2012, 02:45:26 PM
Some of you mentioned "Koolaloo". This is the explanation I've found in the internet:
"Kookaloo , kookaloo meaning , definition of kookaloo , what is kookaloo - That feeling you get when you roll on the throttle of your motorcycle and you have to hold on for dear life!
Some examples : FJ1200, most late model big bore sport bikes. Kookaloo!" Is this the right "translation"?
And what the hell does "big bore" means in this sentence? It can't mean that a FJ1200 is boring because that would be such a big lie.

Natalie
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Natalie on February 06, 2012, 02:49:27 PM
@Steve: let me guess! You miss the Autobahn because of the not existing speed limit, right?
Is there a speed limit on the american motorways?
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: fj11.5 on February 06, 2012, 03:11:57 PM
Welcome mate, you will find more information here than any other Fj site,  (popcorn)
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: rktmanfj on February 06, 2012, 03:19:19 PM
Quote from: Natalie on February 06, 2012, 02:45:26 PM
Some of you mentioned "Koolaloo". This is the explanation I've found in the internet:
"Kookaloo , kookaloo meaning , definition of kookaloo , what is kookaloo - That feeling you get when you roll on the throttle of your motorcycle and you have to hold on for dear life!
Some examples : FJ1200, most late model big bore sport bikes. Kookaloo!" Is this the right "translation"?
And what the hell does "big bore" means in this sentence? It can't mean that a FJ1200 is boring because that would be such a big lie.

Natalie


Yes, that's right...  Frank's sis came up with Kookaloo:

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=5015.0 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=5015.0)

'Big bore' refers to the diameter of the cylinders... definitely NOT boring!   :biggrin:
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Dan Filetti on February 06, 2012, 03:58:31 PM
Quote from: Natalie on February 06, 2012, 02:49:27 PM
@Steve: let me guess! You miss the Autobahn because of the not existing speed limit, right?
Is there a speed limit on the american motorways?

Generally, yes, there are speed limits on most of the US highways and roads.  There are a precious few places where there is none, within the bounds of safety etc.

Now, enforcement is relative.  Obviously, some places the cops are everywhere, and really quite anal retentive about posted speed limits.  However, that is not always the case.  A couple of stories to illustrate. 

1. When I lived in Colorado, I used to commute from Ft. Collins to Aurora (72 miles each way) I used to routinely pass cops doing 95 mph (posted speed limit was 75) and not get pulled over.  My theory at the time, was that you needed to be doing 100+ to get their attention.  This was a number of years ago, and perhaps this has changed since then, but for me this was the case.

2. Some friend of mine and I were in north western Pennsylvania hooning about for a few days.  We were in this very large park (hundreds of square miles) and stopped at quite possibly the only commerce, a convenience store, in the entire park.  There was an impressive network of twisty roads in this park that could be ridden for hours on end without ever leaving the park.  We remarked as much to the attendant of the convenience store and casually asked whether there were speed traps we should be aware of.  His response surprised me: "normally there is one up by so-and-so junction, but today is Earl's day off, so there is no one to pull you over".  There was ONE GUY for this entire park, and he was off that day.  The rest of the day was really quite fun!

Anyway, that's a long away around answering your question as to speed limits.  Seems to me that there are some speed limits in some places on the Autobahn, such as near cities etc.  Last I was there I seem to recall this.  Correct me if I have this wrong, it has been a few years and I've done so much traveling that I may have this confused.

Stay well.

Dan 
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Natalie on February 06, 2012, 04:47:21 PM
Quote from: Dan Filetti on February 06, 2012, 03:58:31 PM
Anyway, that's a long away around answering your question as to speed limits.  Seems to me that there are some speed limits in some places on the Autobahn, such as near cities etc.  Last I was there I seem to recall this.  Correct me if I have this wrong, it has been a few years and I've done so much traveling that I may have this confused.

Yes, that's right. I think nowadays there are speed limits on at least 50% of the German Autobahnen. I am lucky, there is no speed limit on the Autobahn near my place for almost 100 km. But nobody knows for how much longer. As far as I know Germany is the only country in Europe without a general speed limit on Autobahnen. And everything here has to be "European". So we might have such a speed limit in a few years. The government already spoke about it. But as long as our car industry is strong enough they avoid a general speed limit.

Natalie
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: craigo on February 06, 2012, 08:11:10 PM
Dann fuhr ich von Düsseldorf nach Zwickaw vor ein paar Jahren. Die autobaun mit verschiedenen tempolimit mit der elektrischen signs posted to let you know, Fahren Sie langsamer. Die weiter nach Osten ging ich, sie haben weniger und weniger. Hier ist ein Bild der Volvo D80'S tacho während dieser Reise. Dies ist kookoloo! !!

(http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4374/picture104lu.jpg)

And for our English speaking friends, it translates to:

I drove from Duesseldorf to Zwickaw a few years ago. The autobaun had various speed limits with electric signs posted to let you know to slow down. The further east I went, they got less and less. Here is a pic of the Volvo D80's speedometer during that trip.
This is kookaloo!!!

CraigO
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Natalie on February 07, 2012, 09:51:15 AM
The good thing ios: the speed cameras in Germany just take pics of the front... :yahoo:
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: flips on February 07, 2012, 01:24:42 PM
Quote from: Natalie on February 06, 2012, 02:45:26 PM
Some of you mentioned "Koolaloo". This is the explanation I've found in the internet:
"Kookaloo , kookaloo meaning , definition of kookaloo , what is kookaloo - That feeling you get when you roll on the throttle of your motorcycle and you have to hold on for dear life!
Some examples : FJ1200, most late model big bore sport bikes. Kookaloo!" Is this the right "translation"?
And what the hell does "big bore" means in this sentence? It can't mean that a FJ1200 is boring because that would be such a big lie.

Natalie


Hi Natalie :hi:
The translation you have found for Kookaloo is correct and definitely applies to the fj1200 :good:.Big bore refers too the size of the tube or "cylinder" that the pistons slide up and down in.In comparison to a lot of bikes the fj is a big bore machine. :smile:.Some people even "bore out" their fj making the bore bigger and fit larger pistons increasing the displacement or capacity of the engine ie:more Kookaloo :wacko2:  Sorry if you knew all this already  :sorry:

Cheers :drinks:

Jeff P
Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: Steve_in_Florida on February 07, 2012, 03:21:31 PM
Quote from: Natalie on February 07, 2012, 09:51:15 AM
...speed cameras in Germany just take pics of the front.

I can vouch for this. Riding my Harley Fat Boy one day on a back road outside of Landstuhl, speed limit was 50 kmph, and I was doing 50 MPH (80 kmph). I didn't even notice the speed trap. They mailed me the ticket with a photo of a helmeted rider on a dark painted bike. I had changed the paint set, so the bike was no longer RED, as documented on the registration. I disputed the validity of the ticket AND WON, as there was no license plate visible in the picture (taken from the front).

Some back road speed traps use a nondescript car with a laser system in it to measure your speed. You pass by, and catch a glimmer of red light in your field of vision, then a little further down the road, an officer with what looks like a big lollipop will step out in the road and flag you over.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YxrFpUNKmPU/SuDMScA28SI/AAAAAAAAArw/jq1E7PasWg0/s400/polizei.jpg)

At this point, they will often "conveniently" allow you to pay the ticket on-the-spot in ca$h.

***BASTARDS!***  I mean that sincerely.

Title: Re: Greetings from Germany
Post by: boobba1 on March 10, 2012, 11:41:58 AM
Hi and welcome.

And what about the pictures of your FJ ?

Jean