FJ #2?

[fintip]

http://collegestation.craigslist.org/mcy/4203208226.html

I think I'm about to go buy this bike. I have just enough money saved, but not working at the moment--but a friend will give me a short term loan, and in the mean time I'll fix mine up and sell it, making up most or all of the difference. (Bikes are cheaper in college station than Austin.)

I'm stoked!



It has perfect cosmetics (except for missing rear section of front fender?), and less than half as many miles as mine. Owner says it could use a clutch rebuilt, had oil changed not long ago, he's never done a valve adjustment but it has always run well and he's only owned it for 2 years/5 or 6k miles. Said the last guy he sold it to was making payments but then stopped, so he repossesed it. Sounds like a good ol' boy, if you know what I mean.

Figure I'll swap my corbin in, swap the kerker out, swap in my rebuilt clutch slave, my new rear tire, my new brake pads I just ordered, do a valve shim adjustment (shame, I just did one on mine--ah well), rebuilt the clutch (just had bought parts for that), move my new mirrors over, breed all lines, install the monkey-made soft saddlebag holders... And promptly order a set of engine bars when I sell the old one to protect the plastic!

I always had a crush on the '87 color scheme.

Hopefully going to pick it up tomorrow. 

Still feeling a little nostalgic about the one I did my epic ride on... But fixing the cosmetics for me will be a long, slow, expensive prospect, and this gives me a chance to get everything right in one go on that front.

[markmartin]

It looks like a good deal.  Nice find.

[FJ_Hooligan]

Check the right side carefully.  The end of that front brake lever has a curve to it like it's been dropped on that side.

[fintip]

Good catch. It's not exactly a performance exhaust upgrade either, I'll probably swap it out for stock--made me wonder why it was installed in the first place (ignorance? or scraped up the original exhaust?). But the rest of the cosmetics seem good, so it's probably minor. In any case, will still be an upgrade.

[Firehawk068]

You better jump on that bike! That is a great deal, and I'm sure it won't last long at that price!

[fintip]

Just confirmed it! Going to pick it up Friday. $1300.

[fintip]

Of course, the day I set to pick it up, a rainy cold front comes through. 

Considering asking to borrow a friend's truck and rent a uhaul trailer, as, of course... I realized last night that I can't find my heated jacket from last year's trip. 

[fintip]

So...

...Called him to confirm today, and he tells me that he tried to take it for a test drive yesterday.

Basically, sounds like it hasn't been run in a while, which is what he said in the beginning, and that the float needles stuck (he still hadn't finished diagnosing it, but he said it was leaking, pulled the bike apart and it seemed to be coming from the carbs--exactly what happened with my first FJ when I got it after sitting for a while). Also, the clutch isn't engaging mostly. He thinks it's the clutch itself, but he did try bleeding it... Probably needs the clutch slave rebuilt.

So... Not driving it home tonight. He said he hadn't realized these problems before so... $1000? I tell him $800. He says done.

Of course, I've dealt with both of these issues before on my FJ, and can just swap in my parts and work on the spares at my leisure!

Now I just need to find a friend with a truck and rent a trailer from uhaul.

[movenon]

So...

...Called him to confirm today, and he tells me that he tried to take it for a test drive yesterday.

Basically, sounds like it hasn't been run in a while, which is what he said in the beginning, and that the float needles stuck (he still hadn't finished diagnosing it, but he said it was leaking, pulled the bike apart and it seemed to be coming from the carbs--exactly what happened with my first FJ when I got it after sitting for a while). Also, the clutch isn't engaging mostly. He thinks it's the clutch itself, but he did try bleeding it... Probably needs the clutch slave rebuilt.

So... Not driving it home tonight. He said he hadn't realized these problems before so... $1000? I tell him $800. He says done.

Of course, I've dealt with both of these issues before on my FJ, and can just swap in my parts and work on the spares at my leisure!

Now I just need to find a friend with a truck and rent a trailer from uhaul.

A little knowledge can make you some money at times.    You have your degree from the world famous "FJ School of Hard Knocks" , now go fix it. Keep us posted .
George

[motohorseman]

Nice looking bike, great price if there is nothing major wrong.

Don't knock the Kerker too bad, sometimes they work well, depends on the tune I guess.

In 2002 I bought a CB900F 919 aka Hornet 900 and tried several systems, the Kerker was one of my favorites. It seems to make the best power where I rode the most - exceptional midrange, I liked it.

[fintip]

Note to self. I was basing my opinion on it primarily on an old web page here: http://fjmods.co.uk/Exhaust.htm

Where it doesn't list strong pros, but it blocks access to oil drain plug. You won't see the power unless you jet the carbs correctly, I guess, though, so who knows?

I still think I'll remove it for now. I'm tempted to part my other FJ out, and then maybe I could make enough of a difference to justify an RPM upgrade... Would love to have enough to just buy a whole "suspension kit"--springs, emulators, and rear shock. Probably easier to sell parts this time of year than sell a whole bike.

On the other hand, though, I have a hard time cannibalizing such a great bike. It's been almost exactly a year, and I've done over 15,000 miles on her.

[fintip]

So, I went to go pick it up. Borrowed a friend's Altima (better gas mileage) with a tow hitch, got a trailer for $14.99 from Uhaul. Drove out.

See the bike and I'm pissed. The guy put up a very out-of-date picture. Bike has lay-down scrapes on the opposite side, and one of the protective fairing pucks is missing. Fender is completely missing. All the pucks are drilled on with what looks like wood screws. Missing the belly pan. choke knob and shroud is missing. Mirror is broken off. 35k miles, not 30k. exhaust is strapped on with metal loops, and the ends are ripped off. Front tire is showing some dryrot. All kinds of small problems. Bullshit.

But I drove out here. Already committed to spending $80 in gas. Already paid for the trailer. And for $800, it's still not a bad deal. On a charger, the bike fires right up in the cold and idles nicely. The aftermarket exhaust sounds pretty mean. Can't drive it, since the clutch isn't holding pressure. (definitely the clutch slave.). The title is correct.

Worst Craigslist experience I've ever had. But when you've driven out there, you've lost negotiating power, and the guy seems a little drunk, and we're out in the middle of nowhere. So, fuck it. I pay the guy.

Now I gotta figure out what I'm gonna do between my two. Fairing does still look better than mine, and the tach does work (haven't tested the other two gauges yet, but it all looks good, at least.)

Maybe I'll convert one to a naked bike and make a project out of it.

Is definitely leaking something. Smelled gassy, looked oily. Haven't given it a good look through yet, out of town for thanksgiving for a while.

*sigh*

[movenon]

Well for 800.00 bucks you are probably OK. Nice project. I hate people who grossly misrepresent things but with older used bikes it's a big buyer beware.
George

[Tapartacus]

Well that sucks! Belly pan was probably worth more than the whole bike! Anyone see a red belly pan on ebay? Sorry to hear about your luck, but if she starts right up you've got a good base to start from. good luck.

Andrew