Hi

[mike g]

Just to say Hi, I'm new on here.
had my current Fj12 since 2006 it's a 3cv.
had one new in 1988 until I replaced it with a Fireblade in the mid 90s.
New one is just for running the Mrs about, so I've only done about 5000 miles out of the 17000 on the clock, so gonna keep it standard as a classic, although it has R1 front brakes and GIVI luggage.
the original ended up with exup wheels, ledar pipe, carb kit and jack up, etc, did loads of trackdays including the nurburgring and about 45000 miles. loved it but needed the cash and wasn't using it.
I've now got a 2010 BMW s1000rr for my main toy.

anyway got to pop to the garage and put the front mudguard back on (glued snapped lug back on and rethreaded fork mount).

[Tuned forks]

Welcome Mike.  There are other members across the pond that I am sure will chime in.  So you rode the 'ring huh?  That is awesome.  Did you ride the Nordschleife or the Sudschleife?

Joe

[mike g]

Both actually, we were there with a "performance bike magazine frenzy" which was spread over a 3 day weekend (1991, I think) my group had 8 or 9 Fjs and a ZZR1100 I seem to remember - awesome to watch the FJs line astern - lots of sparks!
we got an hour or so before breakfast on the GP circuit on the second day. Well over a hundred of us took the whole place over including Dorint hotel. I did manage to chuck it down the track on turn 13 (one before Karrusel) but we managed to bodge it back together so not too much of a problem. Been back since a few times (once in the car) last time was about 2010 on my R1 (4xv). Been to Spa a few times on a GSXR1000 since, but don't seem to be fitting so many in these days. FJ has been down to Chimay a couple of times for the Classic racing (spectating) and it now is eligible for the vintage motorcycle club runs, being over 25 years old - but it doesn't seem fair as it will still clock 150mph!
But I have to say that ring frenzy was one of the best trips I've ever had!
cheers
Mike

[Millietant]

Welcome in Mike, from another UK member. I've had a FJ in my life continually since I bought my first in '86 - will never be without one - so I guess I'm a bit of a fanatic.

I too took my 3CV around the Nordschleiffe, from the early 90's up until 2002. Then I got an Aprilia RSV and ended up getting annual lap tickets as we were going 8-10 times a year (mostly with the bike on the trailer) and sometimes doing +30 laps per visit. Like you, I stopped going regularly in around 2010.

I've only twice been able to get multiple laps in on the F1 circuit, both times on the RSV. My FJ always went there "on tour" so I was careful not to take too many risks, but I still ground flats into my Kerker exhaust link pipes on both sides, and managed to scrape through the YAMAHA logo on the belly pan 

Anyway, I know you'll find the guys here to be helpful and enthusiastic...and a generally great bunch 

Maybe catch up some time on a run out somewhere in the UK.

[Tuned forks]

You two guys were living the dream.

Joe

[Millietant]

"Were" being the operative word Joe   it's all changed now  :

In those days, the U.K. FJOC guys were there a lot too (most of our friends there were from the group), most of them raced FJ's in the UK but used sports bikes at the Ring.

This pic is from Bergwerk corner in 2005 I think, with my youngest (Ryan, he was about 10 yrs old at the time) on pillion.



And this was around 5 years later (he was much bigger and I was much fatter !!)

[ribbert]

"Were" being the operative word Joe   it's all changed now  :

In those days, the U.K. FJOC guys were there a lot too (most of our friends there were from the group), most of them raced FJ's in the UK but used sports bikes at the Ring.

This pic is from Bergwerk corner in 2005 I think, with my youngest (Ryan, he was about 10 yrs old at the time) on pillion.

What fabulous shots and memories Dean. The one with your young fella is definitely a framer (maybe it already is)  I am working hard on my own memory bank to sustain me in old age (if, when I get there my memory allows me to draw on it)

It would be great to have all that on your doorstep, the IOM, iconic race tracks, Goodwood Festival of Speed, the rest of Europe a stone's throw away and living in a country dripping in automotive history and events celebrating the UK's rich motoring heritage.
Not sure if I'd trade it for our wide open spaces permanently but it would be great to soak it up for a while.

Victoria's Great Ocean Road is well known internationally and seems to be on every visiting riders must do list, I believe Cap'n Ron rode it recently. I ride this road probably 20 time a year and as such have bumped into many overseas riders. Some are unbelievably travelled (who pays for this and how do I get on such a junket??!!) but one thing they all share is an excitement and love of the vastness of this country.
Hiring a GS for a "Lap of the Block" around OZ costs about $10,000 (just for rental). It seems every other rider I bump into has hired one!

It's interesting that as great as I think it would be to have access to all the cool stuff over there, the Europeans can't get enough of our wide open spaces. Riding at 100mph for hours on end on perfect roads without seeing another vehicle, and even in more populated areas, oncoming vehicle numbers in single digits per hour are common. Then there's the climate.....

The population density of the US:          -    35.0people per sq km
                                          England   -  430.0     "       "      "
                                          Australia  -      2.8  "       "      "

Dean, as much as I'd love to have photos like yours in my album, or more likely on the wall ( I do have Phillip Island track day shots), I can't have both so I think I'll settle for these.



To get the Milky Way shots we rode some distance from our accommodation in the middle of the night, it was 700km from the nearest ground light. The FJ in foreground shot was a peace offering from the photographer. His good shots were spectacular.






About to head out on another 500km of dirt out the back of nowhere day. It was sub-zero C and dirt for hundreds of km's in every direction. If it rains while you're out here you can be stuck for weeks.






I saw maybe 2 or 3 cars this entire day of riding.

I know remote is not everyone's cup of tea but I love it. Doing it on the FJ adds a level of adventure for sure.


Dean, I think you said you are retired, spend some of the year in the US, you fly, own a heli, own (and ride) several bikes, have your family join in where practical and are a doer, I like that!

Noel

[Millietant]

Sorry for the thread hijack Mike, hope you don't mind and still hoping to catch up on a ride out in the future  

You're absolutely right Noel, that photo takes pride of place on our sitting room wall and above our son's bed in his room.



I'm with you on the "remote" front - what spare time Liz and I have (we do try to keep ourselves busy  ), is spent out hiking, or cycling, in the wildest parts of the UK with a small group of friends. The trouble is, as you've pointed out, our population density.......you know that you're never more than a short distance from the nearest town, so nowhere is really "remote"

I'm a sucker for remote forests, mountains rivers and plains, but we have limited options here. That's the one real drawback to living in the U.K. and the main reason I enjoy spending time (where we do) in the USA. Our relatives over there think they have busy lives, but when they come to visit, they're always shocked by the constant hustle, bustle and traffic here, and also by the general speed of life and lack of privacy.

Ideally, I'd like to live in NZ, Aus or specific parts of the USA, but at my age, our NHS and the support we have for pensioners is what keeps me here as a base. When it hits me, I don't want to have to worry - we've spent 3 years dealing with the care arrangements for my mother-in-law in the USA (Dementia) and there's been no help except what you pay for. It's been a nightmare and has driven apart my wife's siblings, over how they're going to get care for her (and finance it). Over here, because my parents worked all of their lives and paid into the system my mother who has Alzheimer's was given a place in a Govt supported care home that is fantastic, and other than handing over her pension every month (out of which she gets £20 a week spending money), she pays nothing for that care (courtesy of paying in for 50 years previously). The lack of worry is such a stark reminder of why we're not going to relocate abroad.

One day soon we'll get over to Aus and NZ and rest assured, we be looking you up so we can pick your brains for some great remote places to visit.  

In the meantime, I'll be happy just to meet up with Mike and see a bit more of the UK on 2 wheels.