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Fj Rookie

Started by McWood, April 16, 2009, 01:40:52 PM

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McWood

April 16, 2009, 01:40:52 PM
Hey everybody, names Ryan and i'm from Idaho. I'm in the process of trading my 73' Norton Commando for what i believe is an 89' FJ 1200 (owner is across seas on business so i can't get a hold of him to double check the year). Even though i love my Norton to death i need a bike that i don't have to tear apart every 100 miles. I've known all 3 previous owners of the FJ, the first two were good family friends and the current owner is my dad, he's also the one who sold me the Norton so at least the bikes are staying in the family. She's got just under 14k miles and has been laid down twice, first owner had a little old lady pull out in front of him in her caddy and he had to dump it to avoid slamming into her. Second owner had never ridden a bike before and got himself into trouble, after he laid it down he was scared to ride it and let it sit in the garage for a couple years. Anyways i'm looking forward to learning about these awesome machines. Is there a way to identify the bike by the VIN? here's the only pic i have of her at the moment.
if it ain't broke, fit it till it is

ddlewis

#1
April 16, 2009, 03:32:00 PM
that's an '89 color.. so you're probably right.

Yamifj1200

#2
April 16, 2009, 03:58:27 PM
Welcome Ryan, thats a 89 at first look anyway. Either that or someone has replaced all the body work... Well its not going to be like your Norton at all. FJ's can run for well over 100,000 miles with basic service and I know one owner knocking on 200,000 miles on his. Good luck and be careful, the fj will have loads more power than your Norton. There are a number of upgrades that can bring your bike up to date.... Enjoy your new ride.....

Eric M


http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=14833.0


"All unattended children will be served an espresso and given a puppy"

racerman_27410

#3
April 16, 2009, 04:29:20 PM
welcome to the group Ryan,

get ready for some fun   :good2:

McWood

#4
April 16, 2009, 05:03:56 PM
thanks for the welcome! i've taken off the front body work to do some inspection, cleaning and to try to silence some rattles/buzzing. Once i cleaned the grime off the VIN plate i found 2/89 stamped at the top. So i'm guessing it was made in February 1989. I've already spent about an hour in the seat of this bike and i have a very good idea of the power this thing has, what a blast! Definitely has a few more ponies then the Norton, lol. I've lurked around the yahoo FJ group and will now need to scour these forums for info. Is there a factory service manual available for the FJ's or atleast a chiltons? Also is anybody still making a full exhaust system for these bikes?

I figured i'd put up a pic of the Norton in case there's any brit bike fans out there. this was minutes after we pulled her out of the barn:
if it ain't broke, fit it till it is

Ratchet_72

#5
April 16, 2009, 10:13:58 PM
Keep BOTH bikes.  That's what I'd do. 8)
Jason Cox
-------------------------------
2000 Honda CBR1100XX
1977 Ironhead
Sacto, CA.

McWood

#6
April 17, 2009, 02:48:07 PM
I'd love to keep the Norton, but i just can't afford to buy the FJ outright right now. My other vice is modding Jeeps so i need a reliable second mode of transportation if that ever lets me down, i honestly have to put 2 hours of wrenching in for every hour i ride the commando so reliable isn't exactly the best description for it. But its going to good hands, my dad is who i bought the commando from in the first place and he's a huge brit bike nut, in the same barn i got the commando from theres another 73' commando, 2 atlas' (one of which he's had since he was in high school), a triumph hurricane and a little Norton electra as well as crates and crates of parts, he claims he's got all the bits to make a featherbed manx cafe racer. Since the Norton will belong to my father i'm pretty sure he'll let me ride it whenever i want. As much fun as the FJ is it's hard to beat the Norton, nothing puts a grin on your face like doin 100 on a parallel twin.
if it ain't broke, fit it till it is

rlucas

#7
April 17, 2009, 07:26:15 PM
A HURRICANE? A Vetter Hurricane?

I just got a chubby.

Damned nice looking '89, by the way.

Rossi
We're not a club. Clubs have rules. Pay dues. Wear hats and shit.

"Y'all might be faster than me, but you didn't have more fun than I did." Eric McClellan (RIP '15)

vfourmax

#8
June 09, 2010, 07:02:31 PM
Welcome from another newbie to the board! I am an old guy and can remember drooling over the 850 Nortons when I was a teenager at a local dealer here in town. I wanted one some kind of bad but I think they sold new back then for somewhere in the neighborhood of about 1700.00 and as a kid that might as well had been 170,000.00 for all the difference it would have made as to being able to buy one!

Nice Norton but for actually riding you will enjoy the FJ tons more!
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