Hello From Minnesota! Just got an 89 FJ1200

[Corinthian]

Well, Hi!

Last month, I got the idea in my head to shop around for a cheap beater motorcycle in the 1500$ price range. After browsing around almost any ad within a 200 mile radius I narrowed my search down to a couple bikes. It was between a Vmax with 30,000 miles on it and a bad 2nd gear for 1400$ or an 1989 FJ1200 with 33,000 miles on it that ran just fine and shifts just great.

Fortunately,I decided on the FJ1200. I paid 600$ for it, a quick description of this bike is mechanically OK. Cosmetically disabled. Mainly being that it's plastic is currently held together with zip straps, very bad plastic welding and I think the plan was just hope and pray it stays together.

No bent metal or anything major, looks like it took a spill at low speeds. I'm not sure if I got a deal on this or not. I say mechanically OK and not GOOD because I can tell it has some issues and I can predict its going to have a few more.

I'm just soo excited to have a bike! And man, for a bike with 33,000 miles it sure has some get up and go to it especially for being 20 years old. Since I'm new I have about 100,000 questions!!! I'm hoping I joined the right community to get a few answers and maybe even with time donate back some lessons I think I'm going to learn the hard way.

This weekend I took it on its maiden voyage so to speak, I went from Minneapolis Minnesota over to Madison Wisconsin and then back up to Duluth Minnesota following the Superior coast north to Grand Portage where I spent some money at the casino. I've a lot of first impressions to relate. First off. It's much more comfortable than my Ninja600 I bought new about 7 years ago. 2nd... Man after not riding for 7 years I should of taken it slow my wrists and elbows still feel the pain and its been 4 days!! I managed to rack up 1,000 miles and satisfied myself that, if it was going to fail it would of!

Now I have a bunch of questions!! First off, I'll tell you my plans. Since I'm not going to be able to fork over the dough for new fairings ect, and riding it in its current state I think is derogitory to the machine I'm going to begin pulling off all the plastic. Since I'm going this far, I'm going to sand blast and paint anything I can unbolt and know how to put back on again. This is going to include swing arm, frame, fork brace ect.... I'm no rookie working on cars but motorcycles remain a mystery to me. I'm going to need some tools! I notice everything is torques bolts and that to get the wheels off you have to have some kind of kiddywompus 1 1/2 inch allen wrench.

I've purchased the shop manual. Also found one for download]! Which I've been poking my nose in and out of for a while. After I'm done painting it, I'm going to re build it in a butchered up fashion I suppose as some kind of poor mans streetfighter custom bike dealy. I've wrecked a motorcycle or two in my youth, mostly my Ninja... Several times and am done being stupid. So this one is going to last! atleast I'm hoping it does.

So I'll start with the small things I need right off the bat.

Since I'm going to go with a naked bike, The instrument cluster will have no way of practically being supported. So I've been looking into a gauge set I can use and came across one from Dakota Digital that is all inclusive and relatively cheap! This has turn signal, Neutral, Tach, Speedo, Hi-Beam, Oil and Fuel light indicators all in one 3 1/2 inch little gauge! I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with these? The whole Gauge is 119$ I'm sure I'm going to need something to put into the front fork. A good how too or Beware of doing this would be helpfull or any resources on it at all.

Second, The rear brake rotor is down to its last legs as well as the pads, I have the pads just need a new rotor. Any idea how much I can expect to pay for one? Any warnings on what not to do when doing this? I'm going to follow the shop manual as best I can, but experience is the best teacher and I'm sure you've all learned a lesson or two from it!

Third and probably most important, when at idle. It ticks. I wouldnt say knocks, but ticks. Sounds like maybe the valves are a little sloppy. I think I have the tools to check the clearances and what not, but If I'm going to have the thing torn down to its individual parts and if this is going to be a costly investment I may as well have the entire motor overhauled. I've read that can cost well over 1,200$ I'm not rookie in the shop, but this is my first motorcycle to be really tinkering with. Do they sell kits like they do with cars for rebuilding that will come with all the gaskets? Is the shop manual enough information for me to be able to do this on my own? Should I just have it sent off? Or is this ticking something that I should just expect? It's loud enough that it bothers me, I'm petrified that its a bad rod bearing or something, but I've heard those before in smaller engine cars and you can soo tell because its LUNK LUNK LUNK not tick tick tick. It's loud enough to be heard with the exhaust, I know my ninja used to make a sound like that as well even when brand new. Which is why I'm hoping that attributing it to the valves is the main issue.

I suppose I've driven you insane with my ackwardly long post! I'm sorry if I have, many many more questions are going to follow!! I promise, that when I do get to working on it which will probably be next week some time as well and last well in to next spring I'll take as many pictures and bore you to death with endless rantings to satisfy the most curious of us.!

[Marsh White]

The FJ actually looks pretty cool naked...if you do it right!  Here are some pics of my 86 (these are OLD pics...it looks better now - I have 89 front forks and powdercoated wheels with polished lips and Gold Spot brake calipers on it now - Gold Chain, etc.):







Here is also another cool naked FJ:



BTW: the Hi-Res pictures of these bikes are available here: http://www.fjrally.com/picgallery/gallery.asp?categoryid=13

I still don't have a speedo on my 86 "BatBitch".  Honestly, the easiest thing to do would be to mount a small bicycle speed/distance computer and be done with it.  I know for a FACT that in CA you are not required to have a speedometer on a motorcycle...only an odometer (so the state can keep track of your miles).  The bicycle computer will work as a legal odometer.  Problem solved...for less than $30.00.  (get a Sigma bike computer...many of the other brands don't go over 99 mph)

[Corinthian]

Amazing!! your bike is almost exaclty the look I'm going for! Not to shabby at all! I'm hoping mine will clean up nice. What paint did you use on the engine? Does it have to be high temp, and the muffler what is that? I have actually the gold brake callipers didn't know that wasnt a stock thing? They're surprisingly much newer looking than the entire bike.

Where did you re-locate the relay box/electrical box thingy on the right hand side that sits next to the gas tank?

I love the headlights too very low profile! I have a silly corbin seat that has a tear in it, ever hear of those being re-upolstered?

And are those rims the same size as an 89? I see you have new rubber mine will need some replacing soon

[ssuv93]

Hello and welcome to the forum!  This is the right forum for the fj.  The people on here are very supportive and have a ton of good advice. 

                                 Murray from Maine 

[higbonzo]

Welcome,

You have landed in the right place to get some of those 100,000 ?'s answered.  Congratulation on your find.

Later......

[Corinthian]

Glad to see this is an active forum! I've been trying to yahoo user group but I think this may be my new hangout spot

[threejagsteve]

Hello, Corinthian, and welcome!

If your ticking is the same ticking I'm thinking of, my '91 (34K mi.) has done that for as long as I can remember. On no evidence other than my ear, I've always thought it was the cam chain tensioner. (Since I haven't actually heard your bike, no guarantees that it isn't something else, like possibly a valve.)

That said, I did find Marsh's pics of naked FJs most tempting!    But I've got too many projects already...

Cheers,
threejagsteve

[Corinthian]

I would of thought that myself, It's only noticeable at idle where as the cam chain I'd be able to pickup at higher RPMs?

It's very cyclical too, It sounds like valve ticking. All bikes do it just this one is louder than normal. I'll make sure to have that checked I am bringing the motor in when I stat the rebuild to have the valves adjusted. If they dont offer me a horrible quote to rebuild it like around 600-800$ I may just do that.

I was just happy to hear these things have a reputation for valve ticking. The 1,000 endurance ride I put it through, rather it put me through atleast makes me pretty sure it's not a rod journal or something more serious!

[RichBaker]

 The FJ is an air-cooled lump, and it has some distinctive sounds all its own.... the cam will rattle a bit at idle, because it moves side-to-side due to valve forces; the clutch rattles at idle(stops/changes when lever is pulled in) normally, and the starter chain will make some noise, usually on high-mileage bikes. 33k miles is NOT high-mileage for an FJ....  I wouldn't be worried about ticks and rattles when idleing.
I bought my '90 used with 2300 on her and 1st thing I did was ride by my LYS on the test ride. The service manager was also an owner, he'd been there since the early '70s and he said all those noises I was hearing were normal... he was right, at ~76k miles she hasn't changed much, if at all.
There are a couple FJs we know of with over 100k miles, one still in regular daily use has almost reached 200k, without a rebuild.... I doubt yours needs the engine done.

[carthagewarrior]

yes i know this is post digging lol but i would like some detailed info on these bikes if i can get it... light brands speedo and tacho etc... i am not sure where to start.

[yamaha fj rider]

  welcome and congrats on getting the FJ.

Kurt

[John Hopkins]

Well as you've dug up a three year old post I'm going to make some use of it..

I like the naked bike look..so anyone got step by step photos they wouldn't mind sharing?

John.

[VaughanCustoms]

Just doing a google search to get ideas on my bike I saw this thread. That last streetfighter pic thats using the factory front fairing frame. Whos bike is it? Its amazing, I love it. I am curious to how thet built the tail end its super unique and different.

[movenon]

Welcome ! There is a lot of info and idea's here. Enjoy and post some pictures !!
George