New FJ in south Chi-town burbs!

[buschdogg]

Hey guys!  Pretty new to the forum.  I just picked up a 1985 Red/Silver FJ1100 and wanted to see if any FJ rider in the Chicago area would be willing to teach me how to really work on an FJ.  It seems to run well enough, but I want to get it in tip-top shape for next season...

I'd be willing/able to offer lots of beer, computer help/parts or maybe even a nice computer or two for the right help!


And finally, here she is... I know that's what you all click on these posts to see

[1tinindian]

Another "rare" red & silver 85!

Welcome from Iowa.

Leon

[racerman_27410]

Great photos.... welcome to the group!

I believe we have a couple of members in or around your area.

KOokaloo!


Frank

[andyb]

I'm over in Dekalb.  Suppose it depends on what it needs, really.

[buschdogg]

I don't know enough to really know what it needs.. starts pretty well.  I've got a valve cover gasket I'm gonna change and hopefully that will stop the occasional oil-burning/smoking I've experienced from somewhere in the front...  I'd like to check the valve clearances, but have never done so... I might buy some jets/pods/exhaust this winter, if I can find a good 4-1 solution (and if it's recommended.. I've read about dead spots online..)

I think it'll need brake work, too, but I can probably do that.  I just want someone familiar with the FJ's to look at it and tell me what I need to do, haha.  You are a bit far away, though, over in Dekalb.

Thanks!

[FJTillDeath]

You have a mighty pretty FJ, although I prefer the white and red one yours looks really well kept

You should set your avatar to one of your photos as they are really good(they have inspired me...)

You are also very lucky to be so close to so much wealth in terms of knowledge.

In South Africa there arent too many guys who ride FJs. I am getting to know 1 guy quite well but he is too far from me to just hop over n let him test my bike for me. I have seen 2 other FJs in my city but by virtue of luck I could not chase them down.

Welcome to the group, have a great stay and I look forward to seeing more of your great photo skills

And finally, here she is... I know that's what you all click on these posts to see

[buschdogg]

Thanks for the compliments!  HDR is actually really easy, you just take three exposures, one over, one under, and one "just right."  Then you put them into one of the various HDR suites (I use photomatix, but there are some free ones available.) and play with it.  Here's my personal favorite from the driveway, lol.  It's a shot of the Sabre V65 I sold to jump headfirst into the FJ world... Hopefully, someday soon I'll shell out for a DSLR camera and REALLY take some nice shots!

[tmkaos]

the Sabre V65 I sold to jump headfirst into the FJ world...

Snap!

I also went from a Honda VF750 Sabre into an FJ... Mine was the '82, electronic dash - mostly working.. complete with the built in wire strop to lock up the bike with a fibre optic wire inside that triggered the alarm if it was cut... Flash as..  I don't miss the deathly cam-rattle those early honda V4's had but I have exchanged it for a plethora of shakes, groans, ticks you get from a FJ motor.. But the kookaloo factor makes up for it... No Kookaloo on the sabre... She was too tired.. 

I'll have to find a pic and post it up... Not nearly as flash looking or proffessional as your pics though.. Good work 

James

[SlowOldGuy]

Kind of funny.  I was looking at a V65 Sabre in '85 but no one at the local Honda shop thought I was worth talking to.  Not a problem down the street at the Yamaha dealer.

I'm sure the Honda was a good bike, but I'll bet i wouldn't still own it.

DavidR.

[buschdogg]

You know.. the Sabre was a blast, actually.. non-stop wheelies from all the torque.  The problem with it (aside from not being an FJ... my first street bike was an FJ 600 an I ALWAYS wanted an 11/1200 after that..) was that parts were RIDICULOUSLY hard to come by.. and when you did find the right ones, they often went for insane prices.  I saw a speedo unit go on eBay for 710 bucks.  It was all digital and had an lcd gear selector.. cool, but not worth 710 dollars!

[tmkaos]

Here she is...




look at her in all her 80's fanciness...

Of course this was taken in 2007 so NZ's salty climate and neglect had taken her toll...

However, I called her Hondasaurus, and rode her with pride.. (and a fair amount of cautiousness since the suspension used to pogo something chronic around long sustained corners)

In the end I sold her for more than I payed for her after she bounced off a Lexus that u-turned in front of us whilst lane splitting (Whoa! Where'd YOU come from!! -Crash!!) Took some minor dings and cracked a radiator surround and caused $1500 worth of damage to the Lexus.. (haha, put that in your pipe and smoke it, Toyota)

Ahhh.. memories.. 

[buschdogg]

Pfft.. that's the baby Sabre... :p

(Sorry, had to.)

I like the color scheme on that, though.. never seen one like that before.  The silver/blue was/is still my favorite, but I see a lot of maroon or brown Sabre v65/v45's that just ruin the look of the bike to me!

Always nice to sell something in worse condition for more than you bought it.. reminds me of my first Achieva SCX.  Bought it with 81k for 1500 bucks from a family friend.. had two people hit it identically on each side of the front left/right fenders, causing symmetrical damage (that I covered completely with a car-bra) that paid out a total of 1700$, which I used to buy my first motorcycle, then I sold it to an enthusiast (SCX's are rare) for 2100 in THAT condition!...

... And would ya' believe I still wish I never sold that car?