Good things come to those who wait

[ren-dog]

Gday All

17 years ago I had a conversation something like this with the wife ...
"You can have another bike if you promise me you'll ride sensibly", she said drilling my chest with her index finger.
"Well"? prodding harder and somewhat like a tazer gun.
Hmmm, I thought, here's an opportunity.
"What do you classify as riding sensibly"? I probed.
Now the problem with opportunities is they have an upside, but also a downside. 
I could go without a bike and drive around in a station wagon or break the vows I made to her just on 18 months prior.
"Keeping both wheels firmly on the ground," was her final reply.
Damn, blast and buggah.
"Nope, can't promise that", I sheepishly acknowledged.


So after 17 years it's bike time again. 
Yep the kids are old enough to pay their own bills now.
The wife owns the station wagon now and I've just sold the 4WD.
First stop the local Yamaha shop, only 150 km's (90mile) away.
"My last bike was an RZ500, so whats available these days"?, I asked the salesman.
Valentino Rossi rides one of these. Blah, blah, blah.
R1 this, FZ that, XJ the other. Too steep a position, too ugly, too slow.

Went to the Honda shop, Suz.. Suzu... Suzu. arrgh the other one.
Sat on a really nice Triumph Sprint at $16G's and then inspiration.
An old FJ1200 over there. Mmmm I remember these.
Comfy, large tank, heavy, small wheels for quick turn in.
Small wheels for average handling in the wet. Great for touring.

So I'm over 40 now and I don't have to put up with the cut and thrust of city traffic.
I do however have to travel and hour and a half to the coast. Five hours to the mountain pass.
And avoid the grey nomads that come north every winter.
So an FJ it is. But not at that ridiculous price.
Watched eBay and Trading Post for a couple of weeks.
First bid was on an FJ1200 with two crapped out centre cylinders.
Went to $1300, plus frieght to the bush of $900. Na, too much.
Then an old cocky had an '84 FJ1100 for $600.
Been in his hey shed for 6 years. Pieces everywhere. Why not?
Deal done.

So now I've got a project for the next 6 to 12 months.
I can piece it together as I go and replace all those dodgy bits along the way.
Crickey, this one ain't gunna have a chance to bite me in the ass.
Freshen up the paint job and colour scheme. I'm thinking Vodafone style; red black and chrome.

OK, so maybe I'm not exactly rolling on thunder just yet, but I'm excited. 
Hopefully, I'll be able to contribute along the way and enjoy some FJ'ness with you lot.

Cheers

[racerman_27410]

time passes but the FJ lives forever!!!!


Good onya for finally gettin yourself one!


KOokaloo!

Frank

[Ratchet_72]

Now that is a proper introduction. Welcome

[waricle]

Welcome ren-dog I (we?) are looking forward to progress reports with pics!!

[threejagsteve]

Hello, ren-dog, and welcome!

[Dan Filetti]

Welcome here, seems to me you're in for some fun over the next 6-12, that is if you have the this-is-fun mind-set.

You could not have found a better group to piece it all back together.

Good luck.

Nice intro BTW.

Dan

[threejagsteve]

Hello again, ren-dog,

One thing I wanted to mention...

I recently got back on my FJ after a 6-year layoff. I'd previously put 34K mi. on it so it wasn't new or different to me, but I've been amazed at how what had been ingrained riding skills have grown rusty, even near-forgotten, through disuse.

If you're getting back in the saddle after a 17-year absence as it sounds from your initial post, based on my own recent experience I'd recommend picking up something a bit smaller and lighter to go chasing parts on and knock the rust off your riding edge while you're getting your FJ together. Find a good deal, and you ought to be able to break even on it, or even turn a small profit! And when your FJ is done, you'll be ready!

Cheers, good luck, and Kookaloo!

[ren-dog]

Thanks for the replies fellas.

Yeh threejagsteve it is time to get some practice
so it's off to riding school for me next weekend.
Something small and simple like a 250 roadbike.
Turn this, stop that, idle through the other.

And the riding school runs courses all the way up
to advanced track skills on R1's no less.
So it's definately not the same as having a
daily rider, but it's the plan at the moment.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[waricle]

I am in the same boat too- 25+ years off the bike and so I have been doing feet up full lock figure-eights around our 3/4 acre back yard as I do up the bike.
Going back on the road will be an experience. I like the idea of a smaller bike to begin with. Does anyone have a spare Bultaco Metralla?

[rossco]

And never ever let someone "who used to ride" get on your bike,as it will likely end in tears.JMO

[thuber3040]

Yepper, the guy that bought my fzr this last week, sold his bike the same day to a guy, the guy rode it around the corner and crashed in the parking lot.
No test rides and don't look after your bike is sold!!

[higbonzo]

Ren-dog,

Hello and welcome   

17 years without riding a motorcycle, that is a long time, I don't think I would have been able to buy a project bike, because I would have wanted to get rolling on 2 wheels as soon as possible.  But, after 17 years what are a few months, right?  Sounds like you have your hands full in your restoration.  I hope it goes well and your bike is everything you wanted and more when you are finished.

Later, Phil     

[higbonzo]

So you didn't like this bike.....      http://www.mcnews.com.au/Wallpaper/Yamaha/XJR1300/2003/03_XJR1300_Yellow_LHF_1024.jpg

We can't get them in the states, but I sure wish we could.

Later.....

[thuber3040]

A very nice standard motorcycle, it would be nice to have, kind of like the zrx1200 which we can buy here

[CodyNKR]

Welcome...
As a great man once told me when looking for my FJ, wait for it, it will find me. And it did.....just like yours found you. It needs you to put it back in the glory it once was. And this group will definitely help.

nancyk

Gday All

17 years ago I had a conversation something like this with the wife ...
"You can have another bike if you promise me you'll ride sensibly", she said drilling my chest with her index finger.
"Well"? prodding harder and somewhat like a tazer gun.
Hmmm, I thought, here's an opportunity.
"What do you classify as riding sensibly"? I probed.
Now the problem with opportunities is they have an upside, but also a downside. 
I could go without a bike and drive around in a station wagon or break the vows I made to her just on 18 months prior.
"Keeping both wheels firmly on the ground," was her final reply.
Damn, blast and buggah.
"Nope, can't promise that", I sheepishly acknowledged.


So after 17 years it's bike time again. 
Yep the kids are old enough to pay their own bills now.
The wife owns the station wagon now and I've just sold the 4WD.
First stop the local Yamaha shop, only 150 km's (90mile) away.
"My last bike was an RZ500, so whats available these days"?, I asked the salesman.
Valentino Rossi rides one of these. Blah, blah, blah.
R1 this, FZ that, XJ the other. Too steep a position, too ugly, too slow.

Went to the Honda shop, Suz.. Suzu... Suzu. arrgh the other one.
Sat on a really nice Triumph Sprint at $16G's and then inspiration.
An old FJ1200 over there. Mmmm I remember these.
Comfy, large tank, heavy, small wheels for quick turn in.
Small wheels for average handling in the wet. Great for touring.

So I'm over 40 now and I don't have to put up with the cut and thrust of city traffic.
I do however have to travel and hour and a half to the coast. Five hours to the mountain pass.
And avoid the grey nomads that come north every winter.
So an FJ it is. But not at that ridiculous price.
Watched eBay and Trading Post for a couple of weeks.
First bid was on an FJ1200 with two crapped out centre cylinders.
Went to $1300, plus frieght to the bush of $900. Na, too much.
Then an old cocky had an '84 FJ1100 for $600.
Been in his hey shed for 6 years. Pieces everywhere. Why not?
Deal done.

So now I've got a project for the next 6 to 12 months.
I can piece it together as I go and replace all those dodgy bits along the way.
Crickey, this one ain't gunna have a chance to bite me in the ass.
Freshen up the paint job and colour scheme. I'm thinking Vodafone style; red black and chrome.

OK, so maybe I'm not exactly rolling on thunder just yet, but I'm excited. 
Hopefully, I'll be able to contribute along the way and enjoy some FJ'ness with you lot.

Cheers