Back in the (FJ) saddle again

[CRashrat]

Hi guys,

I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Randy and I live in Maine. Around 1998 I owned a FJ1200. I was still fairly young and it was my second sportbike. My best friend had a Ducati and my brother owned a CBR 600 and when we went out they would pick the curviest roads around and race.

I was ashamed of my old girl, even though she was plenty fast enough and could handle herself in the curves, and we parted ways.

Well, it's 15 years later and I've cycled through a bunch of bikes – a Trident 900, RD400, GB500, Hawk GT, VFR700, Sprint ST, M2 Cyclone, VTR1000 – and I recently picked up a fresh 1985 FJ 1100 with just 11k on the clock. The battery was dead and the carbs need to be cleaned, but I'm tickled pink to be back riding this model.

I always felt bad about how things ended with the old FJ 1200. I wasn't much of a mechanic and had left a bad hole in the engine where the clutch slave attached by over tightening the bolt and I let my brother and pal shame me into practically giving away the bike.

I'm in a better place now and look forward to long rides along the beach with the FJ  

Thanks!

Randy

[FJmonkey]

Welcome back to the FJ world Randy.

[movenon]

Welcome Randy  Lots of good fellow FJ riders here. "I may have other bikes in the future,  but the FJ stays".
George

[Pat Conlon]

Welcome back Randy.

We hear that a lot, "l had a FJ once and I wish I never sold it..." or "I had a FJ once and what a great bike..."

or lately I've noticed, "My dad had a FJ once....."

[Dads_FJ]

Welcome to the group Randy!  Although after I read you owned an RD400 I was distracted with the rest of your post    Any pics of that ol' girl?  Had two once, a '76 & '77 and "wished I'd never sold them..."

[CRashrat]

Thanks guys! This time around I'm sticking with the girl. I may trade away the second bike (the VTR) for something smaller for my wife, but the FJ just has too many good points.

I don't know if I have any pictures of the RD left. I inherited it from my brother who owned the CBR -- he couldn't keep the Yamaha on the road so just went out and bought the 600 on  a whim -- and he was an even worse mechanic than me and had put (I swear) wood screws in the chain adjuster. The rear tire was so wide it rubbed against the swing arm. He had the DG pipes upside down so they ground out on anything more than a perfectly flat surface. That was a sweet little bike when I finished it: Moto Careera had worked on the top end, it had Spec II pipes, aftermarket shocks and Progressive springs. I picked up an adaptor on the old two-stroke list and ran a GSXR 4p caliper on a RD350 spoked rim.

I actually became a better mechanic because of the RD. I wish I'd had it before the FJ and not after it, because when I was mangling the 1200 I didn't even know how to read a torque wrench. Now I know exactly where my skills begin and end, but back then I'd tackle anything and rush right in like a bull.

The FJ 11000 is bone stock and I'm going to take my time with it. I really want this to be one of my last bikes and I intend on living a LONG time 

[CanDman]

taylor laughs

Welcome back Taylor.........ummm...but things have changed a bit since you were last here........everyone seems to have a lot more...I mean less hair then you may remember... 

[Travis398]

Welcome to the group Randy.

The FJ 11000 is bone stock

Don't worry we can help you with that 

[CRashrat]

Luckily, I've been hammered at work and don't have much free time to obsess about FJ mods, Travis. I predict a brake upgrade, RT springs, and a RPM oil cooler by the spring, more or less in that order.

Usually I get a Corbin first thing, but this seat is miles better than my VTR's and the bike I had before this was a Buell M2 christened the flying wedgie. All the jokes about 1990s Buell seats are absolutely true, though there was a lot to like about the bike.

I know I also need to get the carbs worked on but my shop is changing over to snowmobiles in the next few weeks and won't have time to dick with motorcycles. Such are the joys of living in Maine  

I checked out the air filters when I changed the plugs and found Unis in there and the box was peppered with holes so it's not as bone stock as I was hoping. All the Champion plugs were also gapped wrong, but the funny this is they didn't look to me as though they were run rich, even though I can actually smell the fuel.

Well, it's going to be a learning experience!

Randy