Greetings from Seville

[abg1976]

Hello there!
My name is Alvaro, I'm 36, from Seville, south Spain. I only got my license 4 years ago and I my 1st big bike has been a 1997 Honda revere/ntv 650 cc (very similar to honda hawk in america, but the Hawk is better).

Now I want a bigger bike that allows me long distance touring, so I'm looking for a Fj, either 1100 or 1200. Why a FJ? well, I still have a bike magazine with the 1100 on its cover (I was 10 years old and my pocket money always was spent in magazines!), and for me is more special to get a bike that was your dream bike when you were a kid than getting a new model...

After doing recent research on the FJ is when I really fallen in love with it, the torque, the comfort, the reliability, etc I also think it looks badass, specially the fj 1100, I would love to get one, bring it up to date and kick some ass!!!

I have found a 86' Fj 1100, with 23,000 miles, and the owner is open for a swap (my bike for his bike), the thing is, I believe I can drive across Spain & Europe with this bike (just normal touring, one up, luggage, 90 mph cruising everywhere), but most people I talk thinks that is too old of a bike for that.

What do you guys think?

Another option would be to try to sell my bike for cash and look for another model (my favourites are the 1100 and the 1200 3cv).

Thanks a million in advance!

[TexasDave]

Welcome to FJ owners Alvaro. Get an FJ any way you can. Its a great motorcycle. I have only owned my 84 FJ1100 for 2 months. Having owned numerous bikes over the years the FJ is my favorite. My original intention was to buy it, ride it home and sell it. After a few miles on it I got the FJ disease. I still own several bikes but this is the one I will keep. The Harley will go before the FJ will. After riding it home 3000 miles I know its great for cross country touring. Dave

[abg1976]

Hello Dave, thanks for the feedback!
I cant wait to prove everybody wrong when I get my FJ~!!!!

[keand3]

Welcome Alvsro!
Sure the FJ could go as far as you want With  regular and  simple maintanice theres no limit for how long it will go. Mine 1200 have clocked 107.000 km and going strong. Did a complete engine rebuild last summer and now its good as new

You have definitely come to the right place for information and knowledge on the FJ

Cheers from Norway
Ken

[movenon]

Welcome Alvaro ! The FJ is a fine bike with all the power you need. As to if it is the right bike for you is difficult to say. It is a comfortable bike to ride with good power for what they cost. They are 20 to 30 years old and might require some updating and maintenance of long term wear items such as hoses etc.
There is lots of information and help here. We have a lot of members that have owned there FJ's since new. They have forgotten more than I know about the FJ's. Do a good inspection and let us know if you have questions. Difficult on the internet but if you can post some good pictures of the bike we can probably spot things to look at or give suggestions.
George

[FJmonkey]

Welcome Alvaro, the 86' is a sporty bike that tours well. I love my 86', had it for the last 17 years. 23K miles is still breaking in the engine, if the bike was properly maintained you should have no problems with taking a long ride home. Some things to look at before you take a long ride.
1. Check the condition of the chain, the FJ can eat low quality chains very quickly. Make sure there is room for adjustment and no tight spots.
2. Check the clutch slave, they like to leak, the front sprocket cover will have paint bubbling up or missing. If so you may need to bleed it once or twice to get it home. So bring tools and brake fluid.
3. Check the date code on the tires, a 28 year old bike with only 23K might have some really old rubber. Being that it is the only thing keeping you stuck to the road, don't risk any rides on old rubber. Even new cheep rubber is better than old good brands.
4. Brake lines, if they have not been changed or upgraded in the last 6 or 7 years then they need a good inspection. 1200CC's of raw power and torque is all fun and games..... till the brakes don't work. 
5. Check the brake pads, easy and quick, always check the easy stuff.
6. Check fluids, oil, brake, clutch, blinker fluid... etc...
7. Get a Power Ranger suit to match your Red and White (ambulance colored) rocket.

One more thing, take pictures of your adventure home with your FJ and post them up for us, we love ride reports. Enjoy.

AKA.. The Red Power Ranger

[abg1976]

Wow, cool, thanks a lot for all your replies!!!
Ken, I hope to get that far on the odo!
movenon, I know the only way to know for sure if its the right bike for me is owning one, my only concern was if the 86 fj can be use as an everyday & touring bike despite its age.
FJmonkey,  I think your sentence is great: sporty bike that tours well, really what Im looking for!!! The list you gave me I will take it with me when we meet. Dont worry I will make lots of pictures of every trip I make and it will be my pleasure sharing it with the site (after all, I have been checking lots of  pictures from this site already)

I will test ride the bike but after that I am taking it to a mechanic so he can check it out...the owner is a retired racing driver and I guess he will not screw me, but he is asking for 1,800 euros for the bike (2,445 $), so it better in good shape, cuz there is plenty fj for peanuts around here that need work...

This is my bike, the one I will swap for the Fj:






Main change is the cbr 600 198 front end (now it has proper suspension, better wheel and two discs), rizoma bits, K&N filters and custom seat.
I think it looks nicer and I know it rides much better now than the original.

My aim was to make it look like it came out like that from a Honda dealer, mods but respecting the original, that is what I want to do with the FJ 1100...just subtle things!!!

So thanks for the tips, I will def. go for it, I will keep you posted!
Adiossss

[aviationfred]

Welcome to the group,  . Sport-Touring across Europe will be no problem for the FJ. Plenty of power and torque.

Parts are very easy to get for the most part. We have Randy at RPM. www.RPMRacingCA.com for great OEM parts and custom engineered items.

Sounds like you are expecting a case of Moditis. It is a wonderful affliction that will have your FJ smiling and you wallet crying.

Fred

[abg1976]

Moditis!!! jajaja good one!, from now on I wil name it that, spells the same in spanish!
I have moditis since I got my 1st bike (50cc enduro thingy), I swapped the engine for a Honda NSR 80 cc, wheels included...those  were the good times!!

[Dan Filetti]

I recently attended an FJ rally in Tennessee, USA where one of the other attendees (Mike R.) showed up, who had just ridden in from California.  Roughly 3,000 miles (~4,800km) -one way!  He has his machine fitted with an auxiliary fuel tank, so he needs to stop less frequently. He left to ride back a couple of days later.  My point is that the FJ can become a very capable long distance bike.  Another member in Denver has more than 200,000 miles on his FJ.  My point to this, is that they can, with even a modicum of maintenance, be very sturdy, reliable bikes.

Welcome here.

Dan   

[FJmonkey]

Dan's post just reminded me of a recent and quite relevant post of an epic ride on an FJ. Meet Capt'n Ron, get comfortable, once you start reading you will want to read till the end.

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10252.0

Yes, the FJ is great for long rides.... Thanks again Ron for your effort to document and share your adventure with us.

[rktmanfj]

I recently attended an FJ rally in Tennessee, USA where one of the other attendees (Mike R.) showed up, who had just ridden in from California.  Roughly 3,000 miles (~4,800km) -one way!  He has his machine fitted with an auxiliary fuel tank, so he needs to stop less frequently. He left to ride back a couple of days later.  My point is that the FJ can become a very capable long distance bike.  Another member in Denver has more than 200,000 miles on his FJ.  My point to this, is that they can, with even a modicum of maintenance, be very sturdy, reliable bikes.

Welcome here.

Dan   

And it wasn't the first time Mike had made that ride, either.     

[CanDman]

Bienvenido al grupo .... usted ha encontrado el mejor grupo de ciclistas en el mundo. Propietarios FJ no sólo son de buen carácter y con clase ... pero están llenos de información valiosa para ayudarle a mantener su bicicleta funcionando incluso mejor de lo que fue originalmente disigned hacer. Una biblioteca de información se halla disponible apenas para pedir ..... De parte de todos nosotros en el grupo, especialmente de nosotros aquí en Canadá ..... espera que
CanDman

[abg1976]

Dan, thanks for the input, wow almost 5.000 km, that's mental with ANY bike, let alone with one bike most (ignorant) bikers think is too old for RnR...

FJmonkey, that is another mental ride,(saved the whole thing on my phone so I can read it on the WC ;-) then again the latest Fj seems to me like the one version that is better for Hardcore Touring, well done from Capt'n Ron, I hope some day I will have that much spare time to do a tour like that!

CanDman, hello mate, another drummer here! (i see u got a Neil Peart vibe going on with your set up), I more or less get what you trying to say in spanish...but I really appreciate your effort! Mucha gracias!!!

Well, looks like FJ is the bike choosed by cool folks, thanks a lot to all of you, I dont even have the bike but I feel very welcomed, Im really looking forward getting a FJ and share my experience with you guys...also looking forward to prove wrong to all the people here who thinks a bike from 86 is not a bike you can use everyday and for touring!!!

These are bikes closer to my house:
http://www.milanuncios.com/motos-de-segunda-mano-en-andalucia/fj.htm?desde=500&marca=Yamaha

The one Im in talks to make the swap for mine is this one:
http://www.milanuncios.com/motos-clasicas/yamaha-fj-1100-111147502.htm
Mostly because the guys wants a trade and because he wants to take my HOnda and take the mods much further than me jejeje

Adiosssss

[Alf]

¡Hola Álvaro!

Conozco un par de FJteros en Sevilla q están restaurando o llevan habitualmente sus FJs. T puedo pasar sus mails

Respecto a lo de viajar: todos los años m paso a la Península y hago en un mes alrededor de 10.000 kms por Europa. Y lo bueno de la FJ es q con 4 cosas q lleves sabes q no t quedas tirado ni aún si t caes. Y el motor es absolutamente indestructible

Y no sólo viajar: una FJ bien puesta a punto da guerra a motos modernas. Lo q mola es la cara q se les queda cuando se bajan de sus minimotos Manga y t miran... y si la prueban alucinan lo bien q va. No en vano en su día arrasaba en las Series y hoy día en la clase pre-injection contra FZR 1000 o GSXR 1100

La gente de este foro es muy maja y amable.

Pásate por mi web q t va a gustar

Y ahí tienes mi mail para lo q quieras

Saludos

Alf