Long term FJ owners

[charleygofast]

You re so right Pat. Everyone here has something to offer, some bit of FJ knowledge, or interesting stories of great experiences with their bikes and others. I agree FJ's are very special bikes and so are the people who own them. Knowledge isn't necessarily mechanical, as FJ's are not high maintenance motorcycles. But I am impressed with those who bought one 10, 20 30 years ago, lives and loves it so much that they swear that they'll never sell it, and those who do usually wish they hadn't and want another one. I've bought sold traded many bikes in my 40 some years of riding. Some I've regretted some I didn't care 'cuz I didn't have that bond or I just had to pay bills, but my FJ just does something for me...speaks to me I guess. I know you understand. You said not long ago in a post about a bike for sale that when you walk away from your parked bike you turn around and look at her again...I do that too! The Red/Silver is a beautifull bike, and when I go to the garage and uncover her again I'm like Pee Wee Herman when he goes to his bicycle..." Hello...I'm here." :lol                                                                      Obsessed, yeah a little!                                                                                                                                                                                        Charley.

[JMR]

 I bought my 87 FJ new in April 1987. It's in great condition.

[magge52]

Hey Charlie, in my case, just don't confuse longevity of ownership with knowledge.....
All that I've learned about my FJ came from the much more knowledgable guys on this forum....
....and the Yahoo forum previously...
.....and the Netpath list  before that.

I realize that there is so much I don't know about motorcycles but, what I do know (for certain) is that FJ owners are some of the most selfless, helpful owners I have ever been associated with....bar none.

For example, did I ever tell you the story of a FJ owner who was in the middle of a cross country tour and in the middle of no where his generator went out....he limped in to town on his battery and called the closest Yamaha dealer 85 miles away to get a generator....The dealer told him it would take over a week to get the part to him *if* they could find one....
The guy walked over to the town's library, got on line to the Yahoo FJ forum and posted a call for help...

One of our members (Jon Cain) went out to his garage, removed the generator from his bike and overnight mailed it to our stranded FJ brother......cool huh?
That's just one of several stories I could tell you.

Where will you ever find guys like that?     They're all right here.

FJ are nice bikes, but the people here make the FJ a special bike.
[/quote]

That is one hell of a story. The more I hang out here the more I see what you mean. It's a great group and I was looking forward to putting some names to faces at the NESR but I see it has been postponed. Maybe I can make the fall rallye.

Speaking of long term ownership I haven't bought new since my 1st bike, a 72 R5 (RD350) but the Norton has been in the garage since 87 and the Duc since 99. I tend to hold onto things I like and the FJ is well on the way to becoming one of the family members. 

[Klavdy]

Did I ever tell you the story of the bunch of Seppos I started talking to on the interwebs,ended up sending some of  them thousands of dollars and they bought motorcycles and parts for me?
Had never laid eyes on them but it all ended well.
A couple of them even let me sleep inside at their very own houses.
Mind you, they were heavily armed.

[Pat Conlon]

....and we kept our bedroom doors locked.....

[TNFJ]

I purchased my FJ new in 86.

[Pat Conlon]

Well all righty....I bet you have some stories to tell us....

[charleygofast]

Well all righty....I bet you have some stories to tell us....

Thats what I'm talkin about!   

[rlucas]

Did I ever tell you the story of the bunch of Seppos I started talking to on the interwebs,ended up sending some of  them thousands of dollars and they bought motorcycles and parts for me?
Had never laid eyes on them but it all ended well.
A couple of them even let me sleep inside at their very own houses.
Mind you, they were heavily armed.

One of our members (Jon Cain) went out to his garage, removed the generator from his bike and overnight mailed it to our stranded FJ brother......cool huh?

HEY!! I know those guys!!!


rossi

[wm_Reed]

I bought my 89 new in March of 91 as a factory holdover.  She it still my baby but enjoys the love and affection she receives now that I have time to tinker.

Life is Good!

[Earl Svorks]

 I bought my '90 1200 new in '90, I still have not seen a bike I would rather have.
The FJR was close but too much tour, not enough sport.
120,000 on the clock ,still makes me grin.
  Long live the KOOKALOO!!

[charleygofast]

I bought my '90 1200 new in '90, I still have not seen a bike I would rather have.
The FJR was close but too much tour, not enough sport.
120,000 on the clock ,still makes me grin.
  Long live the KOOKALOO!!

Inspiration dude 

[JoBrCo]

I bought my 1985 in 1985, though I've touted her as the last 1984 that my dealer had, because that's what the salesman told me.  Either that or my half-heimers has turned into three-quarters-heimers.  I just found out last week when I checked the VIN in preparation for re-registering her.  So I guess that counts me out for knowing anything much about her.    But I know what you guys mean when you say she's something special, as I feel the same way.  Right now her resurrection is probably saving my life.

Before I was an FJ1100 owner, I was a Yamaha XJ750MK owner which had a longer rake angle, a cruiser, and almost got shoved off the road @ 80mph on US280 near San Jose because of it. Yes, her car door actually touched my right foot, because I couldn't move over to the median fast enough, thank god for my horn and her unstartled resolve, as she slowly steered back into her lane.  That was a close one.  Enter my FJ with its shorter rake angle, that relatively, I couldn't keep out of a turn, or so it surely seemed. Plus all that roll-on power at my finger tips, so no automobile since has come even close to doing that again, because with her, I'm out of there, one way or another.

And all that considered, all the way up to an indicated 140mph, I've characterized her as synonymous with a NASA rocket sled, because that's how sure footed she's always seemed, as opposed to other bikes I've ridden, like she's on rails.  Which brings to mind a BOC tune, but I digress.

Nope, she's mine till death do us part! 

FJ Forever! 

JoBrCo

[faser41]

Most excellent thread! I'm subscribed here!

[Mike 86 in San Dimas]

Original owner here of an 86. The day I bought her ($5300 if remember correctly) I was happiest dude on earth. I really felt like I owned the best bike in the world (for me it was). Then did a slow tip over at the end of my driveway  my new bike! No harm done. Whew. Daily ride for over ten years, 52K miles, then parked in the garage for another ten. Thought I had a serious  engine issue; one morning started it up and oil spewed from the air box OMG! Lots of lame excuses for not taking care of it; kids, job, money, maybe I was ready for break after riding daily for over twenty years. But there was no freakin way that bike was leaving me. Started having dreams of riding the bike almost every night...good dreams. Found the forum, found out I was a stupid ass, "just clean out the air box that has 10 years of crankcase breath in it stupid". Cleaned up the carbs, rebuilt brake calipers, clutch slave etc. etc etc. and varoom I was off again. But the best part was finding this group. Might not have got the inspiration to get the bike going when I did. I think about buying a new bike once in while, I'm not Jay Leno, so why? I could go on, but your getting sleepy.  Good dreams FJers.