New FJ owner in Scotland

[fixitsan]

I'm going to pick up an '85 fj1100 in a couple of hours, and thought to join the forum because I find they're full of useful info and friendly folks.

I'm about 20 miles east of Edinburgh, over the years I have had various mid sized bikes, once covered 55,000 miles in 2 years on an xj600 (that never let me down) as a despatch rider

I haven't had a bike on the road for a couple of years and thought I'ld get this FJ for at least a few months (it's so cheap I'll get back what I pay even in 6 months time)

Currently I'm tied up with converting an FZR600 to electric power. Running at 84V from 840 ex-laptop lithium-ion cells but that's another story ! (Here's a vid of me checking it out at 42V in my garden Electric motorcycle first acceleration test ride )

[TexasDave]

Welcome to the forum. There is a wealth of information and experience on the FJ among the members here. Very nice video of your electric bike. How about more information on it. What size motor and what kind of controller are you using?  My youngest daughter just returned from five weeks in Scotland last Saturday. She said the country was beautiful and the people very friendly.   Dave

[Klavdy]

Hahahah!,
Good onya mate, another mad, tinkering porridgewog,there's a few on the list and they're all good 'uns.

[andyoutandabout]

Electric wheels - what a clever Celt.
Welcome to the show - I'm an ex dweller from south of your border.
Nice castle. Great comedy fest.
Andy

[movenon]

Welcome !  You are going to enjoy the FJ I am sure.  For the money they are hard to beat. I like your electric conversion.  As time go's alone tell us more about it. Lots of help online here when it comes to the FJ.  Let us know more about that when you get it.  Feel free to ask questions.
George

[fixitsan]

Cheers fellas.

I'm not a native Scot, I've only lived here 25 years, originally I'm from the Independent Republic of West Yorkshire, (Morley and Leeds)

The FJ was coughing and spluttering when I saw it, as a result of a roundabout spill dumping dirt into the carbs (so the seller said). It died twice on the way back from East Kilbride to Livingston, felt like fuel starvation. I knew it had some issues.

Once I found out how to remove the seat with a broken right side release lever, I got the tank off, stripped and cleaned the carbs (bottom bowls). Found a spark plug halfway out. I think the fuel tap vacuum pipe was off (and the tap leaking fuel into the carbs even when off, allowing it to still run), upsetting airflow.
The airbox cover has long been lost and was replaced with a thin tin plate blanking plate (reduced airflow again)....I just got one off ebay for a couple of quid.

The fuel gauge wasn't working, soldered a wire at the sender to cure.

It has a tougher clutch spring and an FJR clutch master cylinder.

After sorting these things I took it for a spin and it's a completely different bike. Bloody nice power delivery.

The chain is humped, but I have a new one which the electric bike was going to get. But now I'm changing the electric's rear sprocket from 46 to 60 teeth it needs another chain.

Info detailing the build of the electric bike is all at the Battery Vehicle Society http://www.batteryvehiclesociety.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=3550  Plenty of pictures in the last few pages, the start of the thread is very slow and meandering.

The batteries took 2 months to test and assemble into packs.....probably would do it differently if I did it again !

The motor is a whole 2HP at 36V (!) running it at 84V makes it go a fair bit better It has double brushes so can handle some abuse, I think it's from a golf cart or a forklift hydraulic pump. The controller is an ancient GE EV-10 forklift controller, hacked to run at 84V. It is all very basic, no power regeneration (for the time being anyway)....but.....I did fire it up the street last week at 84V and sheared the motor's woodruff key at the chain sprocket it made so much torque. It was trying to wheelie....I think with the 60tooth rear sprocket the front wheel will lift very easily. The weight with 50kg of batteries and 25kg of motor is still going to be less than the standard bike so it can still handle well.


Anyhow the rain is back on and I've put the FJ in the garage, it's been a couple of years since I rode a bike and getting all this torque at once on a wet road is testing my mettle ! Luckily the FJ's seller just fitted 2 premium tyres. The bodywork is pretty rough and the adjustable suspension controls for the rear shock are totally seized, but it  passed it's MOT 2 months ago so I'm not stressing about anything. I've given it a good look over and it's solid and tight enough.

Chris

[FJmonkey]

Welcome to the club mate, sounds like you will fit in quite well. Grab a spot around our digital campfire and tell some lies and good BS on how fast you were. That's what we all do at the rallies, right.....

[fixitsan]

I can't yet believe there's a need to lie about how fast the FJ100 is, this bike is quick. But then I've only owned it for less than a day !

It's Sunday morning, the roads have dried, and I normally pick up a Sunday paper for the wife. I think a newsagent at least 50 miles away might sell papers..... 

[scotiafj]

Howdo bud Im in scotland also ..Ayr on the west coast 

[Flying Scotsman]

Welcome from the USA.
Im a big fan of the FJ.Im watching Germany vs Argentina at 2:00 then im taking a ride on one of mine.
Yes I was born in Bonnie Scotland.

[movenon]

"It's Sunday morning, the roads have driied"

What are you in, a drought ?  Tell me it never rains in Edinburgh !
Cheers 
George

[fixitsan]

There's three types of weather here...

Just being raining
Actually raining
Just about to rain


But in between the rain there is some sunshine...