New Guy with another '85 FJ1100

[CutterBill]

Greetings all...
So why did I say "another" 85 FJ1100? 

First, I've been riding since I was 15... a deadly Vespa, a Yamaha 90cc twin with a bent frame, a ratty Honda CL350 that carried me all over Texas for several years, then my first new bike... one of those rather strange Yamaha TX500's.  I put 20,000 miles on that bike in the first year; don't think the engine ever cooled off.  Eventually I traded it for a Lotus Europa.  And then didn't ride for many years.

In 1989 I moved to California for the job, and discovered I was in a bike rider's paradise.  But I didn't do anything about the itch until a lovely lady broke my heart.  So of course I walked into a bike dealer's showroom, looking for something fun to ride.  The salesman showed me a very nice, used FJ1100 with a Corbin Gunfighter seat and Supertrapp mufflers.  I knew nothing about the bike (remember, this was before the internet) but it sure looked nice and it fit me perfectly.  So I bought it and took it home.  Wow, did I get lucky picking that bike.  I couldn't believe how great it was.  Rode it for 4 or 5 years, then decided that I was too old for this nonsense.  Bikes are too dangerous, too impractical, too unreliable...  And that was 18 years ago.

But I never lost the passion.  Sometimes a bike would pass me on the freeway, or I would see an incredible sport bike parked somewhere, and I would think... Someday...

And then it happened again.  Yep... just a few months ago a lovely lady with incredible legs and a dazzling smile broke my heart.  So I did my research and bought a new Suzuki V-Strom 650.  Love it.  Very smooth, very comfortable, fantastic headlights, a great ride, and powerful... for a 650.  Riding it reminded me what I had been missing all these years; how much fun riding is.  But still... if only it had more power...  So I starting poking around... Ebay, Craigslist, the usual.  And then I found it.  In Fresno.  An original owner, 1985 FJ1100.  The exact same model FJ that I sold 18 years ago.  It looked gorgeous in the photo.  So I filled my pocket with 100-dollar bills, hooked up a buddy's trailer to the Jeep and took a little drive.  It was even more gorgeous in person.  This guy really took care of this bike; it was his "baby."  Sure, it needed new tires but that was ok.  But the front end seemed a little low, at least lower than I remembered.  And the forks had no dampening.  And the clutch master was seeping...

So I asked him "Oh by the way, when did you last change the fork oil?"

"Say what?"  Uh oh...

"Um, the brake fluid?  Clutch fluid?"

"You mean you're supposed to change that stuff?"  30 years.  Oh boy...  Well, no matter.  I've been turning wrenches all my life, so a complete tear-down and rebuild is no big deal.  I have been lurking on this forum for several weeks, and Randy at RPM kept coming up.  So I called him for the clutch master kit and a new slave.  "So Randy, what else do I need for this bike?"   Boy, that's a dangerous question to ask...

So today the Brown Truck dropped off the clutch stuff, and fork rebuild kits with his new fork valves and springs, and new stem bearings, and an oil filter adapter, and few other small bits.  And oh yeah, yesterday my new Avon AV45 & 46 radials showed up.  I think I'm going to be busy this weekend!
No worries,
Bill

[movenon]

Welcome Bill.  Sounds like you are jumping right in with the FJ.  Your are going to enjoy the power over the 650. Post some pictures if you get a chance and don't hesitate to ask questions. 
George

[Pat Conlon]

Welcome Bill, it's funny but we hear that often.... "Hey man, nice FJ, I had one of those years ago...what a great bike, I should have never sold it..."

....or worse "Hey duuuude, nice FJ, my dad had one of those....."

Cheers. Pat

[charleygofast]

Awesome story Bill! Post some pics. when you get her presentable. Congratulations on your new baby!                                                                             Charley.

[FJscott]

Welcome Bill

great intro. this forum is a great place to get ideas and help to fix your FJ, broken hearts? not so much.
as you know,the FJ has some great legs as well when running good...

Kookaloo!

Scott

[CutterBill]

Thanks for the warm welcomes!  Here's a pic of the new bike.  Future mods will include a new Corbin seat, reinstall the original windscreen, and get rid of those enormous turn signals...

[CutterBill]

Ok... here I am, 20 years ago.  Yep, never should have sold that bike.  But now I got another one!   

[movenon]

Think I have been on that road... Wish it was in that good of condition now !  Nice bike !
George

[rlucas]

Great intro. Welcome, from a fellow FJ\WeeStrom owner. There are a couple more here as well.


rossi

[Pat Conlon]

Future mods will include a new Corbin seat, reinstall the original windscreen, and get rid of those enormous turn signals...

Don't forget your top priorities:
1) change those 30 year old rubber brake lines...
2) safety wire the fuel tank petcock.....

Be careful of what we call Moditis.....you'll see...

[fj1289]

Looking at your shopping list - I'll bet your next order will include a shock too! 

No lovely lady anywhere at anytime is worth not riding! 

[FJmonkey]

Wow! now we have two FJ's in Rosemond CA. The SWCR (South West Coast Rally) is building up steam... Welcome new dude, I am out for a ride today, maybe we can meet up and get a few more Southern FJ riders to join in....

[Capn Ron]

Welcome Bill!  Great story and glad to have another SoCal FJ rider!

[aviationfred]

Welcome to the Kookaloo zone. 

Great story and incredible looking Ambulance.

Just got finished with a weekend of Kookaloo during the Central FJ Rally 

You should plan on riding with the Southern Cal guys and head up to the Renegade Rally in September and the West Coast Rally next May.

Fred

[skymasteres]

Okay, you must not be riding her much because I haven't seen her around town. I keep a keen eye out for fellow FJ riders. Thoughmy poor bike llaments the day I bought her. She's bene ridden more hard miles in a year than many motorcycles see in a lifetime.  (Got to get her put back together from the last indignity she suffered)

If you need any help, or just want to chat give me a buz.

Mike