What's Better Than Two FJ's in the Garage?

[FJ1100mjk]

How about three? 

Picked up another '85 last night. The one along the fence.





Bought it from the original owner, who bought it new in the crate in 1987. Who stated that "it has not been modified in any way."

Really well cared for, and it shows 



The usual scraped mufflers and black paint chipped off the tail section were a no-show on this one. Super shape...





Even has the factory instruction sticker for windshield care still on it.



And as an added bonus, the fuel gauge needle doesn't bounce!

Can't see it being a Garage Queen at all.

[Steve_in_Florida]

Looks to me like you're opening a hospital that advertises "speedy pickup services"...

Steve

[simi_ed]

Very nice pickup!     Will you be stationing them at firehouses? 

[FJ1100mjk]

I guess I missed my calling, I should have went to school to be an EMT!

[faser41]

Nice--single owner ha? Most excellent find! How many miles and what compelled the seller to part ways?

[FJ1100mjk]

Nice--single owner ha? Most excellent find! How many miles and what compelled the seller to part ways?

Thanks.

There's around 27,700 miles on its clock. Though he took care of it really well, and prepped it better than I ever would when he wasn't riding it, he hadn't ridden it in the last few years much at all, and none last year or this year. He had transitioned to liking other bikes over the years. He had a 2005ish BMW R1100RT, and a KLR650, and he told me the former "was the best bike he ever owned." Like the FJ1100 and by his own admission, he tended to keep his bikes a long time, and had a hard time selling them. He still had a Yamaha XS650 that he owned since he was 16 years old. I could tell he was having a hard time seeing me swinging a leg over his FJ and riding out of his driveway. I told him before I put my helmet on, that I could always stop by with it, if he was ever jonesing for a look or ride on it.

[ribbert]

...... He had a 2005ish BMW R1100RT, and a KLR650, and he told me the former "was the best bike he ever owned."

I did a 2000km round trip a month or so back with $15,000 in my pocket to buy an '08 1200 RT SE. I had spent months researching them and hunting out the best one in the country. I even borrowed a GS for a 700 km day ride the week before just to be sure I would be happy with the boxer twin, gearbox, performance etc (they are an acquired taste) and loved it. They are mechanically the same bike as the RT. I was so sure I considered flying up with my gear with the intention of riding it home.
Fresh on the back of a sensational days touring on the FJ, the test ride left me cold and for that sort of money it needed to tick every box and it didn't.

I didn't care about the trip for nothing, I had 3 days of riding over great roads, many of which were new to me and being in the high country with Winter setting in, the roads all to myself. What worried me was that if an RT didn't do it for me, what would? Am I destined to see out my riding days only on the FJ? This was not to be a replacement for the FJ but an add on.
I had recently convinced myself to sell some long term automotive projects with the carrot being a new bike. I never dreamed I would have the money in my pocket and be unable to find a bike to spend it on.

Yes, RT's are widely touted as the best touring bike ever and in the hands of someone that likes a bit of fun, surprisingly sporty. All things being equal, they would out run and FJ in the twisties (IMO).
RT's do not suffer from lack of handling or performance, but the old farts that tend to buy them.

So, it's back to just me and FJ in garage for now, not that it's any great hardship, and the 4 cars I still have to sell (that's have, as in I promised my wife I'd clear the driveway!)

The thing I like about the BMW boxer twins is they have all the modern wizardry but have character and still feel like a real motorbike, something I just don't feel with the late model Jap offerings. As I said recently, they feel like driving a car with the windscreen removed. I understand this is entirely a personal view and many, like Klavdy for example, have moved on and see the FJ's now as dinosaurs.

I have done about 5000km's in the last 6 weeks, it is running like a top (always does) and doesn't even have it's good motor in it. I have completely lost the urge to add another bike to the stable for the time being. I plan to console myself with some hard luggage.

Long live the FJ

Noel

[X-Ray]

Nice viewpoint Noel.

Mmmm, some good quality hard luggage would be very nice. I've been looking at the Hepco-Becker gear http://www.hepco-becker.com.au/photos/?id=2 specifically the Junior Flash 30ltr range. Great quality but of course it comes at a price. I'll drop into the Brisbane distributors soon and have a look, but alas I'm sure I'll just have to "add it to the list"...... 

[movenon]

Nice write up Noel. We have some views in common. I rode an older RT for many years. They are an acquired taste. While never excited about the RT,  it was reliable to the tune of 100,000 plus miles and had hard bags.  Back then they were a lot easier to service than the new ones with fuel injection, ABS, more CPU control etc..

When I dropped my FJ my wife told me to just go buy a new bike.  I looked pretty hard at the new offerings and while they looked great, they just were not the FJ.  The FJ seemed to be my "standard" in comparing bikes.  I looked at a bunch of used bikes and found some knock out deals but there again the FJ came out ahead.  If you truly think you need the top performer (for today) then you need to go buy a new bike.  The FJ is long in the tooth,  IMO merging from an inexpensive performace ride into a special interest/vintage category. 

I will be keeping the FJ for the simple reason I am comfortable on it and enjoy a motorcycle that I can do 98% of all the maintenance and repair.  If I spent 20,000 dollars for a new bike my smile going down the road wouldn't be any larger.  That said I have thought about building up a BMW based bike for adventure riding but the FJ stays.  Then there is the kookaloo factor. 
George

[Pat Conlon]

Yep, when you factor in the initial cost along with the recurring costs of maintenance, insurance and DMV annual registration, are the new bikes worth the premium?
Can they really do *that much more* than my FJ?

The only real attraction of a new bike for me would be Fuel Injection, not having to fuss with my carbs.
I am watching RPM's development in this area with keen interest.

When I get another bike to add to my 2 FJ's it will be a bike in a different category, like a light dual purpose street/trail bike...something I can ride up Hwy 74 then take the fire roads and trails up to Santa Rosa peak.
I've also considered a used GSXR 750 I can use as a track beater at Chuckawalla Raceway.

For road trips, I think our trusty old school FJ's are a good choice considering the overall expense to value ratio.

[Dads_FJ]

So you're set in the ambulance department, now you need to start on the fire dept:   http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-Honda-CA-/121408007919?&_trksid=p2056016.m2518.l4276

Nice time capsule you'f scored!  Craigslist?

[FJ1100mjk]

So you're set in the ambulance department, now you need to start on the fire dept:   http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-Honda-CA-/121408007919?&_trksid=p2056016.m2518.l4276

Nice time capsule you'f scored!  Craigslist?

Wow! Don't remember the last time I saw a Dry-Sump Fire Responder for sale. Rarer than hen's teeth.

Didn't find the FJ1100 on CL. Word of mouth thing. Met some guys for a ride-in in the Twin Cities, and piloted my road-worthy FJ1100 to the meeting place, where one of the other guys stated that he was looking at an FJ, but didn't buy it. He thought that it was still for sale, and put me in touch with the PO via text messages. He only knew the other guy from a Facebook KLR owners group, and never had met him in the flesh. Go figure.

I'm not a big fan of the whole social media bandwagon. A big time suck, but it worked for me this time. Of course, FJowners.com sucks up some time too, but I willingly sacrifice that time 

[novaraptor]

Noel said:
"I have done about 5000km's in the last 6 weeks, it is running like a top (always does) and doesn't even have it's good motor in it."

What a tremendously good statement that is!
Nice find, FJ1100mjk. I just aquired an '84 with 39K miles (or maybe 139K miles) for a winter project. Hasn't been on the road since 2003, leaking front calipers, gummed up carbs, pretty much the only non-stock item is the 4 into 1 Vance n Hines exhaust. Plastics are in pretty good shape.
I was leaving my local watering hole, and as I neared the door, the owner of the bike stopped me and asked if I would be interested, as he saw my '90 outside. A month ago, he decided to clean it up and get it back on the road. His wife walked into the garage, saw what he was doing, and said "No."
I would say that it sucks to be him, but then she told him that he could buy a trike, and she would ride with him, so now he's looking at Goldwing trikes. So, yeah, sometimes they find you.

[Burns]

Wow! Showroom quality.

I'd like to see that fella's XS.  I'd guess it to be an XS-1.

I'd also guess that your "new" FJ will soon become "collectable"

[FJ1100mjk]

His wife walked into the garage, saw what he was doing, and said "No." 

I would say that it sucks to be him.

An accurate statement, if there ever was one.