Fairings

[JPaganel]

So, after my crash and burn, the main fairing is in worse shape(and it wasn't great before), one scoop is ruined, one of the side panels and the belly pan are burnt to a crisp.

The left side panel I could pick up cheap. The main fairing and scoops for an 86 seem to be rather harder to find. There are a couple of broken fairings that have been on eBay forever, and even in the sorry shape they are in, they are a couple of hundred bucks.

I could conceivably strip the fairings and go all streetfighter, but I actually like my FJ as a tourer and appreciate long trips. At this point I don't care about originality of the bike.

So, what are my options here? Keep looking for the 86 fairings? Try and find a complete post-86 fairing and scoops? Something else?

[movenon]

Having gone through replacing my fairing and misc parts last winter.  You have a couple of options.  

If the mechanics of the bike are good and you truly want to keep the bike.  My advice is to hold on and keep checking for a fairing on e bay or other sources.  Winter is coming on so I would use that time to shop for parts.  You might be able to buy a whole bike for parts.  A perfect fairing might be hard to locate but a repairable one shouldn't take to long.  Save ALL your parts at least until the bike is back together.

Another good option is to sell your bike as it is to someone that wants to build a street fighter and buy another FJ.  Again if you shop you can buy a pretty good FJ for 1000-1500.00.  Lately a few have been showing up in the 1200.00  range. You might have to travel outside your local area to pick it up.  If you go that route do some ground work and locate a trailer you can use on short notice if the opportunity shows up.

Another tip is to use http://www.searchtempest.com/ for Craigslist.

Hang in there. I do know what you are going through.
George

http://peoria.craigslist.org/mcy/4681100579.html
http://lansing.craigslist.org/mcy/4653175678.html

Kind of far away but... http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/mcy/4707425649.html

[giantkiller]

If repairing is possible plastex is great. ( its powdered plastic with a liquid that melts it together with the part) If you get the larger kit they have a reusable molding bar. You can fill in large missing chunks. Plastaid is another version. I haven't tried but it looks like it would work as good or better. Plastex is super easy to use. Have used it extensively on cracks. And a few times to fill missing chunks. My brother has used it to replace missing tabs.

I'm going to repair the deerkiller fairing. And use it for the turbo drag toy

[JPaganel]

If the mechanics of the bike are good and you truly want to keep the bike.  My advice is to hold on and keep checking for a fairing on e bay or other sources.  Winter is coming on so I would use that time to shop for parts.  You might be able to buy a whole bike for parts.  A perfect fairing might be hard to locate but a repairable one shouldn't take to long.  Save ALL your parts at least until the bike is back together.

The engine ran great when I crashed. Also, I just got an updated set of forks on it, the front suspension is perfect.

Another good option is to sell your bike as it is to someone that wants to build a street fighter and buy another FJ.  Again if you shop you can buy a pretty good FJ for 1000-1500.00.  Lately a few have been showing up in the 1200.00  range. You might have to travel outside your local area to pick it up.  If you go that route do some ground work and locate a trailer you can use on short notice if the opportunity shows up.

That might be not a bad idea. I might need to see if I can borrow some money for this, though. I actually have a pretty nice trailer I can use.

I guess I could go so far as to repair the damage to the wire looms and put on a new air filter, then I'd be selling a running bike.

Suck of it is, there is precisely one FJ on CL in my area. Last year around this time there was a half-dozen...

[red]

JPaganel,

Last year, I got a 600 pound bike shipped across one-third of the USA by a reputable bike-mover in a weather-proof truck for ~US$750.00 in about a week.  They put the bike on a pallet at the seller's place and delivered it safely to my driveway.  Neither I nor the seller had to do anything on the move, except to open the garages at each end.  Travel, gas and lodging would have cost a little more, and the move was insured.  So, you might want to get some real shipping estimates, for a distant bike purchase.  I'd want an FJ rider to check out the bike first, of course.

Cheers,
Red

[fj johnnie]

 Patience is key in your situation. Bikes do come up from time to time. Check the local ads daily. Any good deal on  a parts bike will get snapped up quick. I have purchased an 86 recently for 450 bucks with plastics that where very good. They were so good that when I restored it I did not do anything to the plastics. Check your area craigslist daily, you will find what you need. Good luck. John

[mikedastonfj1100]

Patience is key in your situation. Bikes do come up from time to time. Check the local ads daily. Any good deal on  a parts bike will get snapped up quick. I have purchased an 86 recently for 450 bucks with plastics that where very good. They were so good that when I restored it I did not do anything to the plastics. Check your area craigslist daily, you will find what you need. Good luck. John

I found an 84 1100 within 50 miles of me for $600... No belly pan nor upper faring... All I had to take it home was an 89 dodge ramcharger... I folded the back seat down and stuck the bike in through the back with only the front tire hangin out the back... Took some rope to the rear hatch and tied it to the bike... Strapped the bike to the rear seat mount and went home.... Got home and had it running within the hour:-)