New FJ Owner

[movenon]

I knew this was going to be a mistake letting everyone know I'm a newbie in all aspects........
But I get it....... I wouldn't want some novice getting hurt and wrecking this bike either.
Any suggestions on a quality starter bike , open to any makes , models and years.
But would like to stick with Yamaha or Honda . I want quality and a more upright sitting position.
And what motorcycles out there in new models compare to the FJ 1200 not so much in horse power but quality ?

I don't or at least try not to get to judgmental on want bike to ride or learn on etc.  It wasn't a mistake letting anyone know that you are new to motorcycling.  I do know if you are learning you will or stand a good chance of a soft drop or bumping it around.  A smaller bike is easier to deal with for learning.  If you have to acquire a motorcycle endorsement then a small bike is easier to handle during the skills test.  I am on the frugal side so my opinion most always go's in that direction.  If it were me and just starting out I would keep the FJ and go to Craigslist or Kijiji and shop around for a small light weight, low seating position (nice to learn on) bike in the 250-500cc range.  If you have any friends or co workers that ride they might be able to help you out in the shopping. There are a lot of inexpensive used street bikes out there.  Buy one with the mind set that after what ever time it takes to get your license and to feel comfortable then sell the small bike to someone else. Transition to the FJ.
Where in Alberta are you located approximately?
George

[Mark Olson]

I knew this was going to be a mistake letting everyone know I'm a newbie in all aspects........
But I get it....... I wouldn't want some novice getting hurt and wrecking this bike either.
Any suggestions on a quality starter bike , open to any makes , models and years.
But would like to stick with Yamaha or Honda . I want quality and a more upright sitting position.
And what motorcycles out there in new models compare to the FJ 1200 not so much in horse power but quality ?

Don't sweat it , It shows wisdom in years lived to know when to ask for help.

You stated before that you used to ride long ago , so the FJ is just gonna take some getting used to . Put some crash bars / engine guards on it.
It is usually easy to find some tore-up little bike to get back up to speed . A honda Rebel 250cc is a good one to use , cheap bike and cheap parts and you will get your money back when you sell it .

I have a nephew who did the 2 day riding course in California and all they did was ride in a parking lot for the whole time . His first bike is a honda shadow 1100 and he has dropped it about 6 times so far in 3 months. Pretty much all low speed drops and overshot corners.

You already bought a great motorcycle when you got the FJ , So hang in there and soon the wife will be happy with the afternoon rides you take her on.
You can buy an aftermarket seat made by" Corbin" that has a removable backrest and helps the passenger feel safe and comfortable .  

[aviationfred]

Welcome to the forum, great looking FJ.

Another option on a smaller bike that should work for getting yourselve back into the swing of things is the YX600 radian. They are great naked bikes and can be had for less than $1200.00 in great shape. Plus it would be a good candidate for a first bike for your son.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YX600_Radian


Fred

[jscgdunn]

Hi David,
Welcome to the fourm from the previously lonely Albertan (I think)....If you get down this way be sure to look me up.

Regards,

Jeff

[FJmonkey]

Dave, as you should be able to tell by now, you are getting support and advise intended to keep you safe. Whether you fall hopelessly in love with your FJ like the rest of us, or not, we are all here because we love to ride. Getting hurt or fed up when riding well may prevent you from finding your Kookalooo. This the most supportive and knowledgeable forum you will find, we got your back. 

[Keith]

I knew this was going to be a mistake letting everyone know I'm a newbie in all aspects........
But I get it....... I wouldn't want some novice getting hurt and wrecking this bike either.
Any suggestions on a quality starter bike , open to any makes , models and years.
But would like to stick with Yamaha or Honda . I want quality and a more upright sitting position.
And what motorcycles out there in new models compare to the FJ 1200 not so much in horse power but quality ?

It was no mistake... people here are just concerned in a good way...... nothing bad about receiving words of caution. pay attention in class especially the part about riding within YOUR limits no sense trying to keep up with more experienced riders on more sophisticated machines.... every vehicle combined with every operator has limitations, just make sure you ease into things, and get lots of miles on uncrowded, slower speed roads.... this FJ is definitely a machine that will offer you plenty of room to advance...SAFE TRAVELS.just because this bike will allow you ride like a "squid" does not mean you have to 

[Bill_Rockoff]

Nice bike!

FJs were developed when the Japanese motorcycle industry was smack in the middle of discovering Horsepower.  They discovered Brakes part-way through the FJ's tenure as well, but Handling was still a ways off.

Consequently, what you have is a big, heavy motorcycle that makes a lot of power and stops okay, but can be a bit of a handful to turn.  Experienced riders can ride around these relative shortcomings.  Thoughtful modifications can eliminate them.  But you will want to pay attention to your maintenance in order to help reduce them, and you will want to pay more attention to your riding to help avoid them. 

So, 1) make sure the steering bearings (as mentioned above) and brakes and tires are in good shape.  Tires, particularly, will make a huge difference; worn ones and/or under-inflated ones will give you a motorcycle that "Oh my God this thing WILL NOT TURN!!!!" as you run wide off a fast corner.  Good tires, properly inflated, will give you a bike that corners predictably.  Good brake pads on freshly bled brakes will give you a bike that you can confidently slow down if your speed and a corner combine to surprise you a bit. 2) ride carefully and be mindful of the fact that a stock FJ has great power, decent brakes, and semi-decent handling, so that you don't surprise yourself a bit.  Choose very carefully the circumstances where you pull the trigger on all 100 horsepower.

If your riding skills are rusty (or for any new riders out there) a smaller lighter bike may be worthwhile.  This can be something you ride for a month or two to get back into riding, or you might keep it because a 300-ish lb motorcycle is all kinds of fun, in a way no 600-ish lb motorcycle can ever be.

- A 250 Ninja is a bit more than half the weight of an FJ1200 and is significantly smaller and easier to handle.  It has a small fairing, but a very upright (nearly "standard") riding position rather than a leaned-forward sportbike riding position.  Very comfortable, can be used for a 300 mile day or a 1,000 mile weekend easily, will do nearly anything an FJ1200 will do except carry a passenger all day in comfort or top 120 mph while you pass pass six cars at once.  In normal riding, a Ninja 250 it is more than powerful enough to keep up with / ahead of traffic, and in twisty road riding it is more than capable enough to allow you to ride at a very brisk pace.  (Ask anyone at the 2010 / 2011 east coast rallies.)   They were made essentially unchanged from 1988 through about 2007, so nice ones are still nearly "new" and are very reliable.  Sorry, Honda or Yamaha sold nothing like it in the USA during that time (maybe you Canadians got something) and the only thing that came close was a Yamaha SRX 250, which honestly didn't even come close.  They made it more modern-looking a few years ago and Honda made the CBR250 to capture some of that market. 

- A 500 Ninja / EX500 is a good halfway point between an FJ1200 and a Ninja 250.  Still small and light, although not as small and light as a 250, it is similar to the FJ1200 and Ninja 250 in a lot of ways - dates to the 1980's, was made a long time unchanged, has a small fairing and a basically upright / all-day-comfortable riding position, has a steel frame and so-so handling from the factory but can be ridden fast enough to keep up with FJs and other quick-ish bikes during normal sport riding.  (Ask anyone at the 2012/2013 east coast rallies.)  There were other bikes that were in the same league in terms of size/power/performance during the decades this bike was in production, but they are generally too large/heavy/fast (SV650) or too rare and valuable (Hawk GT) to be real competition; maybe the GS500 Suzuki twin comes close, and it's still kind of tall and awkward at parking-lot speeds. 

In short (pun not intended) I still think the 250 Ninja is one of life's perfect motorcycles, a good first-bike for anyone who doesn't want or need a small cruiser, and I still think the 500 Ninja is another of life's perfect motorcycles, not too small and not too big but usually "just right."  Both of those bikes are priced like FJs, where US$1,500 will buy you a scruffy but adequate one, and $2,500 to $3,000 will buy the nicest one on the planet.  Difference is, with a small Ninja you can sell it to the next beginner for about what you paid; the market for an FJ is a bit more limited because most of us who really love them already have one (or two, or several.)

[Burns]

I take exception to the handling comment. Yamaha knew how to get around a road race track a long time before the FJ joined its line, and while that knowledge didn't find a home in a lot of its street bikes, the FJ certainly got its share.

The FJ's are fine handling motorcycles, though admittedly big, heavy and a hand-full at slow speed. Keep it vertical at walking speed or below. It can very easily get away from you.

Practice putting the bike up on its center stand until you are confident in that task. That will give you valuable muscle memory and increase your confidence in your ability to save the bike from a low-speed tip-over.

Spend some time in a parking lot doing low speed maneuvers. There is no substitute for time in the saddle for building skills and confidence.  Confidence is a huge factor both in control and enjoyment of the bike.

Get a manual. Make one of you first tasks setting the ride height. If you can't get the front-end ride height correct with the pre-load adjusters you need new fork springs (almost all used FJ1200's need fresh fork springs). Replace them if needed and while you are in there put in fresh fork seals.

My impression is that you are a very sensible fellow who will respect his mount and you will absolutely love this wonderful motorcycle - a true classic.

You got a beauty - I'm happy for you.

[Country Joe]

I'm going to second Bill's recommendation of the 250 and 500 Ninjas. I have one in the garage along with my FJ and I honestly wouldn't dream of putting an inexperienced rider on a FJ 1200 until they have gained some competence on something smaller, especially a very good condition FJ. Just my $.02, YMMV, offer void where prohibited by law.............

[ribbert]

I take exception to the handling comment. Yamaha knew how to get around a road race track a long time before the FJ joined its line, and while that knowledge didn't find a home in a lot of its street bikes, the FJ certainly got its share.

The FJ's are fine handling motorcycles........

I agree with you Burns. I have said here many times that I had homed in on a sweet spot with the handling that made me wonder why so many people complain about it. This was with standard suspension and a couple of tweaks. My only complaint was it was a little hard in the rear unladen, but that's it.
This is from comparisons to modern large capacity bikes, not just getting used to the FJ.

In an ironic twist, I just spent a small fortune on new suspension and lost it.

Noel

[Burns]

when you say "lost it" I hope you don't mean a crash.

[ribbert]

when you say "lost it" I hope you don't mean a crash.

Haha, no, the sweet spot. Although the first ride was a bit scary, it's new reluctance to turn in had me turning in late which had me going wide, that was a little unnerving. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I wished now I taken some measurements.


Noel

[Bones]

I take exception to the handling comment. Yamaha knew how to get around a road race track a long time before the FJ joined its line, and while that knowledge didn't find a home in a lot of its street bikes, the FJ certainly got its share.

The FJ's are fine handling motorcycles........

I agree with you Burns. I have said here many times that I had homed in on a sweet spot with the handling that made me wonder why so many people complain about it. This was with standard suspension and a couple of tweaks. My only complaint was it was a little hard in the rear unladen, but that's it.
This is from comparisons to modern large capacity bikes, not just getting used to the FJ.

In an ironic twist, I just spent a small fortune on new suspension and lost it.

Noel

So.... What are your impressions on the new suspension Noel.

[X-Ray]

In an ironic twist, I just spent a small fortune on new suspension and lost it.
Noel

Oooh do tell Noel. Did you end up getting an RPM rear? I'd be interested to know, my front is sorted fine thanks to Randy, the rear, it tries to keep up, but........

[Burns]

there's a saying " if it ain't broke, I ain't through workin' on it"  (well that's my version).

I have to wonder why you (of all people) would want to modify a bike that was in your sweet spot already.

IMHO loop:
Suspension set-up is like tuning up a band. The "A" doesn't have to be 440 cycles but it has to be the same on all of the instruments. i.e it is a matter of harmony and there is no one set of metrics that is right for everybody.  It is a matter of dialing it in to your personal "sweet spot").  Changing one thing changes everything and "different" is not always "better".

It is so subjective and frankly rave reviews for the newest and coolest components are about as trustworthy as an election promise.

The FJ is a solid platform right out of the box. The "bang for the buck" for the vast majority of riders is to simply get everything fresh and with spring rates that work for the way you ride.

Close IMHO.