looking at buying

[sebwiers]

Web search brought me here doing research after seeing a nice '85 on CL.  Same exact add was in the for sale section.

I'veowned a few mid size bikes and a '78 GL1000, like larger bikes that combine power and real world ridability.  Have a Yamaha xj750rj project bike that's been in the works a while, but that's a story best handled when I'm not on the phone.

[fj1289]

Welcome!   That's a clean looking bike on craigslist.   If you get a good one - you won't remember the purchase price -- just the rides you've taken

There's several of us here that have had (or still do) XJ Yamahas.  I owned an XJ650RJ Seca - great bike - traded my first car for it!   

Chris

[FJmonkey]

Welcome sebwiers, this is our digital campfire. Pull up a chair and your beverage of choice and enjoy the FJ community. 

[sebwiers]

Welcome!   That's a clean looking bike on craigslist.   If you get a good one - you won't remember the purchase price -- just the rides you've taken

There's several of us here that have had (or still do) XJ Yamahas.  I owned an XJ650RJ Seca - great bike - traded my first car for it!

Is clean looking for sure, as is the garage, generally a good sign.  I'm just a bit gun shy, have bought a few dogs recently (GL that blew its engine, XJ listed at $2000 that was only good for paper and parts).  Not that I got burned to bad, they were really cheap (I talked the XJ down to $200 after running a compression test, GL was $650 runner I rode to work for a season, is probably worth more in parts even without engine).  I just have a limited budget, and would feel like an idiot if I spent it adding yet another bike to my personal 2 wheel junk yard.

Cold start and test ride will tell, I guess.  Photos do paint a nice picture, but seems odd (to my thinking) to sell such a well kept bike.

I don't know if I'll technically still be riding an XJ by the time I'm done with my project- it should be ridable, but might not be an XJ!  I'm not making any changes to the engine or drive train, but pretty much everything else is custom.  I've been in love with the Britten V1000 since I was a kid, and more recently the K1300, so wanted to try building a Hossack front end bike.  What the project evolved into is actually very similar to Claude Fiore's XS1100 Bol D'Or racer, minus the chain drive conversion.  And probably with a crapton more unpsrung mass, and a heavy dose of rat rod / post appoc (read "I don't do paint") styling.  Its experimental in the extreme, but the kinematics should be solid, thanks to Toy Foale's funny front end software.

XJ Body work and basic shape w/ wheels on, showing single shock rear conversion - http://imgur.com/a/YswTX

XJ front end refinement - http://imgur.com/a/qAPqy

[aviationfred]

Welcome to the forum 

You did not mention a location of where you reside. Not sure what your travel radius is for an FJ search.

Here is a fine example of a 1200 for sale in St. Louis.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/4919145185.html


Fred

[sebwiers]

Am in St. Paul / Minneapolis, MN.  The one I'm considering is top of the 'bikes for sale' section - http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/mcy/4924552790.html

St. Louis is a bit far to go, and $2900 is a bit more than I have.  Wasn't specifically looking for an FJ, it just caught my eye as the type of bike I like & can afford.   The 1200 does have some meaningful improvements, but the 1100 is plenty of bike for me power wise.   The one I linked to seems a very good specimen.

[sebwiers]

Bought it.  Guess that makes me an actual FJowner.

[ZOA NOM]

Well played, Sir. Now check out the mods section...

[charleygofast]

Nice bike!  Congratulations

[Mark Olson]

Alright that's awesome . 

[movenon]

Looks like a good choice ! Lets us know how it works out.  30 years old and still looks good.
George

[fj johnnie]

 Very nice bike. Looks to be in very good shape. The choice of bike is enhanced by a great forum, full of many well informed helpers. Cheers!

[FJmonkey]

Wow! low on mods but clean on original. A very good place to start with an FJ. I am partial to the Red and White so Kudos dude....

[sebwiers]

Will probably stay low on mods.  I enjoy the masochism of learning about motorcycling history first hand.

Actually, I already have some mods planned, but they are simple bolt on parts.  I want a custom seat that runs pretty much like a flat motocross bench seat near level with the top of the tank.  I'm tall (6'3"), with an abnormally long torso, and the distance from the stock perch to the bars is WAY to short for me.  Similarly, I plan to pull off the stock pegs and passenger pegs, and machine a mount for some pegs that would sit about 2 inches rear of the current pilots pegs location, so that my size 13 clod hoppers fit the foot controls properly.

These bikes look big, and the seller was my size and liked it, but it feels cramped to me.

[FJmonkey]

I am just under 6' myself and have had my seat (Corbin) stuffed an inch taller to help with my knees on longer rides...