Best year/best value/best FJ to start with?

[CatTomb]

I agree with the others. If you can get Hooligan's bike, buy it! I live in Central Oregon and flew down and picked mine up in Southern California and then rode it back.

If Holligan's is not an option, hold out and look for one that has already had the wheel upgrades done, if that is important to you. Much, much cheaper to buy mods already done.

I have the 16" on my '87 and won't be doing the change. I am happy with the Avons.

I would say that if I had to do it all over again, I would probably have kept it stock and used the $1000+ to take more trips and buy tires for my off-road bike. But, alas, as is usually the case with anything I am passionate about, enough never is.

I ride my FJ moderately. When I want to push the envelope, I do it off-road. The penalty for a crash is generally much, much lower.

I love my FJ. It is a great bike and an amazing value. 

I looked for 5 months. I live in Central Oregon and flew down and picked mine up in Southern California and then rode it back.

One of the things I love about my FJ is this group of guys. 

[hawkaholic37]

Right on, good to know. I have family in Oregon as well, and an old friend in Bend. We will have to meet up for a ride when l am back on the road

[Troyskie]

I've an 84 1100 that has just been taken back to close to original with the AD and 16" front wheel. The front forks have had emulators and stiffer standard springs, but that is basically it for handling improvement. Awesome handling to me, but I'm no peg scratcher at the moment.
I was fortunate to take a 92 with the 17" front, and rubber mounts, for a hard-core test thrash & was blown away at how smooth and grunty it was.
If I had to start from scratch, with the commuting/touring combo you plan, I'd go for a 92.
If a mint 1100 or 1200 from any year comes up nearby & tickles your fancy, get it.
The FJ won't disappoint .
My bro & I have been 'FJing' since 87 & have had a number of different bikes, i.e. dirt, choppers, etc. but we've always returned to the FJ.
It's just one of those bikes, and, as you've no doubt noticed, it's a global phenomenon.

[ribbert]

Hawkaholic.
You have a distinct advantage over most others here, you found the forum before you found your bike.
This arms you with information most of never had when we bought our bikes, the experience of the entire forum and collectively 100's of years of FJ ownership.

The timing of a known and highly desirable bike from a known and respected member (no, not me or mine) coming up for sale almost at the precise moment you found yourself ready to buy is a sign from God, ignore it at your peril.

As Capn'Ron said, everyone likes whatever year they have the best, as Mark said, colour should be well down the list, unless you plan on hanging it on the lounge room wall, and as Pat ( a recent convert) said, you can't beat that smooth rubber mounted motor and all the improved bits that model came with it such as stronger gearbox, brakes, 17" front wheel , fuel pump etc.

Some will say that got bloated and slower, less sporty – rubbish. There was only ever a bee's dick in it when they were new and being ridden at 10/10ths of everything. With age and all the variables now effecting them,  it no longer applies.

I ride my bike a lot (23,500kms in the last year) and the rubber mounted engine is what it's all about. I could not put in some of the days I do if it wasn't for the turbine smoothness of the motor at highway speed. Vibration is very fatiguing.

Good luck with Hooli's bike (I see someone is trying to gazump you)

Noel

[hawkaholic37]

I've an 84 1100 that has just been taken back to close to original with the AD and 16" front wheel. The front forks have had emulators and stiffer standard springs, but that is basically it for handling improvement. Awesome handling to me, but I'm no peg scratcher at the moment.
I was fortunate to take a 92 with the 17" front, and rubber mounts, for a hard-core test thrash & was blown away at how smooth and grunty it was.
If I had to start from scratch, with the commuting/touring combo you plan, I'd go for a 92.
If a mint 1100 or 1200 from any year comes up nearby & tickles your fancy, get it.
The FJ won't disappoint .
My bro & I have been 'FJing' since 87 & have had a number of different bikes, i.e. dirt, choppers, etc. but we've always returned to the FJ.
It's just one of those bikes, and, as you've no doubt noticed, it's a global phenomenon.

Funny you should say that you keep coming back to the FJ. I clearly remember being about 15 years old and going to the bike shop with my dad, Lynnwood Yamaha. I immediately went and sat on an FZ600 or whatever the smaller sport bike was, and thought, "This would be so cool!" My dad, meanwhile, was drawn to the FJ. I went over and looked at it and thought, "When l grow up, that will be my bike."

Over the years, whenever l have considered getting back on the road, l have always thought about that FJ again. I guess l am all grown up now, because that is going to be my next bike! It sure is great being a kid forever

[hawkaholic37]

Hawkaholic.
You have a distinct advantage over most others here, you found the forum before you found your bike.
This arms you with information most of never had when we bought our bikes, the experience of the entire forum and collectively 100's of years of FJ ownership.

The timing of a known and highly desirable bike from a known and respected member (no, not me or mine) coming up for sale almost at the precise moment you found yourself ready to buy is a sign from God, ignore it at your peril.

As Capn'Ron said, everyone likes whatever year they have the best, as Mark said, colour should be well down the list, unless you plan on hanging it on the lounge room wall, and as Pat ( a recent convert) said, you can't beat that smooth rubber mounted motor and all the improved bits that model came with it such as stronger gearbox, brakes, 17" front wheel , fuel pump etc.

Some will say that got bloated and slower, less sporty – rubbish. There was only ever a bee's dick in it when they were new and being ridden at 10/10ths of everything. With age and all the variables now effecting them,  it no longer applies.

I ride my bike a lot (23,500kms in the last year) and the rubber mounted engine is what it's all about. I could not put in some of the days I do if it wasn't for the turbine smoothness of the motor at highway speed. Vibration is very fatiguing.

Good luck with Hooli's bike (I see someone is trying to gazump you)

Noel

Thanks Noel. I must say, l agree with an earlier post where someone said that what they love most about being an FJ owner is this group of guys. Many forums do not welcome newcomers. Her, l feel like, not only have l been welcomed, but people are saying, "Come with me, l will show you the good stuff". It is nice to have someone take you under their wing

[Blackcloud89]

I see that '86 in Arlington has dropped to $2500.

Did you get to look at the one in Fall City? 

The one in Wenatchee still seems like a good deal.  Though it may be a little harder to get to currently until they get the fire more under control. 

[Blackcloud89]

There's an '89 in Vancouver too:

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/mcy/5093764757.html

[hawkaholic37]

Yeah, the one in Fall City just didn't feel right. I am sure it is a great bike, but l just couldn't get past the lump in my gut every time l thought about going to look at it. So l decided to trust my gut.

The one in Wenatchee has problems. The seller was very forthcoming, said that it sprang an oil leak near the head gasket, and the shop wanted 12 hours labor to fix it. This ended up being a deal breaker for his other potential buyer. He said he was now asking $1675 (previously $2175) for it. There was also some broken plastic on it. I appreciated his honesty, but l want a bike that is in better condition than that.

I saw the one in Arlington ($2500), that one is the most tempting, as my favorite color scheme is the ambulance. But l really want a '92 or a '93 with the rubber engine mounts, so that has pretty much disqualified that one, as well as the '90 in Edmonds ($3700) and the '89 ($2500, l think) in Portland. There is also another '86 that popped up in Seattle for $1200 the other day, that needs some work but is a runner. I was half tempted to look into that, just because it would be cool to have an ambulance to ride back and forth to work, but l feel like it is more project than ready to ride.

In a nutshell, l am trying my best to wait patiently to hear what happens with Hooligan's bike

[FJmonkey]

Sounds like you know what you want are willing to hold out for the right deal, good for you.  I think you will find a great deal and will be very happy with it. I look forward to hearing about your first ride on it. 

[hawkaholic37]

Sounds like you know what you want are willing to hold out for the right deal, good for you.  I think you will find a great deal and will be very happy with it. I look forward to hearing about your first ride on it. 

Thanks Monkey...l used to just "want a bike". Now l am at a place in life where l can slow things down a little bit and wait for the right one, rather than jumping on the first set of wheels that comes along. I really hope l can but Hooligan's bike, but if l can't, then another great one will come along. I'm not settling. I kind of feel like l am finally being the big bull instead of the little bull

And as far as the ride report...EVERYONE will hear about it!!!

[FJmonkey]

Thanks Monkey...l used to just "want a bike". Now l am at a place in life where l can slow things down a little bit and wait for the right one, rather than jumping on the first set of wheels that comes along. I really hope l can but Hooligan's bike, but if l can't, then another great one will come along. I'm not settling. I kind of feel like l am finally being the big bull instead of the little bull

And as far as the ride report...EVERYONE will hear about it!!!

Sometimes a smaller bull is better...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/36991650@N08/12063759263/in/dateposted-public/

[hawkaholic37]

Sorry, l am on my computer at work, and it does not support that browser evidently

I was referring to the old joke about the big bull and the little bull...

[gumby302ho]

Sorry, l am on my computer at work, and it does not support that browser evidently

I was referring to the old joke about the big bull and the little bull...

You mean the father an son bull joke. '' Father and son bull are up on a hill looking down at several cows, son bull says to his father, " Lets run down there and fuck one of those bulls " the father bull replied " No son, we will walk down and fuck them all"!!!! Pardon my french.

[FJmonkey]

You mean the father an son bull joke. '' Father and son bull are up on a hill looking down at several cows, son bull says to his father, " Lets run down there and fuck one of those bulls cows" the father bull replied " No son, we will walk down and fuck them all"!!!! Pardon my french.

Minor correction, depending on the company you keep...