New FJ owner

[stage II]

Hi all, just picked up an 85 with 45k miles running. She needs a little front brake work and a serious cleaning but all in all for 500 bucks can't complain.

[movenon]

Congrats on the FJ.  As a suggestion you might go up into the Introduction area and tell us about yourself and post some pictures of your bike. Sounds like you got a good deal. Check out the files section for lots of information and help there. Welcome !
George

[FJmonkey]

Welcome StageII, you found the best place to learn about your FJ and what its like to be an owner. 

[CutterBill]

Pics or it didn't happen.   

[stage II]

Thanks for the warm welcome yea this started out as a bike rescue for a friend, he owed the mechanic 500.00. Gotta do the neck bearings and replace the brake pads. Also have to break down the front calipers only have about 30% braking. Took it for a test run today and she pulls strong and hard so all she needs is some serious tlc. Already have pads ordered will start working on the brakes when we break this friggin heat wave.

[4everFJ]

Welcome 

I have the exact same bike (year and colour).

I just rebuilt my front calipers (new pads, seals, stainless steel pistons and steel braided brake lines) and it is a HUGE improvement.

However, be prepared for a fight when bleeding the brakes... It took me forever to get all the air our (my guess is because of the anti-dive units).

Good luck.

[red]

Thanks for the warm welcome yea this started out as a bike rescue for a friend, he owed the mechanic 500.00. Gotta do the neck bearings and replace the brake pads. Also have to break down the front calipers only have about 30% braking. Took it for a test run today and she pulls strong and hard so all she needs is some serious tlc. Already have pads ordered will start working on the brakes when we break this friggin heat wave.

Stage II,

Welcome to the forum! 

The anti-dive units on the front forks are not much in favor here; few people think they do enough, if anything at all.  You can bypass the AD units entirely, using only the stock brake line and a banjo bolt from the anti-dive unit on the caliper.  If you want to remove the AD units and cap the holes off, you would need (aftermarket) cap plates with an oil passage inside them, (~US$100.00) but it does no harm to simply leave the AD units in place.  That mod will make it much easier to bleed the front brakes effectively.

I want to put in a plug for getting new tires, first thing.  Old rubber can be dangerous, with what the FJ can do, really.  My vote goes to Pirelli Sport Demons, and some here will recommend Avon radials, which may be somewhat better.  In 16 inch tires, the only other choice would be Metzlers (Triumph OEMs), but I was not impressed with the look or feel of the Metzlers that came on my FJ.  Tire age decoder:
http://tinyurl.com/nagq4mc

My FJ1100 is a lot of fun, and it's a stand-out in almost any crowd of bikes.  I think you will like it a lot.

Cheers,
Red

[stage II]

Thanks for the tips on AD units I ended up having to redo the fuel lines. Spent 50 bucks on earls fittings to get the kinks out of the line, seems to work pretty good. The bike died on me day before yesterday in 100 deg heat wave pushing it back to the garage was not fun. After installing the Earls fittings it's all good it aint pretty but it works.