Why an FJ

[mst3kguy]

i couldn't afford a harley.

[markmartin]

Jeff, it's a great question that you pose.  It crosses my mind from time to time.

I've got 3 questions that I'd need to know before answering your question: 1.) What mods have you got on it so far? 2.) You mentioned that your wife finds it uncomfortable...Are you looking for a 2-up bike that you enjoy riding solo as well?  To the point, what percentage off the time are you riding 2-up ?    3.) How many km's on your FJ? 

Thanks.
Mark

[Alf]

Alf, we are most fortunate to have you here with us on our forum.  

Through the years, your Fast Jota website has helped hundreds of FJ owners, myself included. Thank you Alf!

Sorry, but I dont agree with you at all

I´m the fortunate. When I started my site I couldn´t imaging all the excellent people that I´ve known or be in touch with. In fact, my 2 best friends are FJ owners, Mingo even has made me the honour to be my new son Godfather

You have helped a lot of FJ owners too. Including myself. So in fact, I´m the lucky men here 

[gumby302ho]

Its a no brainer for me because its one of the best looking bikes still on the road, has a load of torque, fairly cheap and easy to work on. The new bikes are down right ugly and all look the same. pick a model, like adventure bikes, then look at all the top manufactures that produce adventure bikes and they all pretty much look the same. The FJ has a history, it has street cred, and like they said about Russian Migs, you can fix them with a ballpeen hammer! After the apocalypse FJ's will still turn up! Cheers to Yamaha and the FJ! The new bikes maybe more efficient and do everything better, they look sick and have no character, and the eighties did have some great flipping music, dont let people tell ya otherwise!

[FJ_Hooligan]

I will never sell my '85 FJ, it's just too much a part of me.

If you are considering newer bikes, I'd recommend a first generation FZ1.  They are very FJ-like in ergos.  Not quite as much low end torque but makes up for it quickly.  It is also a very good bike in the "bang for buck" category as low mileage examples are nicely priced.

The FZ is also easy to work on.  Not as easy as the FJ, but valve adjustments, carb and other routine maintenance are doable. 

Plus, they already have the monobloc calipers and 17 inch wheels.

[Urban_Legend]

If you look at this thread ( http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=14208.msg149972;topicseen#msg149972 ) from the mens shed day at Nowra post. This dyno chart is an excellant reason to stick with the FJ. Not many new bikes come close to these figures still.

[fj johnnie]

 Character and soul.

[Jeff0308]

Jeff, it's a great question that you pose.  It crosses my mind from time to time.

I've got 3 questions that I'd need to know before answering your question: 1.) What mods have you got on it so far? 2.) You mentioned that your wife finds it uncomfortable...Are you looking for a 2-up bike that you enjoy riding solo as well?  To the point, what percentage off the time are you riding 2-up ?    3.) How many km's on your FJ? 

Thanks.
Mark

Mark. (1) My FJ is pretty much stock except for the exhaust. (2)My wife finds it uncomfortable mainly because she has back issues also i do agree with her that the cushioning could be redone as it is 28 years old, also the suspension may be a bit hard. Odd though  as its stock. (3) She used to come out a lot on my old FJ.Not much on this bike. (4)  The FJ has done 85500km. Oil usage is stuff all. About half to 1 litre every 5000km.  However, things like shims i can't do. Not got the tools. My work commitments stop me from doing a a lot as my shifts constantly change. I do my own servicing. Im about to have a go at doing the clutch, brakes, the clutch bleeding issue is sorted. I don't thrash it, occasionally give it an open up but have to pick the moment.  I am very fussy who i let work on the bike. Noel has had the honours of helping me out. Other than him, no one else has touched it.

[Jeff0308]

I don't get to ride as much as i would like. There is a lot of valuable views on here. Has been interesting reading the responses. The pressure is mounting to keep the FJ and  ( MODIFY) it to the way i would like it. Yes the new bikes are nice but no necessarily better. . Im one who enjoys the older bikes. I get enjoyment / satisfaction out of seeing the finished product. I have built a few show/ muscle cars over the years.I do my own panelbeating spray painting and vinyl signs.  however I did cheat and a friend painted the tank for me. Im not properly set up for2 pak but thats about to change soon. I Did that at tafe for 4 years.
Time as I said is my issue, so I think a bit of planning is needed.The clutch is 1st . the rest will happen slowly.

[markmartin]

Jeff, I've contemplated buying a new sport-tourer but keep going back to upgrading the FJ.   I throw $600-$1000 in up grades and modifications every year to make it what I want it to be.  I've got about $7000 into it including the price of purchase and I've ridden it for 7 seasons. Double that cost and I can buy a slightly used FJR, or triple that cost and I can buy a new one.  Quadruple it and I can buy most of a BMW 1600 GTL Exclusive. But for about $1000/ year I've built a bike that I love to ride and still afford kids.

As for your oil consumption and current mileage, I'm getting about the same kilometer/litre as you are.  I'd love to have the valve guides replaced, but for now, I top it off and ride it.

Comfort for you and your wife is going to cost you about $2500.  I sent a seat pan and modified backrest to these people http://www.day-long.com/gallery/yamaha/  The seat pictured on the FJ1200 is mine and cost me $1000 not including the pan.  Keep your solo seat as the Day Long seat is ugly and best kept for what it is intended for IMHO.  My wife does love the seat.  We used a Corbin Gunfighter and Lady for a few years and she'd get saddle sore when riding all day but not anymore, and after putting 1000 miles on a rented Gold Wing last summer and about 2000 miles on the FJ this summer, she still prefers the FJ.  

A modern rear shock and some cartridge fork emulators will cost you another $1000 + but you'll be glad you upgraded from stock.  BTDT. Some bar risers and a peg lowering kit will make you more comfortable when riding all day. All these modifications are pretty easy and the labor shouldn't be too bad if you don't have the time to do them yourself.

And at the end of the day, you still have a classic bike that looks good, handles well, and pulls like a truck.  One of the best quotes I've heard came from this site...I can't remember who said it but to paraphrase, 'when you park your bike and don't turn to look at it as your walking away, you probably don't own the right bike'.  That's what the FJ does for me.  I always look.

[Mark Olson]

For me the fj is a great fit. My 86 looks like a hot rod and can go rip thru the corners or cruise the highway. Nice all around bike.
Insurance is cheap.
After reading all the replies I figure to have spent 3 times what it is worth .
It has never left me stranded and always fires up even after sitting for months.
I enjoy being able to work on it .

So if you are willing to drop some money into it to smooth it out ,then keep it. If not then move onto another bike and find yourself wishing you still had your FJ.

[moparman70]

When I was younger it was the 2nd gear that sold me --- the pull - torque and overall speed was just plain fun. Back then I thought I wouldn't enter the danger zone too often --just sometimes.   And now it still is fast and its just enough fun -Danger zone entry is more often as you get used to the power -- i know the more modern stuff has more Hp's but there comes a time where it gets too scary and not really usable unless you are a racer.

Most has be said as it is a good all around bike -- I agree with it all but add to say it majors in handling speed very well.  Top speep cruiser - stability is awesome.

When my 86 had a tranny issue in 2010 -- I already had a Gpz900 in the garage so you would think another bike wasn't immediately necessary --- well 2 weeks later I bought another FJ --because well I needed to have a FJ.   In 2012 I fixed my 86 -- because it needed to a working bike again after all its been in my stable since the beginning, Why an FJ --- its a very easy bike to love.

sc2

[movenon]

Like Mark said "It fits".. Bikes are like shoes either they fit or don't.  For me it is the best all around bike I have ever owned.  Many of the members have other bikes but seem to keep the FJ in there stable. 

George

[Shane4371]

At 17 I rode my fathers 750 virago,shaft drive,loved the bike,this was in 1987,my graduation.present was gonna be a fj1200,test rode it a few day,then got the opportunity to drive the Yamaha v max.I never got the fj or vmax both bikes are treasures to me.but the fjs power curved blew me away .its very competitve still and I like the versatility of what you can do with it.plus 130 house power is nice to brag about especially for a stock bike.

[giantkiller]

, 'when you park your bike and don't turn to look at it as your walking away, you probably don't own the right bike'.  That's what the FJ does for me.  I always look.
That's how I feel
I drive a forklift at  work. And I park my fjs by the gl door that is always open in the summer. So when I drive down the aisle I can look out and see it...makes me happy.

Helps alot when you work 12hr shifts. Only problem is, then the moditis kicks in. And I'm spending 12hrs dreaming of new things to do to them