Why an FJ

[Jeff0308]

After reading the posts I got thinking.
1. Yes it's fun to ride
2. I own it outright.
3. If I spend $1500 on moditis it's still cheap.
4. Reg and insurance are cheap. Club permit and insurance  about $350 a year. New bike about $1200 plus loan.
5. I enjoy working on cars and bikes despite the magical stuff up fairy appearing occasionally waving her magic wand.
6. Still gets the looks.
7. Goes like hell.

So after all this. I have ordered all the bits I think I will need plus extras to make it (" PERSONALISED ") to my way.
I have for the most part remained with stock parts as that's how I like it.
For now anyway.
Having said that I have ordered the ABM handlebar option from overseas.
With a bit of luck it will work out fine.
I'm now patiently waiting for the bits to arrive.

[Troyskie]

+1

[FJ1100mjk]

After reading the posts I got thinking.

Yes it's fun to ride

If I spend $1500 on moditis it's still cheap.

So after all this. I have ordered all the bits I think I will need plus extras to make it (" PERSONALISED ") to my way.
I have for the most part remained with stock parts as that's how I like it.
For now anyway.
Having said that I have ordered the ABM handlebar option from overseas.
With a bit of luck it will work out fine.
I'm now patiently waiting for the bits to arrive.

You'll never regret all the money you've spent on it, and that you'll never again see when you sell it.

[TexasDave]

Spent the money. Will enjoy riding the improved bike. Not selling.     Dave

[Urban_Legend]

+1 on spent the money (still spending actually)  and ever little change is an improvement.  Love it not selling.

[FJ1100mjk]

You'll never regret all the money you've spent on it, and that you'll never again see when you sell it.

Correction: IF, you ever sell it.

[ribbert]

After reading the posts I got thinking.
1. Yes it's fun to ride
2. I own it outright.
3. If I spend $1500 on moditis it's still cheap.
4. Reg and insurance are cheap. Club permit and insurance  about $350 a year. New bike about $1200 plus loan.
5. I enjoy working on cars and bikes despite the magical stuff up fairy appearing occasionally waving her magic wand.
6. Still gets the looks.
7. Goes like hell.

So after all this. I have ordered all the bits I think I will need plus extras to make it (" PERSONALISED ") to my way.
I have for the most part remained with stock parts as that's how I like it.
For now anyway.
Having said that I have ordered the ABM handlebar option from overseas.
With a bit of luck it will work out fine.
I'm now patiently waiting for the bits to arrive.

Jeff, I have one very clear memory of riding your bike (other than the slipping clutch) and that is a stiff throttle. Having a light throttle makes it feel like you just found another 50hp and gives you much smoother gear changes and better low speed control.
You should be able to easily twist the throttle all the way with your thumb and index finger when standing beside the bike and have it snap back on the idle stops when you let go.

Throttle cables are cheap and even if they weren't, you still need them. Don't oil them and "see how they go", ditch them. Also, remove the twist grip and clean up in there (between the rotating parts) with a bit of solvent, to get rid of all the gunk.

Noel

[Bill_Rockoff]

A dozen years ago, a friend asked me "If you could have any bike, what would it be?"  I thought about it and realized what I wanted was "my FJ, but with all the typical FJ Owner upgrades to the power, braking, handling, and comfort."

Since then I have done a few of those things - Penske shock, Race Tech cartridge-emulator fork valves and stiffer springs, 17x5 YZF600R rear wheel, aluminum "blue-spot" brake calipers and matching master cylinder (just put on the matching adjustable clutch master cyl assembly last spring.)  It's a joy, although it burns a lot of oil with 112,000 miles on it.  So, I'll pull the motor one of these months and send it off for a rebuild, and probably send my spare seat to Sargent.  That would be a good time to take it apart and clean / paint things, replace suspension bushings, etc.

I just got a 998 and I really like it a lot, it was worth the wait / I wonder why I waited so long.  (This generation of Ducati really fits me; I rode my son's 916 a thousand miles in basically one sitting, and it's tempting to ride the 998 across the US next year.)  But something about the FJ just feels right to me, everything from "how it pulls with the tiniest bit of throtttle" to "how it pulls with a whole handful of throttle" to "how it leans into a corner."

[markmartin]

i couldn't afford a harley.

and the associated wardrobe....

[Jeff0308]

After reading the posts I got thinking.

Yes it's fun to ride

If I spend $1500 on moditis it's still cheap.

So after all this. I have ordered all the bits I think I will need plus extras to make it (" PERSONALISED ") to my way.
I have for the most part remained with stock parts as that's how I like it.
For now anyway.
Having said that I have ordered the ABM handlebar option from overseas.
With a bit of luck it will work out fine.
I'm now patiently waiting for the bits to arrive.

You'll never regret all the money you've spent on it, and that you'll never again see when you sell it.

I'm not regretting the money I'm spending on it, I'm looking forward to the many hours of enjoyment "repairing / modifying "  and riding it. The way I am looking at it is, any improvement on the FJ is money well spent. If it doesn't workout, then try again. If it works then I've got one hell of a bike that will still suck the doors / handlebars off a lot of cars and bikes out there.  Best part is, she's 27 years old and didn't cost an arm and a leg. The cost outlay is minimal so far compared to buying new. Best part is my labour time is also time in the man shed getting some much needed therapy. I'm not ruling out buying a new bike however, If i don't    " give it a go I'll never know".     Then I'll always be thinking,    " I wonder if?"  

[Fj.itis]

Cause i got it for free, and turned it into a street machine that is 200kg with no fuel. Love my version of the fj1100.

[FJ1100mjk]

Cause i got it for free, and turned it into a street machine that is 200kg with no fuel. Love my version of the fj1100.

A work of art that you have there. Really nice looking.

[rlucas]

A work of art that you have there. Really nice looking.

+1. Nicely done. It's tough to make an FJ look good naked.

[Pat Conlon]

Holy Shit.....You cut the front of the perimeter frame off....What's holding it together?

[Fj.itis]

Duct tape! Lol.