New 86 FJ1200 owner from Las Vegas.

[Ognog]

My parents always told me I could never ride a bike so as soon as I came across some money I bought my first bike at 19 and put on 11k miles on a 2011 Kawasaki Versys before I started to really get bored of the bike and want something "more".
So as a regular hobby I cruise through Craigslist before going to bed to see what people have for sale so I feel I have a pretty good eye for catching what looks like a good deal. One of these nights I come across an 86 FJ1200 for sale. Of course I do some research and find people discussing the 2nd gear issues and what else to look for so I felt fairly confident in what I might purchase. The bike ends up being phenomenally clean and according to the owner was "restored by an FJ enthusiast" and then sold to him. Has a supposed 31k miles with 1.8k on the new tach. Picked it up for $1400 and rode it home with the intentions of learning how to work on bikes and possibly doing a cafe racer or street fighter build but who knows what's in store.

[aviationfred]

Welcome to the forum 

Fred

[FJmonkey]

Welcome again, if the plastics are in good shape and you chose not use them for your project, you will find buyers here for it. '86/'87 plastic is becoming more rare each year. Not quite "Rocking Horse Shit" rare but getting there as they are only used parts from bikes parted out or projects. I am partial to the '86 as it is my first FJ. Good find!

[Ognog]

Awesome thank you very much, I did contemplate selling the plastics since they are in such good condition and I feel this makes me even more prone to having my first plastics destroying incident.

[Ognog]

Some photos of my new baby.

[Troyskie]

Welcome to the group. Great buy!

[Ognog]

Welcome to the group. Great buy!

Thank you very much I definitely thought so and now more and more with the active forums and backing of the bike I am feeling reaffirmed in my purchase.

[FJmonkey]

Ummmm... That looks like an '86 except for the upper fairing, it is an '84/'85 and from Canada (Lateral Frame vs. Perimeter Frame) . Still in great shape based on the photos.  Really good looking bike.

[Troyskie]

Mark, wasn't 'Perimeter Frame...' only on the CAL bikes?

[FJmonkey]

Mark, wasn't 'Perimeter Frame...' only on the CAL bikes?

All the US bikes that I have seen are Perimeter, Steve (Moparman) has an '86 he brought from Canada and it has Lateral. However it may not be from Canada. The '84/'85 FJs did not have the text in the blue stripe, just the '86/'87 so it was repainted and the lettering added to match the OEM style.

[Ognog]

I believe the bike was repainted not sure the specifics.

[Urban_Legend]

The Bike looks sweet. It is a bit of an enigma though. The tank and belly pan scream 86/87. The fairing however is 84/85. But as I said. Looks good.

Mark

[Troyskie]

Well spotted Mark, grab rails on duck tail look 86, and the reflectors below the fairing are 86 also.

Ognog, check the VIN list in the files section to find your bike, any variants are in there. Also, if there is a clock in the instrument cluster, then the instruments are 1200. If not then they're from an 1100.

[Troyskie]

Just noticed, looks like the choke is through the fairing and not on the handle bar. Looks like whomever did this did a good job.

[FJmonkey]

Well spotted Mark, grab rails on duck tail look 86, and the reflectors below the fairing are 86 also.

Ognog, check the VIN list in the files section to find your bike, any variants are in there. Also, if there is a clock in the instrument cluster, then the instruments are 1200. If not then they're from an 1100.

The pipes and lower fairing are '86/'87 as well.