Many kilometers on FJ 1100

[balky1]

FJ on the left is mine, almost 30 000 km on it, and the guy on the right is me.  
The guy on the left (older one), however, owns the FJ on the right. That FJ has almost 1 300 000 on the clock. Yes, you read that right!   1.3 MILLION KILOMETERS!!!!!!!!  
Two (or three, I am not sure) major engine rebuilds with boring the cylinders, new pistons and rings, and a couple of minor with only piston rings changes. Changed the crankshaft bearings a couple of times, fixed second gear two times.
He went two times from Croatia to India, one time to Africa (not sure how far to the south) and numerous "shorter" trips around Europe and Asia. All that on that FJ from the picture.
He had only one major problem with the bike on his trips when one of the exhaust valves burned in Spain and he got back home to Croatia on three cylinders (some 1100 or more kilometers).
He plans to go back to India again in two or three years.  

[aviationfred]

I have read a few articles about him and his FJ. Absolutely amazing. 


Fred

[balky1]

I have read a few articles about him and his FJ. Absolutely amazing. 


Fred

Really?! I didn't know he is so famous. 

[Charlie-brm]

It looks like he removed a lot of padding from the seat, looking at its thickness. Possibly he made up for it by using a firmer foam replacement?

[balky1]

It looks like he removed a lot of padding from the seat, looking at its thickness. Possibly he made up for it by using a firmer foam replacement?

I just spoke to him about the seat the other day. No, he didn't remove anything, sponge just got compressed over the years.  He did mention that he needs to put some padding in in the time of next upholstering.

[fjbiker84]

Really amazing.  I guess that shows that mileage isn't as important as general care and upkeep.

[balky1]

Really amazing.  I guess that shows that mileage isn't as important as general care and upkeep.

He is a motorcycle repair man. And owns his shop. So he definitely knows what he's doing, I'd say.
I also think that longer tours do good to the engine. A lot of stop-and-go and cold-starts in city rides are probably much worse then to sit on the bike and ride it the hole day. After all, I think that was proven many times.