What is it that attracted you to the FJ?

[Alf]

In 1986 I owned the Suzuki Katana 1100. In Spain the import of Japanese bikes was restricted then , so when I parked the bike on any street, always I found a crowd of people surrounded the bike when I came back. Nice bike!!... but nothing else. Monster motor with bicycle wheels and clay made chassis and no brakes.
Then I went to Britain to live for 1 year and I tested a 2nd hand FJ 1100... WOW!, I will never forget that experience!. It was like riding a ultra-fast, ultra-stable and ultra-sure footed and planted armchair. The difference was amazing with my Katana. I bought it immediately
After this, I rode toghether 165.000 kms. in 5 years, closed tracks incursions included.
After the 1100 I bought a brand new 1200 3cv. Sorry, but the bike was slower, with more vibrations and worst handling. I sold it in 2 years with 44.000 kms
After this disappointment, I owned another bikes. But I always missed my FJ 1100. And after a big crash in 2.002 I decided go back to FJs and I bought my present 1200. I have owned another 3CV and a 3XW, and now I own another couple of bikes
But nothing like my present FJ 1200... or the FJ 1100 that I plan to buy in the near future  

[fj1289]

I came from a family that was into muscle cars. Mostly Buick's. Started with my dad's wildcat nailhead dual quads,4 stage1s, couple 455 rivs, 68 GS 400, 1 69 GS 400 stage 1.  All my dad's and my 2 brothers. Buick's the ultimate sleepers. Then came my turn. Bought my dad's mint slightly warmed over 69 GS 350. Paid it off before I got my license. It had been running hot so I took the thermostat out to see if it helped. My dad was out of town. So I thought I'll just take it for a spin...to see if it gets hot. Topped a hill doing a little over 80. Met a cop going the other way. He spun It around. Just over the next hill In the valley was a dirt road lots of tree's so I cut down the road lost control went into the ditch hitting a tree dead center of the hood. This ditch was actually a steep bank about 15' down too a small mostly dry Creek. Car slid side ways down to the Creek. Cop didn't turn down the road. Don't think he could have seen the car anyway. Called my brother (dispatcher for the local police) he got a tow truck operator that owed him. To pull it out and haul it home and not report it. Next day my dad came home from his trip. Because it was my 16th birthday. Looked at the GS and said "don't know what to say. It's your car" and walked away.
I fixed it cheaply with skylark parts. 2 weeks before my 17th birthday. Was at the bar came out got. In my GS and saw 2 girl's on the sidewalk on the other side of the street. Decided to impress them. Lit it up from the parallel parking. Smoked the tires. Drifting It into the side road coming in from the other side of the street. Was perfect... except for the Car coming from the other direction on the side road. Over corrected. And proceeded to slide the other direction into a telephone pole. Put the lights out in the small town of Oakfield. Long story but that's why I decided to try bikes instead.

Went to the Yamaha dealer walked in and saw. A brand new 86 fj1200. Looked at that huge back tire. And signed the paperwork. Got it for $4400. They said it was the second one In state.
Owned it for 2 1/2 months, put 14,000 miles on it. And totalled it out. When a guy on a CB 1100 (that I was about to pass) crashed in front of me going into a corner(he feaked out and locked up the back brake). Last time I looked at the speedo it was coming up on 135. Then I bought an 87 fzr1000. Crashed and fixed it. Then had the motor built. Car pulled out in front of me.  Was dead at the scene. Or so the paramedics thought. Was In the hospital for 2 1/2 months. Didn't ride for a while. Built the chopper. Then my friend said he would sell Me the Fj he bought because he had ridden mine. Before I crashed it. It had been in heated storage for 13 years. And only had 10,600 miles on it. And it came with the crashed 87 with 865 miles on it for spare parts. For $600. That's the Fj1350r now. And now I have 5 fjs all together.  

PLEASE DO NOT TRY SKYDIVING!!!!!

[giantkiller]

Ha ha skydiving. been there done that. At the drop zone in Omro. Their landing strip at the time was some gravel thrown down. In the corn field wasn't even flat. Second time I was there for my second jump. The regular divers go up before the students. Well one of them had a malfunction and had to cut loose and go to the secondary. He landed OK. But the pilot was in a hurry to see if he was OK . And flipped the plane up on its nose. And came running up. As soon as he found out that the guy was OK. He and 2 other guys walked back to the plane, flipped it back. Pilot got in started It back up. Taxied up to where we were waiting. Threw the door up and said who's next.

The next time I went it was kinda windy.  Pilot was debating whether we should jump. Decided I should go.  The wind was blowing me around enough that the chute would dump air and I would drop and then it would catch.and I would swing and dump air again. It was the weirdest thing. Kinda like a pendulum. Hit really hard that time. He didn't let anyone else out they got to land in that POS airplane they used.

[TexasDave]

Dan that's pretty funny. Unfortunately very true. Years ago there was a Cessna 180 jump plane that was well known to all the jumpers in the Dallas Ft Worth area. Its name was "Duct Tape". That's because it was literally held together with duct tape. I was on the next to last flight where it barely got off the runway and barely made it back for a safe landing. It never got enough altitude to jump out. The next fight purposely landed on a country road with the owner and a pilot who intentionally burned it for the insurance.
The absolutely funniest skydiving sequence is in the movie "The Last Fandango" with a very young Kevin Costner. It is funniest to skydivers because it is very true. Very much like your experience.
Dave

[Pat Conlon]

Skydivers: Good to the last drop........or as they said at Ft Benning Ga. where I went thru jump school, "Only 2 things fall out of the sky, bird shit and fools..."

Statistically more skydivers have been killed by malfunctioning aircraft than from any other cause.
Ironic huh?
Fully equipped, trained skydivers killed before the plane can get to altitude.

[ribbert]

Dan, maybe you should change your name from "Giant killer" to " Death Cheater"

Noel

[giantkiller]

Dan, maybe you should change your name from "Giant killer" to " Death Cheater"

Noel

I have used up more than my 9 lives. So I must not be a cat. I have 37 broken bones so I've set a goal of 40. Because I never seem to achieve my goals.

I am truly blessed. God seems to want me here. For some reason. I just hope I don't miss it.

[Mark Olson]

Well my FJ story is simple . We all know the saying when letting someone else ride you bike " you break it ,you bought it " well there you go.
The rest of the story is only told around the campfire at a Rally.

[Tor-King]

Thank you everyone-- I am enjoying reading all your responses!  It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside!  It is so neat to see what everyone on this site has in common and the varying reasons for the attraction to the FJ!
Dean

[Country Joe]

I guess my attraction to FJs is probably rooted in the fact that the majority of motorcycles that I have owned have been Yamahas. My first motorcycle with a gear box was a Yamaha Mini-Enduro, I had a 1976 YZ 80, with a Steen Bonanza between those two. The first new street bike that I ever bought was a 1986 Radian. After it was stolen, I bought a 1983 Seca 550.  I just have a real fondness for air cooled Yamahas, they have been virtually bulletproof for me in every respect. Once I decided to get back on a street bike, a Yamaha was the only brand that I was seriously considering owning.
When I found my 1990 FJ on Craigslist and test rode it, I knew that I had come home. I just don't know of another all around competent street bike with the attributes and following that the FJ enjoys.

[Troyskie]

Everyone has said what I would have, except that, back in the 80's the FJ1100 was more bike than I was rider.

They are still more bike than I am rider.

Long live the MIGHT FJ!

[flips]

Hi everyone.

Back in 96 I had a lower back injury that made riding the RZ500 I had at the time no fun at all.
While driving around for work I kept seeing a lonely and slightly rough looking 86 parked out front of a local bike shop.

The look of it caught my eye.

When I realised that I was intentionally driving past just to see it I went into the shop.
They wanted $3500 for the FJ,and would offer $2000 for the RZ.
I took the FJ for a test ride and my back liked the riding position and I liked the torque.
I wasn't overly impressed with the slipping clutch,acceleration,or the handling but decided to negotiate.
I offered them the RZ500 for the FJ if they would fix the slipping clutch, and no extra money.
The owner of the shop did not like this deal at all until he took the RZ for a ride.
Man that RZ500 was fun!

I have come to realize over the years that the FJ is more fun!

Cheers 

Jeff P