FJ model years. When did they get it right

[vegetta58]

I've read  about  the  2nd  gear  problem  with  early  year FJ's,  but at  what  year  do  y'all  think  they  got  the  bike to its best build from factory? Thanks. I'm still looking to buy but everything seems to be up north or out west.

[Pat Conlon]

I love my '84, but I have to admit that the 4th Gen '91/'92 non abs FJ's are my favorite.

I *think* I recall Randy saying that the '91+ had the stronger shift forks. He will confirm shortly....

[Country Joe]

I agree with Pat, the 91 and later FJs are more refined and make a better tourer with the wider fairing, but the first gens make a better sport bike. The 87-90 is kind of a logical progression between the early and late models. As far as the better shift forks, I have heard a variety of opinions on when the stronger shift forks appeared.

[vegetta58]

There's  a  1990  for  sale  about  a  125  miles  from  me.  I  might  have  to  go  look  at  it?  Sound  like  a  good  deal  or  not?  Thanks  for  the  help http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/5776467216.html

[Urban_Legend]

It sounds good to me. If on inspection it is everything the owner says it is, it would he worth an offer.i would throw out an offer of $2500 and see what he says.

Mark

[Pat Conlon]

25,300 mile *clean* Gen 3 FJ for $3k is about right. That looks to be a very nice bike.

Starting in '91 Yamaha went to a rubber isolation engine mount system for the FJ's. It really made the bikes smooth.

FYI Gen 1:'84/85 ,Gen 2:'86/87, Gen 3:'88/'90, and Gen 4:'91/'95 ('88,'94 and '95 not imported into USA)  

[Mark Olson]

I believe the 89/90 years to be the best performance wise.

improved shift forks
electric fuel pump
17' front wheel
adjustable suspension
great colors

In 91 , no longer adjustable forks
bigger windscreen for more touring style.
steel swingarm instead of aluminum
heavier
slower
pink stripe

but you did get that smoother engine mount.

not biased I have an 86 .
you are probably gonna end up modifying it anyway so it doesn't matter.   

once again , My opinion. YMMV

[vegetta58]

Thanks. Keep sending  the info though. I'm going to look at the above bike next week. 1990 bike sounds like the best of both worlds. Its going to be my hot weather bike. I ride the connie in the winter

[giantkiller]

I think the 86 (ambulance)is the best looking. If I could get an 86 with the mods I have on my fj1350r. But with the rubber mounted engine. It would be perfect. But my 89 black n blue. Gets more looks and comments. Both here and general public.

[Country Joe]

I have owned both a 1990 and a 1993 FJ 1200. Mark did nail down the differences between the years. I like my 1993, but my 1990 really spoke to me.
Joe

[Pat Conlon]

I think Chris has the nicest red/white ambulance I've seen in quite awhile
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=16080.0

[Tor-King]

I think they got every year right for varying reasons.  I have enjoyed all the FJ's I own/owned.  I love my 2nd gen '86 for sentimental reasons, it is lighter and is more "sporty" in appearance.  I like my 3rd gen '88 for its unique colour scheme, upgraded brakes, 17" front rim, forks and fuel pump.  I also love my 4th gen '93. Although heavier and bloated, it is a wonderful sport tourer with a rubber mounted engine.  Thank goodness that engine was not tinkered with all that much over the years!  So there you go, you cannot go wrong with any year.

Dean 

[vegetta58]

Yeah Chris bike does look good. I almost talked myself into flying out and riding it back, but that other bike popped up a lot closer

[ribbert]

I think they got every year right for varying reasons.  I have enjoyed all the FJ's I own/owned.  I love my 2nd gen '86 for sentimental reasons, it is lighter and is more "sporty" in appearance.  I like my 3rd gen '88 for its unique colour scheme, upgraded brakes, 17" front rim, forks and fuel pump.  I also love my 4th gen '93. Although heavier and bloated, it is a wonderful sport tourer with a rubber mounted engine.  Thank goodness that engine was not tinkered with all that much over the years!  So there you go, you cannot go wrong with any year.

Dean 

Haha Dean, you are a true motorcyclist, you have found something to love in all of them.

I love my FJ but I'm quite dispassionate in my appraisal of it when comparing to other makes and models. Unlike many vehicles which suffered a steady decline over their model life, the FJ kept getting better.

The idea that the late model bikes are less sporty, bloated, heavier, slower etc I have never agreed with. There was only a bees dick in it when they were new and now with all the variables affecting these old girls even that is no longer relevant, and who rides their bike right on the very limit of everything all the time anyway.

Of all the attributes an FJ has, there is one so significant (to me anyway) I'm aware of it every time I ride it - smoothness. Vibes are tiring as is being knocked around by the wind. It's a shame the "finned" screen was never fitted to the US bikes, weather protection is another great point.

The compact nature of in-line 4's on bikes makes it difficult to dampen vibration. Even a lot of the current new bikes have buzziness. I've had 30 bikes and only two of them were smooth. How important this is to you depends of how and how much you ride but for me it's a game changer. There's also all the other improvements already mentioned, and a few more that weren't, that make it an even sweeter ride.

Last weekend I did 2000km over 3 days, all bar 350km of that over 2 days, the wind and rain some of the worst I've ever ridden in (I was in SA). I could not imagine doing this over that distance with buzzing bars and pegs and fighting the wind with my head and upper body and a death grip on the bars all day.

Everything else Yamaha did over it's life was an improvement, with one exception perhaps, going to a heavier steel swing arm but even that probably doesn't have much real world relevance.

There are many reasons why folks favour particular years and they are all right for them and the reasons I've listed are whats important to me, I do 20,000km of open road riding a year. But, to answer your question, in my opinion the last of them was the best.
Continual improvement over the years while taking nothing away from its roots or nobbling it's character.

Everybody swears their year is the best, and that's how it should be, there is no dud year.

Noel

[TexasDave]

 Yamaha got it right in 1984 with the first year. The best color and body styling.

The 1984 Yamaha FJ1100 certainly caused a stir in its freshman year: "The best large displacement sport motorcycle of 1984, and maybe even the best in its class in the history of motorcycling," said Rider magazine. Cycle Guide made the FJ1100 its Bike of the Year, while Cycle magazine raved, "All hail Yamaha's FJ1100, King of the Superbikes ... class champ, no contest."  King of the drag strip.

The second best year was 1993. Transformed into a touring machine with excellent colors and a rubber mounted engine.

All the years in between--pure junk. However I always wanted one of those cool dark blue ones. And one of those silver and white ones. And one of those unique pink stripers................

     Dave