FJ Article

[PaulG]

Came across this article on the FJ1100.  It's a reprint from Cycle July 1989.  Funny how they say the FJ was the elder statesman of sport bikes.  Since its 27 yrs when this article was written, what does that make them now... Yodas?

[FJ1100mjk]

Good read.

"Rather than doing one thing excellently, it does everything very well."

Interestingly, the chain size is listed as 630. A real man's chain. 

Curb weight was listed at 588 lb., but an aftermarket exhaust would bring that figure down.  A full tank of gas weighs around 36 pounds. That adds a lot though.

[TexasDave]

Excellent article but I enjoy any that speaks well of the venerated FJ. Two of my favorite magazines available at Barnes and Noble are "Classic Motorcycle Mechanics" and "Motorcycle Classics". Although I do not subscribe to either I do buy them when there is a bike in them that interests me.

In the Sept issue of Classic Motorcycle Mechanics there are two excellent articles on the FJ and a small technical article on the RD350B.

For us older riders the Sept issue of Motorcycle classics is a special edition of street bikes of the seventies. Have had a some of these great machines. One article on Yamaha's RD350 of which I enjoyed three different model years. Another article on a Ducati 900SS found sitting exposed to the weather less than four miles from my house. Wish I had found it.

You know the FJ is a great machine when they are still writing about it 32yrs later.

Dave  

[giantkiller]

Excellent article. Thanks.
I love the Fj. Had many/ridden many came back home, to the Fj. It does everything really well. Like the article said. But now it's a collectable..  Insurance is cheaper, buying one is cheaper, and In Wisconsin licencing one costs $19 once and forever... Well for the 2nd, 3rd,4th and 5th. First collector plate cost $75 if I remember.

It's the only bike that people will constantly come up and tell you they had one. And then say "I wish I had never sold it."
I've removed at least 55lbs. From my 86. So that would be less than 500 dry weight. 163hp/114ftlbs. My superbike racing neighbor said it turns in better than his gsxr 1000. All for less than $8,000. When I took it to the rockerbox bike show. I had a guy look at it, turned to his friend. And said. "I hate that. Some guy buys a brand new bike, and puts it in the show." That was the best compliment anybody could have ever given me. And he thought he was giving me a cut. Just goes to show that even though the bike is 30 years old it still looks modern.

[rlucas]

"... it has taken on a smooth, gray-at-the-temples character those adenoidal upstarts lack."

Just like the people who choose to ride them.