Finally, a message board! Oh, and hello from St. Paul, MN.

[yamahammerFJ]

David Niemiec here, been on the yahoo group for a few years now. '85 FJ, Supertrapp 4/1, '89 forks and front wheel. I posted a message just today about the rear wheel upgrade I want to do soon. Anyone around the Twin Cities willing to lend a hand?

[racerman_27410]

Welcome to the group David, 



where exactly is the "twin cities" ?


KOokaloo!

[yamahammerFJ]

Oh, this has to be Frank. The "Twin Cities" is Minneapolis/Saint Paul, MN.

[Travis398]

is this another Yahoo group member defecting to the other side?

[yamahammerFJ]

Dammit, we're choosing sides now? I guess I'll take the BB over the crappy yahoo format.

[racerman_27410]

Oh, this has to be Frank. The "Twin Cities" is Minneapolis/Saint Paul, MN.

well all right....... yes David it's me 

I like to keep my geography current 


Kookaloo!

[yamahammerFJ]

Not sure if I have ever told the story of how I came to own my FJ, but here goes:

When I was in college (the first time), my older sister was married to a guy named Erich, a skydiver, BASE jumper, and all-around thrill seeker extraordinaire. He used to ride around on an '86 Kawasaki 650, similar to the "Top Gun" bike, which he eventually blew up. One day he showed up with this all-red, loud, fast bike, which only said "Yamaha" on the front windscreen. I had no idea what it was, but I couldn't keep up with it in my old Taurus SHO. The bike had its share of problems brought on by poor maintenance but still ran. It leaked gas and occasionally wouldn't run.

Unfortunately for thrill seekers like Erich, luck is not always on your side. Less than a year after buying this bike, he perished in a BASE jump that, by all accounts, he should have easily landed. He's number 86 on this list: http://www.splatula.com/bfl/

In all the commotion surrounding his death, his bikes and other gear eventually were moved around. In late 2006, I finally mustered up the courage to ask what had become of the FJ (which, honestly, I didn't even know was an FJ yet). As luck would have it, it had been moved to his mother's place in NE Minneapolis. Even better, the aforementioned gas leak had prevented any old fuel from varnishing up the tank and fouling the carbs! She couldn't wait to finally get rid of it.

The bike looked clean, shiny, and fast. I had to have it. I had passed on the Kawasaki, and I just couldn't bring myself to try BASE jumping. If there was any way to honor Erich's memory, this was it. I would ride this bright red animal the way he'd intended. I talked my sister into letting me take the bike and work on it. The price? FREE!!! A friend and I loaded it up on a trailer the very next night and transplanted it to another garage, where it sat for the winter. It was brought to South Dakota with me that spring, and then promptly tipped over from the centerstand by a numbskull roommate, punching a hole through the clutch cover and covering the garage floor with oil. I hadn't even fired the engine yet! Of course, this lead to the discovery of the model number -- a 50H 1985 FJ1100. It had about 32000 on the clock.

After waiting what seemed like months for a replacement cover from Yamaha, I had the bike serviced, a new petcock installed, and the oil and filter changed when the new clutch cover arrived. I took my first ride on it that August and haven't looked back since. Every time I fire it up, I think of Erich, blasting down 694, splitting lanes and doing his daredevil thing. While I don't ride like that, I'll never forget the memories it stirs in me, of the tandem skydive we made at sunset on my 20th birthday, of chasing each other down the interstate, and working to edit hours of skydiving and BASE jumping videos.

The bike still runs and is currently getting a makeover. I can't ever bring myself to sell it. There are many other cleaner, better maintained, and faster FJs out there. But none of them have this one's spirit and history. EJW, you will be missed, but your mighty FJ lives on.

[Marsh White]

David - that is an awesome story!  Well written my friend!     Glad to see you over here! 

[mikeholzer]

Anyone around the Twin Cities willing to lend a hand?

David,

I'm in Minneapolis and I'd be glad to lend a hand if you need it. I may be too stupid for some of the technical bits, but I have tools and a steady beer-holding hand to stand around and watch you do all the work.

I meet a friend for coffee at the Hopkins Starbucks every Sunday. If you see my 92 FJ parked out front alongside a red Interceptor, stop in and say hello.

[yamahammerFJ]

David,

I'm in Minneapolis and I'd be glad to lend a hand if you need it. I may be too stupid for some of the technical bits, but I have tools and a steady beer-holding hand to stand around and watch you do all the work.

I meet a friend for coffee at the Hopkins Starbucks every Sunday. If you see my 92 FJ parked out front alongside a red Interceptor, stop in and say hello.

Thanks Mike! I'm just over by the White Castle on Hwy 7 and US 169. I am currently waiting on rear brake parts from Suzuki (I gambled and lost on the proper brake bracket) and need a couple more parts, but it looks like September 20th-ish for the rear wheel swap. Could always use an extra pair of hands!

David - that is an awesome story!  Well written my friend!     Glad to see you over here! 

I appreciate it!

[mikeholzer]

My In-Laws live just off of Blake Road, South of Excelsior Blvd.; right in your neighborhood. I'd be glad to give whatever assistance I can.