Greetings from New Jersey

[Cat Cracker]

Greetings,
I am a newbie to the forum. I just purchased a 1985 FJ 1100 with 13k miles on it here in NJ. The FJ was a local purchase here in NJ.
I am a Retired Mechanical Engineer by trade (30 years in Oil Refining) , grew up in Ireland & relocated to the USA in 1988. I had a lot of bikes in my younger days when I lived in Ireland & Belgium. I was fortunate enough to ride the Tourist Trophy circuit in my college days at the Isle Of Man & saw the legendary Joey Dunlop do his thing there. I plan on attending the TT with some college friends next July 2021 in combination with a trip to Ireland to see my family.
I'm very much looking forward to bringing my FJ back to looking good & enjoying riding it. The drive train has 13,284 miles on it & so far I can not find any mechanical issues with it. The bike has a service history & was ridden periodically over its 35 years. It was kept in a garage but looks like it wasn't covered. The tank is great looking inside but the white top side has a strange speckled rust pattern, almost looks like someone was working over the bike  with an abrasive tool that spit tiny pieces of swarf or slag on to the top of the tank. Very strange, I will post pictures seeking advice on the best way to address it.
My motorcycles in chronological ownership order are:


1980 Yamaha RD 350LC
1984 Yamaha RD 350 YPVS
1975 Honda 400 Four Super Sport , Yoshimura Big Bore Kit, Dresda Box Section Swing Arm
1982 Kawasaki Z 400 J
1983 Kawasaki GPz 1100
1985 Yamaha FJ 1100

I have not ridden a motorcycle since my days in Ireland. If you don't count a Honda 250 trail bike rental in Bermuda on my honeymoon.
From inception I have always loved everything about the FJ 1100. The frame and rear shock design were very well engineered for 1980's design concepts.( really has lots of plusses to mention ).

After looking for a low mileage Fj1100 or 1200 for the past two years I finally found one worth buying last month. I was well aware of FJowners.com's existence when I began my search almost two years ago. In all honesty, the sites existence ,quality & detail of the members knowledge base was a big driver in the decision making progress to purchase a 35 year old retirement project.

[fj1289]

Welcome! 

Awesome list of past bikes!

[FJmonkey]

Welcome, happy to have to you join the digital campfire.

[Millietant]

Welcome on board Barry, I'm sure you won't regret your decision to buy the FJ, or to join in on here.

I spent quite a bit of time in (Chester) NJ in the 1990's - some great biking roads out there (brother-in-law had a CBR 600 I got to ride a couple of times).

Any questions or issues, just ask.....there are some great people on here  

[Pat Conlon]

Welcome again Barry!
Thanks for the intro. post. If I may make a suggestion, down on your signature line (Profile) if you could indicate you have a 1985 FJ1100 that would be helpful later on when you ask questions. This will help both you and us. When you do post, you wouldn't have to keep reminding us what year FJ you have, and we wouldn't give you advice based on a wrong model. (which has happened before)
A couple of quick tips.
1) You can down load a free Owners Handbook here: https://www.yamaha-motor.com.au/ownership/support/?r=0
2) Replace those 35 year old rubber brake lines. They are long over due.
3) Check the date code on your tires. If they are over 4 years old, consider a new set. Hard tires are no fun.
4) Safety wire the elbow on your vacuum petcock. Do it now: http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3265.0

Cheers and again, welcome aboard!

Pat

[red]

Barry,

Welcome to the sandbox!          Pull up a seat, and be among friends.

Tire age code - click the link, and scroll down:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11


.

[Cat Cracker]

Welcome! 

Awesome list of past bikes!
Thanks,
Have to say the RD 350 LC was the most exciting bike I have ever ridden.

[Cat Cracker]

Barry,

Welcome to the sandbox!          Pull up a seat, and be among friends.

Tire age code - click the link, and scroll down:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11


.Thanks Red,

[Cat Cracker]

Welcome again Barry!
Thanks for the intro. post. If I may make a suggestion, down on your signature line (Profile) if you could indicate you have a 1985 FJ1100 that would be helpful later on when you ask questions. This will help both you and us. When you do post, you wouldn't have to keep reminding us what year FJ you have, and we wouldn't give you advice based on a wrong model. (which has happened before)
A couple of quick tips.
1) You can down load a free Owners Handbook here: https://www.yamaha-motor.com.au/ownership/support/?r=0
2) Replace those 35 year old rubber brake lines. They are long over due.
3) Check the date code on your tires. If they are over 4 years old, consider a new set. Hard tires are no fun.
4) Safety wire the elbow on your vacuum petcock. Do it now: http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3265.0

Cheers and again, welcome aboard!

Pat
Thanks Pat
Profile updated to reflect my year.
Great safety information. I'm on it.

[Cat Cracker]

Welcome on board Barry, I'm sure you won't regret your decision to buy the FJ, or to join in on here.

I spent quite a bit of time in (Chester) NJ in the 1990's - some great biking roads out there (brother-in-law had a CBR 600 I got to ride a couple of times).

Any questions or issues, just ask.....there are some great people on here  


Thanks Dean,
Nice area Chester, I'm in Colonia. Some nice roads begin a few miles from me. Thanks for offering your experience & knowledge. That's what its all about.
Have a great Day!

[Cat Cracker]

Thanks so much. Probably a few months of work/inspection/workup & safety checks before I ride.

[aviationfred]

Welcome to the forum 


Fred

[Waiex191]

Have to say the RD 350 LC was the most exciting bike I have ever ridden.

Welcome!  Our version of the Elsie here was the RZ350. I rode one once. A coworker was looking for a first bike and asked me to test ride it for him. At the time the bike was only raced on the track and had all the lights etc taken off. It wheelied easily in at least the first 4 gears just by holding WOT as it went through the powerband!  Fun.  This one was one of the yellow Kenny Rogers specials.

[Millietant]

It had a beard and sang Country and Western songs 

I always knew their exhausts made music !!!!

[giantkiller]

Bought an rz 350 for my girlfriend. Fun little bike.

Kenny Rogers  special. Lol.

Welcome and have fun.
I've had lots of cool  bikes. Will always have an fj