Getting used to the FJ1200

[Loukiii]

I have not had a sport bike in probably 30 years. I started riding Harleys and other V Twin Cruisers around 1990 and just got my FJ about a month ago. I had to wait about a week to get into the DMV and get it registered etc. and I have been really busy with everything else that I have not had as many opportunities to ride as I would  like. lol

VTwins are full of torque and you dont have to down shift to accelerate at low speed all the time.  I kind of got used to driving them and I don't think this bike likes the way I drive. lol  Out on the open roads and highways the bike loves to eat up the miles and 3000-3500 rpms is around 65 mph in 5th gear. But tooling around town I think I have a tendency to either not keep my rpms up or sometimes I go too long without shifting and if I let off the gas i get a bunch of gurgling and an occasional backfire.  Does this sound about right? 

I have found a few minor cosmetic details I want to fix. Mostly small cracks in the plastic body panels and minor paint scratches but overall I am still completely thrilled to ride it whenever I get a chance.

[Waiex191]

Welcome. That doesn't sound right. My FJ would out torque and out lug my buddy's Harley Springer Softail any day of the week.

[Millietant]

Sounds like you have either an air/exhaust leak/issue or your carbs need setting up properly - I don't know of anyone who has a well set up street FJ, that backfires.

I had an Aprilia V twin for 17 years alongside my FJ and what I noticed mostly was that the FJ was so much smoother and had so much more torque than the supposedly torquey V Twin - I can ride around in 5th gear on the FJ at 35 mph and still pull away smartly without downshifting. Having one gear that can take you easily, smoothly and quickly from 35 mph to over 150 mph is what made the FJ unique when it came out, and that flexibility/performance is what people really loved about the FJ. You can literally ride around in only 1 gear all day long if you wish.

Once you've got yours nicely sorted you'll see what we all mean about "Kookaloo"  

[fj1289]

I really think you need to find your Kookaloo!  After that, you will WANT to keep a little more RPM in hand to get there again!

Don't forget, lugging an engine (ANY piston engine) is much harder on it than revving it out.  Cylinder pressures get very high when lugging the engine and is a perfect way to start detonation.  Just down shift a little sooner and you and the bike will be happier. 

I also think CV carbs help encourage riding in too high of a gear since they won't fall flat on their face like a set of smoothbores or flat slides will when you open them too quickly from too low of RPM. 

Just my two cents worth 

[Motofun]

The big twins sing bass...the FJ's are more baritone.  They can handle to lower register but a down shift is much more rewarding....hold on tight though as the kookaloo is unforgiving!

[Millietant]

I really think you need to find your Kookaloo!  After that, you will WANT to keep a little more RPM in hand to get there again!

Don't forget, lugging an engine (ANY piston engine) is much harder on it than revving it out.  Cylinder pressures get very high when lugging the engine and is a perfect way to start detonation.  Just down shift a little sooner and you and the bike will be happier. 

I also think CV carbs help encourage riding in too high of a gear since they won't fall flat on their face like a set of smoothbores or flat slides will when you open them too quickly from too low of RPM. 

Just my two cents worth 

Right on - throttle control is what it's all about, mechanical sympathy/empathy in a rider is essential IMO to longevity. Rolling on the throttle rather than whacking it open is the key to smooth riding on a FJ, "feeling" for any sign of detonation/pinging is something I became aware of in my early riding days back in the (late) 60's and 70's and something my dad lectured me on incessantly as a young rider.

[red]

Out on the open roads and highways the bike loves to eat up the miles and 3000-3500 rpms is around 65 mph in 5th gear. But tooling around town I think I have a tendency to either not keep my rpms up or sometimes I go too long without shifting and if I let off the gas i get a bunch of gurgling and an occasional backfire.  Does this sound about right?

Loukiii,

Nope, that sounds bad.  You MAY need the carbs balanced or otherwise tuned for your altitude, but first I would suggest using up a can of Seafoam or other quality carb cleaner in the gas tank, mixed to the label specs.  Seafoam is magic stuff, but it is not instant magic.  Seafoam will take a coupla tanks of gas to work its' magic, but I think you will be happy with the results.

If you have an exhaust leak or a vacuum leak, naturally such problems would need good maintenance, but the place to start (for me) would be with Seafoam.

It's possible to tool around in too-high a gear, sure, but the real FJ just comes alive above 5000 RPM.  Get a grip, and hang tough.  There is good reason why we maintain these machines, even after decades.  Low-level flyin'.
   
.

[andyoutandabout]

My biking buddy rides a Harley and its very apparent that the power delivery is different on each. If I ride in a high gear gear there are times when he pulls away and times when I'm having to brake to avoid his back wheel. When I'm choosing my gears, I'm easily out front. The Fj mill is generally smooth, so if you're backfiring, all is not well. Mine has a nice burble on a closed throttle, but not when on the gas. Additionally, I would count your sprocket teeth as 3000-3500 seems a little low to me at 65. (mines more like 4000 at 65).

[gumby302ho]

 Man are you sure its an FJ your riding, I want to hear back when you ride a fair running FJ even with 80 plus K on the clock, not many bikes as mentioned has as much low end stomp. Maybe one of those huge "INCH" Hardleys could make more low end grunt but it wont matter. Sure all the big new stuff has the numbers for thousands of dollars but our FJ's are not that far off in the real world. F@#% Covid 19.

[Bones]

My biking buddy rides a Harley and its very apparent that the power delivery is different on each. If I ride in a high gear gear there are times when he pulls away and times when I'm having to brake to avoid his back wheel. When I'm choosing my gears, I'm easily out front. The Fj mill is generally smooth, so if you're backfiring, all is not well. Mine has a nice burble on a closed throttle, but not when on the gas. Additionally, I would count your sprocket teeth as 3000-3500 seems a little low to me at 65. (mines more like 4000 at 65).

18/38 sprockets will give you 100kph/62mph at 3500 rpm. An ideal combination in my opinion, still more than enough power through the gears but a relaxed cruising rpm at highway speeds.

[dbc]

Bones what kind of chain would you suggest with sprockets?  new owner here 91 fj1200 doing little at a time

[Bones]

Bones what kind of chain would you suggest with sprockets?  new owner here 91 fj1200 doing little at a time

Any chain like EK or DID will do, spend the extra though and buy a good quality one not a $50.00 special. The size is 530 and I think standard length is 110 links.

[Loukiii]

I tried the SeaFoam stuff. I was planning on doing it anyway, I figured it couldn't hurt anything.
So I filled up the tank with gas, rode the bike home and put in 5 oz. of SeaFoam. I let the bike idle for about 5 minutes and then took it around the block (about 3 miles)

I think I made it angry. I don't know if it was the 5 minute warm up, (the bike was already warm though since I took it to the gas station) or the SeaFoam but there is no hesitation when I twist the throttle. This thing was already quick but it seems just a little quicker. I still need to have someone take a look at it just for peace of mind. And I want to put some new tires on it. The tires that are on it look almost new but they are well about 7 or 8 years old. I don't think the previous owner rode it much the last several years. He had a nice Vulcan 2000 in the garage that was probably more suited to his girlfriends riding tastes. So I will ask the mechanic to give it a look over when the change the tires.
]
Now... what kind of tires?... I dont want track tires. More of a touring guy. I will say if I would have got this bike when I was 20 I would probably be a pedestrian by now. lol

Maybe I will post a sound clip. It runs good. It just makes an occasional pop when I am in say 2nd or 3rd if I rev up and dont shift or suddenly let off the throttle.
Could be kind of normal for all I know.

[red]

I tried the SeaFoam stuff. I was planning on doing it anyway, I figured it couldn't hurt anything.  So I filled up the tank with gas, rode the bike home and put in 5 oz. of SeaFoam. I let the bike idle for about 5 minutes and then took it around the block (about 3 miles)
I think I made it angry. I don't know if it was the 5 minute warm up, (the bike was already warm though since I took it to the gas station) or the SeaFoam but there is no hesitation when I twist the throttle. This thing was already quick but it seems just a little quicker. I still need to have someone take a look at it just for peace of mind. And I want to put some new tires on it. The tires that are on it look almost new but they are well about 7 or 8 years old. I don't think the previous owner rode it much the last several years. He had a nice Vulcan 2000 in the garage that was probably more suited to his girlfriends riding tastes. So I will ask the mechanic to give it a look over when the change the tires.  Now... what kind of tires?... I dont want track tires. More of a touring guy. I will say if I would have got this bike when I was 20 I would probably be a pedestrian by now.

Loukiii,

Okay, newbie mistake, sure, but you want to add the Seafoam when you are at the gas station, THEN fill the gas tank.  This way mixes the cleaner with the gas very well.  You do non want to run the bike on a heavy mix of Seafoam.

If you have a 16" rear tire, your tire choices are limited.  I run on Pirelli Sport Demons, and Avon makes nice radial tires in that size.  If you have 17" tires, you can use almost anything in that size, but my preference then would be the Pirelli Angel GT.  Pirelli tires are not the cheapest, but since you have a really good ride there, I'd say Enjoy It!  Others here can tell you more about alternate choices, but in general, a traction (race) tire sticks well, but won't give you lots of miles.  A "mileage" (hard) tire may last a long time, but you may not like how it handles in the cold, or on wet roads.  Just a cautionary note: the tire debate on any bike forum is endless, and everybody's tire is the best, or stickiest, or hardest, or the cheapest.  Me, I'm just another rider here, out for a good time.
       

[ZOA NOM]

My biking buddy rides a Harley and its very apparent that the power delivery is different on each. If I ride in a high gear gear there are times when he pulls away and times when I'm having to brake to avoid his back wheel. When I'm choosing my gears, I'm easily out front. The Fj mill is generally smooth, so if you're backfiring, all is not well. Mine has a nice burble on a closed throttle, but not when on the gas. Additionally, I would count your sprocket teeth as 3000-3500 seems a little low to me at 65. (mines more like 4000 at 65).

18/38 sprockets will give you 100kph/62mph at 3500 rpm. An ideal combination in my opinion, still more than enough power through the gears but a relaxed cruising rpm at highway speeds.

+1 for 18/38... Perfect ratio IMHO. Don't cheap out on the chain, and always replace all three together.