Greetings from Finland!

[Oswald]

Hello everyone!

My name is Oskari and I'm located here in the northern part of Europe. I'm just starting to ride again after about 13 years, so I guess it's just logical to go and buy the biggest, meanest bike you can afford to make a comeback, right? My previous bike was a 500cc custom bike after all. 

Last July I went and bought myself an FJ1200, model year 1987 according to documents. Apparently she came to Finland from Germany at some point.

To be honest, when I went on a test ride I did feel a little bit nervous before starting her up. It had been such a long time not riding anything else than a bicycle that I didn't know what to expect. For my great surprise when I eased on the clutch and she started to roam forward, she felt somehow "right" straight away. So after the test ride she came home with me.

I'm planning to start a project topic at some point to keep track of what I have been doing and what I'm planning to do. I have already done some minor repairs and services and I found that there is an enormous amount of knowledge here on the forum! Thank you very much for sharing it!

[red]

Oskari,

Welcome to the FJ sandbox!  Relax, pull up a seat, and be among friends.  There is a lot of experience here, so asking questions can save you from much guesswork.

In general, I suggest that you do not go looking for trouble.  Routine maintenance will be fine, but otherwise, if something is not broken, do not fix it.  Ask here first, if you think any items need attention.  Often we can help you to steer clear of the repair shop bills.

Pre-Cautions:  As a "new" old rider, please understand that the powerful FJ can write checks that your brakes or your skills can not cash.  If there is a motorcycle safety riding school near you, it would be a real benefit to you to gain the skills which they sell.  The FJ is somewhat a beast, so work carefully at keeping the bike vertical when moving at very low speeds.  You can cheat to some extent there, by keeping the gasoline tank at half-full or less, for the near future.  Never park where you must back up to leave.  Always park where you can go forward easily, as you leave.  Run a can of fuel injector (carburetor) cleaner through the gas tank, mixed according to the label directions.  When you store the bike for winter, fill the empty gas tank with non-ethanol gasoline, if that is available.  Ethanol gasoline does not last long in storage; maybe that is just a USA issue, I don't know.  Add some fuel conditioner to the gasoline, before storage anyway.  Learn to read the date-codes on your tires, if tires have date-codes there.  Old tires can be a hazard.

The adventure begins . . .    

[giantkiller]

Red. Maybe that custom 500cc bike he had before was an RZ or a GAMMA with expansion chambers flat slides and everything stripped off of it that wasn't necessary.  And  the fj is like a little purring tabby. Lol
Welcome. And watch out for the moditis it's very contagious.  And hard to shake once you get it.

Of course I wouldn't know anything about that. 

[red]

Welcome. And watch out for the moditis it's very contagious.  And hard to shake once you get it.  Of course I wouldn't know anything about that.  

Oskari,

moditis (modd-eye-tiss): a fairly contagious but minor mental disorder causing the owner to constantly seek and perform modifications to the Yamaha FJ motorcycle, to bring the latest and greatest technologies of suspension, braking, and "upgrades" of all types to this motorcycle.  Usually it occurs in Winter, or during long stretches of bad weather.  
It is a term seldom used, except on certain technical forums like this one.    

[Pat Conlon]

Welcome Oskari, we have an amazing group of folks here....really amazing, very talented.

Ride carefully Ride well.

Pat

[Oswald]

Thank you for the warm welcome!

Red, those are some great tips! I already learned the hard way not to park where I have to back up. On the first day I just parked in our car shelter without giving it any thought. Our parking area is gravel and it isn't exactly level...
I think I'm forced to at least expose myself to moditis if I'm not able to fix the airbox properly. I'll write more on that to the project thread.

Giantkiller, my previous bike was a Kawasaki EN500, which I think is also known as Vulcan 500. I did do some basic mods to it, like spiced up the carbs and the exhaust. It was a fun bike, sharing the same engine with Ninja 500R. I did scrape my foot pegs quite often with it, but I can't even try to compare it to this FJ, even in its current condition.

Pat, I have spent almost all of my spare time reading the forum and I noticed the same thing! I also noticed your signature, very good collection of tips for a new owner! On my bike everything else is now in the process except for the brake lines, they will probably be next on the "to do"- list together with a new rear tire!

[Alf]

Welcome, Oskari

Nice bike!
Lots of help, knowledge and good people you find here
If you have Facebook I could you put in touch with another Finnish FJ owner that I know
And go planning to come to our annual meeting, the only european FJ one that I know, next June or July

Enjoy the forum!

[Troyskie]

Welcome Oskari  ,

These guys have set me straight on so many issues.

If you dive in, there are some aspects of the FJ that are common to others, but specific to the FJ.

You will benefit well from this forum, I have.

As you have already mucked around with carbies and the like, I think the FJ will be like a rash, hard to shake sometimes.

Troyskie

[giantkiller]

Oskari the pegs on the stock fj are a little bit low. My first fj an 86 that I bought new back in April of 86.
I caught my toe on the pavement, which sent my heel into the back tire, which sent my toe back down into the pavement. Kinda painful.  Needless to say I keep my toes out of the way now.

On the moditis note. I don't seem to scrape my pegs on the bikes with different rear shocks.(raises the rear/lowers the wheel) Of course it could be the inverted front end, gsxr wheels, 180 rear tires....

[Oswald]

Thank you for the compliment Alf, but actually the picture is quite misleading! When I was buying the bike, the text in the sales ad back then would translate to something like this: "The bike has seen the world for 34 years and has had its fair share of rainy days as well, but nothing can take away the joy of riding, can it?" I don't mind the looks as long as parts are not falling off the bike on their own. I will be taking care of the looks after I have gotten her running and otherwise functioning properly.
I do have a Facebook account, but I'm not using it very much. I could send you a PM about it? Would be nice to know someone around here with the same interest!
FJ meeting does sound great! Maybe I could suggest a trip like that to my wife in the future.. First I need to see how the bike is going to behave. And of course how my wife behaves riding pillion after such a long time! I can still remember the first times riding with her. Even though I tried to teach her to go with the bike, she was desperately trying to keep the bike upright by leaning the other way. It's difficult to ride with such an over efficient automatic balancing system. Well, she did learn eventually and after that it was actually fun riding with her!

Thank you Troyskie! I found this forum when I was searching the net to find a fix to my sudden no start- issue (which was the kill switch in the handlebar) and I happened to find answers to some of my other questions as well! I have already saved a lot of time not needing to do troubleshooting! Now I can use that saved time reading the forum even more and spending money on important improvements that I come across!

Giantkiller, that kind of toe pinball does sound pretty awful! I better start collecting a list of needed parts and present it to my wife during the next budget negotiations. She wouldn't dare to deny her husbands safety now, would she?

[Alf]

Yes, right!, PM or my facebook is FastJota Alf, to get news about meetings, improvements, news in my website...

[red]

First I need to see how the bike is going to behave. And of course how my wife behaves riding pillion after such a long time! I can still remember the first times riding with her. Even though I tried to teach her to go with the bike, she was desperately trying to keep the bike upright by leaning the other way. It's difficult to ride with such an over efficient automatic balancing system. Well, she did learn eventually and after that it was actually fun riding with her!

Oskari,

One time, there was a gal who wanted me to take her for a ride, which I did.  She leaned the wrong way too often, and I was happy to arrive undamaged at the destination.  I was entirely ready to pay the fare to have a taxi take her home, when we dismounted.  When it was time to leave, she got on the bike with me, but I swore if she leaned the wrong way once, it was taxi time for her.  She was suddenly an experienced rider, and even when I carved a turn, she was with it all the way.  The rapid change in her riding was amazing, and somewhat baffling.  So, what made the difference?

She was with others after we had arrived, and I had no interest in watching her, as I was busy with my own friends.  When we got back to the start, she hopped off, and she even gave me a hug for the ride.  There was no doubt . . . this time, she was quite drunk! 
   

[Old Rider]

Hello and welcome nice bike ! That colorcheme is not normal here in Europe i think the red and white parts are opposite  .In the states i think it is more common Does it have a speedometer in miles?

[giantkiller]

87 is basically the 86 with the colors swapped.

[aviationfred]

Welcome to the forum 

Moditis has been mentioned..... once you catch the disease, it is very difficult to keep money in your wallet.



Fred