Starting an FJ1200 - How?

[OzDamo]

Hi All

I bought a non running FJ1200 as a project a couple weeks ago. It's my first motorbike ever.

So I'm wondering, how do you start one. I'm just trying to get it to turn over with the starter button as a first step.

IE: Hold in clutch lever, have in neutral.
What about the kickstand...Up? Down?

As I said I've never had any bike to know what you guys might consider common sense regarding one.


cheers
Damo

[T Legg]

With the key on and the bike in neutral the green neutral light in the instrument cluster should light. Then turn the engine stop switch to the run position . Now pushing the starter switch the engine should turn over. When in neutral it doesn't matter if the kickstand is up or down.
  The other way to start it ( while it is in gear ) is with the kickstand up the clutch lever pulled in and the engine stop switch in the run position .

[OzDamo]

With the key on and the bike in neutral the green neutral light in the instrument cluster should light. Then turn the engine stop switch to the run position . Now pushing the starter switch the engine should turn over. When in neutral it doesn't matter if the kickstand is up or down.
  The other way to start it ( while it is in gear ) is with the kickstand up the clutch lever pulled in and the engine stop switch in the run position .

thanks heaps. that makes sense.

My other problem is I don't have a cluster, but that gives me food for thought. Thanks

[Pat Conlon]

Damo, on my signature line there is a link to down loading a free Owners Manual. Good stuff inside.

Cheers

Pat

[red]

Damo,

Sorry, but you are proposing to pass a Drivers' Education class using a Formula One racer.  The FJ engine can write checks that the brakes can not cash, unless you have a lot of pavement out in front of you.  The engine can also lift the front wheel, with no help from the clutch or rider, when accelerating.

It's okay to get the bike running, although that job may be more involved than you hope now.  Even then, you would be far better served to get a much younger bike, in the range of 250cc~500cc, and gain some serious riding skills before you try the FJ.  It is a heavy beast, and it can be unforgiving to the inexperienced. 

Unfortunately, the cost of mistakes can be very serious, both for the bike and for your body.  You have old tires, and old brake lines.  Brake and clutch fluids may be contaminated now.  You have too much engine for any new rider.  I strongly suggest that you leave the FJ parked, while you gain good riding experience on a smaller, friendlier bike.  The FJ can still be there, when you are better prepared for it.

Please get advice from trusted local riders there, before you ride the FJ for the first time.

My US$.02 worth . . .

[Pat Conlon]

Red: +1 exactly what I was thinking.....

[Millietant]

Red: +1 exactly what I was thinking.....

I'll echo both of your thoughts - it's just so easy to spin the back tire on a FJ, even from low revs in a high gear (because of its low down power and drivability), that it'sa Recipe for disaster for an outright beginner to jump on and ride one.

And that's not an issue limited to FJ's. Any big bike from the mid 80's onwards is the wrong machine for a beginner. My brother in law passed his test for his license in New Jersey and then promptly crashed his bike pulling out of the parking lot of the place he did his test. As he pulled out and turned right into the flow of traffic, he opened the throttle a touch too quickly and the combination of his clumsiness, a turning bike and a slight lean angle caused the back tyre to spin and rear of the bike to come round, spitting him off the bike into the road. And that bike was just a CBR 600.

PLEASE - keep the FJ, but learn to ride on something smaller and less powerful (but at least as practical - ie , not a R6, GSXR 600, CBR 600 RR etc) before you venture out on the FJ.

Once you have some experience, then try out the FJ carefully and grow into it 

And remember, doing the same thing for 10 years without learning anything is not 10 years of experience, it's just "1 ride of experience" repeated for 10 years!

[OzDamo]

Red: +1 exactly what I was thinking.....

Valid Concerns. Thanks for looking out for me.

But.....I'll only be riding it as a trike. That was why I bought it. I'm sure it will be something I'll be able to be pretty irresponsible with when I'm finished, but it should be pretty safe as far as it can be. I'll be building it low and wide so tipping will be very difficult.

I'm fully aware it isn't a starter bike and promised myself NO riding when its running.

I don't want to be a "Tempoary Australian"

cheers blokes
Damo

[OzDamo]

Damo, on my signature line there is a link to down loading a free Owners Manual. Good stuff inside.

Cheers

Pat

Thanks Pat. That was pretty helpful.

[fj1289]

Any chance you are going for a reverse trike?!

[ribbert]

 

Any chance you are going for a reverse trike?!

Yep, the only safe configuration.

Noel

[ribbert]

Damo,

Sorry, but you are proposing to pass a Drivers' Education class using a Formula One racer.  The FJ engine can write checks that the brakes can not cash....

Guys, this is a moot point, in Australia he can't ride an FJ for the first 3 years after becoming licensed anyway, as he's never ridden before he may not yet realise this himself. He will be limited to a 250 or restricted bikes up to 650 by law.

I used to be a "Licensed Vehicle Tester" (in Australia), that's a Govt licence that let me issue "Roadworthiness Certificates", simply put, it is as the name implies a certificate that says the vehicle is safe for road use ( having such a licence was generally considered a licence to print money)

Part of this process was a road test, primarily to test braking but also any other issue that became apparent that might make the vehicle unsafe or unsuitable for road use. The last trike I rode was for just such a test some 40 years ago and the fact I remember it so vividly speaks volumes.

When you accelerate on such a vehicle there are two forces at play (actually it's the same force manifested in two different ways) on the bike (trike), propelling you forward and rotating the machine around the rear wheel. Because trikes are heavier than bikes, more of that forward propulsion is transferred to rotational force, that is, wheelies.

If, as I found myself doing on this occasion, you are cornering and apply enough power at any point at all before straightening up, the front wheel either lifts, or at the very least, lightens enough to loose directional control and the trike instantly stops turning and shoots straight ahead. Two instinctive and almost involuntary reactions follow, more lock and back off the throttle, perhaps even some brake, at which point the front wheel re-establishes solid contact with the road but with the bars turned tighter!
This immediately stands the bike up on the two outside wheels just prior to flipping, most likely the first of many times given their shape, short wheel base  and track, or like me, you get lucky and whack the bars back the other way just in time to slam is back down on the road and just make the corner.

Now, if you ride them like an old woman, no problem, but unlike a bike, lifting or sufficiently un weighting the front wheel loses directional control.

Everyone knows what an understeering car feels like and they have two front wheels turning the vehicle, fat tyres, and an engine above pinning them to the ground! Harley factory trikes get away with it because they're so gutless.

Anyway, that's just my personal opinion and thank God we're all different.

I don't wish to be a wet blanket Damo, but it might be worth your while to look into the registration requirements before investing too much time or money. Welding x-rays, engineers certificates, RWC's etc. can make for some difficult obstacles, this ain't the good ol' US of A where it appears you can ride/drive just about anything on the road. Most Australian states make it tough to register a home made vehicle. The compliance requirements are the same as a factory produced unit.

Noel

[red]

Any chance you are going for a reverse trike?!
http://fjowners.com/gallery/12/171_02_01_22_7_37_41.jpeg

Yep, the only safe configuration.
Noel

Damo,

As trikes go, a reverse trike (tadpole) may make good sense for you.  The front suspension on the old VW Beetles was all in one piece, with torsion bar suspension, shock absorbers, spindles, steering, and legal brakes.  It is all tried-and-true hardware. The entire front-end assembly installed with just four bolts.  Lots of engineering right there, and at breaker-yard prices.  Check it out.

[fj1289]

Didn't you see that sexy cantilevered suspension?!   

[red]

Didn't you see that sexy cantilevered suspension?!   

fj1289,

How much did it cost, and who built it?
Got any better pix?