FJ1200 for someone who never rode a motorcycle before ?

[iron1990]

Hello,

I am currently getting my license to drive but never rode a motorcycle before.  There is a 1986 Yamaha FJ1200 for sale in my city owned by someone who knows motorcycles and rebuilt the engine.  do you think I can ride this bike if i dont go fast.  Ive read fj1200`s are reliable and i like the 1980s look of it.

Is a 1984 Honda nighthawk better for me at my level of riding experience ?

Thanks for your guidance

Jon

[Bones]

Start off on a lightweight low powered 250cc or similar bike to learn, not a heavy powerful 1200cc. The FJ might be easy to ride at slow speeds, but twist that right wrist and things happen quickly, and for an inexperienced learner that could be fatal.

[Waiex191]

The FJ1200, or any large bike is horrible to learn on.  The bike weighs 600 lbs.  Learn on a small bike so you can actually get both the low speed and high speed skills. 

All those Harley guys who drag their feet through intersections have never learned to ride, probably because they started on a big bike.  Don't be one of those guys.  Learning slow speed is as important as learning high speed.

[Millietant]

As has already been said, despite being an absolutely brilliant bike in its own right, a FJ is a TERRIBLE first bike, especially for someone who has never ridden a bike before nor even has a car licence - and an 84 Nighthawk is no better choice.

I don't want to put you off FJ's or bikes in general - in fact, just the opposite, I want you to get into bikes in the right way and to be a long term rider and friend to the group. Too many people, especially in a place like the USA with lax licensing and skills tests/laws, either jump on a big bike and either scare themselves, or kill/injure themselves and are lost to biking, simply by jumping on a large/powerful bike too early - please, do not be one of these people.

There are also lots of "lucky" riders who have jumped on a big bike and survived - many of these riders claim they have lots of "experience" because they have survived many years without hurting themselves, but don't mistake experience for "repetition".

Doing the same thing over and over again without developing or learning, is not gaining experience, it is just experiencing the same thing over and over again. The point of this comment is that you really should get some proper rider training (the MSF riding courses are great starting point, but they are just that...a STARTING point) from experienced instructors and get some assessment, before you head out and twist the throttle of your FJ - it flies.....remember, you'll need something like an 800bhp car to accelerate at the same rate as a 35 year old FJ 1200 will cover a 1/4 mile at the drag strip.

If the FJ 1200 is available and the right price, by all means buy it to ride in the future, but get yourself something cheap and in the 250cc-500cc lightweight range to learn to ride on properly (for a year or so, with training) and use it to take riding lessons, both road based and track based, to up your skill level, before hopping into your FJ 1200 - after all, if you don't possess the skills to use what the bike gives properly/safely, what's the point of having the FJ ?

If you do get the bike - and I'd encourage you to do so - and if you can afford to keep it a while, until you have the skills to ride it properly, you will have the time to go over it thoroughly, get to know your bike and make sure that it's ready for you as well - servicing it properly and maybe even personalising it a bit.

I truly do hope you join us as an owner and rider - and there are plenty of people here who can advise on rider training/schools etc, to make sure you stay with use for the long term.

Best of luck whatever way you decide to go  

[iron1990]

Thank you all for helping me.  You gave me info and knowledge but the fact that you showed so much care for a stranger, its very kind of you.  Thanks.  God bless you.  I will follow your advice and get a yamaha r3 or honda cbr250 for now and meet you on the road on an fj1200 in the future.  Love !

[Pat Conlon]

Good move Jon Sign up for a m/c class and get some experience. We will be here when you are ready.

Cheers

Pat

[fj1289]

Good move Jon Sign up for a m/c class and get some experience. We will be here when you are ready.

Cheers

Pat

X2

Also - keep an eye out for a nice "project" FJ in the meantime and take your time getting into tip top riding condition