New Guy From Southern California.

[karl61]

You know I just bought my fourth bike. It's an 84 FJ1100 and I got it for a thousand dollars. I just rode it home. I had a blast.  Last week I bought an 86 Ninja 1000R for a thousand and a month before that a 89ZX10. Before that I bought a 93 VFR. Before that I bought a 2008 Hyosung gt250r and rode that for about a year as my first street bike. I put 11000 miles on it then sold it.  I love the older super bikes. They are so comfortable. The last three are great and a lot of fun.  I have a couple questions about the FJ1100. What keeps it cool. Both Ninja's have water running through them but the FJ1100 is oil and air cooled. The 84 has no heat gauge. How do I monitor the temperature of it.  What warning signs are there that it is over heating.  It's great to have this forum. One last thing. As I send it to the shop for basic maintenance what recommendations would you make on things to check. Thanks in advance. Oh, and the 86 Ninja is the shop because it's overheating and per the prior owner, who's father bought it new, it's had the problem since day 1.

Karl

[Harvy]

  I have a couple questions about the FJ1100. What keeps it cool. Both Ninja's have water running through them but the FJ1100 is oil and air cooled. The 84 has no heat gauge. How do I monitor the temperature of it.  What warning signs are there that it is over heating.  It's great to have this forum. One last thing. As I send it to the shop for basic maintenance what recommendations would you make on things to check. Thanks in advance.

Karl

Karl.....air moving over the fins is all it needs to keep an FJ at the correct temp. Some folks (me included) have fitted larger oil coolers...... but its only really necessary in warm climates where you are not moving very fast (read stuck in freeway traffic).
You can also fit an oil temp gauge, with the pickup fitted into one of the oil galley plugs in the crankcase if you feel the need to know what the temp is.
Many have reported that their local bike shop will not even look at an FJ any more.....too old.
As its new to you, check all the bearings (wheel, headstem, swingarm pivot, rear shock fulcrum). If its running fine, you may not have to check the carb balance and sync.

As you are in SoCal, I'm sure there a plenty of member within easy reach of you if you wanted an experienced owner to give it the once over.


Welcome to the group.

Harvy

[racerman_27410]

Welcome to the group Karl,


dont worry about the fj overheating... just keep moving and you will be fine... this engine is a beast and for the most part tough as nails.... with proper maintenance we have at least one member with over 200,000 miles on his 84


KOokaloo!


Frank

[FJmonkey]

Karl, welcome to FJ's and the club. How southern CA are you? Their are a few of us in SoCal that get to enjoy the longer riding season and mountain roads leading to beaches and even better ridding. Kookaloo dude!

[karl61]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and suggestions. I live in Long Beach. The shop I take it to is in Signal Hill. They are super. I was admiring an FJ at the place a couple months ago. I tell you I really liked riding this one. In Orange County/LA area now 85 mph and 90 mph is the norm. When I was coming back from picking up the bike I was traveling at about 85 and looked down and the tach was about 5000 which is not that bad because I was a little concerned about having five gears but it just hummed at 85.  It also has these "cobra" pipes on it and it sort of sounds like a P51 Mustang.

[simi_ed]

Karl. I'm out in Simi Valley.  Same area, but ~80 miles to the NW.  Always good to find another FJer.  Welcome!

[Pat Conlon]

Hello there Karl, Welcome!  LA Mike also is from the Long Beach area.
I live in Palm Desert so I can relate about hot FJ's. Our US model oem FJ's were set lean from the factory due to EPA regulations.
What I've found to be most effective in a cooler running FJ (My '84: Cobra F1R slip ons, 5* ignition advance and K&N panel filter in stock air box) is richening up the fuel. Changing the Mikuni pilot jets from the oem 38.5 to a 40.0 (a 42.5 is a tad bit fat) will help, along with getting a adjustable needle jet and setting the clips on the 2nd groove (from top) You could also shim (raise) your existing nonadjustable needles if you wish.
A change from the oem 112.5 to a 115 main jet also helps. If you do not have a ignition advance, then I think the oem 112.5 mains would be fine. As our in house FJ expert carb guru, David R (slow old guy) has taught us, unless you are running WFO, in actuality very seldom are you are running on the main jets.
If you plan on removing the oem air box and running UniPod filters, then running a larger pilot jets and main jets (than above) would be needed.
A good synthetic oil helps when the oil temps get high. Picts of my '84 are on page 5 of the FJ bike gallery.

Can you get away and join us on our upcoming West Coast Rally? Lot's of very smart FJ folks will be there.

Welcome again!   Cheers!  Pat

[LA Mike]

Welcome to the group, you don't have to worry about over heating here in Long Beach I never had a problem. If traffic is real bad just lane split I was at Long Beach Motorsports on cherry about a month ago and they had a 92 Fj1200 for sale I think they wanted $3200 for it.

We have a Rallyhttp://www.fjrally.com/ in about 3 weeks about 5 of us from the LA area are going you should try to make it. The area around Willits are some the best roads in CA and the people you'll meet are even better, hope you try to make it.

LA Mike