I’m officially a first time FJ1200 owner

[caverman]

Picked up this '91 FJ1200 with 11k miles last night and I've never even sat on one, much less driven one beforehand. The guy I bought it from restores bikes and he does a pretty thorough job on them. The bike supposedly sat for a long time in a garage out in Miami, FL. It was brought to Texas and had all the stuff listed below done to it before I bought it. I still have a few things to do like getting new mirrors (going with the Susuki Bandit mirrors) and a set of tires. From what I can tell, the tires look to be date coded with a manufacture date in 1996. Not surprising since the title shows the owner before me bought it in 2000 with 8K miles. I need to track down a plastic vibration sound in the cluster panel area and the brakes are a little softer than I would like but they are good enough for now.

I also own a 1986 Fazer that I absolutely love the looks of and really enjoy riding as well. Still, at 6'5" @ 280 lbs, I can only ride it on the back country roads and no highway. Unfortunately, one of the bikes is going to have to go and I'm still not 100% which one it will be yet. I need to get more seat time on the FJ before deciding. More than likely I'll have to give up the Fazer but they are two totally different bikes and it's kind of a hard decision at the moment.

I've already started asking newbie questions but I'm sure I'll have more to come. 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carburetor Ultrasonic clean, jetted, and synced
Tank Flush. Tank seal (POR15)
New Petcock
Valves Adjusted
Foot peg holders refinished
Wheels stripped, edges polished, epoxy painted
Brake calipers (front/rear) rebuilt and VHT painted
Master cylinder built with new site glass
Brake disks refinished (polished)
Fixed sticking choke cable
Refinished exhaust
New key set
Cut/Polished/Sealed original paint
Narrowed rear turn signals
Rear fender docked
Clutch cover and CDI cover stripped and polished. Surrounding black refinish
Reconditioned seat
Swing arm refinished. Adjustment plates painted with VHT
Serviced rubber motor mount
New battery
New air filter
New spark plugs
New fuel filter
Oil and Filter

[Pat Conlon]

You found one! Good for you.... We refer to your model FJ as the "pink striper" for FJ'ers  in touch with their feminine side (kidding) You have a good bike, first year of the rubber mounted engine design.
Don't ride that bike with those rock hard tires.
Plan on some new SS brake lines asap.
RPM has some nice Spiegler line kits in stock....don't forget to do your clutch line.
Front Brake: http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=S-YA0145&cat=39
Back Brake: http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=S-YA0144&cat=39
Clutch: http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=S-YA0130&cat=39
Ask to add 1" additional to the length of the rear brake and clutch lines.

BTW, got a name, what shall we call you?
Go to your profile page and add into your signature line that you have a 1991 FJ1200, that way when you ask a question you won't have to remind us what year you have, and we can be sure to give you the right info.

Your journey has begun!  Cheers!   Pat

[red]

I need to track down a plastic vibration sound in the cluster panel area and the brakes are a little softer than I would like but they are good enough for now.
I also own a 1986 Fazer that I absolutely love the looks of and really enjoy riding as well. Still, at 6'5" @ 280 lbs, I can only ride it on the back country roads and no highway.

Caverman,

When bleeding the brakes, it helps to let the hand or foot brake lever snap back (released) after each press, instead of letting off the lever more slowly.
You can get banjo bleeder bolts from RPM for each of the handlebar master cylinders, too.  Use new hydraulic washers, any time you unbolt a brake line.
Why can't you ride on a highway?

[Waiex191]

...and the brakes are a little softer than I would like but they are good enough for now.

Here is Dean's search string from my '89 project thread that helped me find some FZ1 brakes:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=fz1+brake+caliper+01+05&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=+fz1+brake+caliper

Buy one of these or similar and it will transform your stock FJ brakes:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384938493395?fits=Year%3A2001%7CModel%3AFZ1&hash=item59a01f45d3:g:ABcAAOSweLdioP8G&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8NOVoArb8KhbDy8Juxlsf8oYFuXN%2BJFBezW5R0ONXxB%2FtBRBvSk4fU%2Bv1xGDOYziRvoP6H7pm40iK1IIBsDQjCAYDbmLedCzO2lBXyvg32bDeLO1ugUgsJNg5beT2U8cihQUOJZdZTRCr3gS8wMueHtk0CDJOWrs%2F4Ho%2BPvlJmk%2BX9Wczf83jPJ8H%2BVufRLbMbouWqUbocS2HslpUFF27LrPkZEhUmyhKxpPIUfyEGio3tS6pq9os5n0GwtXBzq1DTQTtQ%2FSOYJvjcNrqekkioHtDRB1bHhmAeEx1AW5hAV0Pf%2B2SNQqpNUzI%2FjVXmD2WQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4CQ0ePyYQ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266121866537?epid=5016577932&hash=item3df6196d29:g:QIgAAOSwSsdj4osD&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8N0gVkCvOjCIBEzvI%2Fo3h1Q9IKh6PWP9S6T7nfEDE4SdQofpshszvusRQQFbJvoyE4hmyIoN0%2BfT7h7AsscT7NCL7Wp2PvKmbBqANQss5LL6i2hEp2Zo%2BhK4Q%2FBdEaD4qFPm9rq%2BhyKmLn9ySvwI6KdDFmtRezBjZgJMIE9byw2BVPwI5Zk%2FW2F2Fnn%2BNSPOPz5pF5Gqd0shQGYuAAwSumVdri5U1NDSme7eMih3ct4hqUE18UbrrSjW0eftPWhUHZ%2BZR5uASszSfudmO1AX9rjyVsCNb9Xy5kDKMpWOcSsr8oq%2F5pFPF1NrApwZ4misyw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4KQ0ePyYQ

These bolt on to the FJ.  Highly recommended!

[caverman]

BTW, got a name, what shall we call you?
Go to your profile page and add into your signature line that you have a 1991 FJ1200, that way when you ask a question you won't have to remind us what year you have, and we can be sure to give you the right info.

Still trying to figure out how to upload a picture to my profile but at least I have my bikes listed. Well, I should say that I think I know where to upload a picture but it wasn't saving.

Dave

[caverman]

Why can't you ride on a highway?

It's my Fazer that I can't really ride on the highway. It's only a 700cc bike and with my weight and size, not only do I have the weight of two people but because of my height I make a giant wind sail. That's part of the reason I got the FJ is so that it will have more power and riding capabilities. Still love the looks of the Fazer and I can ride the back country roads with ease on it.....just not really able to ride on the highway unless I absolutely have to and only for short distances. 

[caverman]

Tires are first up and then I'll look into brakes.

My rear brake is the one that feels kind of soft. I have to give it a good amount of pedal before it starts grabbing. I'm hoping some new SS brake lines will fix that.

Suzuki Bandit mirrors will be here this weekend to replace the jacked up stock ones. I can't see anything but me elbows with those. 

[gggGary]

Prolly #1 on a soft brake is a hanging caliper piston. Pulling rear pads exercising and cleaning caliper pistons was on of the first things I did to a "new to me" been sitting 93 FJ. Hard petal and maybe a bit TOO easy to slide the rear tire now    But the tire is old, the new Verge rear tire arrived yesterday.  Honestly I don't use the rear all that much on bike with good brakes.