My most humble apologies... Flynt - Newbie that never introduced himself

[Flynt]

So I am 48 and have not ridden since I was 25.  Probably a classic case of marriage and kids taking my risk tolerance to a low point and being talked out of a very fun mode of transportation.  In the absence of a bike, I had a couple of daughters (now 15 and 17) and took up mountain biking, track events with various cars, Datsun 240Z restoration, built a couple of highly modified and high horsepower Audi turbos, flew some RC gliders, played some racquetball, got an MBA, etc...  life went on**.  Then I talked my wife into letting me buy an '88 Hurricane 600 for commuting.  That bike never happened, but then I found this '90 FJ on Craigslist.

After 20+ yrs with no bike, I bought a stock 8Kmi '90 FJ last April.  I loved the FJ as a much younger man, but went the FZR route instead in 1988. That was my second street bike and I had about 30Kmi between it and the GPZ750 that preceded her.  I have also ridden (and flown off) various dirt bikes as a kid.  I love to ride and can spend countless hours exploring the roads around me by bike.

So I had the '90 for several months and was looking into mods...  I am addicted to modifying machines.  I have had 50+ cars in my life and almost every one of them has been modified, some to the tune of 10's of thousands of $$.  The '90 was such a fine stock example that I didn't jump too quickly.  About then Klavdy wrecked the '92.  Then I took a shortcut on the mod path and bought the wreck, at first thinking I might install the good stuff on my '90.  I also bought the balance of the cool bits from Marc Rittner and started in on a lovely project.  With the exhaust from Marc (really sweet Akrapovic unit), It made more sense to make full use of the engineering that had been done and focus my energies on Klavdy's old bike.  I decided to make Marc's bike again, since it appeared to be one of the "pinnacle FJs" from information on this forum and other referenced sources.  From Nov to Feb, I got the bad parts replaced and spent evenings and weekends righting what was wrong.  Come march, I had her on the road again and running nicely.  Sweet bike, but an FJ in name and comfort only...  It is a wolf in sheep's clothing, needing only more Hp to run with the best bikes out there.

That's my FJ experience so far.  Learned lots about FJs so far and have met some of the crowd...  Marc, Marsh, & RPM Randy are great guys and if they represent this group then I am in good company.  I do love my FJ and hope I have not offended anyone with the rapidity of my traverse.  Some of you know I have a new love and the FJ chapter could close if I sell the '92 (currently keeping her).  In any case, I want to thank the contributing body here for lots of great information along the way and thank Randy, Marc, and Marsh in particular for working with me...  I am obsessive when I lock onto something and the 3 of you have been great enablers for the FJ obsession.

Frank

** - add'l data for completeness:  I'm a Chemical Engineering undergrad (Cal Poly Pomona) that went into the US Navy as a nuclear trained submarine officer.  Got out of that and worked in the power industry, then went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for Eng MS and an MBA.  Went into Semiconductor Mfg equipment at that point.  I've started a company and sold another...  currently GM of a product division for a major semiconductor mfg equipment company in San Jose CA.

[carsick]

Nice intro, but Jesus man, pick something and stick with it, eh? I jest, those are many impressive accomplishments. Congrats on keeping the FJ.
Doug

[Pat Conlon]

Ok Frank you're officially off the hook....
Actually you got off the hook much earlier when you rescued Klavdy's bike and did such a fine job in fixing her. Kudos.
Cheers! See you in Hayfork....  Pat