Hi From NZ

[Ants73]

Hi there, Long time lurker, first time poster. Have finally purchased (two weeks ago) a 92 FJ1200. It's my first decent sized road bike after having spent the last few years on Dual Purpose machines. Loving it so far. For such a big bike it's very confidant inspiring once you start to get used to the weight etc, but it feels rock solid on the road which is nice, & is surprisingly ok on the 2km's of gravel road i live on.

She's pretty well much stock, although i've just purchased some CBR mirrors to replace the stock ones which were in poor condition. It's only done 50,000 km's so i'm hoping for a good long friendly relationship. It's currently got Metzeler ME880 tyres on it which seem to work pretty well, but in saying that i haven't been pushing it too hard as of yet. Unfortunately it's missing the lower chin spoiler/fairing which seems pretty well much impossible to source here in NZ, which is a shame, hopefully i will stumble accross one at some stage or I may look to purchase one from overseas.

Future plans? Nothing really, just ride it. I use it everyday for a 110km round trip commute to work. There's probably more suitable bikes out there for that, but who cares. I might look to put a 18T sprocket on the front to drop the rpm's a tad & improve some fuel mileage.

Anyway, thanks for all the great tips/info etc on here, is extremely helpful

Cheers

[tmkaos]

Aha! Another Kiwi! Welcome aboard mate..   
I'm in Auckland, whereabouts are you?

James

[Ants73]

Hi James,

Down in Blenheim. Normally this time of year is superb riding weather down here, except this year we seem to be getting rain every second day, grrrr.

[tmkaos]

Yeah I know tell me about it... 

Well enjoy your FJ mate - it'l be lonely, there's bugger all of them about in NZ, I've had mine for nearly 5 years and only ever passed 2 on the road.. Going the opposite way more's the pity..

If you're ever heading across the Cook Strait for a ride let me know, might be able to meet you halfway 

Best place to find a chin fairing is going to be right here, a lot of helpful guys here who won't mind shipping one to ya.. just keep your eye on the parting out forum. A few guys have bought aftermarket ones but I think they require a little modification to fit properly..

Anyway, take it easy and welcome 

Happy riding,

James

[Ants73]

Agree, doesn't seem to be too many of them around these days. I guess they're probably getting a bit long in the tooth for most people. I've always liked them for some reason, i think they have a classic shape to them. Just out of curiosity, what sort of tyres are you running on yours given these hideously course roads we have to put up with in NZ. What sort of mileage are you getting from them? Also, while i'm in questions asking mode, at 100kph, what sort of revs are you doing? mine seems to be a bithigher than what most gearing tables would seem to indicate.

Cheers

Anthony

[tmkaos]

Agree, doesn't seem to be too many of them around these days. I guess they're probably getting a bit long in the tooth for most people. I've always liked them for some reason, i think they have a classic shape to them. Just out of curiosity, what sort of tyres are you running on yours given these hideously course roads we have to put up with in NZ. What sort of mileage are you getting from them? Also, while i'm in questions asking mode, at 100kph, what sort of revs are you doing? mine seems to be a bithigher than what most gearing tables would seem to indicate.

Cheers

Anthony

As far as tyres go, I've got a IRC RX-01 on the front which is a pretty cheap chinese thing.. I run this at factory recommended pressure 36psi and I havent' got any complaints about the grip - I bet it's not fantastic compared to a high priced tyre but I don't have much in the way of chicken strips and I'm able to keep my mates on their 1000cc 5 yr old sports bikes in sight. The only issues I have with front tyres is that the tread seems to scallop out - the trailing edge of the tread blocks always wears faster.. I have found this with the preceding tyre  can't remember what that was, it was new on the bike when I bought it. I did about 15,000km on that before it got bad enough that I replaced it. This IRC is up to about 3,000 now and is showing signs of the same thing.

Rear I run a Shinko, because I have trouble sourcing anything else in the correct size off the shelf. I also run this at factory 42psi. Again, some people don't rate them, but I've never had it go except in the wet with stupid throttle application. It had a Shinko fitted new when I bought it and that got me another 15,000 km before it had a puncture that stuffed it.

RPM-wise I've standard configuration sprockets (as far as I know) and I'm getting about 3600 at 100kph in top - I'm also thinking about gearing it to drop that  i reckon it doesn't need to be spinning that fast to cruise at 100kph i reckon 3000rpm would be plenty.. so much torque available. My sports bike mates all boggle their brains when I tell them I redline at 9,500rpm and never need to use the last 3000rpm except for shits and giggles and Kookaloo  None of their bikes wake up before about 5,000rpm 

But I'm always looking for 6th gear  - anyone done that mod yet? - so yeah, I reckon less revs at 100kph and she'll still be  happy

[Ants73]

Agree, doesn't seem to be too many of them around these days. I guess they're probably getting a bit long in the tooth for most people. I've always liked them for some reason, i think they have a classic shape to them. Just out of curiosity, what sort of tyres are you running on yours given these hideously course roads we have to put up with in NZ. What sort of mileage are you getting from them? Also, while i'm in questions asking mode, at 100kph, what sort of revs are you doing? mine seems to be a bithigher than what most gearing tables would seem to indicate.

Cheers

Anthony

As far as tyres go, I've got a IRC RX-01 on the front which is a pretty cheap chinese thing.. I run this at factory recommended pressure 36psi and I havent' got any complaints about the grip - I bet it's not fantastic compared to a high priced tyre but I don't have much in the way of chicken strips and I'm able to keep my mates on their 1000cc 5 yr old sports bikes in sight. The only issues I have with front tyres is that the tread seems to scallop out - the trailing edge of the tread blocks always wears faster.. I have found this with the preceding tyre  can't remember what that was, it was new on the bike when I bought it. I did about 15,000km on that before it got bad enough that I replaced it. This IRC is up to about 3,000 now and is showing signs of the same thing.

Rear I run a Shinko, because I have trouble sourcing anything else in the correct size off the shelf. I also run this at factory 42psi. Again, some people don't rate them, but I've never had it go except in the wet with stupid throttle application. It had a Shinko fitted new when I bought it and that got me another 15,000 km before it had a puncture that stuffed it.

RPM-wise I've standard configuration sprockets (as far as I know) and I'm getting about 3600 at 100kph in top - I'm also thinking about gearing it to drop that  i reckon it doesn't need to be spinning that fast to cruise at 100kph i reckon 3000rpm would be plenty.. so much torque available. My sports bike mates all boggle their brains when I tell them I redline at 9,500rpm and never need to use the last 3000rpm except for shits and giggles and Kookaloo  None of their bikes wake up before about 5,000rpm 

But I'm always looking for 6th gear  - anyone done that mod yet? - so yeah, I reckon less revs at 100kph and she'll still be  happy

Cheers for that,

Yeah i'm always looking for 6th gear as well, just habit i guess. Mines running at about 3900 at an indicated 100kph. I've checked the back sprocket which is definitely a 39T, but i just need to check the front to make sure it's a 17. Might be jetting or something that needs looking at as well. These motors certainly do have plenty of low down grunt, once i'm in top gear i hardly need to drop it down on my 55km commute, it's like driving a big lazy automatic V8 or something.

The Metzelers ME880's seem pretty good but pretty expensive to replace by the looks. I'm not exactly sure how many km's they've done so far, they've got plenty of life left in them but i might start researching some replacement options soon.

Cheers

Anthony

[racerman_27410]

Welcome to the group.... and congrats on your new FJ.

that roll on power is what got all of us addicted....  in the twisties set it third gear and just ride rolling on and off the throttle.... its so much fun!


KOokaoloo!

[Dazza57]

Hi Ants, welcome to the group. I am originally from Nelson, so know the roads pretty well round your neck of the woods.

For gearing I went with a 18/38 setup which is giving me about 3800rpm at 110kph. Think it was running about 4200 at that speed before the gearing change. Find myself seldom out of 3rd around town up to 70kph, but that's no problem, all that lovely torque.

Good luck with the tyre choice, I did the GSXR rear wheel mod, now wearing a 180/55x17 tyre. Makes a huge difference to the handling and heaps more choice of tyres.

Enjoy the ride and stay in touch. I'm thinking about another trip home and probably hire a bike for a week in Nelson, maybe go chase some twisties down the West Coast, dreams

Anyway, have fun with the FJ, they are a lovely bike.

Cheers, Dazza

[Ants73]

Hi Ants, welcome to the group. I am originally from Nelson, so know the roads pretty well round your neck of the woods.

For gearing I went with a 18/38 setup which is giving me about 3800rpm at 110kph. Think it was running about 4200 at that speed before the gearing change. Find myself seldom out of 3rd around town up to 70kph, but that's no problem, all that lovely torque.

Good luck with the tyre choice, I did the GSXR rear wheel mod, now wearing a 180/55x17 tyre. Makes a huge difference to the handling and heaps more choice of tyres.

Enjoy the ride and stay in touch. I'm thinking about another trip home and probably hire a bike for a week in Nelson, maybe go chase some twisties down the West Coast, dreams

Anyway, have fun with the FJ, they are a lovely bike.

Cheers, Dazza

Hi Dazza,

Yeah there's some not bad roads around the Nelson/Marlborough area, might go around "The Block" Blenheim/Nelson/Top House/Blenheim ride if we manage to get a nice sunny Sunday afternoon at some stage. I wouldn't mind doing the Takaka road as well, done it plenty of times in a tin-top but not a bike.

No doubt i'll look into the gsxr wheel conversion at some stage as 16inch tyres become more expensive & harder to source. I'll check for certain the gearing this weekend & make some decisions from there what I might do. All useful info, so much appreciated.

Cheers

Ants

[soundmindryan]

Just wanted to share my2 cents from experience on the ME880. Like previously posted, watch out in the wet.  I have a currently in repair silver 89 FJ that I had been commuting about 400 miles a week in everything but snow and had an unfortunate encounter with a guard rail in the rain.     This was a downhill curve that I have taken dozens of times in the wet and my previous tires, Avon Storm 2/Michelin Pilot Road 2 front - Avon Azaro rear, never failed to negotiate the turn.. Then I thought I'd try the ME880 as my buddy on an FJR commutes 200 miles a day and has had good results on them. (although he has recently switched to Pilot Road, go figger)  Well, the Michelin DIDN'T make the turn and I ended up sliding the back end into the guard rail with me sliding down the road on my back. Thank God for "all the gear, all the time," I live (literally) by it. The tire was well broken in so newness wasn't an issue. It just didn't stick like the Avons. Now I know.  Anyways... there ya go. Beware the wet.   

[rktmanfj]

Just wanted to share my2 cents from experience on the ME880. Like previously posted, watch out in the wet.  I have a currently in repair silver 89 FJ that I had been commuting about 400 miles a week in everything but snow and had an unfortunate encounter with a guard rail in the rain.     This was a downhill curve that I have taken dozens of times in the wet and my previous tires, Avon Storm 2/Michelin Pilot Road 2 front - Avon Azaro rear, never failed to negotiate the turn.. Then I thought I'd try the ME880 as my buddy on an FJR commutes 200 miles a day and has had good results on them. (although he has recently switched to Pilot Road, go figger)  Well, the Michelin DIDN'T make the turn and I ended up sliding the back end into the guard rail with me sliding down the road on my back. Thank God for "all the gear, all the time," I live (literally) by it. The tire was well broken in so newness wasn't an issue. It just didn't stick like the Avons. Now I know.  Anyways... there ya go. Beware the wet.   

So, just to be clear... it was the Metzeler that let you down, not the Michelin, right?   

[soundmindryan]

Yep. The Metzeler was letting go WAY before the Michelin. The Pilot Road 2 Was sticking just nicely, but not so much with the ME 880. The Avons before that did suprisingy well on that same wet curve, also. Fortunately, by the time I low-sided it into the rail, I was only going 20-30 mph, if not less. It was just one of those wet, downhill, descending radius curves that has a "Slippery When Wet" sign posted just before it.   I'll pay closer attention to THAT one.  While collecting my various and sundry pieces of plastic from the road, I noticed all the other car and MC debris strewn alongside this particular stretch of road. Obviously this section of tarmac has seen it's fair share of anitifreeze and other mechanical fliuds and I was not the first, nor have I been the last victim. Moral: Michelin    Metzeler:    And I'll avoid that strech of road when things get damp.

[Matt]

Gidday from another Kiwi.  Came across this thread searching for Shinko as I need a new tyre and they seem to be the better priced options.

I'm in Papamoa, south of Mt Maunganui and haven't seen any other FJ's on the road.  My 1991 does just under 4000 rpm at 100km/h and I am another one who keeps trying to change into the imaginary 6th gear lol.  My cue is at 80km/h if the revs are just under 3,000 then I am already in 5th.

I've only owned my FJ for just over 6 months and love riding it.

Matt

[tmkaos]

Yeah I reckon Shinko's are ok... Mine allowed me to forget the fact I was on a 20yr old sports tourer and chase down a mate on his 2005 suzuki SV1000 over the Forgotten Highway and do this..



Let me know if you head anywhere near me for a ride..

Got a few FJ vids on Youtube too, tmkaos79, or in the Miscellaneous FJ Related Videos here..

Happy riding mate 

James