Greetings

[Duane.Hoffeldt]

Hello all,
Being a newbie let me take up some of your time to tell you a bit about myself.
My name is Duane, 38 yrs old and live in Johannesburg, South Africa (I can already hear some of the older members saying "Oh Hell not another Saffer" after the recent contributions of our other South African friend, Jesse, however let me assure you that I am a fair amount older and wiser than our friend so i promise to only contribute when a) i actually know something about the topic being discussed, b) i feel my contribution might actually help someone else or c) i need help myself after thoroughly exhausting all my other self help options.)
Ok, back to me, as I said, I am 38 and a bit of a Yamaha brand junkie - I "grew up" on two strokes and still have a "romantic love affair" with them however the environmentalists have consigned them to a slow demise, so i have moved on.
My previous bike history includes:
Yamaha DT50 - this was my very first bike which i bought when i was 16, it was also the bike that taught me about how the internal combustion engine works.
A DT250, air cooled with a wicked power band - it was my bush bike.
A RD350, my first "fast" road bike - I still fondly remembering humbling a bloke on a Suzuki GS750 on this bike and when we stopped at the next set of traffic lights, the bloke lifted his visor and asked what size engine I had under the fairing. I could see him cringe when I said 350.
A XT250, after getting rid of the RD I bought this as a commuter, it was my first four stroke and although it was reliable, it was such a disappointment because it was about as powerful as my DT50.
A XZ400 & 550 these were project bikes and quite frankly must have been the worst bikes Yamaha ever produced - they were rubbish.
A RZ500 (eddie lawson replica) my word, I think that I still have wet dreams about this bike. It was frightening to ride and would use fuel as quickly as the rev counter would hit the redline. I sold it coz I knew that it would end up killing me.
And finally I bought a beautiful 93 FJ 1200ABS about 4 years ago. The bike is in original condition (metallic gold, black and blue) the engine is absolutely stock standard. The speedo shows 40k km's which could also be 140k however my bike does not have the oh so common starter chain rattle common to higher mileage units so i am inclined to think that that i have a genuine 40k unit. She runs like clockwork with the only problems experienced to date being a fueling issue. The carbs have been thoroughly cleaned since, and i installed one of the keyster carb kits from randy, with a fresh fuel filter too -all fixed. My aim is to keep her as standard as I possibly can but to bring her up to date as well (if that makes any sense) so I have done things like powder coated the frame and wheels and other sundry parts in standard colours, replace the hydraulic hoses with braided ones, rebuilt the master and slave cylinders (clutch and brakes). Serviced the abs pump. Replaced the rear disc with a up to date cross drilled unit. Kept the 4 into 2 exhaust pipe config although I have replaced the silencers with laser cans (which are too noisy for my personal taste). Kept the jetting and ignition standard, popped on decent tyres and x-ring chain and the list continues. I still need to renew the fork springs and look at replacing the rear shock but they are not too bad in their current shape so that will be for the future. I also want to redo the carb diaphragms as a matter of course.
Anyway, that's it from me for now.
It's nice to be part of the club

[FJmonkey]

Well done and welcome to the Kookaloo zone...

[rktmanfj]

Very nice intro, Duane... welcome!     

[racerman_27410]

Nice to meet you friend!  Great introduction 


KOokaloo!


Frank

[Pat Conlon]

Great intro Duane, Welcome! You will fit in fine with us... Let us know how we can help you.

I wonder what ever happened to Jesse? I think our interactions with him caused DavidR to first coin the term "irrtainment"

[Duane.Hoffeldt]

Thanks Pat. I reckon Jesse's FJ must have eventually died in fact I think there is a chance it may even have just commited mechanical suicide so as to end its own suffering.

[The General]

Welcome Duane. Beautiful Country you live in. Doug

[oldktmdude]

Thanks Pat. I reckon Jesse's FJ must have eventually died in fact I think there is a chance it may even have just commited mechanical suicide so as to end its own suffering.

And ours as well! Welcome Duane, sounds like you'll fit in very well around here.   Regards, Pete.

[racerman_27410]

Thanks Pat. I reckon Jesse's FJ must have eventually died in fact I think there is a chance it may even have just commited mechanical suicide so as to end its own suffering.

LMAO   



KOokaloo!

[Duane.Hoffeldt]

Welcome Duane. Beautiful Country you live in. Doug

Thanks Doug. Must say the same of Oz. Spent 5 weeks on holiday in NSW about 2 years ago and it was a bloody ripper (to coin an Aussie phrase). I must say, you guys have got some awesome roads that are in amazing condition - must be pure bliss to go touring on a bike, such a pity about the traffic police though, there are just so many of them and I got the distinct impression that you just don't mess around with em. Actually not sure who I was more scared of, your traffic cops or the customs and immigration staff at Kingsford-Smith 

[Klavdy]

Howzit China,
Hou gaan dit?
Soutie of Boer?

[Duane.Hoffeldt]

Howzit China,
Hou gaan dit?
Soutie of Boer?

Impressed, clearly you are not a flaming galah ......... either that or there are way too many saffers in oz already.
Klavdy, I am able to speak the queens best English and was taught that spelling like the americans is wrong, so I guess that makes me a soutie then.

[FJTillDeath]

Welcome, even though I should take offence, my FJ is nearly up and running and far too excited to get back on to really take notice.

The forum is a great place to learn things, but you learn even more and actually understand the forum when you work on the bike. So yeah I have leant quite a bit, though I still have a lot to learn, the joys of being young.

Anyway great to have another South African.

PS - Btw, David did not coin irritainment due to me, it was the other youngster who got banned and had a ban thread dedicated to him.
Though I did come close with second place, I wont lie, im not the brightest spark when it comes to mechanics.

Science was my thing

[Klavdy]

Yes, our pal "Irishluck" was the grain of sand that produced so many pearls, not Jesse.

[rossco]

Lucky Duane
Best state in Oz to see and best beer
What was the best part you visited if I may ask?
Cops are cops take the gun off them and they are...................
Ever go and see an Aussie rules game?
You'll be back