FJ Whahaay from Scotland!

[Anti-Dive Dave]

Hello to all flying couch enthusiasts. 

Just a quick hello / How's it going / G'day! / Bonjour! / Howdy! / Gutentag! / YO! / "fit like?" (for the sake of other scots on site).

Been riding an FJ12 for a while now.  1986 1TX thingy wotsit.

It's been down the road (on it's side) more times than I care to remember, and in it's life, has had many a plastic part replaced (as you can see with the now replaced fairing).

42 litre K2 panniers and top case, Motad cans (have XJR1300 oval stainless cans wrapped in a towel, waiting to be "modified" to fit.)

Custom forward flip up foot pegs (GS750E), welded to homemade plate, and bolted to front engine mounts.  BRILLIANT for long distance.  (you may ask what the heck I'm doing with forward pegs on an FJ? - Well, I'm ex British army, was disabled out, and my legs don't work properly, so, I get relief from having my legs out in front, rather than tucked behind.)

I thought about making a trike outa the FJ, but that would have been a shame to chop her up - so, I kept her standard, and modified to suit me.

Mirrors also from GS750E, and cut base plate to fit then welded mirror stem to new plate.  Not ideal, but I can see behind me (just).

Unlike a lot of folk on here, I can't afford fancy trick bits, and you'll not even see braided hose on my bike. Everything is standard - discs, wheels, and brake hoses all original.

Anyhoo - as said at the start, this was a quick Howdy-doody, and look forward to spending a load of time on this site.

[1tinindian]

Welcome to the group.
Beware, the brake hose police will be after you!
Safety first.

Leon

[The General]

Good on ya mate & cutos for integration of ya back to the bike. Welcome.  Can never understand the scotch accent - except when I`m pissed. (But that`s when they can`t understand me!) Would luv to see ya around the campfire one day. (Would you believe my family owned the Blarney Stone years ago  )

[Anti-Dive Dave]

....the brake hose police will be after you!

Aww crap, and the mirror police, the tyre police and probably the plastics police.  Are there any riders on here that actually keep a stock bike?  Y'know, don't faff about with oversize wheels, upside down forks, gold hoses, blue spots, handlebar risers, Hagon Shocks and the like?

I know, I know, my second post and already there is disorder in the ranks.

I guess it's not because I don't want to modificate my horse, it's just that...well. erm....honestly?...I can't afford to.  Simple as that.  HELL YEAH, I'd love a properly set up bike, to handle like it was on rails going round corners (smooth as), and proper tyres that would stick to the road like shit does to a shovel.  But, and here's the violins starting to play, my crappy pension just allows me to put go-go-juice in the tank now and then, and ride her till she's dying of thirst again.

Randy at RPM sent me over some little bits to sunny Aberdeenshire which I bought via fleabay (if he recalls the sump gasket, exhaust gaskets, sump washer and a little o ring).

End result is a very small purchase to try to fix a big problem.  My girl is still incontinent and still pees oil all over me back tyre, panniers, and even gets onto the licence plate! and I can't for the life of me trace it. How the hell I've not come off yet beats me.

But, the reply of the reply-to the reply-to the original question-that no-one asked, but I thought they did (huh?), is that I'm sorry chaps - but this Couch owner hasn't got all the latest trickery fitted, and I don't do track days.  I just ride the horse as she was made all dem years ago.  As is.

Only technical modification really is the front mudguard (ok, fender to you guys over the water) - it's held together by tie wraps and duct tape.

Not one bit of painted plastic matches, me clock screws are rusted solid so can't get the screws out to replace the stuff that dosent work, and she leaks oil....and the fork seals are still needing done since June........and.....and....well, I'll just leave it at that for now!

If it were REALLY a horse, it would have been taken round the back and shot years ago.  But I can't afford to replace it with anything else and hope I get many a mile more out of her before she spits me off into the dirt from lack of maintenece and neglect.  (ok, it gets oil filters and new seals, brake pads and rubber boots and chains etc, so it's not all bad) - just don't ask her what a bucket of soapy water looks like, she wouldn't know.

Mr Yamaha would have a coronary if he knew what I was doing to his design.

Well, if he IS reading this, then by all means send me a new bike.  An FJR would be nice.  You have my address.

I await a reply........

(I guess I'll have a long wait).

[Anti-Dive Dave]

Would luv to see ya around the campfire one day.

G'day General (Salutes where appropriate).  Yup - I'd luv to sit round the fire whilst sharing some tinnies.  You never know, one day....  If you see a skinny white guy turn up at the foot of the Glass House Mountains, I'll be the one with half a water melon under me arm.

[Anti-Dive Dave]

...."Safety First?"....

What?  Do you mean this bike is capable of stopping properly and within a good visual distance?

NAH! - yer having me on.  You're pulling my leg.

My couch has the stopping ability similar to an oil tanker.  I have to apply the brakes about 3 miles before I need to stop.

It also helps to never go over 10MPH on any run, as that way she will stop within 100 yards.

Braking routine:

1: See hazard on road
2: Pull handlebar brake lever so hard it folds under the twist grip.
3: Await speed reduction.....nothing happens....
4: Apply pressure to rear brake
5: Apply more pressure to rear brake.
6: Stand up from the seat and put all your weight on the rear brake.
7: Start sweating as you watch the hazard approach at the same speed
8: Learn some new swear words
9: Swerve to avoid hazard.
10: Open eyes again and look in mirror.
11: Realise the strange smell is NOT burning brakes, but is actually coming from your trousers.
12: Remember to change your underpants when you get back home.

And you mean to tell me that fitting decent brakes and hoses would stop this excitement?

And where's the fun in that?

[FJmonkey]

Welcome Dave, disorder in the ranks on Your second post. What took you so long?  You already fit right in here. I kept my 86' stock for many years, in part from not knowing what mods I could and how much improvement they give. And from a lack of funds mostly. Others just feel better knowing there bike is stock. Consider replacing the brake lines as a maintenance and safety issue. You should be on your 3rd or 4th set by now, don't want one crapping out when you really need to stop.

Looking forward to many posts with you.
AKA the Red Power Ranger

[racerman_27410]

fer fucks sake you're funny!   


the kookaloo dont care how your bike looks (stopping can be important sometimes)..... as long as you have fun riding it you're doing it right!



KOokaloo!

[Anti-Dive Dave]

KOokaloo!

And can I return a HUGE KOokaloo-the-noo-to-you-too! 

Riding with stock original brake lines IMPROVES ones riding.  Honest! - it gets you to never over stretch your limits, and keeps you on yer toes.

Ahhh yes.....I remember the days of my past missus saying to me:

"Hey...is that a bulge in yer brake lines, or are you just pleased to see me?"

Erm...no....sorry....it IS a bulge in me lines.....

[Mark Olson]

Riding with stock original brake lines IMPROVES ones riding.

hell ya , brakes just slow ya down.

[Anti-Dive Dave]

Riding with stock original brake lines IMPROVES ones riding....hell ya , brakes just slow ya down.

Exactly!  My point entirely!  Erm, no further questions your Honor...The Bench rests...Retire the Jury!...Case dismissed. 

(PS:  remind me to reply again to this post sometime in the near future.  I may have a different opinion then, as I write from my hospital bed.......!!!!)

[fj11.5]

writing from a hospital bed is harder than it looks, and then they bring in the drugs , , welcome mate, don't mind me I have a plate in my head , and stainless lines on the Fj  , oh you mentioned washing an Fj , how does one do said washing , didn't wash my red and white 1100 and look what she turned into
<<<<<

[yamaha fj rider]

Welcome good to have you in the group. What you do or don't do to your FJ is up to you. Just enjoy it.

Kurt

[nurse]

....the brake hose police will be after you!

Aww crap, and the mirror police, the tyre police and probably the plastics police.  Are there any riders on here that actually keep a stock bike?  Y'know, don't faff about with oversize wheels, upside down forks, gold hoses, blue spots, handlebar risers, Hagon Shocks and the like?

I know, I know, my second post and already there is disorder in the ranks.

I guess it's not because I don't want to modificate my horse, it's just that...well. erm....honestly?...I can't afford to.  Simple as that. 

Don't give me that rubbish.  I don't know much about the scots, but two things that I do know is 1) that even when it is -20 outside they will still wander up the high street and wearing only a string vest (as per Rab.c. Nesbit) and 2) that all scots are as tight as a ducks arse!  Which may explain my first point!  Cut out the buckfast and put the money towards some decent brakes or summit!  Welcome to the group, if you are ever in Norfolk you are welcome to stop in for a cuppa (for a small fee of course - blue spots don't pay for themselves u know!!). 

[Woodsman]

Fit like Dave, my old stomping ground up there. Used to lash around on my x7 30 years ago when i lived in Oldmeldrum. I like you now have a fairly standard fj1200, a bike that will improve your road craft and anticipation no end. I am now on the west coast of Ireland.