It's been a long lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely time

[DoD#663]

I was asked to do an introduction. Well, no, I was told vigorously to do an introduction, so here I am.

Started riding around 1975, got my first real road bike in 1990, Yamaha XS650 Special II. That thing would start shaking so bad over 65mph that it became almost unrideable, two cylinders going up-and-down together just is not a good design.

After a couple of different tries I settled on a Honda Saber V45. By Crom what an engine. The engine still purred, but everything else was falling apart at 104K miles when I sold it for parts in 1996.

That's when I got my 1986 FJ12, from a guy who had tweaked and fiddled and made it so unstable that I nearly flipped it over just trying to ride it to the mechanic, to whom I handed the bike and the stock pipes and said, and I quote, "Make it NICE!"

I found Rec.Motorcycles in 1992, and actively participated in that forum for the next 6 years, thus the DoD#663. So yes, I know there are as many opinions about tires as there are about oil, I've got a copy of the Countersteering FAQ around somewhere, -and- I know who is the Keeper of the Bra.

My FJ is stock except for a couple things: Serious high-beam headlamp, Corbin seat (a gift), and a set of Givi hard bags.

Complaints: Seating posture. Leaning forward just a bit too much for comfort. It hasn't stopped me from riding, but when I sat on a Honda NC700X last week at a dealer it reminded me just how much I miss the "standard" posture of that blasted Sabre of days gone by. Oh well, I'm in no way fiscally prepared to thump down $7K on a new bike, so the FJ is going to serve for a while yet.

Thank you for welcoming me to this forum. The only thing I regret about living in New England is that I have to put the bike away for months at a time.   

[1tinindian]

Welcome.
Look into some bar risers, made a world of difference for me!

Leon

[FJmonkey]

Welcome again, you could get some bar risers to raise you hands and arms up. Your Corbin is already sitting you down just a tad lower than stock. You could even have your Corbin lowered a tad more, but that will decrease your seat to pegs distance and might cause issues with your knees (it would with mine). As far as other mods, there are so many you could do that would make you love your FJ even more. We call this addiction "Moditus" and it only gets worse as the bike gets better. Kookalooo DoD#663

Mark
AKA The Red Power Ranger

[markmartin]

Welcome.  I had the same complaint and installed bar risers http://www.cyclesolutions.net/genmar-risers-366 this spring and love them.  3/4" makes quite a difference.

Enjoy the rest of our short New England season.

Rock and Roll

Mark

[DoD#663]

http://www.cyclesolutions.net/genmar-risers-366

Is installation obvious? The photo is certainly not clear as to how they fit in place.

Enjoy the rest of our short New England season.

Not without a new tire! It's through tread, into rubber that is a slightly different color. I'm starting to worry.

[racerman_27410]

Welcome to the group!



Good to have you on board with us!



Kookaloo!


Frank

[markmartin]

Is installation obvious? The photo is certainly not clear as to how they fit in place.

Installation is easy.  Cables and hoses have enough play to reach the higher bar height.  If I remember correctly just enough on the throttle cable, but enough.