Another new owner in Seattle!

[Ranman85FJ]

Hello All,
         I"m very glad to be here!  It has been many years since I last owned a cycle, as I took time off to raise a family. My dry spell ended today as I purchased an '85 FJ1100 from the second owner, who has owned it since 1988.  It is bone-stock, with 49,000 on the odometer, and runs great!  Purchase price = $1150. (Monkey likes the color, yes?!!)
         After considering many, many different types of bikes, I finally narrowed my search to just one; the FJ.  I sincerely believe it to be one of the best looking bikes on the planet. 



       I will be addressing some minor issues over the winter (intermittent gas gauge, light out in cluster, hesitant right-turn indicator, seeping cam cover, seeping clutch slave cylinder, rattling exhaust header tube) and will be shopping at RPM for goodies and using this board for how-to advice. Please feel free to chime in if you have quick advice for any of my problems! 
     
Randy

[Harvy]

  I sincerely believe it to be one of the best looking bikes on the planet. 

Now there is a belief worth believing!

Welcome to the group Randy.

Harvy

[oldktmdude]

   Another fine example of the best year model. Congrats on a bargain purchase and welcome to the forum.   Regards, Pete.

[FJmonkey]

Welcome, ranman85FJ, I like the colors. Bike looks to be in great condition.

[Tiger]

  Hello and welcome... That is one nice looking stock FJ you have their...

This a great place for all FJ owners, who need to improve their knowledge to help get the very best out of their ride. Great people and tons of information available...let the 'search' button be your friend 

Like you, I'm a first time '85 FJ owner and just love this old girl. She came to me a few months ago in stock 'Silky White'. I intend keeping mine as close to stock as possible...

Now that the season here in Southern Ontario is coming to a close, I'm bringing in new parts...tires, wheel bearings, H I D head light, etc...carbs have to come off for a good clean...so that next season she will be even better than this year. (S S brake lines already installed)...

Enjoy...

John.

[Flying Scotsman]

Hello All,
         I"m very glad to be here!  It has been many years since I last owned a cycle, as I took time off to raise a family. My dry spell ended today as I purchased an '85 FJ1100 from the second owner, who has owned it since 1988.  It is bone-stock, with 49,000 on the odometer, and runs great!  Purchase price = $1150. (Monkey likes the color, yes?!!)
         After considering many, many different types of bikes, I finally narrowed my search to just one; the FJ.  I sincerely believe it to be one of the best looking bikes on the planet. 



       I will be addressing some minor issues over the winter (intermittent gas gauge, light out in cluster, hesitant right-turn indicator, seeping cam cover, seeping clutch slave cylinder, rattling exhaust header tube) and will be shopping at RPM for goodies and using this board for how-to advice. Please feel free to chime in if you have quick advice for any of my problems! 
     
Randy



1985 just like my first fj 

looks nice,you stole her at that price.

[racerman_27410]

Welcome to the group!   What a great deal on a great looking bike!


i know you will have a lot of fun getting it in tip top shape and even more fun riding it!


KOokaloo!


Frank

[SlowOldGuy]

That bike looks GREAT!  I'll give you $1200 for it.  :-)

The front brake rotors are aftermarket.  The stock rotors were not slotted.

DavidR.

[rktmanfj]

That bike looks GREAT!  I'll give you $1200 for it.  :-)

The front brake rotors are aftermarket.  The stock rotors were not slotted.

DavidR.

They look like Virago 700 rotors to me.   

[Pat Conlon]

Welcome Randy! Did you need a gun to get that deal? $1150? Unreal.
Perhaps you had some photos of the seller he did not want to get out...

I will be addressing some minor issues over the winter (intermittent gas gauge, light out in cluster, hesitant right-turn indicator, seeping cam cover, seeping clutch slave cylinder, rattling exhaust header tube) and will be shopping at RPM for goodies and using this board for how-to advice. Please feel free to chime in if you have quick advice for any of my problems!  

Don't forget to change out those 25 year old rubber brake lines. They are way overdue for replacement.

Are not our FJ's the most beautiful bikes made? Even the red and white ambulance models are cool..................sort of.........

[fj11.5]

welcome mate, , excellent choice of bike, , is your exhaust system super quiet , just fitted a well stored original 4/2 to my 84 and its now stealthy

[Ranman85FJ]

Thanks everyone!  Yes, the previous owner did mention that the front rotors came from a different Yamaha, I'm not sure exactly which model.  The factory pipes are very quiet (almost too quiet) except for the one header pipe that has a loose inner wall.  It rattles at certain rpm's (are there new individual replacements available?).  New tires and new brake lines are priority #1, (and #2!)

The turn signal and fuel gauge have mysteriously repaired themselves (!) but I do have one issue that I've been unable to find an answer to in my search:

1. When is a good time to inform the wife of the purchase??

[rktmanfj]

1. When is a good time to inform the wife of the purchase??

Tonight, while in the missionary position.

Then try to stay on for 8 seconds...               

[Pat Conlon]

1. When is a good time to inform the wife of the purchase??

Tonight, while in the missionary position.

Then try to stay on for 8 seconds... 

Oh good God, that's funny...yeeeehawww!

Here's my story:

I bought my FJ1100 (47M-000303) in May of '84. I was debating over the Honda VFR500/750 or this new fangled Yamaha FJ1100 I've been reading about....I'm glad I decided to wait for the FJ. The Honda's were nice but in no way did they have the grunt of the FJ.
So after anxiously following the development of this new Yamaha, at that time the flagship of the Yamaha line, I located a new FJ in Costa Mesa at Champion Motorcycles. I called them, drove down in my Ranchero, rode the bike and instantly fell in love.
Without my wife knowing, I financed it (at $4900) and came back to Palm Desert.
The big problem was that I could not bring the bike home, no way, no how, SWMBO would have made me sleep in the garage. My solution: Phil, my friend at work, lived just down the street, so I kept my new FJ at his house.
I would make up all kinds of excuses to go over to Phil's house so I could don my Simpson full face helmet with tinted visor and ride my new beauty. This lasted about 4 months, I was running out of excuses.

Pat: "Honey, I've got to go over to Phil's and help him with his sprinklers..."
Jann: " You just did that last week"
Pat: "Oh yea, but it's something new...."
Jann: "Whatever..."
One time Jann drove by Phil's house, saw my car parked out front, went up to Phil's front door and asked if her husband was there. Phil's wife (bless her heart) said, "No, sorry you just missed him, he went down to the store to get the paint." Jann replied," I thought he was working on your sprinklers...??"
Things were getting frosty at home. I would leave for 3 or 4 hours, come back with bloodshot eyes and matted sweaty hair. My wife was convinced that I was having an affair.

Looking back, in a way I was, just not the way she thought.

One night it all came to a head.
Laying in bed together Jann turned to me and asked "Pat, are you seeing anyone?"
I thought, oh shit, here it comes, how can I play this?
I said, "Yes"
Jann: whimper..."Whats she like..?"
Pat: "She's Japanese"
Jann: sob,whimper..."Do you love her...?"
Pat: "Kind of, in a way, she's a lot of fun to be on..."
Jann: (tears are flowing now) "Fun to be on? What's her name?"
Pat: (big swallow) "Yamaha"
Jann: stony silence, no more tears leaking (how can they do that so fast?) "But, but, that's a name of a motorcycle..."
Pat: "Yea honey, I've been meaning to tell you for some time now, I bought a new motorcycle. I know that we don't have the money so I was afraid to tell you. I've kept the bike over a Phil's house and that's were I go when I want to ride".
Jann: "Yea, right." Rolls over and goes to sleep, no doubt in disbelief, yet relieved

The next morning, bright and early, Jann said, "Take me over to Phil's house and show me this motorcycle, right now."

So I do. I show her the bike, the registration card and my helmet. She checks out my story with Phil's wife.

Jann smiles, "Ok honey, you can bring her home..."

Jann and I have been together for 36 years now, she's a keeper.

Since that day, Jann has referred to my bike as "Pat's Mistress"  I don't mind, kinda in a way, it's true.

Cheers!

[moparman70]

Nice story Pat... one that can only be true if you don't own any guns or at least have any near the point of the conversation.  As for the Randy's new ride -- also very nice -- me like them bone stock.

If you do decide to change the bulbs they are just the push in type -- ones you would find on side marker lights in the older cars -- and you don't have to remove the whole fairing ---mainly just windshield and the covers surrounding the cluster -- it will gain you enough access to get to the pull out rubber holders.  I did the ones on my 90 and took too much off. 


keep her and yourself safe ---- just wait for the 6k kick

stevecc