Another Aussie newbie

[DeltaFlyer]

I recall the FJ1200 from my early 20's as a poor student getting around on a crusty old Honda XL250 because that's all I could afford at the time. Fast forward a quarter of a century, a mortgage, family, and a little more coin to spend I get back into motorbikes and rediscover the FJ1200.

I recently acquired this rather nice and basically stock standard but very well maintained 1988 specimen after a couple of years on an xr600...



...and shortly thereafter discovered this incredible forum!

Hopefully I'll be able to contribute something some day, but right now I feel like a midget among giants! the depth and breadth of knowledge and hard gained wisdom shared here is absolutely staggering, and the array of beautiful machines many of you have crafted has definitely inspired in me a greater appreciation for this bike.

What was supposed to be a basic, reliable commuter/tourer is starting to lure me to the dark side of obsession, I've recently found myself surfing ebay for a gsxr 750 rear wheel and making a list of 'upgrades' on RPM's website.

This might not end well for the family finances!  

[The General]

  Welcome to tha dark side deltaflyer. Did you get any of those Storms? Sweet lookin ride. Your past is full of historically reliable bikes. - nuthin`s changed.

[baldy3853]

Welcome aboard the nut house enjoy the ride, lots of really good info also want to upgrade the front end, so you go for the better brakes and wider front wheel to allow the use of radial tyres and a better selection/ choice 
Baldy

[Jeff0308]

Hi Delta flyer. Welcome aboard. Im new to this forum as well. I have already met a couple of guys from here. A great bunch. Your bike and mine are identical. Im going to historically register mine in a couple of months when its turns 25 officially. 90 days riding for $132 a year. Any day any time. Beats $603 a year. Well at the moment it does. Did you get that off ebay by any chance recently. Where are you located? Im in melbourne. Regards Jeff

[FJmonkey]

Welcome mate, looks like you did not need much of a nudge to dive into the dark under belly of Moditus. I kept my 86' stock for almost 15 years, in the last two years I put on an 17" rear wheel, 89' forks, 17" front wheel, fork brace, RPM fork valves, blue dot calipers, wave rotors, braided lines, Suppertrap slip-ons, UNI pods, spin-on oil filter adapter..... It gets real bad in the best way. The RPM shock is coming out this year, seat needs covering, the rally is coming up soon.... I guess I could cut back to just one meal a day.....

[movenon]

Welcome !!! Yes, the "darkside" also referred to as "Moditus".... Beware it is additive ).
George

[Mark Olson]

Welcome to the group 

be aware your 88 is an 89 when you are looking for parts . This is a good thing , as you just need to change your rear wheel to a 17" then you're set for radials.

[baldy3853]

Welcome to the group 

be aware your 88 is an 89 when you are looking for parts .

yes Mark in the US that was the case but that modelwas an 88 for us Convicts 
Baldy

[flips]

G'day Delta & welcome 
Nice FJ 
Looks like someone already did an oil cooler upgrade!

Cheers 

Jeff P.

[flips]

Looks like someone already did an oil cooler upgrade!

Or just covered it in aluminium mesh......

[Mark Olson]

Welcome to the group 

be aware your 88 is an 89 when you are looking for parts .

yes Mark in the US that was the case but that modelwas an 88 for us Convicts 
Baldy

Well for the convict scum they got two 88 models , one is a repainted 87 and the other is a 89 style . the quick way to tell the difference is if you have antidive forks and a 16" front wheel thats a 87.  if you have a 17 " front wheel that is a 89.  Being that aus is at the butt end of the world you got the leavin's . 

[baldy3853]

Welcome to the group 

be aware your 88 is an 89 when you are looking for parts .

yes Mark in the US that was the case but that modelwas an 88 for us Convicts 
Baldy

Well for the convict scum they got two 88 models , one is a repainted 87 and the other is a 89 style . the quick way to tell the difference is if you have antidive forks and a 16" front wheel thats a 87.  if you have a 17 " front wheel that is a 89.  Being that aus is at the butt end of the world you got the leavin's . 

AHHHHHH I don't think we get the leavings as other then the Cook Islamds and the the South sea Pommies we see everything 1st!!!!! unlike you poor old septics 

[Mark Olson]

Welcome to the group 

be aware your 88 is an 89 when you are looking for parts .

yes Mark in the US that was the case but that modelwas an 88 for us Convicts 
Baldy

Well for the convict scum they got two 88 models , one is a repainted 87 and the other is a 89 style . the quick way to tell the difference is if you have antidive forks and a 16" front wheel thats a 87.  if you have a 17 " front wheel that is a 89.  Being that aus is at the butt end of the world you got the leavin's . 

AHHHHHH I don't think we get the leavings as other then the Cook Islamds and the the South sea Pommies we see everything 1st!!!!! unlike you poor old septics 

well since you see everything first I believe you can be the first target for the potato cannon at the wcr this year. congrats.

[FJmonkey]

well since you see everything first I believe you can be the first target for the potato cannon at the wcr this year. congrats.

Were gonna have a potato cannon this year, Kookaloooo!!!!! 

[DeltaFlyer]

Thanks everyone for all the kind words of welcome.  

Yep that's the stock oil cooler the PO wrapped a bit of aluminum mesh around the front.

Jeff0308, I found mine on gumtree but I think it was listed on ebay also so you probably did see it. Mate, I spotted your red and white FJ and even had it on my short list for a little while but it being up in Qld and me in Sydney I looked at the local ones first. Club rego is awesome but out of the question for me unfortunately as I commute on her every day.

I haven't really decided anything re. upgrades yet, just enjoying riding it at the moment. I'll probably go with safety and reliability upgrades first - bigger oil cooler, wheels, brakes, ect.

....what's this I hear about a rally and a potato cannon?