next »

[TomJK]

Hi
Just joined the forum, got my second FJ1200, bought it used, with 43500 km 28 years old.
I will write some more later!

TomJK

[FJmonkey]

Welcome Tom.

[Urban_Legend]

Welcome. I look forward to hearing more about your FJ's

Mark

[aviationfred]

Welcome to the forum 


Fred

[TomJK]

My motorbike history
As a 14 year old boy I was totally impressed by a Kawasaki 750 H2, the 2 stroke beast, pulling away at a traffic light, I knew that's what I want, a fast motorbike.
At 16 I got a 50 cc 3 gear Puch Skylark, max speed 30 mph, i was very happy with it, done about 12000 miles in 2 years on it.
At nearly 18, my dad and I bought a brandnew BMW R90S, my dad was riding, but he wasn't very good at it, I took over and rode the way home, surprising my mum, that I was riding it, still being 17 and having no driverslicence!
After 6 weeks riding I crashed, hit a curb after overtaking a car, bike was damaged, dad was angry, insurance paid the damage, told them my dad had the accident...
Three weeks before I past the test for my bike licence, i was caught by the police, riding without a licence, my girlfriend and i had to take the train home....
Picked the BMW up a day later with my dad, I rode most of the way, only out of the policestation my dad was riding it...although the bike was ours, he did not ride it much.
After a few minor crashes, I was hit by a car in 1979, nearly lost my left lower leg, was in hospital for 14 weeks, could't ride a bike for nearly 2 years...
In 1981 I bought the BMWR100CS, this time without my dad, he wasnt interested in bikes anymore, after only 3 months and 6000 miles I totalled it and broke my backspine in the proces, strange enough spent only 3 weeks in hospital for that, was lucky no nerves were cut.
In 1982 I bought a Ducati SD 900 Darmah, used with 6000 miles on clock, had a lot of fun with that, rode 40000 miles in 5 years, only one minor crash!
In 1986 I bought the Kawasaki GPZ600, nice sharp bike, done 12000 miles on it in one year, because of my girlfriend i decided to get the Yamaha FJ1200 in 1987.
Traded that in for the Kawasaki ZZR1100 in 1991, traded that in for another ZZR1100 in 1992 and trade that in for another ZZR1100 in 1993.
After a few years with low milage (because of girlfriend and a crash) I bought a Yamaha Thunderace  in 1998, now being without girlfriend....didn't like it though, weak compared to the ZZR..traded it inthe next year for the Honda Blackbird, nice but it used too much fuel, so a year later another ZZR1100 was bought.
In 2001 i traded that in for an Aprillia Falco, less power but a very good, stable and reliable bike!
In 2003 I bought a ZZR1200, still having the Aprillia, I didn't like the ZZR1200, totally different feeling than the ZZR1100 that I really liked.
In 2005 I bought a Kawasaki ZX10R, traded in the ZZR1200, wow that was a pleasant surprise, light, powerfull, reliable, really good fun to ride, still got it today, now with 60000 miles on clock, without anything going wrong!
In 2008 I sold the Aprillia, and in 2010 bought a used Honda CBR600F4i from a good friend that became very ill..he past away in 2013.
In 2011 i crashed with the Honda CBR600F4i on the german Autobahn, still don't know the cause of the crash, doing about 80 mph in a straight line, the bike threw me off, maybe oil/rain/object, dont know, just came down a bit hard, badly broke my bad leg again, 4 inches lower then in 1979, spent 4 weeks in a german hospital, one year unable to work, still got back on the bike after only 5 months, fixed the damage, chinese fairing, used parts, luckily no frame damage, sold that in 2018.
In 2014 bought a Kawasaki ZX10R model 2014, had it 2 years, hoped the 2016 would be better, unfortunately it wasn't (isn't), don't get me wrong it is fast and stable, just less kicks with it than the old 2004 ZX10R, very hard to get rid of it and get a decent price for it, supersport is out!
In 2018 bought the Yamaha FJ1200 3CV, that is a real man's bike, big lump, nice ride, I love it!
In all these years I managed to do over 400.000 miles on my bikes!
TomJK

[FJmonkey]

Wow! Quite the portfolio of two wheels.

[Troyskie]

Welcome to the forum mate.

[TomJK]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gMt6xgYMW24R5DKE6

Just a few pics...

[Pat Conlon]

Welcome Tom!

[ZOA NOM]

KookaLOO!!! 

[aviationfred]

Great write up on your riding history.

 If you ever want to give the big lump some added pony's, This kit is amazing and very easy to install. I installed one of these kits on my 89 3CV and loved the added horse power.

http://andrewsmotorsports.mybigcommerce.com/cylinder-kit-yamaha-fj-wiseco-1297cc-custom-big-bore-pro-lite-gp-series/

Here is my write up for the engine install.

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=14834.0



Fred

[TomJK]

Hi
Thanks, that is my plan, as soon as it starts using oil, just finding the best place to have it done, is difficult in Europe...
Maybe someone in the forum can help...

[Millietant]

Great write up on your riding history.

 If you ever want to give the big lump some added pony's, This kit is amazing and very easy to install. I installed one of these kits on my 89 3CV and loved the added horse power.

http://andrewsmotorsports.mybigcommerce.com/cylinder-kit-yamaha-fj-wiseco-1297cc-custom-big-bore-pro-lite-gp-series/

Here is my write up for the engine install.

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=14834.0

Fred

I think my wife is going to hate you Fred !!!! Just need to get my brother in law to buy a kit, keep it for a few months and then sell it to me really cheap as second hand, so that our 20% VAT (your "sales tax") and 2% import duty don't cost the earth 

[Millietant]

Hi
Thanks, that is my plan, as soon as it starts using oil, just finding the best place to have it done, is difficult in Europe...
Maybe someone in the forum can help...

If you can't find anyone at home, drop me a PM and I can suggest a couple of places in the UK (not sure how you'd plan to get it here - ride-stay till done-ride home, drive (with engine in the boot)-drop off-collect).

But surely there must be some decent Dutch engine builders you could use.

Personally, I wouldn't trust anyone who was a Yamaha main dealer unless they were also actively involved in racing.

[Pat Conlon]

Unless you own stock in the oil companies, I recommend (based on my experience) that you stay away from the short skirt Wiseco Pro lite pistons.
Their oil rings leave a lot to be desired.

The Ross pistons are a much better choice for a street bike (unless you like to add oil at every other fuel stop.).