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Started by Paul.1478, September 28, 2018, 09:09:28 AM

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Paul.1478

Hello,
new to the form and looking for advise. I have LOVED the FJ from the time it was an 1100. I always wanted one and the wife is giving me the green light. I have a GL1800, KLR650 and a 76RD400, so what's one more right?
what years should I stay away from?
what years are better?
anything special to look for when looking at one?
Looks for me, I love the blue and seems to be the later years.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Paul
Atlanta GA Area.
2006 GL1800
2009 KLR650
1976 RD400
1993 FJ 1200 ABS

balky1

If you find a decent one, aim at 1988 and above. I think those were the years when they sorted out the second gear issue and removed the useless anti-dive (corect me if I'm wrong). Recently a couple of low mile FJs were mentioned here on the forum.
If you opt for 1987 or older, test the second gear when you go on a test ride. I think that is the worst issue that you can expect, but it is also fixable without any problems. Engines are practicaly eternal (but after a couple hundred thousand kilometers expect at least piston ring change). Some smaller things need to be changed if the PO didn't. Like brake lines. Often they won't start or run poorly if were sitting for a longer time. Mostly just a carb clean and synch together with valve adjustment is needed (in opposite order).
So, welcome to the forum and browse the Maintenance and Running problems sections to get a better idea what to expect.


FJ 1100, 1985, sold
FJR 1300, 2009

FJmonkey

Color can be changed. The fairing grew (and other changes) over the 4 generations.
84/85 have the sleeker sport look.

86/87 rounded out a little but still a sleek sporty look. As mentioned by Balky the have the potential for the 2nd gear issue. The gear is fine, the shift fork bends and then allows 2nd gear to pop in and out like a rev-limiter under hard load/throttle.

89/90 started looking more sport touring and the Anti-Dive forks went away. They also sported a 17" front wheel so modern radials can be fitted. Dog bones were also used so changing the ride height after upgrading the rear wheel to 17' can be done with ease.

91+ A bit more wind protection and the most sought after feature is the rubber mounted engine. The smoothest as reported by anyone that ever rode one.

Many tend to favor the first one they owned but some have changed loyalty to the smoothness of the 91+.

They are all great machines that can be upgraded to modern standards for less than a new bike. They are also easy to work on if you like to maintain your own machines.
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

Paul.1478

Thanks Guys! I did see the on in ATL, I send a PM and waiting for reply, it was really what I was looking for and the right price.
good to know all years are good and not any big issues. I will keep looking but if anyone in a few hundred miles is looking to sell... I am willing to drive for the right bike. I only rode one once, when I was on vacation in Thailand they had a 1100 I rented for the day.
2006 GL1800
2009 KLR650
1976 RD400
1993 FJ 1200 ABS

Paul.1478

well the guys with the add on the form replied to my PM, he still has it. Hoping to go look early next week. it would be nice to find something l like so close.
2006 GL1800
2009 KLR650
1976 RD400
1993 FJ 1200 ABS

Sparky84

G'day and Welcome Paul

Good luck with your purchase
1984 FJ1100
1979 Kawasaki Z1300
1972 Honda CB750/4 K2

red

Quote from: Paul.1478 on September 28, 2018, 09:09:28 AMHello,
new to the form and looking for advise. I have LOVED the FJ from the time it was an 1100. I always wanted one and the wife is giving me the green light. I have a GL1800, KLR650 and a 76RD400, so what's one more right? what years should I stay away from?  anything special to look for when looking at one? Thanks for any suggestions.
Paul
Paul,

You will be happier on an FJ with 17" rims.  16" tires are hard to find now; you will have very few tire choices, to fit on 16" rims.  Everybody makes 17" M/C tires.

I would prefer any bike with the Anti-Lock Brake System.  ABS is somewhat available, and it's great, if it works.
.
Cheers,
Red

P.S. Life is too short, and health is too valuable, to ride on cheap parade-duty tires.

Troyskie

G'day Paul,  :hi:.
Everyone has it right, all very good advice I should have followed before getting back into the FJ world.

Given your very nice stable, would it be fair to assume your fine with mechanicals?

As you've probably seen elsewhere on the forum there is pretty much nothing that can't be done to these bikes.

If you'd prefer the machine to perform, there are a metric tons of mods. Although the bikes are relatively simple, you can take them to some budget busting fun.

IMHO, for sporty, the 1100 is hard to beat (metric ton budget busting), but what balky, monkey and red say is spot on. For cruise with Iron Butt in mind (G'day Fred!), as the fellas said 91+.

Mechanically these bikes are long lasting and (most) engine parts are readily available. Some simple commodity type parts I shop around for, but for FJ specific bits I get in touch with Randy and Robert at RPM.

Any FJ you get, try and get one with good plastics. Honestly, the mechanicals are easier to get than the plastics.

Troyskie
1984 FJ1100 Ms Effie brand new :)
1984 FJ1100 Pearlie, stock as.
1985 FJ1100 Mr Effie 647,000K and still running hard.
1985 FJ1200 'Yummy' takes a licking & keeps on ticking
After all is said and done, more is said than done :)
2013 Trumpy Tiger 800, let's do a lap of Oz

ZOA NOM

Rick

Current:
2010 Honda VFR1200 DCT (Full Auto!)
1993 FJ/GSXR 1200 (-ABS)
1987 Porsche 911 Carrera (Race)
1988 Porsche Carrera (Street)
Previous:
1993 FJ1200 (FIREBALL)
1993 FJ1200ABS (RIP my collar bone)
1986 FZ750
1984 FJ600
1982 Seca

Tuned forks

I agree with everyone's advice.

I have a '90 with the mixed 16" and 17" wheels.  Definitely limits your tire choices unless you upgrade the wheels to all 17".

Owning two '90 Yamahas I can attest that the plastic bodywork is typically the toughest part to find in pristine condition and a real PITA to repair.

I too have wanted one of these motorcycles since they were new.  Now that I have one, finally, it's an addiction.  No know cure.  Enjoy! :good:
1990 FJ1200-the reacher
1990 FZR 1000-crotch rocket

Millietant

Mine is an '89 3CV, which I personally think is the best version to go for.

I've just recently swapped the front end for a FZR 1000 RU set up and put a 17" (YZF 600/Thundercat) rear wheel on it. This has let me have a big choice of tyres and the difference/improvement I have felt since switching to the new wheels and Bridgestone BT023 tyres (120/70 front and 170/60 rear) is brilliant - much more progressive turning into corners, more stable through corners and more predictable in left-right/right-left transitions. That's not to say it was bad before (it wasn't, it felt great), but it's noticeably better now.

BUT, no matter what year/model you get, it will be awesome, and there's a wealth of knowledge here to help with any issues you might encounter.  :good2: :good2:
Dean

'89 FJ 1200 3CV - owned from new.
'89 FJ 1200 3CV - no engine, tank, seat....parts bike for the future.
'88 FJ 1200 3CV - complete runner 2024 resto project
'88 FJ 1200 3CV - became a race bike, no longer with us.
'86 FJ 1200 1TX - sold to my boss to finance the '89 3CV I still own.

Paul.1478

All great advise and thank you all for taking the time to reply

I am going to see the 93 with 12k miles and abs tomorrow at noon.
Seems dumb to buy for fist one you look for but if as advertised this is just want I want.

So whose idea was it to put a 17 in front and 16 in back ?

Is there a rim that matches for front or do you need to buy a set?
Seems like a upgrade I want. That and an exasust system. They are way too quite stock. I don't want loud just a growl.

Paul
2006 GL1800
2009 KLR650
1976 RD400
1993 FJ 1200 ABS

Paul.1478

Well sorry. I checks the site and all info seems to be on the form. Should have checked first ..
2006 GL1800
2009 KLR650
1976 RD400
1993 FJ 1200 ABS

Millietant

LOL Paul, plenty of advice on here, but no need to change both wheels if you don't want to. It's down to personal choice really.

I wanted the USD forks so I used the matching FZR front wheel and many people prefer to use the FZR. Front wheel in the FJ forks.

But, I'd wanted the 17" rear wheel for a while and there are lots of easy swaps. I wanted to keep mybikes rear looking standard, with the brake caliper and torque arm above the swinging arm, so I used the 600 wheel and brake disc, with the FJ caliper and machined the 600 calliper carrier to get things aligned.

I love the difference it's all made to my bike and the way it steers/handles.
Dean

'89 FJ 1200 3CV - owned from new.
'89 FJ 1200 3CV - no engine, tank, seat....parts bike for the future.
'88 FJ 1200 3CV - complete runner 2024 resto project
'88 FJ 1200 3CV - became a race bike, no longer with us.
'86 FJ 1200 1TX - sold to my boss to finance the '89 3CV I still own.

Paul.1478

OK, new official member. 93 with 12K miles.
it has some problems, from idle it bogs when you twist the throttle. the pervious owner put new brass in and larger pilot jets. I called RPM (who he got the new jets from) and they could not be nicer. took about 10 min to talk with me. I will just pull the crabs off and send to them for the 150 clean and check. I am sure that is it.
Brakes feel strange, think it needs a rebuilt master or the brake upgrade stops OK just feels.. well hard to explain.
super nice looking bike and past 3K, hold on..
Super excited.

Paul

2006 GL1800
2009 KLR650
1976 RD400
1993 FJ 1200 ABS