I got bit.

[Loukiii]

The first FJ I saw was in the fall of 1984 in Redlands Ca. I had just got my first bike, a Honda Nighthawk 450. I was an 18 year old college student. I had just totalled my truck a few weeks earlier and took what little cash I could get together to get an inexpensive new motorcycle for transportation. I was stopped in traffic and in front of me was quite possibly the most awesome looking bike I had ever seen. It was a brand spanking new FJ1100. What really caught my attention was the rear tire looked so fat compared the the skinny little tires on my bike. Yamaha's were always just a little bit out of my price range it seems, whenever I went bike shopping. I always had to settle for something else.
The next summer I was looking at an RZ350 but decided to get a V4 Sabre instead. Hated that bike from the moment I got it out the door. A few years later I was in the Marines and had just came back from 2 years in Japan. Moved into a house with 3 other Marines who all had bikes. An 883 Sportster, a 600 Ninja and a 600 CBR Hurricane. I bought a Ninja 600... what the hell was I thinking. lol It was a great bike, but the Yamaha's were still out of my price range. Many years later I figure I was no longer a crotch rocket kinda guy so I started into cruisers. Had an 81 sportster, a Vulcan 1500, a Softail Heritage and most recently a Harley Road Glide Ultra. I sold that one a few months ago.
So I was skimming through craigslist and what should catch my eye? A 1984 FJ1100, that looked to be in very good condition. And I can finally afford it lol. Even if it is 36 years old. 
I am looking forward to putting some miles on it soon.  This looks like the ultimate source for information too. So glad I found this.

[FJmonkey]

Welcome, happy to have you. Find an FJ rally near you and meet some of the other FJ loving lunatics.

[yamaha fj rider]

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on what sounds like your first Yamaha and a first year FJ1100, what a great choice. I suggest you post some pics.

There are also some Marines here as well. I seem to remember a guy named Fred, who may have been in the Corps.

Kurt

[Pat Conlon]

Welcome Lou
Yep, there is something special about those lovely '84's....

Cheers

[aviationfred]

Welcome Lou
Yep, there is something special about those lovely '84's....

Cheers

Welcome to the Forum

Semper Fi

I was stationed at MCAS Tustin for school Feb.-July of 86. I bought a brand new 1986 Honda Interceptor 500 while I was there.

Father Pat, could you have been in Redlands in the fall of 86 and be guilty of this 35 year story?

[Pat Conlon]

....Father Pat, could you have been in Redlands in the fall of 86 and be guilty of this 35 year story?

Fred, I was thinking about that...it's possible, I rode my '84 up from Palm Desert to an electrical engineer's office on Redland's Blvd back then....Redlands is a beautiful little town, full of citrus groves, reminded me of Covina, my home town. They had these beautiful groups palm trees along the freeway.....

[giantkiller]

Welcome Lou
Yep, there is something special about those lovely '84's....

Cheers

You know Pat. I always thought the 86 was THE color combo. But I have the 84 sitting on the side of the shop. Where I come in every day. And I'm like. Man that's a good looking bike.

[andyoutandabout]

I agree, those 86s have it on the color scheme. Hands down.

[Loukiii]

***Update***

Well the deal on the 84 fell through so I got an 86 FJ1200. 42K on the speedo. Smoked Glass windscreen and corbin seat. (I have the original windscreen and the original seat, both in almost perfect condition)

[Ted Schefelbein]

Cool.


Ted

[aviationfred]

Very nice looking 86 



Fred

[Waiex191]

That looks great!  Congrats!

[Old Rider]

Welcome and congrats with a nice exemplar personally i like the original saddle best . what did you pay for it?

[fj1289]

Very nice!   

I've always liked the Kerker White Tip Exhaust for the FJ - they did an exceptional job matching the bend of the mid pipe to the side plate/foot peg bracket - looks like it belongs there vice being an add-on

[Millietant]

Very nice!   

I've always liked the Kerker White Tip Exhaust for the FJ - they did an exceptional job matching the bend of the mid pipe to the side plate/foot peg bracket - looks like it belongs there vice being an add-on

You really have to wonder why so many "exhaust companies" sell pipes with specific model designations and then don't make the mid-pipe to fit the lines of the bike properly. I love my Remus exhaust, but would love it more if the mid-pipe followed the lines of the footrest plate properly like the Kerker does