Search
Search titles only
By:
Search titles only
By:
Forums
New posts
Search forums
Members
Registered members
Member Map
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
What's new
New posts
All posts
Trending
Latest activity
New media
New Events
New review items
New Users & BDays
New User Announcements
Birthday Announcements
New classified ads
New showcase items
New classified comments
New showcase comments
Classifieds
New ads
New comments
Latest content
Latest feedback
Latest questions
Advertiser list
Search classifieds
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Events
New events
Donate
My CCF
Toolbox
Mailing Lists
My Shop
Reviews
New items
Latest content
Latest reviews
Latest questions
Brands
Search reviews
Showcase
New items
New comments
Latest content
Latest updates
Latest reviews
Author list
Series list
Search showcase
Log in
Register
Search
Search titles only
By:
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Members
Registered members
Member Map
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Menu
Install the app
Install
Reply to thread
General & Off-Topic
General Vehicle Discussions
1989 FJ1200 “restomod”
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Tourmax" data-source="post: 206405" data-attributes="member: 5304"><p>Just about every vehicle I own eventually ends up under the title “restomod”. I just can’t leave well enough alone, but rather than go crazy building something, I tend to follow the original style/theme of whatever I’m working on and just enhance or refine what is already there. My 1989 FJ1200 is no different....</p><p></p><p>back in 1984, I was still in high school. Being a typical canadian teenager, I was into motorcycles (as well as machines i general). I raced rd350/400’s out at Shubie and in 1983 I had managed to scrape upenough cash to buy a VF750F Interceptor. In 1983, the 750 Honda Interceptor was top of the “wunderbike” pile. It was all conquering. So much so that literbikes had to be worried about that “little” 750.</p><p></p><p>well, that was a great year! I had the big dog on the streets and no one dared mess with it.</p><p></p><p>it was great, until 1984 when Yamaha let loose the FJ1100.</p><p>It immediately dominated the drag strip and the street. It was the top of the heap, period and I wanted one....badly.</p><p></p><p>sadly, it never worked out. I just coukdn’t get the 6+ grand together to buy one, even if I sold the VF. The FJ went on to my bucket list and fadded into my past.</p><p></p><p>fast forward to age 45. Always looking for the next project, I ran across a 1983 Yamaha Venture. Big old touring bike, which I thought would be better for my rapidly declining health. I had to go to PEI to pick it up.</p><p>While browsing PEI kijiji, I ran across an FJ1200. It was old, it was beat and it was 800 bucks! A couple phone calls reveals the Venture and the FJ were only about 20 mins apart. I talk with the missus and she knew how long I’d been vetching for an FJ. She looks at me and says “buy both”.</p><p></p><p>well, I didn’t even stop to question it. That weekend, we hooked up the trailer and off we went. Came hone the next day and:</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]39957[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>the Venture was a 25,000 km one owner bike. Garage kept and pretty much mint for a 1983:</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]39958[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>but the FJ was in sad shape. It had gone through several uncaring owners. The current owner had it stored in a shed that was literally 30 feet from the Atlantic ocean. He took it on trade fron a guy in quebec and it had sat for several years. He wasn’t a bike guy. It looked like this when I picked it up:</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]39959[/ATTACH]</p><p>Pics make it look better than it was. Literally every panel was cracked, battery was stone dead, multiple switches and modules were dead and the paint was, well....lets just say it wasn’t good and leave it at that. But I jump started it and it actually started on the couple year old gas. No smoke and once warmed, it ran and sounded pretty good. The odo said 66,000, but I coukd tell it was probably actually 166,000. Especially since I found an old add from quebec where mileage was listed as 89,000. But, it ran, no smoke, no noises and it sounded healthy.</p><p></p><p>sold! I finally had my FJ!</p><p></p><p>to be continued....</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tourmax, post: 206405, member: 5304"] Just about every vehicle I own eventually ends up under the title “restomod”. I just can’t leave well enough alone, but rather than go crazy building something, I tend to follow the original style/theme of whatever I’m working on and just enhance or refine what is already there. My 1989 FJ1200 is no different.... back in 1984, I was still in high school. Being a typical canadian teenager, I was into motorcycles (as well as machines i general). I raced rd350/400’s out at Shubie and in 1983 I had managed to scrape upenough cash to buy a VF750F Interceptor. In 1983, the 750 Honda Interceptor was top of the “wunderbike” pile. It was all conquering. So much so that literbikes had to be worried about that “little” 750. well, that was a great year! I had the big dog on the streets and no one dared mess with it. it was great, until 1984 when Yamaha let loose the FJ1100. It immediately dominated the drag strip and the street. It was the top of the heap, period and I wanted one....badly. sadly, it never worked out. I just coukdn’t get the 6+ grand together to buy one, even if I sold the VF. The FJ went on to my bucket list and fadded into my past. fast forward to age 45. Always looking for the next project, I ran across a 1983 Yamaha Venture. Big old touring bike, which I thought would be better for my rapidly declining health. I had to go to PEI to pick it up. While browsing PEI kijiji, I ran across an FJ1200. It was old, it was beat and it was 800 bucks! A couple phone calls reveals the Venture and the FJ were only about 20 mins apart. I talk with the missus and she knew how long I’d been vetching for an FJ. She looks at me and says “buy both”. well, I didn’t even stop to question it. That weekend, we hooked up the trailer and off we went. Came hone the next day and: [ATTACH type="full"]39957[/ATTACH] the Venture was a 25,000 km one owner bike. Garage kept and pretty much mint for a 1983: [ATTACH type="full"]39958[/ATTACH] but the FJ was in sad shape. It had gone through several uncaring owners. The current owner had it stored in a shed that was literally 30 feet from the Atlantic ocean. He took it on trade fron a guy in quebec and it had sat for several years. He wasn’t a bike guy. It looked like this when I picked it up: [ATTACH type="full"]39959[/ATTACH] Pics make it look better than it was. Literally every panel was cracked, battery was stone dead, multiple switches and modules were dead and the paint was, well....lets just say it wasn’t good and leave it at that. But I jump started it and it actually started on the couple year old gas. No smoke and once warmed, it ran and sounded pretty good. The odo said 66,000, but I coukd tell it was probably actually 166,000. Especially since I found an old add from quebec where mileage was listed as 89,000. But, it ran, no smoke, no noises and it sounded healthy. sold! I finally had my FJ! to be continued.... [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
General & Off-Topic
General Vehicle Discussions
1989 FJ1200 “restomod”
Top
Bottom
You're browsing as a
Guest
. Please register to receive all manner of go-faster benefits on CCF. Click
HERE
to login or register.