Yam FJ1100 vs. Kaw GPz1100
tim
If anyone has any experience with either, or both, I'd like to know
what the good and bad points are. There's two for sale that I'm
interested in. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.
Tim
Nicole Lewis
It depends upon what you are looking for. The FJ is known as a classic sport
tourer. The Gpz 1100 is a torque monster - muscle sportbike, precursors to
the modern day Ninja's and ZX's. Both bikes have great reputations for being
bomb-proof.
Nicole
"tim" <qonf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Pierre
reprint re the FJ1100....it wasn't a classic sport tourer in 84,
more like King of the Superbikes, but it has aged quite
gracefully!!!
Pierre
92FJ1200
Ottawa, Canada
Sidebar: From The FJ Files
TRACE THE FJR1300S SPIRITUAL LINEAGE AND IT LEADS TO ONE
MACHINE:
the Yamaha FJ1100, which first appeared in 1984. For those of
you who were snot-nosed little sprouts sipping hot cocoa in your
jammies and watching The A-Team back in'84, allow me to bring
you up to speed.
The era was a major turning point in the world of motorcycling.
The old-world unfaired "standard" bikes were giving way to
sporting-oriented machines with partial and even full bodywork.
(How exotic is that?!) Modem superbikes were emerging at a
rapid-fire pace, to the point where just about every month
Motorcydist trumpeted a new allconquering ultimate superbike and
suggested everything introduced even as recently as the previous
month wasn't fit for a toxic-waste dump. (Maybe things haven't
changed quite so much after all.)
Yamaha's completely new FJ1100 was the last one to the party
that year, but it arrived with some cool hardware. Its steel
frame was one of the first perimeter layouts to reach
production, and it sported a pleasingly plump 150/80V16 rear
tire to lay down something in the neighborhood of 125
horsepower. The FJ faced off against five other Japanese
machines for the superbike crown in an enormous comparison test
that took the Motorcydist staff all over Califomia in pursuit of
a clear-cut winner. It was an excruciatingly close
hair-splitting battle that fell in favor of the FJ over the
Kawasaki Ninja 900. It's a choice we're still
bickering about even today, anytime Motorcyclist alumni gather
to knock back a few ice-cold Ensures.
Although it didn't win any of our measured performance tests,
including
racetrack lapping and top speed, the Yamaha still eked out the
overall win in '84 by virtue of its versatility and overall
goodness. Its air-cooled four-valve inline-four engine was fat
with midrange power and had great throttle response and
smoothness. Overall comfort was good, too, with decent
turbulencefree wind protection and a reasonable sport-touring
control layout. The FJ1100 was a formidable sporting mount,
though it couldn't match the Ninja 900's lap times or flickable
fun on mountain roads. In all, the staff consensus was Yamaha
won by a nose.
The FJ's reign as King of the Superbikes was short-lived, as far
more sporting machines (like the'85 Suzuki GSX-R1100) came along
and left the FJ looking thick around the middle by comparison.
Maybe that's just as well, because the FJ was always better as a
sport-tourer than an all-out sportbike anyway. The FJ1100 (and
the FJ1200 that followed it) aged gracefully, and over the years
built a loyal following. -Jeff Karr
"Nicole Lewis" <ntlewi...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
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Pierre
Bike 1/4 mile time @ speed Top speed
Yamaha FJ1100 10.681 @ 125.34 145.9550
Kawasaki GPZ1100 11.016 @ 120.80 138.4615
Also as an indication of popularity/longivity/value/etc, I
suggest you look at the newsgroups and websites that concentrate
on the bike of your choice. I know there are a large number of
FJ enthusuasts with detailed tech and FAQ knowledge on the bike
as well as numerous mods available to bring the bike up to near
modern standards. Check out this list for example.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yamahafj/messages and this site as
two of many...
http://users.erinet.com/27734/Main_Page.htm
Also if you buy that 84FJ, you can come to the Boone NC spring
rally with me in May 03. Check my web site below under Boone
rally for pictures of the crew/bikes assembled there this year.
(ok ok buy the damn gpz... see if I care)
--
Pierre
92FJ1200
Ottawa, Canada
Tom B
I sneaked a peak at the mechanics write up, while the guy was getting the
paperwork for it , he tried to hide the underlined writing that said " too
expensive...not worth fixing" This in addition to the obvious stuff, ie
seized rear mono shock, cracks tears etc. For 500.00 it would be worth it,
but not for what they were asking.IMHO
Tom B
KOTD(Knob of the Day) pics here !!
http://pages.sprint.ca/KNOBS
Bike stuff
http://pages.sprint.ca/TomsBikeStuff/BikeStuff.html
"tim" <qonf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Old Bike Parts
Ryan
Chris
> There is also the evil first generation fuel injection system that they had.
>
> Ryan
>
believe. Mine certainly doesn't have it and it's an '84.
Chris
Old Bike Parts
Ryan
DDF
DDF
"Old Bike Parts" <oldbik...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
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DDF
ground hard parts on it. Its no sport bike, and its poor
ground clearance made it dangerous at 9/10ths.
The clearance wasn't a maintenance thing, it was well taken
care of, it was just the design. It also steered strangely.
Its not neutral, it likes to oversteer into the corner then
understeer when in it. You'd be stretching the definition
to call it a sport tourer. Its sport if sport to you means not
leaning over much. Fast in a straight line though, lots of pull.
The gas caps on them are also notorious
for vapour locking and stalling the bike. It kept stranding me on
the Queensway till I figured that out. Also weighed a ton,
vibrated and kept cracking fairing parts. Damn thing drove me nuts.
Just my opinion, I know guys that obsess over them.
Can't comment on the GeepeeZee.
DDF
"tim" <qonf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Zeek
http://www.mcnews.com/mcnews/articles/fj100.htm
Zeek
qonf...@hotmail.com (tim) wrote in message news:<ac2363eb.02120...@posting.google.com>...
Craig Jackman
Both are air cooled 1000cc-ish fours. The FJ will last forever if it's
not been badly overheated. There are lots of FJ websites out there that
will tell you want to look for. There are lots of accessories for the FJ
series still available too. The GPz didn't last long, but air cooled
Kawi's also last forever. Look at them both, buy whatever is nicer or
cheaper as theya re close enough to be a coin flip. I might lean towards
the FJ though just for the durability.
--
Craig Jackman - Audio Production and Sound Design
Multi-award winning Creative Production, Station Imaging, Comedy, Voices
"Pride is the attitude that separates excellence from mediocrity!"
cra...@canada.com Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
tim
Thanks for the headsup!!!!!! I'll reconsider those bikes now!
-Tim
Robin Sagriff
magazines that I had. I can try to find them, but just
off the top of my head, I think the FJ was stronger in
a straight line, with more grunt. The GPz had better
handling in the corners. Both had similar riding positions.
And both are deemed bulletproof if you keep oil in them.
If the GPz has anti-dive units on the front forks (and I think it does -
my 750 does) check to see if they still work - they tend to stop working
after a decade or so... Also, check that rear mono
isn't seized.
Not too sure if the FJ had anti-dive units on it's front forks.
In my opinion, I'm not sure I'd be interested in an almost
20 year motorcycle. If you weren't the long-time owner -
you never know what secrets are lurking...and you only
have two wheels - you don't want a bad surprise at
high-speed someday. Now, if you're buying out of
sentimental reasons or you want a 'labour of love' project
or something like that - go for it.
Otherwise, get a bit more cash together and get a mid-90s
bike.
Just my opinion, even if it isn't worth much. :-)
...Robin