DutchFJ1200

The beauty of the FJ1200 is that you have torque on tap accross the range. If you turn your right hand all the way in 4th/5th it will just keep going until you bottle out. By that time you've already left your kidneys and liver where you started That's why you do not have to red-line (or rev the t*ts off) this bike to get going hence the overall engine longevity. 10W40 is good - do give it an oil change at first opportunity. Then you got peace of mind and know where you are. MIND the fekkin sump plug torque because thread in the aluminium sump pan is made of cheese.

Hi Jon, Welcome to the madhouse. I'm sure the anoraks will chime in soon. So where are the pictures of that mint machine ?

Hi Slice, Thanks mate. Got to say that there was very little contamination in the old oil when it gushed out of the pan. Got peace of mind now and will probably suck it out next two changes and kick the plug/pan issue into the long grass. Somehow feel a bit uncomfortable drilling into the pan, swarf and all, and re-tapping or fitting a helicoil. I know my technical limitations and it just wouldn't feel right. Not for me to do anyway lying on the floor of my garage - I'll have a chat with my bike shop next mot and see what they think/quote for sorting it.

Update : Normal service on the low flying machine has been resumed Dropped the new oil yesterday evening. Degreased plug and what remains of the thread in the pan. A small bit of PTFE tape + a copious amount of Blue Loctite 243. To top it orf : encased the plug in Belzona (for the uninitiated : Belzona is a 2 component metal paste that goes off like granite) Weather is too nice to drive around at 50mph with butt clenched wondering if the damn thing is going to make an unscheduled exit Will see in 5000 miles what I'm doing next. Funny ol' world : Grouch can't get the damn thing out - I was afraid it was going to drop out by itself ............ go figuire Carry on !!

Thanks mate, Should have clarified my title better : Nothing wrong with the plug - its the thread in the bottom of the shite aluminium sump it screws into.

Gents, Did a full service myself yesterday : pads/oil/filters-air-oil/brake fluids. Was prepared for a 'stiff' sump plug but to my surprise it was no effort at all. When I pulled the strands of PTFE tape off the plug + the absence of a copper washer alarm bells should have started ringing. (thanks PO or bike shop ) When replacing the plug I had my answer. A quick Google proved that this is a bit of a design fault on the FJ. Many owners have extensive experience with the issue. To little thread in the pan or to high torque settings for the SS plug in the manual. Got 3 options : a)drill & tap one size bigger, b)helicoil. c) glue the damn thing in with loctite and change oil in future taking one of the oil cooler pipes off/glue plug shut and suck oil out (but then you never get to the crud in the bottom of the pan). Being pretty vertically technically challenged option c is the only one realistically open to me. Dropping 3 litres of oil on the tarmac is not desirable. Thoughts ? PS.: Ignorance is bliss : I would have driven that bike to the ends of the world ........ now less so

Valuable tips there Bipp (and others) thanks. Fortunately the riding position on the FJ is fairly comfortable & good wind protection and at the high speeds I'm generally doing there will be no chance of boredom. It's just that the seat is fairly low for my 6ft (lower than my XJ-650) and my legs are in such a position that my toes are always on the pegs with my heels not supported. Hey, I may just stuff a thin cushion in my leathers for added comfyness Note to self : do some squats & sit-ups over the next 2 weeks to loosen the old frame a bit. Now lets hope for decent weather on the 31st.

Gents, I mainly use the FJ for commuting and the fairly short 2hr. jaunt to the Brixham office. Never for cruising or holidays so square butt syndrome never has been that much of an issue. Weather permitting I'm looking at going to Cloggie land to sail in a National Championship in two weeks time and my mate lives in the North so looking at 1050 Km (652 Miles) .......... one way. I'd like to cover distance pretty swiftly without having to stop every 50 yards because my butt is hurting. Putting fuel in the thing is about as much of a stop I'm prepared to make. (maybe the odd fag brake) What tips, hints do you know of to prevent that. Cheers.

Hah :-) I see now that was your post/vid ....... old age kicking in. Expect the unexpected !! Here endeth tha lesson

Case nbr 2 : if you do decide to call a cager a wanker make sure he doesn't pull up next to you at the next junction

Hello Owen Welcome mate. Dunno what speed you were travelling at but you being a young pup I guess you still have a few things to learn : When doing this look 5 cars ahead - even look which way their wheels are pointing. Your second overtaking attempt wasn't smart with oncoming traffic. Never argue with cagers - just ignore and carry on. (ok giving them the birdie will suffice) Cheers! I rest my case :-)

Pffff As for warp 8 today without 'stuck-on' 'bluetacked' speedo's .......................... topped out at 130 on the way back gents. Good ride.

What ..... come again !! looked at this a couple of times and can only see your needle pegged at Zero. So you say that if you're tearing along at warp 7 ....... then you tell the sheriff...... sorry mate my speedo is duff ..........and expect to get away with that ???? Or am I dim and missing a trick here? Off tomorrow to head office in Brixham again .................A30 + A38, here I come............. at warp 8

Although your speedo was duff I had a look myself this afternoon : you're just touching 6K revs tops which translates to a whisker over a ton. Yup! .... too smooth

Me again As per advice from the distinguished gents on this forum IIRC : better to go V-Power i.e. the spensive stuff to avoid deterioration of carburetor seals, thingamabobs/whatchamacallits due to the higher content of ethanol in the cheap stuff. See I know all the expensive words ......... Edit : an FJ don't like 'sitting' in traffic ....... full stop !!!

Welcome to the club How long will it last without proper cooling ? dunno never ever done circles in a carpark :-) See you have an import as well. I have just cracked 100K (Km) and going strong. Second what Slice said, although I still haven't gotten round to signing up to the FJ-club

I would imagine some automotive blue Hylomar sealant would do the trick.

Did you source the part in Germany? Then the closest I get is : http://www.dat.de/home.html DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH This is somesort of Nationwide (Europwide) information portal for the German automotive industry.

Yup, both my bikes imported from Holland (650/250) and now the 1200 from Belgium, prior to mot just tape off the right pointing prism.

Bom Dia, They can have both I think. DOHC simply refers to Double OverHead Camshaft. YICS refers to Yamaha's (for the time) revolutionary Yamaha Induction Control System that most if not all XJ's came with. I can't comment if one came before the other but I'm certain the anoraks will chime in soon Pretty bike btw.

That's a slippery comment ............. get it .... slippery.... lubricate? .... gets coat

http://www.screwfix.com/p/oil-fluid-extractor-6ltr/21663 or http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5l-or-4l-Oil-Fluid-Vacuum-Extractor-Transfer-Pump-Fuel-Water-Extract-Liquid-/130905286752?var=&hash=item1e7a902860:m:m0Ht04cVm2Mu8PzztYq5CKQ

Gentlemen, Gentlemen, It's a bloody film quote. Cloggieland has nothing to do with it.

Y'know, I've noticed an infestation here. Everywhere I look, in fact. Nothing but undeveloped, unevolved, barely conscious pond scum, totally convinced of their own superiority as they scurry about their short, pointless lives. You idiots! You don't get it - I've won! It's over! You're milksuckers! You don't matter! In fact, in just a few seconds you won't even BE matter!