Yamaha FJ1200 Review (1986-1988) - Sound, Specs, Acceleration - The Ultimate Air-Cooled Sportbike!

Comments · 335

• BI

  @bigmanmoto9897 · 3 years ago

  A beautiful unmolested example.  Great to see the original exhaust still in place.  It was classy looking when it came out and is still classy looking now.

  25

• FL

  @flexjay87 · 3 years ago

  Something that kids do not understand about old Big Bore bikes from back in the day, is the torque, compared to a high revving crotch rocket . This Yamaha is a nice example !

  41

• FE

  @feralmale1517 · 2 years ago

  The FJ was a beast.

  8

• HU

  @hughellis9169 · 3 years ago (edited)

  Back in the early 1990s I had a midnight blue '87 one, bought it second hand with just 1,500 miles. Put micron power silencers on it with 6 holes I drilled into the end baffle plate, it sounded fantastic! 160mph on motorways still with throttle left, 100mph wheelie in 3rd gear once! Raced a Yamaha FZR 1000 away from traffic lights and left him in my rear view mirrors, he was really trying by the sound of his bike! Really miss that bike, so comfortable, so nice looking, so fast with good handling, great stability, and breaking. The engine is bullet proof, air cooled performance rocks.

  18

• TI

  @timwoodford2097 · 2 years ago (edited)

  While looking for a decent FJ1100 to go with the 1984 FJ600 I already had, I ran across a 1986 FJ1200. The bike had 9,000 miles on it 2 years ago. Currently has 16,000 miles on it, “yes I ride”. Was parked for 18 years in a heated garage due to a slipping clutch. Picked her up and went through it top to bottom. Classic and classy not to mention tough looking. Rides great and has torque for days! I still need that 84 FJ1100 to complete the FJ collection. The search continues!

  12

• LE

  @leviefrauim1425 · 3 years ago (edited)

  Truly, one of the timeless classics of that generation of motorcycles. Still sounds fantastic too. Great review and ride- thanks for sharing!<br><br>Love to see you get your hands on an original GPZ Ninja 900. I lusted after that bike. Altho considered a sport bike back then, it&apos;d be classified as an ST by today&apos;s standards.

  8

• 12

  @125southernnh2 · 3 years ago

  Mine had over 120k on it when I bought it with a crispy second gear. Still loved it. Rode like a freight train on the highway.

  10

• LO

  @lovetoflylovetofly3843 · 2 years ago

  Oh how I love the FJ11 and 12. If only it was shaft drive. I owned it&apos;s brother, the XJ1100, a 1982. Yamaha did well with suspension and ok on brakes with it. Always seemed to handle and ride better with heavier weight oils in the front forks. I really wanted an FJ, but couldn&apos;t find one at the time for the right price. The XJ only had &nbsp;4,000 miles on it, and that was 1994. After rebuilding the carbs from sitting, it was an amazing motorcycle for the next 59,000 miles. I sold it to my brother years ago, and he still has it. I have a 2014 FJR1300 now, what an awesome machine! Thanks for sharing your great bikes with us. Keep it up!

  6

• LA

  @laurenceconstable7618 · 11 months ago

  Rode this bike (an &apos;86 even) from Burlington, VT, to San Francisco over 2+ months in the mid-90s. It was smooth, reliable, extremely fast, and very comfortable loaded with more gear than I ever expected to carry (camping, etc.). After a winter in storage in CA - while I tied up loose ends back in VT - I returned and made it my primary wheels over two years of city/highway riding around the Bay Area. It never let me down. I won&apos;t forget the first time I opened it up and heard the roar of that engine!

  2

• TH

  @ThisIsJGlenn · 2 years ago

  I just love the styling of the 80s japanese bikes....

  5

• MR

  @MrJoeblofromidaho · 2 years ago

  I had one exactly like that. &nbsp;Such a beautiful machine.

  7

• RO

  @Roger_Ramjet · 2 years ago

  Absolutely fantastic review. Subbed. @60 years old I remember these like it was yesterday.... cheers!

  8