Yamaha Motorcycles
FJ 1100 1200 – Fazer – Radian – Vision – GTS
My first motorcycle was a Yamaha. My last motorcycle was a Yamaha. Is there a theme?
I’ve owned and ridden RX50, FZX700 Fazer, and V-Max. If you’ve not had the pleasure, a Yamaha Fazer is one of the most satisfying motorcycle experiences you’ll have. And, despite its killer horsepower, I wouldn’t recommend a V-max. Owning a V-max is like dating a supermodel; you’ll impress all who know you, but living with one day-to-day is hard to take.
Try a Fazer, instead
Pee-Lenty of power, very unique looks and styling, an engine snarl that sounds like a monster waking up angry. She’s hot, and is so very easy to live with. The Fazer was endowed with one of the most advanced engines of the time – the Genesis 4 cylinder, 5 valves per cylinder liquid-cooled 700cc engine. Gang, that engine can climb walls. It had power everywhere on the dial, but it’s top end was truly fun. But, despite the relative complexity of the engine, I’ve learned that the Fazer top end will go close to one hundred thousand miles before developing any ailments a mechanic’s attention would need.
The FZX700 Fazer was on the US’s Yamaha dealership floors for two scant years, 1986 and ‘87 (other countries had many sizes of Fazers after we did.) The ‘87 model, in my opinion, is what killed the bike – every gold detail on the 86 turned blah gray, and the chrome parts on the ‘86 turned flat black. The Fazer is a highly collectible, highly sought after bike with deranged, loving fans like me. Good specimens will run about two grand, but pristine versions may get $4000. I’ve owned two Fazers, and I’d love to get a third. (My second one in 2000 – I sold it about a year later for a ‘88 Goldwing when my then-new bride gave me the impression she’d like to be a passenger with me on a touring bike. ) I don’t miss the Nighthawk 650, Ninja 500, CBR1000 or Goldwing a fraction of the amount that I miss my first Fazer.
Fazer’s aren’t available in copious quantity as, say, Nighthawk 650s. Here’s what’s available right this instant nationwide on eBay. And if you are familiar with a Fazer and want one, crossing some state lines to fetch a fine one is a labor of love.
Yamaha FJ1100 – FJ1200
- Years Available: 1984-1994
- Pros: Super do-it-all big bore sport/sport tourer, very comfortable. ABS available as an option in the later years’ models.
- Cons: Not quite the best performing supersport cycle. Got heavy in the later model years.
- Estimated Price Range: $2,000 – $4,500 ($4,999 New in 1984)
6.5 gallon gas tank, 4 carbs, 4 valves per cylinder, air cooled, transverse 4 cylinder engine. Dual disk brakes front, single disk brake rear, 571 pounds with full tank of gas, 102 horsepower.
Another solid motorcycle from Yamaha with a decades’-long record is the FJ. Introduced in 1984 as the FJ1100, it wasn’t without its imperfections. Just a year later, however, the slightly redesigned FJ for 1985 showed up.
Think back to 1984, those of you who were alive then. What mid-and large-displacement sport bikes did Yamaha claim? The Seca? Yawn… Yamaha’s outlook and future totally turned for the brighter in 1984, I say, due chiefly to the introduction of the FJ 1100 (the FJ600 introduced that same year, is relatively forgotten.)
For Yamaha’s first shot on the large bore sport bike category, they nearly scored a direct hit right off. Cycle magazine called the FJ engine a “steady, stable, reassuring platform” and relatively plush comfort for long-haul sport touring. The FJ pleased nearly everyone. Cycle magazine went on to say that for 1984 there wasn’t really a wrong choice between the FJ1100 and Honda’s Interceptor 1000. Either bike was a better motorcycle than 99% of its riders.
In 1985 the FJ 1100 got a cosmetic change and corrected some of the little nits here and there from the ‘84 version. In 1986, the FJ became a 1200cc cycle, and would remain so through 1994 when the FJ was discontinued.
Instrumentation was entirely uninspired and boring. The instrument cluster could’ve been taken from the econo-box Plymouth Horizon’s dashboard . The fuel gauge suffered from inaccuracy as well as ugliness.
My only test ride of an FJ was of a 1993 model a few years ago. It gave a very comfortable, roomy ride, unlike the CBR1000F I owned previously. Nor was the FJ sedate. Its original sport DNA was but just under the surface. “Come on, let’s take some curves!” it whispered to me. As it turns out, the FJ makes a better sport tourer than full-on supersport. The engines are simple in design so maintenance isn’t too tough (or expensive.) The rule of thumb is that larger size engines can tolerate heat and stresses better than smaller displacement engines can. If you’re looking for a good FJ1100 FJ 1200 disregard the models with jet kits or performance exhausts and look for ones outfitted as sport tourers.
In the new millennium, Yamaha re-released the FJ as the FJR1300. Knowing that an excellent example is worth a long drive to bring home, let’s see the current FJ1100 / FJ1200 offerings from eBay:
Yamaha Radian 600
Another member of The Class of 1986 from Yamaha was the Radian. A 600cc standard sporty bike that was created from existing stock and tools. The engine of the Radian owes much to the 550 Maxim (a very solid bike) and FJ600 (two year production.) The price new in 1986 for the Radian was a paltry $2,399. For your $2,399 you got a capable do-all midbore sporty standard, but nothing spectacular. Indeed, the engine’s cylinders have only 2 valves per. Compare that to the Fazer’s 5 vales per cylinder. 4 cylinders are fed by 4 carbs. Its 0-60 acceleration was 3.7 seconds, doing a quarter-mile run just under 106 mph in 12.5 seconds. Definitely fast enough for the masses. The Radian got some other styling finishing from the Fazer, its instrument cluster, grabrail, tail-and head-light and blinkers. The reviewers in Cycle magazine (June 1986) said of the Radian:
“The Radian’s light weight, short wheelbase and moderate geometry combined with a 16-inch front wheel all make it a joy to ride briskly.”
Here are the Yamaha Radians available right now on eBay:
Yamaha Vision
The Yamaha Vision’s – vision – began in the late 70’s. Yamaha pulled no punches in the early R & D of the soon-to-be Vision. It’s brief lifespan was unfortunate, because it was very ahead of its time and incorporated many cutting edge components and thinking.
Any online writer, such as myself, engaging in a discussion of the oft-understood Yamaha Vision isn’t worth their salt without referring the Reader to the great website of unending resources RidersOfVision.net. The Vision enjoys worldwide love from many happy riders and owners, and if you choose to get more information about the Vision, you should visit their page.
Released in 1982, sales were less-than-stellar, owing partially to a then-hefty new pricetag of $2849, $100 more than the next expensive class member, the venerable Kawasaki GPz 550. In a multi-bike comparison article in Cycle World, August 1982, the riders/journalists and came in fourth out of four bikes in five categories… if anything, the Vision ‘may have suffered just a bit from lack of definition.’ Which doesn’t detract from the motorcycle one iota, if you realize that the Vision was being rated at the racetrack against strict sportbikes. The ‘82 Vision had ‘a wonderful engine with gobs of midrange, plenty of peak power, and on the highway has room and comfort for two.’ Rest assured, the 1983 Vision would have some issues fixed, come back as a full-faired sport tourer, and be reborn as a fantastic overall bike…even if there really wasn’t anything wrong with the ‘82 model.
Yamaha GTS
Yamaha introduced one of the most technologically advanced motorcycles in the mid 90’s. In the GTS we had one of the first commercially available swingarm front suspension bikes. No front forks. Its engine was a 1000cc Genesis 5-valves per engine mill. Because these bikes are so rare, the nationwide eBay search below will also show GTS parts also:
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