Yamaha FJ1200 FJ 1200 reviews

Great bike - comfortable on long trips and great with a passenger. I added Hepko Becker hard bags and now can travel for work with all I need. The only problem I've run into is a mysterious slow oil leak. It is intermittent and I've had trouble finding the source myself and dealers can't find it either. ABS saved me from crashing once and I'm a believer! Still a great bike, and I've had Harleys, Kawasaki, and a BMW. Show less

Best bike made period. Comfortable Autobahn touring at 150 160 mph for 3 to 4 hours and with no fatigue try that on a R1 or R6 HA! Show less

I purchased my '91 FJ1200 brand new, while living in West Germany. Eight years of riding at autobahn speeds, including time in the Neuburgring & Hochenheim Racetracks, re-affirms -- the FJ is one heck of a bike. All day cruising at 125mph+ (children will fall asleep up to this speed), through all types of weather, makes this a keeper bike regardless of which bike I get next. In August of 2002, I made a second non-stop, 27 hour ride from Salt Lake to St. Louis, followed by a next day departure to Pennsylvania, later Knoxville, TN, then Atlanta, before returning home to Utah. For a total of 11 days and 5300 miles for this round robin. This August, I plan a ride to Alaske via the ALCAN highway. My only desire is to be part of a bike comparo -- my FJ1200 and the new FJR1300 on the same USA round robin of 2002. Any riders up to the task can drop me a line, if you feel up to the task. Ride Safe, Feet up & rubber side down! Michael Show less

I've riden a lot of bikes in the last 30 years,and my Vmax is one I'll never be without. My 98 has a stage 7 kit with K&N's and Supertrapp exhaust, that spells FUN. I never get tired of riding this rocket, it always puts a smile on my face every time I take it out. The torque is unreal! And its truly the hot rod of motorcycles. It has airbrushed flames on the fenders and hood, which makes it as pretty as it is fast. Show less

I love my 1991 FJ1200. Excellent all around bike, and especially good for long rides. I have personally had the bike up to 160 mph, and I feel like I could cruise for a good amount of time at 120 mph with little discomfort. This bike has the Vance & Hines supersport exhaust and jet kit. I love the midrange torque which is great for simply rolling on the throttle for awesome acceleration at highway speeds. Good solid design makes it handle well in the tight twisties as well. My only complaint is that Yamaha doesn't still make something equivalent to it!!!! Show less

I've owned Harleys for the past nine years of my life, ever since I was 16. Loved the style, the comfort, the sound, but was lacking the power and speed I desired. I knew a guy who had one of the fastest, if not the fastest, bike in the area. We ended up trading bikes, a Harley for an '88 V-MaX (since he had two anyway). It was repainted to resemble the '97 silver color, a stage 7 kit with 4 K&N air filters to cover the high mounted individaul Mikuni 35 mm carbs, which are easily diplayed by removing the pseudo-gas tank. A Kerker 4-2-1 pipe (louder than my Harley) that almost blows you over when you stand behind it. I definetly got the speed and power I wanted. The V-max is so fast it almost scares me to open it up. You want to a wheelie? no problem, by the time you touch down you're goin 90. You want to lay a 50 foot blackie? No problem, save your money for new tire though. I haven't had the balls to go top speed, yet. I haven't put it on a dyno but I think it would put out about 120 h.p.(over double of what my Harley had). I would suggest buying a nice used one since they haven't changed in the last 16 years, although the new carbon fiber look is pretty sweet. Show less

Purchased in 97 3yrs faultless running all the power/torque you will ever need comfotable even on all day ride outs only change would be to have a shaftdrive, maybe a new FJ1300? yes please santa! Show less

Two years ago when I decided to retire my '83 CB1100F I went looking for a new bike. Maybe a Harleyna, didn't want a cruiser. Maybe a crotch rocketna, I didn't seem to balance out until about 90 m.p.h. I didn't care for the Bandit and the ZRX1100 was not available. So by default more than anything else I figured I might as well try one of these V-Max things. After all, 80's technology had worked for me for the last 15 years ... why not the next 15? So went out and bought a new '98 VMX12. Babied it for about the first 600 miles. Started easing up the tach ever so carefully, another 1000 RPM with each 100 miles. At a 1000 miles I changed the oil and gave her HELL! Holy moly! What a motor! I mean this thing hauled butt like NOTHING I had ever ridden before! Unfortunately for me, that is about all it did. Now, two years later, I've added a backrest for my friends (keeps em from falling off), a Corbin seat for my butt, hindle exhaust for my ears and image, a superbike brace and progressive suspension pieces front and rear for the twisties. Now I can honestly say ... What A Bike!!! It truly is something special. Show less

I've owned nearly fifteen motorcycles, and my last two have been VMAXs. Once rejetted and fit with Kerker slip-ons, the sheer power and torque is simply unbeatable. Even in the turns, I like how its weight is slung low enough to flick it around as if it weighed a hundred pounds less. Although I've enjoyed some success in the amateur circuit on various GSXRs and YZs, for street riding there is no other bike I would have than Mr. Max. It is simply a bike that can't be read about, it must be ridden. The smiles will never stop. Show less

I've had 5 bikes and this one is by far the most fun to ride! There's nothing like doing a 35-40 mph rolling burnie... It's comfortable and POWERFULL!!! Let's not forget V-Boost either. Let the tach hit 6000rpm and get ready to really hold on. I know I'm going to hold on to this bike for a good long while. Show less