From: keller@hubble.ifa.hawaii.edu (Tim Keller)
Subject: Sometimes you get lucky 
Organization: Institute for Astronomy, Hawaii
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 00:23:43 GMT

	Yesterday morning while I was sitting under the covered portion of my
condo parking upper deck waiting for the rain to stop (I know, *real* bikers
ride regardless of rain) the resident manager came up to me and we started
talking. He looks at my rat bike and comments how nice it appears to be
and that he never had the nerve to start riding etc.. Anyway, he mentions that
there is this *really* nice bike downstairs (underground parking) that has been
sitting there for about 4 years abandoned. Says it used to belong to this
hooker's boyfriend or something and they/she moved out some time ago and just
left the bike.
	So I'm thinking this is probably a 1971 250 that will fall into a rust
pile the minute you move it (based upon his comments regarding my rat bike as
being nice). I figure I've got another 10 minutes before the rain stops and
might as well go and take a look....
	Well, it's in the far corner of the garage under a sloping concrete
ceiling (drive way above). Looks like it's in the dark, dank recess of the
parking structure where no one wants to go late at night. As I approach I can
make out a red and white fairing with a large seat and a semi-sportbike style.
I walk around to the other side of the bike and see that the fairing is 
and body work has no scratches, including the tail lights and the mirrors.
I look and see that someone tried to hotwire the bike at some point because the
ignition is "screwdrivered" to death and the wires are hanging off to one side.
The seat lock has been broken and the seat will lift up. The instrument panel
shows an odometer with a reading of 10,583 miles as well as a tach, fuel gage,
oil light etc., all in perfect shape.
	I look at the shift and clutch levers, and they are fine, however, there
is no fluid in the clutch reservoir. It has a Vance & Hines 4 -> 1 exhaust 
and various stickers on the body work like Castrol and V&H. The rear pegs have
been set back from the apparanct stock positions. I look down and see Showa
forks with dual disk brackes up front.
	I still can't believe how good the condition is for having set for
4 years (registration expired in july 1988). As I look at the tank from the
side I see the letters FJ1100.
	Holy shit! someone has abandoned a 1984 FJ100 with 10,000 miles on it!
So I call the police and find out that it has not been reported stolen and h
is not registered. A local salvage shop does mechanics leans for about $140,
and according to everone I've talked to the previous owner just left it there.
	So it looks like I'm going to own a FJ1100 for $140 and whatever it 
takes to get it running. I have to make sure that it wasn't thrashed and left
for dead, but even the cost of a rebuild is less than trying to buy one.
	I have to bleed the brakes and clutch, change the oil, get a battery,
check the compression, and try to start it.
	For anyone who's read this far I will keep you posted as to the rebuild,
and anyone with info on where to find parts as well as problems with that
particular bike will be greatly appreciated.
I still can't believe it!