My 1987 FZR 1000 came as a suprise.
I had flown out to Seattle to drive down to the US GP at Laguna with my friend Toren. Our original plan was to drive down to Laguna in the car and then right back to Seattle.
However when we got to his house afterthe long flight out to Seattle he showed me his new 1990 FZR1000 and said that he had sold his1987 FZR to a guy who was now trying to sell it.
A few hours and some phone calls later we made a deal and the 7 day vacation turned into a month long trip to Laguna and an adventure ride around California. Bottom line this was a very last minute deal and for sure Toren gets all of the credit. He made it happen.
Toren had kept the bike in immaculate condition and the guy who bought it barely rode it so it was in mint shape when we picked it up.
I kept it for a few years (in Seattle) and used to yearly to go to Laguna with Toren before selling to a kid in Alsaka.
This was a cool bike being that it was a break through for Yamaha in liter bike technology.
I never changed anything on this bike. Toren had polished the frame (you remember that era where Rob Muzzy had everyone doing it). and had installed a Dyno Jet kit, a Daytona steering damper and Russell stainless steel brake lines with Ferodo pads. Other than that it was pretty stock.
I guess I probably rode 6,000 miles on it over the time I owned it and the trip around California made it a worth while purchase. The brakes were horrible, rotors warped but all in all it got me back into sportbikes after a 2 year hiatus.
I visited Toren a few years ago and he has since traded bicycling for sportbike riding. His 1990 FZR1000 sat in the garage for a long while before he finally sold it.
While I was at his house he offered to let me ride while I was there, However after all of the years we rode together It just would not be the same riding alone.
