Will This 37 Year Old Motorcycle Run & Get Me Home? 

This channel gets better and better. I think it's the best motorcycle content on RU-vid now.

If not for the rusty tank, I would have thought that the guy took a running bike apart just so Craig could come in and put it back together! 😂

Hey Craig, I know it was a sponsored message for Better Help, but the sincerity and words of your message was amazing. It has prompted me to reach out to a couple of my friends who are doing it a bit tough at the moment. Thanks, bud, and all the best for you and yours during the holiday season.

Thanks for making mental health and wellness part of the conversation this morning. What a great channel you are building!! big fan

This reminds me of the fairly new lawnmower my buddy gave me. He said that if I could get it started, I could have it. Took it home, checked the air filter and spark plug, checked the oil. Everything looked fine. Put gas in it, pulled 2 times, and it started. I called him to tell him and I asked him "did you ever make sure it had gas when you couldn't get it started". He swears that he did, but he was fine with me keeping it. That was 6 years ago and it's still going strong.

It's always fun seeing the obvious enjoyment you get out of doing these. Love the old bikes seeing new life.

My Suzuki Bandit had been sitting for 7 years when I got it, me and my dad took it to bits, rebuilt it and it’s like riding a brand new bike even though it’s 27 years old, plus made some great memories working on it so I’ll never get rid of it, it’ll probably never be worth much money but that bike means more to me than money.

Craig, the kind of man you can have a in depth technical conversation about cool things. And yet care about mental health, I am a disabled veteran who just started riding again literally months ago and it is because of you and the bikes and beards channel. I left my PTSD on the back burner for a long time and I paid the price for that, now I am in a far better spot and honestly riding and working on motorcycles is a form of therapy for me regardless of how frustrated I might get, and I am always excited to learn something new.

I just wanna say, Craig's betterhelp ad was the most touching and genuine mental health PSA I've ever seen. Every other creator very obviously reads a script but this one felt like he was speaking from the heart. My respects, Craig, hope you are alright.

Awesome deal Craig!! I love the FJ's!! I've personally had four FJ-Series motorcycles - a 1984 FJ600, a 1984 FJ1100, an '87 FJ1200, and a 2005 FJR1300. They are fantastic bikes!! Super comfortable (even with the stock seat!!), very reliable, great handling, and ridiculously fast for their time. The biggest downfall of the early models is the 16" front tire and tiny, 2-piston front brake calipers on tiny rotors. There are only a couple of tire manufacturers that make rubber for those things. The brakes were acceptable for the era but compared to modern brakes, I think Groms have better stopping power...🙄🙄 In 1988 they switched to 17" wheels from the factory which really helped - a LOT! They also upgraded the brakes to the 4-piston calipers with 320mm rotors from the FZR1000. I believe his Blue one is 1992 ABS model. Very rare these days!! The biggest mistake you made with this attempt was trying to wash that tank with water. If you had just flushed the tank with some fresh fuel and synched the carbs, you probably could have rode it home. The only ergonomic downside to the FJs was the handlebar buzz. They put huge bar-end weights to temper the buzz, and it helped tremendously, but after a couple hours of continuous highway, your hands start having off-body experiences... Mechanically, they are rock solid powertrains except for 2nd gear. It was a little weak and many people who drag-raced them would blow out 2nd gear. A little machining (undercutting) would do the trick but it required the engine to be pulled and cases split. The demise of these bikes turned out to be the automotive racing world...The Legends cars racing series was born in 1992. They are 5/8th scale '34 Ford styled, tubular framed cars using the FJ1200, XJ1250, and FZ09 engines. Many FJ1200's were removed from the roads to power these race cars, hence there is a distinct shortage of these bikes on the roadways. Great video!! Great bike!! Love the channel!!!

Last night I just got a free 1986 rebel 450 that has been sitting outside since 1998 . I am quite confident it will not be this easy ! Love this channel !

I don't get why this channel doesn't already have 1M+ subscribers, It's on my top 3 favourite motorcycle channels with F9 and RevZilla. Let's go Craig and team keep up this good quality content

I upjetted a friend’s FJ1200 for pod filters. An M3 washer under each needle clip and a 10% main jet increase. It flew! I wasn’t expecting to get it right, first time. Strangely, I did! Which was good.

This channel has grown so much and I truly hope it just continues to do so. Craig is so deserving of this, and his videos never disappoint! Congratulations on the 200K subscribers! Can’t wait to see you hit 1M!

Craig - I've never gotten choked up by a RU-vid sponsor promo before. I've struggled with depression, anxiety and worse my entire adult life. There is no cure for depression, but there is successful treatment. I'm living proof. Treatment for mental health issues begins with therapy, no matter how simple it may be. Particularly for men, we must normalize talking about mental health issues. In fact, we must normalize just talking about talking about men's mental health. Your sponsor BetterHelp will aid in that, to be sure. I've enjoyed your content since you started this channel, and you are my favorite part of the other one. Thank you for your honesty, insight, humor and knowledge.

Your channel is by far my favourite of all to watch Craig.

Craig/Dan, I am loving this channel more and more every episode. I am learning a lot with every repair and patch job. And, as someone form your area once upon a time I have all the nostalgia feels. The comradery and the joy you take in every bike is inspiring and wonderful to watch. And on a final note, having Better Help as your sponsor this episode is great. As someone who battles with bipolar/manic depressive condition, it is amazing to see such good people letting others know that there is help out there. Keep up the great work, the great show, and keep on riding!

A man after my own heart. After 40 years of riding motorcycles, I’ve totally seen the light with Yamaha especially these days. Currently on a 2023MT 10 and I could not be happier. Yamaha in my opinion is just killing it these days but my God, you found a diamond in the rough, beautiful, old-school Yamaha!

The fact you have chosen betterhelp and your message in this video speaks immensely about you and your character big respect and I'm so greattful for your videos and content! Keep up the great work!

I'm sure you probably already know this trick but apple cider vinegar works great to clean out tanks. Just be sure to dilute the tank with distilled water to neutralize the acid from the vinegar. I've used this method combined with KBS tank sealer kit on tanks far worse than that FJ and had them looking like new. Any who love the channel man keep up the great work! Us Craig's have to stick together

Other side of the pond here and a former motorcycle magazine journo. Certainly the best bike channel out there. This is what serious petrol heads care about. Not banal road 'tests' and knee-down hero shots. It's all about the garage and the spanners! ('wrenches"😂)

Thanks for being real with your own struggles, brother! I love this channel and look forward to each new video.

Craig you need to get yourself a 5 gallon bucket of evapo rust. It works amazing on rusty tanks and it’s reusable

One of the best, if not the best motorcycle channel on YT. Massive Kudos on the Better Help ad. To many men today need help and are afraid to reach out. Thanks for the transparency!

This channel is som entertaining and yet informative. Thank you for existing. Greetings from a Portuguese in the netherlands.

It was cool seeing it finally take off after a bit of hassle. Heavily Smokey though… I look forward to the next episode when you finish fixing it right, since it died again.

Ahhh man, right in the middle of the video you hit me with the feels man

Needed this for some motivation, these videos are amazing keep it up I’m really loving the way your explanations are in detail. Much love ❤️

We need more videos! I watch anything man this is so friggin good! For cars I got junkyard digs and for bikes I got this legend. Really good ngl

Craig, I really hope you can continue to produce content. The combination of your sense of humor and mechanical know how make your videos number one in my book.

Right on Craig! Get people talking about things, the first step to a better day. Love from UK!

I dont ever sit through ads, but when you started better help, I got teary eyed. I lost my mother this year and Christmas is hard for me and my family. I don’t need to talk to a therapist but it was nice to hear you relate. You and Sean are such great people. Merry Christmas.

Thank you again so much for another Yamaha revival video Caig ! As a huge Yamaha fanboy myself its good to see another one back on the road ! Keep em comming Craig and God bless you and America ! Greetings from Holland. 🙏🏻❤️🏍🫡🇺🇲

I do like those old FJs. Did you know Steve Parrish entered one (almost as a joke) in the 1984 750cc + production TT? Despite spending much of the time beeping his horn for the spectators, he actually finished fourth with a lap speed of over 103mph 😲

Is it just me that noticed the inside out jumper🤣 Absolutely love your work I find much inspiration watching you❤️

Good stuff- I just got two bikes that had been sitting for about 10 years going last night. You’re inspiring :)

Another GREAT video! Man Craig I want to thank you for what you do!! Your not only fixing a lot of old bikes and putting them back on the road but you’re really a FANTASTIC teacher! I learn so much from every video!! Carbs have always thrown me off, on a single carb I’m golden but add 1,2 or 3 more and I’m clueless on syncing them, or should say I WAS! Now i got a little better understanding of how to do it thanks to you and your channel!! God Bless my brother!!

So happy that your channel is doing so well Craig! I started watching B & B and I'm not knocking anyone from that camp in saying that you were the life of that channel for me personally. I still follow Sean and support his channel but, in my opinion, your content far surpasses what he's been doing. Thanks for keeping us entertained and I look forward to seeing what's next! 💙🏍️💙

I have a 1985 FJ1100 sitting in my shop, traded it for a KLR650. Always loved the FJ, this video has inspired me to get it running! Thanks Craig

Craig I love the therapy thing in this video and u are my idol on how u love working on older bikes and showing the average guy how to fix them

Dude right before you said that everyone says you remind them of vice grip, 1000% i thought that your just like derek cause you say, ill be dipped, just as he does, which is cool.....i live what you do way more cause im a bike guy a million% over vehicles....lol. Keep up the outstanding work with the channel man, always a thumbs up...

I love all the videos you make since bikes and beards. Keep up the good work Craig and Dan.

Hi Craig, kudos for shining a light on mental health, having had poor mental health on and off since being in Gulf War 1 (Desert Storm) (Royal Navy) I find and feel that unfortunately there are still a lot of (mostly) men that feel it’s not the done thing to talk about feelings and finding themselves in that dark place. Keep bringing good mental health to the fore.

Can I just say that I have learned so much from you. I never got exposure to engines when I was young. They always seemed too complicated. But for every video I watch that you put out, not only do I have fun watching you guys, but I genuinely learn something new every time. You’re slowly demystifying gas engines.

You made me start buying old bike and fix them up. Nothing better than hearing a forgotten gem purr again

Was there in 2008, marriage broke down, brother had taken his life and was close to ending it all myself. Got help and found God and life changed completely around. Never be afraid to get help. Love your channel as much as Sean’s .

You da man Craig!!! Awesome job as always. Keep grinding homie

Craig!! The best most honest genuine “better help” add I’ve seen so sincere!! Much love Craig

Thank you for the message with your sponsor. I am tired of people seriously trying to say motorcycling is a replacement for proper therapy. Bikes dont fix mental health issues, if they did I wouldnt have a therapist.

I worked at a bike shop in Bristol (the original one ) and in the 4years on the parts counter in the 1990s I only sold a few service items for this model .the hydraulic clutch slave cylinder was a week spot and for some reason the rear wheel bearings (don't know why) I had customers who used these for work dispatch riders who deliver important documents usually legal papers and some of them ran up over 100k with no problems.brilliant bike 👍 👍

When I was working in the “Bush”, we always put a couple of cup fulls of “Methylated Spirits” in a tank of gas - it mixes with the water and burns with the gas.

I have cleaned loose pieces from (empty and dry) tanks by removing the petcock and blowing compressed air in the petcock hole of the tank while at the same time as blowing the air putting a shop vac on the fill hole. You will hear the rust and dirt pieces bouncing around and getting sucked out then eventually you wont hear any more loose rust pieces in the tank. Make sure the tank doesn’t have any gas in it and is dry. I sit them open in the sun outside of my shop for a couple days to make sure they dry out fully.

Finally, a famous RU-vid motor head has featured my favorite sport touring motor cycle of all time! Thanks Craig! I have a 86 fj1200! If you aren’t familiar with these bikes, I like to let you know they are capable of 100k trouble free miles and the torque is there for days!

Rusty, cruddy gas tanks are so predicible in your line of work that I think a tank tumbler would be a requirement in your endeavors 🙂

My first and only motorcycle was an 86 FJ1100 so this hits me in the feels

Craig,I’ve watched a few of your videos on getting these older bikes running. I’m impressed with your explanation of the issues on these bikes and how you go about trying to fix them. Great videos mate 👍🏾🇦🇺

Because of your videos I’m genuinely considering a old bike as a backup for commuting to work.

Since I started watching this channel I’ve thought that Craig and Derek would be hilarious together. Y’all should put something together. Keep up the amazing work guys!! Oh yeah, Hi Dan!

Good timing about the therapy stuff. I hope that helps people. Another great episode you two, thank you

There's no better motorcycle to bring back to life after being parked up for 20 years than a FJ 1100 or 1200. Extremely bulletproof engine, a rigid chassis that is ready for suspension, wheel and brake upgrades and a torque monster of an engine that pulls like a freight train. I've owned a 1990 FJ 1200 and currently own a 1993 FJ 1200 that has been treated to the full suspension upgrade and later model 17" Yamaha wheels. It shocks people when I tell them that my old Yamaha is 30 years old. Riders that ride it are even more shocked that it is 30 years old.

Cant be the only one that got distracted by the inside out hoodie

You are such a good person Craig.

This was a great video and I would love to have an FJ1200 - but the best part was your BetterHelp advert. That took courage and class and you should be proud Craig.

Now that you mentioned it, I can't unsee the similarities between your content and Vice Grip Garage's. You also adjust the fuel make it happener, put some fresh ice cube juice in the atmosphere heater, and send some power down those sparkulators.

Every time I see Craig working on one of these complicated modern bikes,I cherish the simplicity and accessibility of my ‘71 Guzzi.

Craig is like the Bob Ross of mechanics. Love this Channel

I love your channel and thank you for the ad on therapy! Much love to you Craig and Dan!

Great stuff guys. Really enjoy your content. Every time I watch I always end up in the garage tinkering on my bikes.

I’m convinced that there’s not a motorcycle out there you can’t get running!! You’re the motorcycle whisperer and a freakin genius!!

Craig i just got 16" metzler cruise techs front and back for my 2004 road king. Wasnt an issue except for the price, but their good tires. 500$ installed front and back.

I was in that situation once (water in the tank....). The water always settles at the lowest point, which is the float bowls on the carbs, and they have drain screws on them. After repeated draining, petrol eventually started coming through, and internal combustions were resumed.

Fj1200 start working all the time, stopped 20 or 30 years, I still have my beautiful old Fj never let me down, easy to fix and bullit prove. Good video. Great bike.

Your videos have become one of the few that I genuinely look fwd to watching. Great jod and here's to your continuing success!!

Back in the day I had a 1982 650 Seca. The engine and starter sounded exactly like the FJ you're working on.

Thank you my friend. For you info and comments. My kidneys have shut down 6 years ago.many I feel a burden on my family. Not many understand. It's nice to have someone to listen and not judge us or be negitive.

Lunch & Cold Start collaboration w Derek of VGG - YES!!!

Talking about mental health to the audience of this channel is so important, as I'm someone who struggles with it, and even more to basically admit that I need help. Thanks for the kind words, and for the quick compilation of burning things up hehehe

Thank you for talking about mental health. We can't do that enough.

@20:00 you should start bringing BBs with you for these adventures to clean tanks with. I usually use copper BBs (like for BB guns) I've done that for quite a few tanks, just throw a little fluid like degreaser or white vinegar in with them then slosh and turn it while sloshing them around and it'll clean up tanks with just surface rust really good. If its a little deeper rust you can strap the tank to an atv/car wheel while jacked up and throw it in gear and it'll come out like new but it's definitely a lil sketchy lol.

By the way i was the one who nominated you for the offroad games in Utah. Good luck Craig.

Wow! Pretty darn nice. Dan, you do a great job and are obviously a good friend. The inside out hoodie must be a practical joke?

That FJ with the panniers is soooo sweet.

A pretty dirty trick i used on a tank once was to put pebbles in there like grade one stone (rinse any dirt off it first) and fill the tank up and slosh it around, with any luck the pebbles lightly scrub the bigger chunks of rust off.

Wholesome video there man. Love the informative tips along the way, nice one.

Man FJ1200. My buddy had one when I was living in Japan in the late 80's. What a beast.

Another awesome awesome video! Had an 85 FJ1100 which was one of my favorite bikes ever. Thank you Craig.

Man I didn't wanna wait till 9! But I forgot about time zones! It's 7am and I'm watching!! Ya!!!!

Your happiness is infectious, the sheer joy of getting an engine to fire is amazing

Another fantastic one mate you working your magic 👍🏻👍🏻. One sweet bike and cracking tips. Thanks for the advice on help going through it after a serious car accident last December mate 😢

Craig, I wish you lived in Atlanta, Georgia. I'd bring my bikes to you any day for a fix. Great video as always.

That’s crazy the difference between garage kept in good condition and found outside/old dusty barn

Hey Craig! Watching these videos IS therapy. Thanks for what you do

thank you for being there for men with mental heath...My eldest son didnt get help and we lost him...Im a 20 stone biker and I cry every day...if you are looking for help get some and dont ruin your family's life as well as your own.....

The guy clearly wanted to just give the bike to you but didn`t wanna be thanked, so you got , either the bike either the content for your channel .. pretty neat!

Love this channel it’s relaxing he stays so calm and is very knowledgeable keep up the good work

Love your mythodical and thoughful approach . Great channel and building fast , great stuff thank you

Great bike. Excellent channel. I’m enjoying your videos a lot. Keep ‘em coming!

Craig, I have been really enjoying these videos. Your personality is a huge part of it. I learn a lot from every one of these videos so thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. God I love motorcycles.

I love seeing how happy you get when you get a bike to start. Authentic happiness👌

Heard of this one? Yamaha xz 550 Vision -1982-83. Fairly rare and now have a small cult following, (knew they would),. They handled extremely well on twisties. Some folks even raced them back in the day. It was a kind of a sport tour bike before it that became a big thing. Lots of miles ridden on mine across the western states to go camping. Love the channel. Another good one! Cheers. 👍