'06 1k update

[chickey191]

So - it took 2 weeks, but 1,000 on the clock of '06 #44.

Initial impressions are still pretty much the same however a couple of things have surfaced:

1. Seat IS getting more comfortable. Not sure if it is breaking in or my butt - but, whatever... it feels a bit better than previously. 2 hour seat is perhaps a 3 hour seat right now.

2. Whistle - took a little electrical tape and taped off the bottom of the windscreen bracket. Seems to have helped, but didn't have much of an opportunity to test. I'll do that tomorrow. Had relatives in town which limited riding this week - Damn - and next week I'm off on a bikeless trip.

3. Installed Vista Cruise throttle lock and Vee Strom knuckle covers yesterday. Not sure I like the knuckle covers as they cramp my fingers as I go for the brake. Perhaps it will just take a little getting used to. I'll post something on vista cruise seperately - but it went on without much trouble.

4. funny feeling in clutch when taking off at light or parking lot. Sort of fels like a tire that is cupped. Goes away once moving, but the initial grab feels rough. Neve felt that in a bike before.

5. Big GRIPE - On Hondas and BMW's when you are in the top gear - and you lift on the shift lever - there is a little play. Nice way to quickly feel if you are in the top gear without looking at gear indicator or speed or whatever. Yamahas don't do this. 5th feels just like 4th or whatever gear. Didn't realize how much I liked this.

6. Shifting - clutch disengagement is different and my shifts are not as smooth as I'd like unless I'm conciously thinking about them. I find that pre-loading the shift lever going up in gears helps smooth out the shift lag. Still think the throw between gears is farther than my LT - I'm sure I'll get used to it, but I have always prided myself on smooth shifting.

7. If you rev the engine more aggressively - (shift at higher rpm) - it does seem to shift more smoothly.

Still loving it - still going out to the garage and looking at it. Not sitting on it and making motorcycle noises at night any more though.

 

[Rickster]

You lie -- I can hear you going Vrrrrooommmm, Vrrrrooooom, BaaaWaaaaaaaaaaa, Dabawaaaaaaaaaa....

Actually thanks for the input -- nice to read others experiences whilst waiting....

 

[yamaholic]

For #6, give Gary at University motors a call. On earlier bikes, we could swap in an R1 shift dog to shorten the throw. Haven't done it myself, but plan to one of these days. Not sure if it will fit on '06s, thus why I suggest you call Gary first.

 

[Fred H.]

Turned over 1K today myself.

I like the transmission and was thinking today that is shifts pretty good. I am just about used to the clutch engagement, though it has taken some time to adjust.

Be interested to see what kind of tire life I get.

I think I may have located the source of the whistle today, but I need to do more testing to be sure. It is definitely from between the bottom of the windshield and the top of the dash when the dash is full up. If you look close, there is a small air gap between the trim panel and windshield and hardware, and I think this may be what causes the whistle. I will plug it up and see if that fixes it. If it works, I will take photos and post them. If it doesn't I will keep looking for it.

All in all, I am starting to really like the bike. Pushed it through some pretty good sweepers and twisties today and I am happy with the way it handles. I had to increase the pre-load on the front springs, but haven't dialed in the damping yet. I am happy with the ergos though I do wish for another inch in height and width on the windshield, but that is about it. Need a throttle lock bad, that return spring is just too stiff for my tastes. I also wish it had better visibility and lighting from the rear. I wish it had turn signals on the bags and a larger brake light. I also wish they had put the front turn signal in the backs of the mirrors, so they were more visible. I love the deep blue color, but worry about how visible it is to other drivers. Hopefully my yellow jacket and helmet will help. Some ion colored fog lamps might help the front end visibility, but they also would probably wash out the turn signals. Anyone put a higher wattage bulb in their front turn signals?

I already upgraded the horns and disabled the auto-retract on the windshield. I hope to install an Autocom on it later this week and make a GPS mount. I have to have music, GPS, and radar detector before I consider it ready to use for any series travel.

Not sure if I will get the top box or not. My thinking is that if I need the top box, I can just ride the Wing, and use the FJR for solo trips. Something tells me the wife is not going to sit on the back of the blue beast, as the Wing has pretty much ruined her for anything else.

I think I figured out what FJR stands for today. Fred's Jack Rabbit.

 

[chickey191]

let me know how you set up the autocom and gps and radar.

I will be using a sirius satellite for tunes - but want to set it up to intercom the passenger. Also will mount a 2610 gps along with the V-1.

Not sure if I'll stick a bicycle computer on it - at least not until I validate the speedo with a gps.

I will probably add heated grips (alway said I'll never have a bike without them... yet I do right now) and am in on the PHID group buy. Hope someone figures out the brackets.

 

[skyway]

I love the deep blue color, but worry about how visible it is to other drivers.  Hopefully my yellow jacket and helmet will help.

For the rear of the bike I would suggest a pair of reflective decals that a lot of FJR owners have installed on their side bags.

FJR Saddlebag Area Reflectors

Quote from the hurt report:

Any effect of motorcycle color on accident involvement is not determinable from these data, but is expected to be insignificant because the frontal surfaces are most often presented to the other vehicle involved in the collision.

Conspicuity of the motorcycle is most critical for the frontal surfaces of the motorcycle and rider.

Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets.

 

[painman]

The "W" shaped screw cover on the windshield has a defect on the left side. It has too much space between the plastic halfmoon shaped tab and where it rests against the bodywork under the cover. There is no way to tighten this up so I put a small piece of velcro around the inside of the tab and the tab is now secure as is the left side of the bracket. There will always be a small amount of play on the upper tips of the "W" shaped cover but it is equal on both sides now. I did notice a small whistle a couple of times but haven't heard it since securing the cover to the plexiglass. PM. <><

 

[Constant Mesh]

Preloading the shifter is not recommended.

See the second to last paragraph in the following article:

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?p...s/shifting.html

 

[paste007]

Within a few miles of 1k, after having her for eight days. What a bike. Can't find anything to complain about, however, I guess it's all based on what your previous experiences where and coming from a '77 KZ1000, the FJR is quite a step up.

My primary question is on changing the various suspension adjustments from the factory settings. Are there any guidelines available, that take into accout, a person's size and riding style? If not, is it just a matter of making changes and taking notes, until by hit or miss, you find a more perfect set up?

So far, I've ridden (in California) Hwy 58, Hwy 33, Decker Canyon (Malibu), Hwy 178 (Bakersfield to Lake Isabella), Bena Road (towards Twin Oaks) and various other local roads around Bakersfield. Lots of variety, which the bike handled flawlessly.

After two years of reading about this bike, trips to bike shows and waiting, everyone was right when they said the wait was worth it. I even like the deep blue, although red would have been a nice option.