2005 FJR EFI Smoothness - Stock settings

[rhody]

:bigeyes:

I am going to picking up a 2005 FJR with 1600 miles on it April 1st.

I would like general opinions as to the stock EFI smoothness between 2000 - 3500 rpm. If most owners are happy as clams with the stock mapping, it is a non-issue for me. However, if anyone has safety related issues due to unexpected surging, I would most appreciate a heads up.

If some owners have used Power Commander III's or enabled the enrichment of the stock EFI settings to smooth things out and add a little extra HP, I would like to know.

I don't mind spending the extra $$ for the Power Commander, but I would appreciate some kind of CONSENSUS before I install one.

Thanks in advance to all who reply.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I use stock settings and I am tickled pink by the very smooth application of power at low RPMs. There is a power band at about 5500 RPM that you should be aware of (so you don't accidenlty wheelie down the road), but compared to other bikes, I was HUGELY impressed with the FJR's smoothness.

 

[Shadowfax]

I have not problems in that range. I don't like how choppy it is on/off throttle nor the vibration over about 4300RPM, but no problems in the range you mention.

 

[markjenn]

The PC gives you a little more power and snappier throttle response, which is common when you richen things up slightly over the stock EPA lean jetting. But the stock setup is plenty smooth.

A few bikes seem aflicted with a bit of low-speed surging (which a PC can help), but it's an annoyance at worst - I don't think anyone would ever characterize it as a safety issue.

I'm running stock and don't have any issue with the EFI. It's one of the smoothest bikes I've ever owned.

- Mark

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I have not problems in that range. I don't like how choppy it is on/off throttle nor the vibration over about 4300RPM, but no problems in the range you mention.

That just shows you that everything is relative

One of the major reasons I bought the FJR was the smoothness at slow speed on/off throttle as compared to the R1200RT.

So, is the lesson here that the correct opinion is the one used by us for us?

 

[BrunDog]

... I would appreciate some kind of CONSENSUS before I install one...

You should do some kind of SEARCH before you post this.

-BD

 

[black mamba]

I guess I'm one of the luckier ones in that I have never experienced any sort of a surging issue at all.....at any RPM or under any circumstance. Absolute smoothness from top to bottom.

 

[radman]

The PCIII is worth every penny. It makes an excellent engine outstanding. Period.

 

[red2kcbr]

+1 to the radman. I am completely happy with the PCIII with Holeshots.

 

[ionbeam]

The wind noise from my FJR doesn't bother me, the vibrations don't bother me, the heat off the engine doesn't bother me (feels GOOD late fall and early spring), the trans clunk isn't a problem.

On the other hand

-- *Within the first 3k miles* the gas tank actually burned my legs twice, keep the tank full! Since then Feejer's engine has broken in enough that the tank heat isn't nearly so bad.

-- My throttle operation was very abrupt in lower gears at lower RPMs. Low speed riding quickly killed my right hand/wrist.

-- I had what I would consider pretty severe surging between 2k RPM up to 4k RPM. Arbitrary measurements -- at night my headlights visibly bounced up and down with the surging (pull in the clutch and the headlights were stable); after 40 something years of horse riding my wife sits one of the best, most stable (no pun intended) pillion seats ever but when Feejer is surging her helmet bounces back and forth -- unheard of before this; it quickly became annoying then fatiguing; the spedo needle fluttered several MPH in synch with the surging. [My dealer says that all parameters are within spec so there is nothing they can do. They also said that they had limited experience with FI and didn't want to mess things up worse by fiddling around. Thank you for that!]

I tried the barbarian jumper and bumped up the CO. No joy, in fact it ran worse without altering the surging. Bumped down the CO, ran hotter, ran worse, no change in the surging. Tried a variety of CO setting and ended up back at factory settings.

Added a PCIII. Aaahhhh!!! Throttle control is vastly improved and while the surging is still not gone, it is background enough that I can easily live with it. After almost 2 years I'm still fiddling with the maps.

What I really need to do is get a set of bunged headers and EGA it on a Dyno and figure out what is really going on. Info about the previous statement is available here. The root of my problem may be partly ignition management in combination with FI issues. The FI issues can be readily taken care of.

Surging does happen with some bikes, some to a greater degree than others. Don't let my battle with surging worry you, I'm sure my bike is a rare instance for really bad surging.

:clap: Good news for you '06 waiters According to Yamaha, the FI and FI loop control as well as the throttle bell crank have been changed. Throttle control and FI control should be pretty well sorted out for you and all this should be a non issue. :agent:

Alan

 

[FJReady]

I find my stock '05 to be plenty smooth. I know that there was a lot of discussion on previous year bikes where a PCIII made significant improvement and I was prepared to go that route if need be, but I can't complain about my '05. It could be that I just don't know any better. I'm happy as a clam with the stock set-up.

I imagine that Ionbeam will be by soon with a very comprehensive PCIII discussion that will be worth reading.

FJReady

 

[FJReady]

Oops, I was a tick too late with my prediction. Hi Alan.

 

[rocketdoc]

My '04 runs smoother than any bike I have ever ridden or had. There is however a mild surging that is noticeable in the 2000rpm range, but is it a safety issue? definately not. Not on my bike. I considered a PC111 just for fun/performance, but I have not and probably won't now. So get out there and ride your new '05, it needs to be ridden, run in and it will just get smoother and smoother for you.

And if people start noticing that you have 'changed' then you can be sure that grin factor the FJR is famous for, is doing it's thing. Ride safe.

 

[ionbeam]

Oops, I was a tick too late with my prediction. Hi Alan

Yup, guess I'm predictable with known hot button issues.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

ionbeam, thanks for the write up! It was very cool. I immediately hopped on the bike and looked for the indications that you discussed to see if my bike had those symptoms. I am glad to say it does not. Phew!

I would have hated to be happy with my bike, learn what to look for and then be disappointed.

 

[Scab]

I have an '05 FJR, totally stock. I have not experienced any surging of any kind except for that 5500 rpm power band when I am twisting it. This bike is smooth as silk and will out-run the word of God through the chior section. Just hang on and twist it.

 

[Yambone]

That's a good one. Yep, only surge I notice is the one where I drop to 4th gear, rev past offending obstacle cage in an easy instant, and slow-poke begone.

 

[madmike2]

The issue remains: IF your particular bike surges, there is a fix , i.e., the power commander. Thankfully, not all, but a small percentage need the "fix". OTH, some people just do the mod because they can. All smog engines are "tuned" by the computer to run lean, and some are so lean they surge as the computer seeks the best state of mixture becuase of the "lean base setting", hence changing the CO settings or using a power commander.

 

[TWILKIN650]

Coming from a '94 R1100RS (the standard by which all surging may be measured) I find the '05 plenty smooth. I too noted the abrupt on/off throttle behavior listed in other posts in this thread, but I apparently have learned to deal with it, as it's not an issue now.

I was always annoyed at the R1100RS surge at 3,000-4,000 but dealt with it by keeping revs up. It did make the bike a bear to run smoothly in city traffic though. I haven't ridden the BMW for almost a year after the FJR arrived. It sits forlorn in the back of the garage on a battery tender............. :lol: