Advice on Mechanical Check of 05 FJR before LONG trip

[beachy]

Here's the list

1. New spark plugs
2. New air filter
3. Test and replace coolant
4. Valve check
5. Test electrical system
6. Check ABS fxn, brake system, brake pads

Thanks again for any advice.

That list sounds fine except you aren't due for a valve check until 26k miles. Doing it early is just wasting money (unless you plan to be gone at that mileage). The easiest thing is to just complete all of the maintenances at the intervals recommended by Yamaha. I have a schedule that I use that simplifies keeping track of the services based on 5k mile intervals, that way I can just glance at the odometer and know how long it is to the next one. Here's my schedule:

Every 5k miles:

Check Air Filter (replace every 3rd service @15k miles)

Check Cooling system (drain and refill coolant every other year)

Check Exhaust system

raise tank

Check Tank vent hoses and fuel lines (when tank is up)

Check valve clearance every 5th service @ 25k miles

Replace spark plugs on 3rd service @15k miles or during valve checks

Warm engine throughly

Adjust TBS

lower tank

Oil and filter change

Check Brake pads and fluid level

Check clutch fluid level

Flush brake and clutch fluid every 2 years

Grease clutch and brake lever pivots

Grease rear brake and shift pedal pivots

Check front fork seals for leaks

Check rear shock for leaks

Drain and refill Final drive every other service (@10k miles)

Repack rear suspension pivots every 4th service (@20k miles)

Check tire pressure and wear

Inspect wheels for damage

Spin wheels and check bearings (easier to do when doing tire changes)

Lift front end and check steering bearing for looseness

Grease sidestand and center stand pivots

I use a one page checklist at each service to keep track of, and record, my service completions. Before beginning I look at the last completed service sheet to see what is due this time (for the things that don't get done every time), and make notes about when it was last completed on the current sheet.

Here is a link to a copy of my blank checklist (in MS Word format) that you are free to use or to modify to your own personal settings

hey Fred thanks for the chk list I like it

 

[HotRodZilla]

That photo never gets old.

That photo's on his employee badge isn't it? :lol:

Ya know Wheaties, you and Don can kiss me butt! Gawd I hate you guys..............a LOT.

No PMs yet, but I'll help you with your bike if you want. At the very least, I'll say if you want a dealer to do the work, take it to Bobby J's and tell the service manager you want Chad to work on your bike. That guy knows FJRs and treated mine well for 3 years.

 

[txvoyager]

hey Fred thanks for the chk list I like it

+1! Great quick reference, sir!

 

[UHOH]

different take. don't need to do anything.

your past and current riding history isn't going to be mechanically different from your 2000 mile each way trip to NY,

except for two things:

1) tire wear

2) continuous riding in summer heat.

so to address

1) tires: you do the obvious

2) heat: service the cooling system, but more than a month in advance

going 4000 miles is not a crucial test of an FJR. routine.

 

[Fred W]

different take. don't need to do anything differently.

Yeah, you're right, with the one word I added above.

The maintenance list that I posted is what should be done on a regular basis. If you just make sure that you are following your regular service schedule, a cross country trip would be a piece o' cake for any FJR. (not that I've ever actually done one )

But, I'd still do an oil change before leaving on a 4k mile trip. Especially if you calculate that you'll be due in the middle of it. That way you won't feel compelled to do the Walmart parking lot oil change. I'd also try and have fairly fresh tires on there. Certainly rather be riding around on my vacation time, rather than changing oil in a parking lot or, searching for an overpriced tire.

 

[Bounce]

What I didn't see mentioned (but might have missed) was that, regardless of what you have done, do it well in advance of your trip. Then ride the piss out of it to make sure everything's working well. Finding out a bolt wasn't tightened right in the Gilmore Drive Sublucation Juntion is best done while near home.

 

[danarielle]

good advice, thanks

Yeah, you're right, with the one word I added above.

The maintenance list that I posted is what should be done on a regular basis. If you just make sure that you are following your regular service schedule, a cross country trip would be a piece o' cake for any FJR. (not that I've ever actually done one )

But, I'd still do an oil change before leaving on a 4k mile trip. Especially if you calculate that you'll be due in the middle of it. That way you won't feel compelled to do the Walmart parking lot oil change. I'd also try and have fairly fresh tires on there. Certainly rather be riding around on my vacation time, rather than changing oil in a parking lot or, searching for an overpriced tire.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Dana,

You should consider testing out the quote icon or not deleting the quote code when quoting someone in a reply. It sometimes looks like some of the text is yours...when it might be Fred's. ...or mine.

good advice, thanks. Wheaton, you're the best!

<Begin Fred's Quote>

Yeah, you're right, with the one word I added above.
The maintenance list that I posted is what should be done on a regular basis. If you just make sure that you are following your regular service schedule, a cross country trip would be a piece o' cake for any FJR. (not that I've ever actually done one )

But, I'd still do an oil change before leaving on a 4k mile trip. Especially if you calculate that you'll be due in the middle of it. That way you won't feel compelled to do the Walmart parking lot oil change. I'd also try and have fairly fresh tires on there. Certainly rather be riding around on my vacation time, rather than changing oil in a parking lot or, searching for an overpriced tire.

<end Fred's quote>

 

[TomInPA]

But, I'd still do an oil change before leaving on a 4k mile trip. Especially if you calculate that you'll be due in the middle of it. That way you won't feel compelled to do the Walmart parking lot oil change. I'd also try and have fairly fresh tires on there. Certainly rather be riding around on my vacation time, rather than changing oil in a parking lot or, searching for an overpriced tire.

So what exactly is the problem with a Walmart parking lot change?

Norwalk Ohio

 

[HotRodZilla]

But, I'd still do an oil change before leaving on a 4k mile trip. Especially if you calculate that you'll be due in the middle of it. That way you won't feel compelled to do the Walmart parking lot oil change. I'd also try and have fairly fresh tires on there. Certainly rather be riding around on my vacation time, rather than changing oil in a parking lot or, searching for an overpriced tire.

So what exactly is the problem with a Walmart parking lot change?

Norwalk Ohio

Well, for one thing, that guy molesting that bike is ugly as Hell. FJR riders are very daper...

 

[Fred W]

How did you manage to spill so much rust on that parking lot in just a single oil change? :blink:

PS - Here's the secret to the sanitary Walmart parking lot oil change:

Don't bother to change the filter! The bike'll be just fine, it's even called out that way in the manual, and you'll get over it eventually.

 

[danarielle]

That's the plan -- I will be putting on at least 500 miles before I leave. Thanks

What I didn't see mentioned (but might have missed) was that, regardless of what you have done, do it well in advance of your trip. Then ride the piss out of it to make sure everything's working well. Finding out a bolt wasn't tightened right in the Gilmore Drive Sublucation Juntion is best done while near home.

 

[HotRodZilla]

That's the plan -- I will be putting on at least 500 miles before I leave. Thanks

What I didn't see mentioned (but might have missed) was that, regardless of what you have done, do it well in advance of your trip. Then ride the piss out of it to make sure everything's working well. Finding out a bolt wasn't tightened right in the Gilmore Drive Sublucation Juntion is best done while near home.

If you're gonna do it yourself and need help, just let me know. I can't ride with a broken foot anyway, so working on a bike is almost as good. I'd work on my own, but all my maintenance is current. I don't have a tire changer, but we can pull them off and BobbyJ's will mount them for $25.

FWIW...I never leave here on a long trip with tires that have more than 1k on them. I'll take off a set and then put them back on after I wear out the set I put on for the trip.

 

[El Toro]

No PMs yet, but I'll help you with your bike if you want. At the very least, I'll say if you want a dealer to do the work, take it to Bobby J's and tell the service manager you want Chad to work on your bike. That guy knows FJRs and treated mine well for 3 years.

This is the best advice of the thread. Even HotRodZilla, an acknowledged FJR expert according to the opinions of the other posters here, has let Chad take care of his bike.

Throw away your copy of Persig's misguided missive (Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance). It has produced more Roaches than any other trigger known to man, and they're still selling it.

Consider Moto Scusi's Laws, i.e.

1. All motorcycles are on the path toward becoming a roach. (A roach is a poorly maintained motorcycle with multiple systemic problems that affect use of the motorcycle).

2. The progress of a motorcycle toward its roach status, as predicted by Moto Scusi's first law, can be slowed down or delayed by a diligent and competent owner.

3. Incompetence at the importer, distributor, dealer, or manufacturer level can thwart the efforts of the owner to enjoy the benefits of Moto Scusi's second law.

4. If owners band together, sharing information on the internet or through other media, with the hope of offsetting problems induced by Moto Scusi's third law, the result is often the acceleration of Moto Scusi's first law.

 

[HawkWing]

hey Fred thanks for the chk list I like it

+1! Great quick reference, sir!

++1 Fred. Imminently usable. Even I can understand it. Me likey!

 

[Fred W]

hey Fred thanks for the chk list I like it

+1! Great quick reference, sir!

++1 Fred. Imminently usable. Even I can understand it. Me likey!

Thanks guys. I use something just like that for every one of the vehicles that I take care of, bikes, my cars, my kids' cars, the lawnmower, you name it. When I get a new vehicle I just look in the owners manual and transcribe the service requirements into a single sheet checklist, and then fill one out at each DIY service I do.

When you have an advanced case of CRS you learn early on to write things down. Helps to save your valuable gray matter for forgetting all of the more important things in life, like birthdays and anniversaries.

 

[Afast03nNJ]

At only 12k miles, change the oil and final drive fluid, check tires, pack your bags and go have a great trip.

 

[Rider_FJR]

+1

Great report.

Here's the list

1. New spark plugs
2. New air filter
3. Test and replace coolant
4. Valve check
5. Test electrical system
6. Check ABS fxn, brake system, brake pads

Thanks again for any advice.

That list sounds fine except you aren't due for a valve check until 26k miles. Doing it early is just wasting money (unless you plan to be gone at that mileage). The easiest thing is to just complete all of the maintenances at the intervals recommended by Yamaha. I have a schedule that I use that simplifies keeping track of the services based on 5k mile intervals, that way I can just glance at the odometer and know how long it is to the next one. Here's my schedule:

Every 5k miles:

Check Air Filter (replace every 3rd service @15k miles)

Check Cooling system (drain and refill coolant every other year)

Check Exhaust system

raise tank

Check Tank vent hoses and fuel lines (when tank is up)

Check valve clearance every 5th service @ 25k miles

Replace spark plugs on 3rd service @15k miles or during valve checks

Warm engine throughly

Adjust TBS

lower tank

Oil and filter change

Check Brake pads and fluid level

Check clutch fluid level

Flush brake and clutch fluid every 2 years

Grease clutch and brake lever pivots

Grease rear brake and shift pedal pivots

Check front fork seals for leaks

Check rear shock for leaks

Drain and refill Final drive every other service (@10k miles)

Repack rear suspension pivots every 4th service (@20k miles)

Check tire pressure and wear

Inspect wheels for damage

Spin wheels and check bearings (easier to do when doing tire changes)

Lift front end and check steering bearing for looseness

Grease sidestand and center stand pivots

I use a one page checklist at each service to keep track of, and record, my service completions. Before beginning I look at the last completed service sheet to see what is due this time (for the things that don't get done every time), and make notes about when it was last completed on the current sheet.

Here is a link to a copy of my blank checklist (in MS Word format) that you are free to use or to modify to your own personal settings

 

[danarielle]

At only 12k miles, change the oil and final drive fluid, check tires, pack your bags and go have a great trip.

Thanks very much -- I will do those things, and hopefully will have a trustworthy mechanic check other things and let me know if I am ok.