Checking in with '05 valve check

[jkarp]

Haven't been around here in like, forever, but I figured you guys would like the data point...

53K on my '05 ABS, so I finally quit riding it long enough to crack her open to do the valve check. Every single valve was exactly the same as at 25K. Kinda surprised me, to be honest. Only trouble I've had in four years was the battery crapped out this spring and it refused to start on a new one. Had it towed into the shop where the first thing they ask me was "What kind of plugs you running?" I said iridium (just put fresh ones in whilst troubleshooting) and they immediately blamed them. I was about call ********, but they took me back to the shop, swapped the iridiums for stockers right in front of me and it fired on first crank. Go figure. They said the iridiums foul really easy. Had 'em do the TPS recall while I was there too.

Damn I love this bike.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

jkarp,

Glad to hear things worked out well for you. Every one of the shops knock the Iridium plugs. I don't believe it is justified and they stick to OEM strictly and 'cause they are cheaper.

Good Knowledge is something I don't expect from dealers.

 

[twowheelnut]

Yep, both my checks to date have been smack in the middle of the range.

 

[odot]

yet another reason to say, "screw the valve check".

 

[user 2024]

2nd check at 53,000 and only one was a little different (still good) from the first.

 

[jkarp]

OK to resurrect an ancient thread if it's my own, right?

Rolled past 100K on the way to work yesterday. I gave my '05 to the fine wrenches at Vickery Motorsports back before this riding season started and told them to "have their way with me." They went ahead and did the 100K valve check (still in spec), went over everything else and found no issues, slapped in some new plugs, did a tb sync and said "go forth and ride the hell out of it, son."

Still love this bike.

 

[Big Sky]

I don't know how it could be ever be quantified but the FJR, including and perhaps especially the Gen I, may be the most reliable, low maintenance, long-lived production bike ever manufactured. It is no wonder Yamaha has not updated the original chassis and power train significantly: they just got it so right from the beginning (rare tick aside). I have put over 100K on three FJRs in 12 years - not one real problem. Now, if they could only get it to shed 100 pounds...