Dirt Roads And A FJR

[dcarver]

OK> got over the freakin' tick issue and will be purchasing an '06 ASAP after doing mucho reseach and listening to others on this board. Thank you all for your input.

Next issue. I live at the end of 5 mile long, 'county improved' (HAH!) dirt road. It's basically compressed DG, has many stutter bumps caused by cages. The other path to my house is not county maintained, is rougher, and has a 50+ yard section of very, very silty sand.

My most regular commuter, a BMW R100T, has a full knobby on the back and semi-knob on the front for when it gets wet and muddy and for the silt section.

My other 'commuters' get trailered to the pavement.. (I know, I know) but that's a royal PIA. Load bike in trailer. Drive trailer to pavement. Find place to park. Unload bike. Lock trailer. Remember helmet/keys/gloves/etc. is in trailer. Unlock trailer. blah blah blah. So Miss Beemer is the regular ride since she makes the trip *from the house* to work. Very valuable.

I need to know if you think the FJR can handle the dirt road. What do ya'll recommend to protect the FJR from rock dings, radiator damage, lower shock linkage issues, cosmetic damage, etc. Will things fall off like they do on the Harley? How sensitive is the ABS, EFI, etc. to dust? Any dirt bikers out there who have 'off-roaded' their Fjr's?

BTW, not worried about it being 'dirty', hell, everything I own is dirty by the time I hit pavement.. but genuinely wonder what kinds of issues you think I may encounter.

Tx,

dcarver

ps - No, I will NOT put knobbies on the FJR!

 

[BrunDog]

Crazy man, crazy!

The FJR is a road bike, but I would imagine that navigated slowly and carefully there would be no concern. You could add a radiator guard (search this site for John Mortensen (sp) aka hondacbx for his sweet guard or a commercial product from cox or others) and a fenda extenda.

I would not worry about dust, but warsh the bike regularly.

-BD

 

[moby one]

Yeah, I'm with BDog regarding the fenda extenda and rad guard. I too live on a dirt road. Although mine is only a 1/4 mile it has all the goodies that your road has. Plus, my driveway is gravel and there are some very deep spots that like to catch ya off gurard. The sand is what bothers me most. I had to put a foot down on a sandy corner while going up hill. Not fun. regarding the things falling off, I am in the habit of checking things over visually and tactile before lift off but have yet to find anything that has shaken loose from the road.

 

[Rogue]

Of course an FJR can "Triple Jump"........... The landing is anther thing! :haha:

I've had quite a few street bikes on dirt/gravel roads/trails and I think the FJR could do it fine as long as you keep it down to sane speeds.

I would not trust the tires if its wet or muddy though.

 

[smthng]

Two weeks after I got the GPS mounted on the feejer (an '05), I decided to listen to it trying to take me on "Green Mountain Ridge Road" to get where I decided I needed to go. "Road" was an exageration of the greatest kind. 20 (yes, TWENTY) miles of ruts, gravel, sand, bugs, hills, and rednecks in pickup trucks. Blue Bayou handled it without a wink. No issues at all with the ABS or anything else. I've since added a radiator guard and will probably be adding the fenda extenda. Those two should cover you for most stuff, although I'd be worried about ripping off the fenda extenda if the road were real bad.

If you're real worried about it, someone makes a 3M adhesive kit that covers most exposed panels and the headlights with a thin film (thicker for high impact areas and lights) that will protect you from minor dings.

The feejer can handle it, just clean her up every so often to check for leaks. Make sure you're checking the torque on the bolts recommended in the manual at the service intervals though... some may start to work themselves loose the first couple of times you hit the rough stuff, but they tend to settle in after about the third time.

 

[moby one]

Make sure you're checking the torque on the bolts recommended in the manual at the service intervals though... some may start to work themselves loose the first couple of times you hit the rough stuff, but they tend to settle in after about the third time.

smthng,

which ones have come loose on your bike? Are there certian ones that are more apt to loosen?

 

[fastersilverfjr]

I got really lost down in Arkansas one weekend. Ended up on a logging trail for about 70 miles. Literally slid down a very steep hill that I decided I was not going to try to climb on the FJR. Came to a creek, yes running water and decided I would rather dross the creek than go back up the hill I just slid down. Came across a run-off river with a hard concrete bottom. Fortunately, the run-off river bottom was smooth because the water was approaching my exhaust cans. Made it through that and had to weave through miles and miles of loose dirt, gravel, and ruts. Lots and lots of ruts. Finally found pavement and other than being really dirty, the FJR was great. Never knew it was a dual-sport.

Just take her slowly...

However, the guy I sold that FJR to said one of the exhaust headers was dinged. Couldv'e been a large rock or something in the creek... :dntknw:

I would definitely get the rad guard and fenda extenda. Maybe also the Sargent side bag covers and 3M protector stuff on the fairing lowers.

 

[Skippy]

I have run up and down un improved dirt roads constantly on the FJR and it handles fine, a little wobbly on the front end, however, noting to cause any major concerns over.

It does not like sand, however deep, and will washout the front end quite easily, pea gravel covered roads are ok though.

Skippy

 

[smthng]

Moby, the only bolts I've had a problem with on the feejer were somewhere on the rear footpegs. I don't remember exactly which ones, as I went through a bunch of them checking the torque. A couple on the rear peg assembly had to be re-torqued once a week or so for about three weeks, then they stopped moving. YMMV.

 

[markjenn]

If the roads are dry, no sweat. Most any street bike can handle a dry bumpy road, dirt or gravel. The dust shouldn't be a major issue - just wash the bike more often, change oil more often, and service the air cleaner more often. No big deal.

But if it gets seriously muddy, katie bar the door. Those sport-touring tires will pack up with mud and you'll be on your *** in no time flat. Another consideration is that you may be in a situation where, do to varying conditions, you may have a minor low-speed tipover every year or three. No big deal on some bikes, but could be a very big deal on a heavy, plastic encased bike like the FJR.

If I were in your situation, I'd get something like a R1200GS and fit Conti TKC80's to it. No, it's not as smooth and comfortable as an FJR, but it is reasonably comfortable, does two-up fine, and would handle your situation with ease. The key thing about a bike like this is that you can fit decent dual-sport tires. The 17-inch sport and sport-touring tires that sportbikes and the FJR mount just are completely and totally worthless in mud. Even the Multistrada, which is billed as an adventure bike, doesn't handle mud at all - it's the sport tires.

- Mark

 

[Yambone]

dcarver, by all means get the FJR! You've done some good research, stirred up the board fairly enough on the other topics, and have handled the peanut gallery in good shape. Would be good to have you around here after you get this very fine ROAD BIKE!

If you are hoping to have the Feej do a 10 mile total commute on a dirt road of the type mentioned--on a regular basis--I'd recommend against it. I reluctantly go onto dirt roads, squirm and wallow like a wounded whale, don't like washboard, sand, mud, as mentioned--the FJR is not in its element. I will do this no problem on a rare occasion. But I wouldn't plan to buy the bike expectin to do it often as in daily commute. Your 5 mile one-way has 'dual sport' bike written all over it, if you are talking about many times a month.

Hope you buy in, though, you do have the 'trailer to the paved road' routine down pat. Good luck in your decision!

 

[Rentaroo]

If Sjaak Lucassen can ride an R1 around the world, then I'm sure the FJR will make it down your dirt road just fine.

https://www.sjaaklucassen.nl/

There is an English link near the middle of the page.

p.s. I have a short video clip of Sjaak riding his R1 through some crazy stuff...if you'd like to see it, send me a P.M. and I'll toss it your way.

 

[dcarver]

I certainly appreciate all the feedback. I've already decided that the FJ will not be a trailer queen. If it looks old and dinged up after a year, so be it.

I'm the type who will buy spare parts with the original purchase just to have them around for use later.

Perhaps I'll buy some pieces I expect to get damaged and just call them 'consumables' on the budget line item.

 

[smthng]

Just get hte Moko or MotoNation sliders and the Invisiguard paint protection kit and you should be set.

 

[RonC]

Here is what the FJR can do

Ron

 

[dcarver]

Awesome Photo! Whooeeeee! Instant desktop background! Putting the hurt on old number 42..

And to think I was worried about a little ol' dirt road..

You know, I DO have a full blown supercross track on my property.. I tried once, after a few brewskies, to take my UltraClassic HD around it, just for the fun of it.. that little adventure did not turn out so good..

Maybe I'll have to try it with the FJR!

 

[Flylooper]

Ain't Photoshop wonderful?

 

[dcarver]

If Sjaak Lucassen can ride an R1 around the world, then I'm sure the FJR will make it down your dirt road just fine.

Just saw the video... What a freakin' WIMP I am.

Thanks Rentaroo!