disappointment at the Dragon

[MotorSWATCop]

Generally agree with Geezer, although I probably did go up & down a few gears in the spirit of adventure. Not sure how much good it does to hang off either side of a 600 # bike in the curves, not moving the cg a whole lot.

If you doubt moving around on a large bike; check out Rick (Yellow Wolf) on the Dragon. He rides the yellow Goldwing that's always up there. He'll make a believer out of you. I rode w/ him a couple of times while I was still on my Wing and watching his style and riding improved me immensely.

In the book "Total Control" (Lee Parks?) they talk about the benefits of shifting body weight. Before I started using the technique, I was grinding my pegs and engine guards all of the time. At first i thought it was pretty cool to be sparking all over the place. I followed Rick and noticed that he was MUCH faster than me and was not dragging his bike. Plain and simple, he is smooth as hell and shifts his weight to keep the bike more upright in the turns. I tried it and it really does work. I figured out I was just messing up my bike. I never got as fast as Rick but I could keep him in sight after adopting the lean technique.

 

[jjsC6]

First, I agree that the FJR is difficult to modulate the throttle in corners. Far worse than any other motorcycle I have owned.

Also, as others have mentioned, staying in a lower gear actually makes the problem worse, not better. Slight movements in the throttle in first gear makes for a much quicker response (when it finally does respond). This will compound the problem.

 

[GreyGoose]

snap,

Your correct about the 06 on roads similiar to the dragon. i dont believe this is a driveline issue. its purely a throttle body issue. i've done all the farkles surrounding this issue. even though they have helped, your still in a similiar boat afterwards. Riding aggresively in 2nd gear makes it very difficult to accelerate smoothly after haveing come from hard acceleration to a full deceleration cycle. Scares the crap out of you because of the initial blip you get when it turns on. Instill no confience whatsoever. This is the only bike i've owned that was like that. Its best to just back off and enjoy this bike in all the other situations that its great in. This particular area is not where this bike shines (even after the mods). The throtle pulley must have been designed for the AE model , then carried over to the A, because it makes no sense why its like that.

GreyGoose

 

[caryt]

I have watched a few of you guys hauling ass on the dragon and after see the vid of that f******* trucker all I can say is your braver than me.

cary

 

[FJR Gary]

I had my best results on the Dragon by keeping it mostly in 2nd gear, occasionaly into 3rd, with gentle off/on throttle transitions. Keeping it mostly in 1 gear allowed me to concentrate more on the turns and I didn't really notice much drive-line lash.

 

[slick001]

Going in tomorrow for my 600 mile service. Do you think it would be beneficial for me to get the Throttle Bodies Synced already? Mine is very twitchy when you first get on the throttle.

 

[Tufelhunden]

Just checking in as I am considering trading my 04 VFR for an 06 FJR.

The VFR & ST1300 have the same probelm with throttle jerkiness, same fixes as here with the exception of the throttle spring, and a lot of the gents at VFRD have increased the fuel pressure with good results, Turbo City actually sells one for the VFR and ST. Don't know if this has been mentioned here but thought I'd give another thought.

 

[temp357]

Hey Man,

What are you complain'n about? Just use the 3rd/4th/5th gear and you'll be fine. After all the bike has plenty of torque.

 

[black mamba]

I'm not trying to hijack this thread, but that video showing the truck coming at you makes you forget....very quickly....about any throttle control issue you may be having. Back to the subject at hand, my '05 bike has NONE of these often mentioned throttle modulation problems....it is smooth as silk in any transition application..... a real joy to take into the twisties.

 

[galxy5]

you might get better results if you keep the throttle open and modulate the front break ,, old school racing technique ,, two fingers on the break and hold the throddle with your thumb and index finger ,, helps keep the revs up in 2nd and as soon as you take pressure of the binders your away into the straight or next turn !!

this is technique that takes some practice ,, but the results are solid

 

[chornbe]

I remember that being the most difficult part of the dragon for me...managing that jumpy throttle. I had to be realllll smooth but it was okay once I got the hang of it. I also thought I remembered it being posted somewhere here that the 06 Fuel Inj was worse...or that it made the throttle a little more jumpy? Not sure...

Which is exactly what I've taken to doing with that flat spot (and after getting pretty well drilled on the technique in the Lee Parks class!!)

 

[galxy5]

I remember that being the most difficult part of the dragon for me...managing that jumpy throttle. I had to be realllll smooth but it was okay once I got the hang of it. I also thought I remembered it being posted somewhere here that the 06 Fuel Inj was worse...or that it made the throttle a little more jumpy? Not sure...

Yes indeed !!!

that's where I picked it up some time ago !!

gives you loads of confidence in tight decending turns like we have here in Virginia ,, you become very smooth !! and we know what that translates to don't we ??????

 

[designeraccd]

I haven't been down to the Dragon on my '06 FJR, but on my '04 ST1300 the driveshaft was a factor. I found using second, occasionally third worked the best, but given the size of the bike the Cherahola Skyway was much more fun! DFO

 

[snap1945]

snap here, y'know the guy that started this thread. I wasnt talking about just ' getting through ' the dragon. There is some id and ego involved as in certain bikes ( or riders ) should pass me, OK by me. Certain others I like to show my big tailight to as it leaves them lagging behind. At the Dragon I find deceleration and breaking dandy, its in the roll on once in the turn and I have my line and having the right gear in play to maximize exit acceleration. Sometimes you want to pass coming out of a turn and that downshift has you pointed skyward and you gotta be decelerating right away for correct or comfortable speed to enter the next turn. Now if you were already in that lower gear going in because you could roll it on smoothly you wouldnt have to use some of your concentration even thinking about a downshift and you know that makes it esaier to get your timing or rhythm. Now I have never been on a track, but, to me the Dragon is about as tight and tech heavy as I wish to play on. I know " you pays your money and you takes your chances " so please no parental replies neccesary. Also, I had difficulty shifting my tush around on that stippled sticky seat.

 

[galxy5]

snap here, y'know the guy that started this thread. I wasnt talking about just ' getting through ' the dragon. There is some id and ego involved as in certain bikes ( or riders ) should pass me, OK by me. Certain others I like to show my big tailight to as it leaves them lagging behind. At the Dragon I find deceleration and breaking dandy, its in the roll on once in the turn and I have my line and having the right gear in play to maximize exit acceleration. Sometimes you want to pass coming out of a turn and that downshift has you pointed skyward and you gotta be decelerating right away for correct or comfortable speed to enter the next turn. Now if you were already in that lower gear going in because you could roll it on smoothly you wouldnt have to use some of your concentration even thinking about a downshift and you know that makes it esaier to get your timing or rhythm. Now I have never been on a track, but, to me the Dragon is about as tight and tech heavy as I wish to play on. I know " you pays your money and you takes your chances " so please no parental replies neccesary. Also, I had difficulty shifting my tush around on that stippled sticky seat.

I agree that the stock seat sucks ,, I have the Yamaha/Corbin close canyon seat in leather ,, gives me the sliding back and foth as well as side to side ,, my recomendation ,, get a new seat that matches your riding style ,,

also you might want to go to Shady Valley and ride 421 ,, better known as the snake , I know that the dragon get's all the whoopla ,, but 421 is very challenging ,, if you go to EOM you'll get a taste of what I am talking about ,,

good luck

 

[Scythian]

I am 60 yo and not a racer but I do like to drag a peg now and then.

It's not the bike, it's the palsey....

 

[TheRepairMan]

My 2 cents, and it's just a theory, or more of an half educated guess about the jerkiness with the new FJR's drive line and throttle response.

All previous years had Mitsubishi EFI and it must have worked pretty well according to nearly all reports or lack thereof concerning the ease of controlling power application.

My research is not conclusive, but based on my own experience with my 06 FZ1 and the very same symptom or so say the majority of new FZ1 owners, there is a BIG problem with the FI maps in the DENSO EFI on those machines.

My absolute "guess" is the new FI on the 06 FJR's is also DENSO. I can't remember if I actually saw that in some technical data somewhere but I know Yamaha claimed it had an all new FI system for the FJR for 06.

At this point, as far as I know, there is no Barbarian Jumper Mod available for the 06 FZ1's DENSO EFI and there is a good chance that this may be the case with the new FJR's.

There are lots of independent techs working on fixes for the "abrupt on/off throttle transition" with the FJR's little brother but so far only limited success is reported. In my opinion, taking all the slack out of the throttle cable and practicing more precise control while keeping the revs down during those tighter turns has all but eliminated the issue for me. The harder I push into the power-band the harder it is to transition smoothly.

BTW, 421 is in my back yard so I hope to see you all here at the EOM soon.

Be safe out there and have a great time.

Roger

 

[vmaxed]

At this point, as far as I know, there is no Barbarian Jumper Mod available for the 06 FZ1's DENSO EFI and there is a good chance that this may be the case with the new FJR's.Roger

There is a Barbarian Jumper Mod available for the 06 FJR,It makes a big difference but still has a little left when you jump back the throttle.

 

[bikerkash]

I now have over 8k on my AE and agree this bike is very difficult to be smooth with in the corners. When you try to come to netural throttle from off throttle being smooth is not easy at best and if your hard in the corner and it goes directly from off to on throttle instead of netural throttle and you get the big jerk in the drive train it does get your attention and has the potential to upset the supension which directly effect traction and sets up the potential for a bad situation. I try not to use 1st or 2nd gear and depend on the great torque the motor makes. Also I've tried to use some rear brake as I'm coming from off throttle which seems to help you just need to remember to release the brake as you will wind up pushing yourself wide if you are not careful. I'm coming to the conclusion this is an excellent bike BUT not a bike made to press hard in the corners unless you enjoy the thrill of not being in control. RIDE SAFE

 

[sleddoc]

You mentioned that you removed the tension from the center throttle spring, I did that and did the Barbarian jumper mod and then removed all of the slack from the throttle cable - idle the bike and turn the bars full turns both ways to make sure the idle does not change. I found with these changes and after 1600 miles I am very comfy on my 06, Part of it is just getting used to the touchy throttle. :lol: