FJR and the aftermarket

[Shane Stump]

The "market neglect" is because most manufacturers won't risk capital investment into something they consider "risky".
For example, when I first decided to develop my software program Drivers Log, didn't expect to get rich, but I though many motorcycle riders would want to keep track of the various aspects of their motorcycle - I was WRONG! I actually sell more copies of DL to people with RVS, planes, and boats (I never saw it coming).

Best Regards,

Shane

--------------------

Shane Stump

Author of Drivers Log

Software for Those On The GO!

www.StumpWare.com

DL Download: www.StumpWare.com/DriversLogSetup.exe

DL's price increase going into effect REAL SOON!! Better hurry!

to quote you... "DL's price increase going into effect REAL SOON!! Better hurry!"

Why if?

to quote you... "didn't expect to get rich, but I though many motorcycle riders would want to keep track of the various aspects of their motorcycle - I was WRONG!"

The reason I raised the price of DL was as follows:

1) I have noticed with software that if the price is too low, people don't take it serious and think it should be FREE!

2) I have several dealers who want to sell it - $39 doesn't leave much room when many of them want to make a certain amount of $$ per copy if they are going to stock it.

3) I am moving away from the hobbyists market and more to professionals; that is, people who need to keep expenses for a living. Most hobbyists don't want to spend $$$ on software.

Hope this clarifies.

Best Regards,

Shane

 

[tstaff]

RH

check out this site, several options for dampers.

https://www.exoticsportbike.com/steering_dampers.htm

would need to modify mounting bracket @ front of tank for the FJR.

I have had a damper on all of my race bikes & several street bikes, well worth the money for aggressive riders, on any bike.

 

[RadioHowie]

Thanks for the link.

Lots of options for many makes and models, but once again, nothing specific for the FJR.

Hoping for something in the future from Scott/Ohlins.

 

[yamahlr]

Iemailed w/ Dale a few weeks ago. The full FJR system w/o cats is built and he was testing with and w/o a crossover pipe to see what was the best. The best estimate we could give was sometime around winter. We usually talk around the holidays so I'll report back then. As for the Scotts damper, did you call them? If someone is in their area w/ an FJR and willing to let them have the bike for a mock-up, most companies usually give that person theirs for free in exchange for the bike. I've did a number of how to articles in the 80's installing 4X4 parts for various mags and never paid for the parts installed and tested.

 

[Bounce]

...or is the FJR seriously ignored by the aftermarket?
Sure, plenty of Long Distance stuff available, but even that is mostly "niche" items that apply to many bikes on the market.

I'm talking about FJR-specific items...most specifically, 1) an aftermarket full-system exhaust and 2) an FJR specific steering damper.

I really am surprised someone like Muzzy or Akro doesn't make one, or Ohlins/Scott in the damper department.

Or maybe I'm just not able to find them, cleverly hidden as they are, on the Internet.

Interesting list of items that I don't (personally) see a need for. Steering damper? Er... okay.

I saw the aftermarket as swimming in the things I want (light brackets, bar risers, dash shelf, etc.) and need (custom seat, tank bag, etc.) for the bike and some that I'd like but have so many other things to buy that those may never be bought (rear hugger).

 

[Bounce]

But Bots-dots make your feej handle funny? Seriously? Are you sure there isn't a bigger problem with the bike? It sounds mighty suspicious that bots-dots would make you think you need a steering damper.

Maybe he means the Mondo-Bots (3+" tall and as wide around). :blink:

 

[Bounce]

So do I throw away a front tire that still has 3-4 thousand miles left in it because of the headshake?  At the rate I'm racking up mileage on my FJR, that's gonna be a new tire every 2 months.  So for the price of a $125 steering damper -- what one cost for my ZRX -- I double the useable life of my front tire, at the cost of $125 per tire.

Nope. You adjust your steering hear bearing torque and check your tire pressure (before relying on after market add ons). But it seems you ride your FJR like it was an R1, so it may be outside its design envelope.

https://www.bikes-n-spikes.org/maint/shb/shb.html

 

[broodwich]

After owning the BMW F650 CS (the bike nobody seems to buy, in the states that is) I am quite happy with the list of aftermarket equipment available. The hooligan in me would like to see a full exhaust for the FJR maybe something from Akrapovic but if it was available I don't know if I would be willing to spend the money to get one.

 

[bike811]

The Scotts type damper, and other rotary type dampers, are the best type suited to custom applications on bikes with full fairings, that were not originally designed with one in mind. The linear types (that look like shocks) are nearly impossible to fit neatly on a bike like the FJR, due to the tight quarters around the stearing area. In order to add a Scotts type damper, some machining would be required. The pivot center of the damper, and the axis of the steering head should be lined up, with the damper's pivot arm driven by a post mounted to the frame, probably with the front tank mount bolts.

I have a Scotts on my dirt bike. They do help in some types of off road riding (I know that is unrelated). I have sometimes pondered, while riding the FJR, whether it would be any benefit. It might be nice on some road conditions, and maybe on a windy superslab with the windshield up. Is it worth it on my FJR? I have not made it down the farkle list to the fork brace yet. I feel sure the FJR would likely benifit from that first. Plus, the stem mounted XM radio would need to be worked around, and it would take up space, be more to remove during maintenance, etc.

I have access to a machine shop where I work, and I have a damper on another bike in the garage to experiment with.... It was never really on my list, and I'm not sure I would really want it mounted on the bike. but what the heck.... Maybe after the brace, I can fart around with it and see how it feels. Some of my friends think I add too much crap to my bikes, so I try not to pick on others for wanting to add stuff, unless I can make a joke about it. I do sometimes make fun of some guys I know from work, who spend as much on crome for their HDs as I do for a whole bike.

John