FJR and the aftermarket

[weekend rider]

Has anyone looked into a scotts steering damptner I have seen them on other road bikes. Yes it would be a plus to have one mounted and be able to ride with one. My front tire is doing exactly what was said cupping because of corning.

I have a honda cr250r that I ride gncc with rode without damptner then put one on all the difference in the world. That front wheel tracks like it is supose to and stays put so it does not wash out on you and little imperfection in the road you will not notice them. If there out there please post the info as to where available.

During the summer I was riding in the sierras over by Kirkwood ski resort and saw an fjr with a scotts damptner on it, do not know where he was from or who he was, maybe someone else has seen this bike ?

weekend rider

 

[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

 

[Penforhire]

Seems to me there is "enough" aftermarket interest in FJR's considering our sales volume.

I almost had a nasty tankslapper the other day but I figure it was my own fault. I took both hands off the bars with the Vista Cruise locked at around 45 MPH to mess with my sleeve zippers and the bars started doing the nasty (wearing Avon's with a couple thou miles). Guess I'm just too slow because I see no value in adding a damper for my FJR.

 

[RadioHowie]

Seems to me there is "enough" aftermarket interest in FJR's considering our sales volume.
I almost had a nasty tankslapper the other day but I figure it was my own fault. I took both hands off the bars with the Vista Cruise locked at around 45 MPH to mess with my sleeve zippers and the bars started doing the nasty (wearing Avon's with a couple thou miles). Guess I'm just too slow because I see no value in adding a damper for my FJR.

I'm quoting you because your post is the PERFECT reason to have a damper on an FJR...worn, but not worn-out, tires causing a head shake at 45-50mph.

45-50mph is a very common speed to ride. Headshake at 45-50mph seems to be a very common occurence on FJRs with worn, but not worn-out, tires.

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.

The math works for me...6 tires a year (at my current miles-per-month rate) for $720...or 3 tires per year (again at my current m-p-m) at $360 + $125 for a steering damper. $485 versus $720. Hmmmm....tough choice. And that's just the first year. Every year following is just $360 versus $720, 'cause the steering damper is paid for.

I can make a case here simply on economics. Or I can make a case on safety. But it simply comes down to the #1 reason why I want a steering damper:

Because I want one! :bleh:

 

[ZZR12]

45-50mph is a very common speed to ride.  Headshake at 45-50mph seems to be a very common occurence on FJRs with worn, but not worn-out, tires.
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.

ya know radiohowie, you DO make a really good case for a steering damper... I really hadn't thought about it from the tire-life angle.

The ZZR is the same way. They eat tires, and develop headshake due to tire wear when there's still tread left. I tossed my last set of tires when they still had tread left because of bad headshake around 50mph.

Boy, I sure am glad there's a steering damper available for my bike!

 

[RadioHowie]

I'm figuring the ~50mph "effect" is probably due to similar size/weight motorcycles using similarly sized tires.

The first FJR I drove, a consignment bike at the Yamadealer, had a badly cupped Avon front tire. You could NOT relax your grip on the bars at 50mph or it was instant tank slapper.

My front Metzler is beginning to show cupping and is starting to develop the 50mph shimmy. Not into tankslapper mode...yet. But lock up the Vistacruise, let go of the bar, and off she goes, like a bobble-head doll.

Here's what I have on my ZRX, very "old school", perfect for a RetroBike like the ZRX:

And here's what I WANT on my FJR:

That's an R1 Scott damper, by the way. VERY slick. A friend has a Scott on his ZRX and loves it.

Unfortunately, the FJR isn't listed on the Scott website, but who knows, maybe they have a generic mount that works. I've emailed their tech-info department for an answer. Fingers crossed.

BTW, I've read the "Exploding Metzler" thread elsewhere on the Forum, so don't remind me.

 

[yanktar]

No Aftermarket? Here's a list of all the garbage I CURRENTLY have on my FJR, and what I intend to add:

Givi Windshield

FendaExtanda

TOGs

SheepHollow seat cover

ThrottleMeisters

Galfer Risers

Givi trunk

AeroStitch under-grip heaters

PathBlazer

SignalMinder

Powerlet outlets

Cycleistic passenger peg extenders

Plus:

Spiegler wave rotors

Wilbers springs

Wilbers shock

PowerCommanderIIIusb

Custom map for PCIII

HoleShot S/S slip-ons

and I STILL have yet to install (but own):

Spiegler brake lines

hugger

volt meter.

And there's all that stuff out there I don't have--and probably won't get.

 

[RadioHowie]

Great list of stuff.

But..but..but....

Where's the full exhaust or steering damper? I know, not nearly as performance oriented as a Sheephollow seat cover or volt meter, but hey, baby steps, right? :****:

 

[SilveradoSlick]

Hang in there Howie, Dale Walker will have your exhaust system in early '05... er, late sprint... er, late summer... er, soon. The only time I've had headshake is when lifting the front wheel. Kind of nice of the bike to let me know when the wheel is coming up. No shake with the 'stones and I never got enough mileage on the Avons to see if they'd give me the shakes. Hope you've found a damper by the time I slip on another set of Avons and get some mileage on them.

 

[RadioHowie]

Thanks for the reminder...headshakes when the wheel's off the ground.

I WANNA WHEELIE MORE!!!

 

[Bike Effects]

Unfortunately, the FJR isn't listed on the Scott website, but who knows, maybe they have a generic mount that works. I've emailed their tech-info department for an answer. Fingers crossed.

I am a Scotts dealer and they show a steering damper for the FJR1300 under development. I'll post when it becomes available.

 

[RadioHowie]

Hot dayum...not a moment too soon! Yee-hah!!

 

[ibsunburnt]

Didn't stop Corbin from building a $600 tail trunk no one wants.

RH I want one but, want the 600 bucks to.

Mr. Corbin if your watching wanna go 60/40 I'll take the 60 and pay freight! Oh for a 2005 FJR1300 Blue please.

 

[ibsunburnt]

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!"

 

[Captain Obvious]

Great list of stuff.
But..but..but....

Where's the full exhaust or steering damper?  I know, not nearly as performance oriented as a Sheephollow seat cover or volt meter, but hey, baby steps, right?  :****:

I believe removing or altering the cats is not legal in the US, so a full exhaust is out of the question for street use. Yeah other bikes have them for track use only.

Dealers can not by law work on a de-smogged vehicle, unless it is to bring into compliance. i.e. "certified emission specalist" replacing a cat.

As far as the dampner goes, at 8.5K on my stock MZ4's I don't have any headshake (never did) or odd wear. Other then some scared elephants...

I don't see a need for one and doubt that it would make the Avons less squirrely. They are like that on ALL bikes.

 

[RadioHowie]

I believe removing or altering the cats is not legal in the US, so a full exhaust is out of the question for street use. Yeah other bikes have them for track use only.

"For Offroad Use Only" How many folks you expect pay any attention to that? And doesn't stop dealers from selling them. You can buy a full system for a ZRX direct from Muzzy. The California ZRX has a cat in the muffler. Doesn't keep Muzzy from makeing and selling them.

Dealers can not by law work on a de-smogged vehicle, unless it is to bring into compliance. i.e. "certified emission specalist" replacing a cat.

Don't know if this is apocryphal information or not, or what state(s) it applies to. You saying the local Yamaha dealer won't change the oil if the cat's been removed?

As far as the dampner goes, at 8.5K on my stock MZ4's I don't have any headshake (never did) or odd wear. Other then some scared elephants...I don't see a need for one and doubt that it would make the Avons less squirrely. They are like that on ALL bikes.

Lucky you...but from the many threads I've read here and in the tech forum, lots of folks DO have wobbles/shakes/instabilities. Hell, it's been brought up in this thread by other posters. And it really doesn't matter whether you see the need for one or not, since you don't have a wobble problem. If you did, you would see the need. And again, I'll point out the #1 reason I'd like both a full exhaust system and a steering damper -- 'cause I'm willing to pay for and buy them. That's all that matters.

I can justify my desire to have any farkle available, from a beaded seat cover to HID headlight conversions. None of them are "needed", but I can justify the desire.

 

[Captain Obvious]

'cause I'm willing to pay for and buy them. That's all that matters

Then have them custom made.

 

[RadioHowie]

Donald Trump I ain't.

 

[yanktar]

Maybe before you get a steering damper I suggest you:

Fix your tires

Fix your suspension

Check your wheel alignment

Fix your riding style.

As for a full exhaust, DW is working on one, but they classically give more high-end HP and torque at the cost of low-end torque--esp on Yams with EXUP valves, because you lose that valve.

Just IMHO....

 

[yanktar]

Donald Trump I ain't.

Dang!

And I was just going to tell you why you should adopt me and make me your sole heir!

Now the deal's OFF! <_<