FJRF013 - Transmission Recall for Second Gear (DE, UK, CA, & US) (2016-2020)

[GPRIDER]

My dealer ordered the parts when I went in just to talk about it. Wanted too see if they had already done one. They hadn't. Anyway the parts came in several months ago and they keep bugging me to bring it in. I asked how busy they were and was told very busy. I said doesn't that mean my bike will just be sitting around for a while till you can get to it? Their reply was yes. I told them I would bring it in after the riding season when things slow down.

                                                   GP

 

[Torchsport]

Just completed 14,000 miles on my rebuilt tranny. Perfect so far. 

 

[Ridercoach]

I don`t read Dutch. Does anyone know what the issue is?

Apparently 2nd gear, if the bike is run hard, can somehow crack and perhaps break completely. With a shared case with the motor, definitely not a good thing. has anyone heard WHY the gear is subject to doing this? Saw something yesterday suggesting that in order to get the 6sp, which everyone has been clamoring for, in the same case ,i.e., no engine redesign, the gear(s) are perhaps "thinner" than the old 5 sp. Not sure what info Yamaha is putting out as to the "why" but they seem to be a quiet bunch, so I would not expect them to tell us. Perhaps a shop that has done a recall or two might have the skinny on this.

I love my 2012 and would like to move to a newer version but am a but concerned about the possibility of thinner gears. Not a big fan of the black wheels either and would rather have the alloy as an option, but Yamaha is pretty much "take it or leave it". Never understood why they did not offer either black or silver in addition to their "color of the year", but I am glad they moved away from the matte paints (well, for 2022 at least)

 

[Sunnyorlando]

A recall for the recall is in! The ECUs can be reflashes to eliminate the "overly restrictive" RPM control while the clutch is open and in 1st & 2nd gears under 30MPH.
I'm glad I was not the only one feeling this way about tha issue.

 

[RBEmerson]

Getting the second gear swap was a cluster fornication of the highest order. Yamaha took forever to get the parts to the dealer (yes, I believe that), and then changed the how-to from "drop the motor" to leaving at the top half of the motor in place. AFAIK, none of the recalled bikes showed any problem with the affected parts.

One thing and another, it's going to be a long while before I can get my '17 to the dealer. I'm inclined to ignore this one.

 

[Lou D]

My dealer who happens to be the head mechanic told me that if it were his bike he would not do the recall. Mine runs great so that`s the way I am leaving mine.

 

[HAPPY JACK]

Had a 2013 A modal 35k no problem no fix. Now I have a 2018 ES had the 2nd gear thing done last winter. Cluster F___K!! Fought the bike all summer swore I get it right! Ivan to the rescue! Happy camper! The day after I reinstalled the ECU I got the second recall notice, After riding with Ivan's handy work, I really recommend his work especially the 3rd riding mode! NO MORE JERKING! Easier shifting, all around better experience!

 

[sparky80]

My dealer who happens to be the head mechanic told me that if it were his bike he would not do the recall. Mine runs great so that`s the way I am leaving mine.

Yep, my thoughts exactly. The first recall didn't come out til last year sometime and I didn't hear of hundreds or even 5 people complain that their 6 speed FJR was having issues. Now all of a sudden they're all doomed to fail? MANY guys have run these bikes at IBR's with no issues at all with a "bad" transmission.
Kudos for Yamaha for trying to make right a slight wrong for a handful of people.... but my FJR is staying just the way it is.... "bad" transmission and all.

 

[Dodger]

My dealer ordered the parts when I went in just to talk about it. Wanted too see if they had already done one. They hadn't. Anyway the parts came in several months ago and they keep bugging me to bring it in. I asked how busy they were and was told very busy. I said doesn't that mean my bike will just be sitting around for a while till you can get to it? Their reply was yes. I told them I would bring it in after the riding season when things slow down.

GP

I got mine done, 2 days at the shop and everything runs just as before, which is great. No problems after about 10,000 kms and I am not expecting any.

 

[GPRIDER]

Dropped my 2016 off two weeks ago today. I've heard nothing back yet. Starting to get slightly concerned. They told me it would be a week to a week and a half. I'm more concerned about getting it back fixed right than I am about it taking longer to fix it. The mechanic working on it hasn't done one yet and has never been into a FJR engine except for a valve check. Hoping for the best.

GP

 

[Stat]

Mine took almost 2 weeks. It worked fine after although I had to take it apart before winter as they tucked the battery tender cable up on top of the battery. While it was apart I could see they struggled with tools, lots of scratches. The bike did not leak before and doesn't afterward so that is good.

 

[Kendoo]

Took mine in just before Christmas, it was ready 3 working days later. It was the 40th one they did. Feeling pretty confident they have it figured out by now. 160K on it and shifting better than ever. I never had any transmission or Cruise Control issues, but what the heck, got a free oil and coolant change out of it. LOL

 

[GPRIDER]

After a little over three weeks, I decided to go over to the dealership where I left my bike to get the recall done. Wanted to see where they were at on getting started on it. I saw the mechanic up at the service desk and he said he had started on it and said come on out and look at it. I thought to myself that I probably shouldn't. Thought it might be hard to see my bike like that. I went out anyway. Holy Crap! My mental wellness will never be the same. He had pretty much stripped everything off the bike and it was just the frame and tires and wheels. Body parts were stacked everywhere. He even took the windshield off. The engine was on a table and he hadn't opened it up yet. Needless to say, I should have never gone out there to look. I don't see any way that this bike will be close to the same after this. Oh well..... Luckily I stlll have my trusty 2012 FJR for a back up.

 

[Archer]

even took the windshield off

sounds like cadaver training, mini-tech day for Texas yammy techs. We need a tech day up here. GL with getting back. please post update...

 

[GPRIDER]

I got my 2016 back a few weeks ago. Seems to be ok with the exception of a few scratched and damaged parts. They are replacing one of the parts. I've put around 100 miles of so on it. Shifts fine and is not leaking oil yet. The tech that did the work had never done more than a valve check on an FJR. He pulled way more parts off the bike than needed to get the engine out. I'm surprised there was not more damage done. Trying to look on the positive side. Hopefully I will get many miles out of this bike with no more problems or recalls from Yamaha.

GP

 

[sullivan]

Done. The dealer brought a senior technician over from another location to do the recall. Less than a whole day! He was test-riding at 2:34pm. Picking up my '19 this morning, fingers crossed.
Also did the brake switch? recall and the refresh.

 

[RossKean]

Done. The dealer brought a senior technician over from another location to do the recall. Less than a whole day! He was test-riding at 2:34pm. Picking up my '19 this morning, fingers crossed.
Also did the brake switch? recall and the refresh.

That is remarkable! I would love to watch someone like that working on a bike. Efficient and confident to get all of that done in just a few hours.

 

[CollingsBob]

In 2021 I rode 2100km’s from Winnipeg to Kelly’s Cycle in Hamilton to get the recall done.
Why Hamilton? Well, one of the Yamaha dealers in Winnipeg told me that he couldn’t do the recall until Sept. or Oct. when I asked him about it January - that arse is now out of business. The other dealer told me to come back in 3 or 4 months. Both of these idiots asked me if I had purchased my bike from them when I first asked them about the recall.
So…I rode from Winnipeg to Huntsville, Ont. for a FJR rally, then, when the rally was over I rode to Hamilton, checked in to a hotel, rented a car and visited friends including raYzerman. Kelly’s was amazing. They had the bike done in 2.5 days - exactly as they said they would if I dropped the bike off at 9:00am on Monday - including replacing the relay arm with one that had been modified with zerk fittings by snowflake while the engine was out. I then took 3 full days to ride home with no drama except for riding through the tail of the tornado that hit Barrie, Ont…I can tell you that Klim Latitude gear is perfectly waterproof in a torrential downpour.

 

[sullivan]

That is remarkable! I would love to watch someone like that working on a bike. Efficient and confident to get all of that done in just a few hours.

They must have had a tech prep the bike with some disassembly. Full 26 pages of instructions given to me, calling for 15 hours. Runs fine. Nice to have it back.