Florida dealers with "tick" experience?

[g2xx]

Gentlemen,

I bought a wrecked '04 with 16K+ miles from a co-worker. I had done my research with the help of this site and with Gary McCoy's superb service, I now have a pristine looking FJR. This bike was tick free prior to me buying it but now with an additional 1000 miles on a superb driver... it is ticking. Intermittently, but loud enough for others to comment on it. I even ordered a new cam chain tensioner and installed it at the onset. Not the cause. I have no warranty and my conscience won't let me try to sell it to an unaware buyer.

So, I have read alot about everything from how to approach the dealer to the actual fix and probable causes. This forum is a wealth of info. Has it been discussed about whether it would be helpful to list the dealers that members have used to get the work done? I'm in central Florida and would travel a good distance to find an experienced shop. Thanks again for any and all help.

 

[daviddowns2000]

I'll be interested in the replies...mine isn't ticking, but I did ask a couple of the service guys at Motorsports of Miami how many tickers they had repaired...he didn't know anything about the ticking issue, let alone having repaired any. He had been there about a year. I plan to ask the service manager the next time I'm there to see if he has a different take on it, but he hasn't been there very long either. Not sure if that is a good sign or a bad one.

 

[black mamba]

I don't know if they've dealt with a "ticker" yet, but Ron Turner Cycles in Jacksonville ( Yamaha dealer ) has one of the best equiped and competently staffed service departments I've ever seen. They do all my servicing and, despite me being an extremely picky owner, have managed to keep me completely happy. They are good folks....great to deal with.

 

[Yambone]

Making sure you saw this bit of info from Brundog's post (Daytona Review):

I spoke with a Yamaha Marketing Manager, Mark (Dipko)... He was a cool guy and is very aware of this and the other forums...I got the feeling that he believes this is an active internet community vs. the other bikes...he claims that the ticking issue is much, much smaller that we have all made it out to be. They WILL repair a ticker if it is out of warranty.

Keep that in your back pocket if it becomes an issue with your service dept. Once you pick your place for the repair, they could contact Mr. Dipko at Cypress, CA, Yamaha USA headquarters, if needed.

Several have posted their service dealers and horror stories and successes. Maybe more will come forward. I know Sunnyside Motorcycle in Washington state have done a few, and that is my dealer of choice. Hey, you said you were willing to travel a 'good' distance! :agent:

 

[vinnie]

bought mine at Broward Motorsports...

10K miles so far, waiting for the ticking...

Hope it never comes!

<_<

 

[daviddowns2000]

UPDATE: I rode up to Broward Motorsport in Davie (between Hollywood and Ft. Lauderdale) this morning to check out the service dept. Vinnie (RIP) used to have generally good things to say about them, so I went for a ride to see what I could find out. After talking with a service writer (very nice guy, but knew basically nothing about the FJR and its issues) I met the chief mechanic, Ed, a Yamaha specialist who others have mentioned as being good. He said he HAS done a couple of FJR tick repairs. Seemed to know the FJR quite well. Has been working at BMS forever, seemed like a good guy.

The only bad thing was that BMS charges $100/hour labor rate, so I will probably not be taking the bike there for non-YES work.

I asked what it would cost to do the swingarm lube, the steering lube, and to bleed the brakes (all jobs I would rather let someone else do)....estimate was $700 for 7 hours work. Time sounds about right, I guess, but it sure gave me sticker shock. So, I'm trying to figure out how best to hoist the bike in the side yard and dusting off the MightyVac.