Garage Queens Anonymous

[64Y80]

Hello, my name is Kevin and I own a garage queen. :blushing:

Have you ever gone through a time when circumstances conspire to keep you off the bike? Well, I have, love the bike, but finding time to ride has been near impossible for the last year or 2. Now, I've never been a seriously high mileage rider but this is embarassing.

I purchase my 2007 new in the spring of 2010, so I’ve owned it for 2 riding seasons. The current mileage is 6818.

It still has the OEM rubber on it. As a matter of fact I should be able to get another year out of these tires before I need to replace them with something that will last a little longer. <_<

Well, guess I'll head back out to the garage now and polish the bike. Maybe I'll go catch a bug and throw it against the windshield so I can try that dryer sheet technique for cleaning.

 

[Ken45]

Well Kevin, there is nothing that says that you have to run the legs off of a cycle to justify it. Last year I bought a '92 Nighthawk with 16,000 miles on it. That's less than 1000 miles per year over it's lifespan. I see a lot of bikes like that.

Honestly, I don't know how some people put 600 mile days in, it must be expressway riding. I enjoy my bikes on the backroads where 50 mph is about all I can average. I'm sure if you live in a metro area, you can't even average that kind of speed.

Measure it more in smiles per mile than in miles per year

Ken

 

[AVGeek]

Kevin, I'm in the same boat, and now I added another bike to the stable! I spend about half my time traveling for work, so both bikes sit there forlornly...

 

[64Y80]

Thanks guys.

On the upside, as a contribution to the forum, I can give a testimonial for the battery tender. It works as advertised and is very durable. :lol:

 

[Ken45]

I can give a testimonial for the battery tender. It works as advertised and is very durable. :lol:

Which brings up a question that I have. My 2011 FJR manual says the bike has a special battery and that normal battery chargers may damage it.

What's the deal?

Is a Battery Tender Jr. safe to use?

Ken

 

[escapefjrtist]

Which brings up a question that I have. My 2011 FJR manual says the bike has a special battery and that normal battery chargers may damage it.

What's the deal?

Is a Battery Tender Jr. safe to use?

Ken

There's a few options out there, one being a 'tender. It'll work just fine for your '11s battery.

--G

 

[64Y80]

I can give a testimonial for the battery tender. It works as advertised and is very durable. :lol:

Which brings up a question that I have. My 2011 FJR manual says the bike has a special battery and that normal battery chargers may damage it.

What's the deal?

Is a Battery Tender Jr. safe to use?

Ken

I'm no expert, but I would think it's ok. Yamaha lists the battery tender along with the optimate on their website.

 

[Ken45]

Thanks

 

[lonerider]

Hello, my name is Kevin and I own a garage queen. :blushing:

Have you ever gone through a time when circumstances conspire to keep you off the bike? Well, I have, love the bike, but finding time to ride has been near impossible for the last year or 2. Now, I've never been a seriously high mileage rider but this is embarassing.

I purchase my 2007 new in the spring of 2010, so I’ve owned it for 2 riding seasons. The current mileage is 6818.

It still has the OEM rubber on it. As a matter of fact I should be able to get another year out of these tires before I need to replace them with something that will last a little longer. <_<

Well, guess I'll head back out to the garage now and polish the bike. Maybe I'll go catch a bug and throw it against the windshield so I can try that dryer sheet technique for cleaning.

Don't feel bad; my '07 only has a little over 9k miles. Only half assed excuse I can offer is that I have 3 other bikes on the road, so I tend to split my riding between them. I might be more inclined to take the FJR on trips when I get around to mounting GIVI E41s on the side and get rid of the minuscule Yamaha bags.

 

[snikr]

And to think I feel bad cause my 04 only has 50k on it. I do know how you feel however as my kids were growing up I didn't have a lot of time to ride. It'll get better.

Tom

 

[Geno]

I know how you guys feel - until I retired a year ago, and the kids left the roost, I didn't have time either. In June, I bought my -11, and have 9000 on 'er so far. I had shoulder reconstruction surgery a month ago, so I've been idle for that long - driving me nuts. If I could figure out how to ride without my right arm, I'd be out there right now.

BTW, I see you folks on the East coast just got clobbered with snow. Guess that kinda puts a halt on fall riding for awhile. Incidentally, it's 75 here without a cloud in the sky...did that sound like a gloat?

 

[Eric L]

16000 miles in the past year, bike is covered with salt from today's ride. Both sliders scuffed from tip overs. I do believe she is happier that way.

 

[PhilJet09]

I have an enduro I never pulled out of the shed this year...for shame, for shame. If owning the bike still makes you happy then no reason for any regrets, at least that's how I feel about my bikes. Some years are better than others...so are beers.

 

[SkooterG]

A 2004 FJR with 4340 miles on it sits forlornly in the garage with a cover over it.

 

[beerme]

A 2004 FJR with 4340 miles on it sits forlornly in the garage with a cover over it.

Put some Sta-Bil in it, just in case D.O.W. xviii takes a digger.

 

[Pepperell]

A 2004 FJR with 4340 miles on it sits forlornly in the garage with a cover over it.

...And the wind cries...Mary...

 

[Arturo]

And my FJR is an 2007 with 2765 miles on the speedo.

I have injoyed every one of them.

 

[FJRay]

I just finished a full service on an 04 that was my neighbors. He passed away two weeks after we returned from NAFO in Colorado with only 12k on it. His widow likes having it in the garage for now just to look at and remember the good times. We have agreed that when she is ready it will be mine care for and ride the hell out of it because thats what he would want.

 

[Eric L]

I know how you guys feel - until I retired a year ago, and the kids left the roost, I didn't have time either. In June, I bought my -11, and have 9000 on 'er so far. I had shoulder reconstruction surgery a month ago, so I've been idle for that long - driving me nuts. If I could figure out how to ride without my right arm, I'd be out there right now.

BTW, I see you folks on the East coast just got clobbered with snow. Guess that kinda puts a halt on fall riding for awhile. Incidentally, it's 75 here without a cloud in the sky...did that sound like a gloat?

basterd :assassin: