Gear changers

[tschutter]

So I should take a class? I was going to spend my winter running the bike, on the main stand, in the garage, shifting up and down as I slide left to right through imaginary curves - till the CO makes me tip right off the seat.

 

[Ishkatan]

Hi all,
About to purchase a 2014 model, would like to know if you do or have had issues with gear changers done without the clutch? going through after first at the lights or stopped. I do it all the time on my Triumph Sprint had for 5 years with more than 100,000km on the clock and had no issues with this.
I'm sure i'll have plenty more questions to ask as I work way forward looking after my new to me.
Thanks Ozzie in NZ

Go for a lightly used Gen 2 FJR 1300AE. Clutchless shifting with either foot or button on the handlebar. Only 5 speeds but cruises at 4000 rpm at 100mph indicated, 90mph real.

 

[SkooterG]

Go for a lightly used Gen 2 FJR 1300AE. Clutchless shifting with either foot or button on the handlebar. Only 5 speeds but cruises at 4000 rpm at 100mph indicated, 90mph real.

I can guarantee the FJR does not show 100 mph indicated at 4,000 rpm in 5th gear.

https://www.fjrowners.com/threads/gear-speed-rpm-ratio-chart.143519/?post_id=1170301#post-1170301

 

[Ishkatan]

I may not be remembering the RPM right - might have been closer to 4500 or up but I do recall my speedometer and my phone GPS. I wanted to see 100 for at least for a short distance on a 55 mph speed limit highway where everyone else was running 70-80+ mph and I was passing in the left lane (not weaving.) Once I got to 100 I slowed down to 80-90 on the speedometer. However, many speedometers are usually quite off and I am pretty sure mine is off by 7-8%.

 

[mcatrophy]

I can guarantee the FJR does not show 100 mph indicated at 4,000 rpm in 5th gear.

https://www.fjrowners.com/threads/gear-speed-rpm-ratio-chart.143519/?post_id=1170301#post-1170301

Quite right. I've spent a while (my better half said wasting my time) doing the hard sums for various bikes, including the three FJR gearbox variants.

You can find the index for all the ones I've done here, or click for direct links for the three: FJRs: 2004 (all Gen 1), 2006 (all Gen 2 and Gen3 five-speed) and for 2016 (six-speed).

And if you want to play, you can edit any of the variables and see what happens, might be of interest to those who like to play different tyre sizes, or for any with the data for other bikes (or any other vehicle).

I currently run the six-speed YCC-S variant (AS in the UK, would have been AE in the American and Canadian), its gear changing is significantly improved over the older ones. Yamaha uses the throttle-by-wire to at least unload the gearbox while it changes gear. Enables holding the throttle wide and just flicking the finger switch to change up, butter smooth changes. 0 to jail with zero skill in a very few seconds .

 

[torch]

You can find the index for all the ones I've done here, or click for direct links for the three: FJRs: 2004 (all Gen 1), 2006 (all Gen 2 and Gen3 five-speed) and for 2016 (six-speed).

Interesting. The Gen 1 chart seems a bit optimistic compared to what I recall. IIRC, top speed of Pandora in 5th gear at redline was 253kph (157mph) -- and it took a looong, slightly downhill, straight to get there!. Confirmed by GPS. Your chart shows 165 mph.

I haven't tried it with a later generation, but in theory should be slightly higher as your charts show. If in fact the motor can reach red line in top gear, which is doubtful.

Not that the final number matters that much -- at anywhere near those speeds you are toast if something goes wrong. Like a deer.

 

[SkooterG]

Interesting. The Gen 1 chart seems a bit optimistic compared to what I recall. IIRC, top speed of Pandora in 5th gear at redline was 253kph (157mph) -- and it took a looong, slightly downhill, straight to get there!. Confirmed by GPS. Your chart shows 165 mph.

I haven't tried it with a later generation, but in theory should be slightly higher as your charts show. If in fact the motor can reach red line in top gear, which is doubtful.

Not that the final number matters that much -- at anywhere near those speeds you are toast if something goes wrong. Like a deer.

Yeah, back in my younger days with my '04 FJR there were a lot of top speed runs. Top speed for my '04 was anywhere between 151 mph and 157 mph as shown by GPS depending on loading and weather conditions. Speedometer was showing a good 10mph higher at those speeds. Once while skirting a thunderstorm I got caught in the microbursts. At first I was riding sideways but when it transitioned to a strong tailwind I saw a gps 162 mph top speed on my '04! IIRC, the Gen I FJR's rev limiter wouldn't kick in until 10,000, or 10,500 rpm even though redline is at 9k rpm.

I don't do as many top speed runs as I used to but I haven't been able to get a Gen III up to a gps speed of 150 mph. Rev limiter also kicks in at 9,500 rpm.

 

[Whooshka]

Those charts probably don't take aerodynamic drag into account.