Glad I have an FJR!

[CigarGuy]

Just a quick story that made me Smile.

On my way home from working, I was moving at a brisk clip down 80 headed back to Sacramento from Napa. Saw a bike in the distance, thought it may be an FJR so I tried to catch it. I caught it way too quickly for it to be an FJR. It was a BMW. safety in numbers and all, I rode with him through the traffic. Then, a Harley guy is in the distance weaving in and out of traffic. We stayed in the fast lane and caught up. He kept weaving in all three other lanes and gained no ground on us. He then made a smart decision and fell in line behind us. We then got onto I5 and the traffic came to a near halt. A few miles later, said BMW pulls to the right and exits, Harley guy still right behind me.

As I watch traffic come to a stop, I notice the headlight in my mirror getting smaller and smaller and then go out completely. My Harley buddy pulled off the road and had to stop. His bike obviously was not happy with him and just shut down.

A little smirk came upon my face, not because he broke down, but because that is never a fear of mine. I love my FJR and it has always been good to me. I guess there may be something to those rumors about Harley's terrible reliability! :haha:

Oh well, motoring on!

 

[Slick]

Cigar Guy,

I ride a Harley Ultra Classic. This is the big one with all of the saddle bags. I ride mine full throttle frequently on I-95 down in South Florida. I have no reliability issues. These bikes run full throttle just as well as any other bike. I have a 2007 bike with 26,000 miles and no problems. Too bad that full throttle is 115 with the wind and downhill... :angry2:

Can't wait to get my FJR and really go fast!

 

[teerex51]

2 years ago I rented a Harley Street Glide in Raleigh, NC and rode it through Deal's Gap, the Cherohala Skyway, the BRP etc.

I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable and "predictable" that bike was. Never missed a beat, always performed as expected.

Of course, I had to struggle to keep up with my FJR-riding brethren...

But I'll concur with the initial statement "Glad I have an FJR". The reliability and rock-steady behavior of this bike can't be beat.

While riding the HD, I got caught in the slipstream of a semi passing another on a freeway and got shook up like a leaf in a twister... :huh:

Stef

 

[beemerdons]

I agree with Slick, the modern Harley-Davidson is as reliable as any other current machine. Unless you hop them up by raising the compression and overboring for more horsepower than stock; once you hot-rod a Harley, reliability goes away!

2002 FXD has over 30K on it and has need nothing other than regular service. My 1984 H-D FLH "Big Red" had 212,000 miles on her when sold to a friend. I did a preventative/maintenance top end job on Red at 75K and again at 150K, but not because she was down on power on either occasion; did it just because I wanted to be safe and sure. Lower end and transmission were never disassembled, even though I advised my buddy to consider rebuilding both; lowered my price to my pal to account for it. Did put a new drive belt on it at 100K when going to Alaska, just kept original belt as a spare part.

 

[MojaveFJR]

Good write up. Too bad about the breakdown. Was waiting to hear how you dusted Mr. I GOT a HARLEY in the corners. That is the way it happens up here. When the road is straight they like to jack 'em up but when it comes to the curves, man that is why you need a day long saddle! Never saw a motorcycle have to be leaned, straighted, leaned, straighted....

Anyways, we all ride for the ride. Just good to be able to do it.

 

[LDRydr]

The H-D rider probably pulled over to cool off the insides of his thighs. Stopped traffic, warm weather, and an air-cooled engine make for hot thighs (of the wrong type).

Another "feature" on the late-model (2002+later) EFI H-D's is the three-phase heat-management system that progressively tries to reduce engine temperature under extreme conditions. Be aware that a rider with a very hot engine may notice the affects of this three phase heat management system and incorrectly assume an idle problem exists (think stopped in traffic).

Phase 1 - At approximately 320˚ F the ECM will gradually reduce engine idle speed until the engine temperature drops or the engine reaches 800 rpm.

Phase 2 - If engine temperature reaches 338˚ F the ECM richens the air/fuel ratio to provide additional cooling.

Phase 3 - If the engine temperature reaches 356˚ F fuel injector pulses are interrupted. The air drawn in and expelled helps cool the engine further. Since there is no combustion it would be perceived as a misfire. This third stage will only happen when the motorcycle is stationary.

These are head temps as indicated and NOT oil temps. I've experienced Phase 3 on my last H-D, and I gotta tell ya I thought the engine was about to let go. But knowing it was doing what it was designed to do I rode on, or more like idled on in the bad Seattle traffic.

 

[CigarGuy]

Glad to hear that the reliablility issues that I have heard are not necessarily true. For riding is the passion that keeps us all going. I love to see bikes of all kinds on teh road riding and not broken down.

The carefree mentality that I have is what always brings a smile to my face. I never have to worry about my FJR. She treats me well for sure.

I do also like that I could have dusted him on the twisties too! I gotta be honest!

 

[Scotty]

Just sold my HD. The engine had all the goodies - pistons, cam, screamin' eagle heads, VH. etc. Never broke down in 7 years of ownership. Now my FJR is my main long distance machine and it certainly leaves a HD in the curves but then again my new Ducati S4RS Monster will out corner the FJR. Of course, R1 might, just might leave me in the dust. At this point it is rider skill.