That actually made me worry - low mileage against that age makes me worry about seals and things drying out and not being properly used - engines like to be run in terms of their longevity. Still - it's a Yamaha - the motors are bulletproof, generally, right? There were only two things that stood out to me on the initial inspection. First - there are some scuffs on the bags and one of the mirrors. The bag scuffs are normal - I've never seen a used bike with hard luggage that didn't have them. The second was the fact that it needs a new rear tire. The front looked good, but the rear doesn't have a lot of life left. That tells me that the rear is probably original and the bike didn't see a lot of twisty riding. No telltale scrapes anywhere else, but the second inspection will be much closer. If it gets down to negotiation, I will work a new rear tire into the deal at least. I will likely need to lower the pegs some. Jury is still out on the seat and probably will be for a while. The liners weren't in the bags. Were those included in 2008? Good advice about the pumpkin. I'll check that out. Since the bike has likely been cleaned, detailed, is there any other way for me to verify a final drive issue?
Seems like nobody answered your question here.
Seals and things drying out: you have nothing to worry about. And yes, their engines are generally bulletproof.
Scuffs on the bags and mirrors: Obviously, the bike's been down. However, it's very common with these bikes. They are heavy and they will get away from you in the parking lot if you're clumsy, and many guys drop 'em. How deep are the scratches? We talking scuffs or deep gouges here? Check the engine cases as they sometimes get scuffed up as well. Not a deal breaker, but pannier (side case) repair is typically over a hundred bucks per. There's a guy on this website that'll give you a great price and a great job as well. Just ask the forum if you're interested. You're right on you guess about the tires. They're probably original. 7k is pretty normal for the factory rear tire. The wear on them will cause the bike to require a little more push to initiate a turn... due to the flat center section, but since you know what to expect, it shouldn't be much of a factor.
Liners: yes the bike came with them, they're about 60-80 bucks used on this forum... when they pop up occasionally. Check the cost of new ones for negotiating.
Pumpkin: don't worry about it too much. A little oil splooge is the worst problem it will have, but has more than likely been wiped off when they cleaned it. All you can do is look at it carefully. The bike's miles should make any pumpkin maintenance simply precautionary. FJR's have bulletproof pumpkins as well.
Advice:
Look carefully for evidence that the bike has been apart. Check for all the plastic rivets to be in place... for example, up under the side covers and in the center of the fairing just in front of the handlebars. Those little rascals are pricey and several were missing when I bought mine used. It was 6 years old with 3800 miles when I bought it... a similar issue to yours. I've had no problems associated with the low miles.
A minor item: listen for clunking when you first hit the front brakes. FJR's occasionally have a odd clunking sound that you can often times feel in the handlebars as well. Sometimes this is remedied by servicing the steering head bearings, other times it a variety of causes. Not real common, and not a deal breaker, but something to listen for.
We do need to know what they're asking for the bike. You may indeed be paying too much. Maybe I didn't read carefully enough, but is it all stock?
Gary
darksider #44
