Got an F4i

[chrisflock]

I just got an 03 F4i.

I hope my FJR isn't the jealous type.

Anyone else got one of these beasts?

 

[Brodie]

I just got an 03 F4i.
I hope my FJR isn't the jealous type.

Anyone else got one of these beasts?

I got an '04, it's my daughter's bike.

It's a sweet little thing. But it sure has a split personality when you wind it up. I drove it for about a month and a half while my bike was laid up last year.

Can't wait to go darkside on it.

Brodie

 

[chrisflock]

I got an '04, it's my daughter's bike.
It's a sweet little thing. But it sure has a split personality when you wind it up. I drove it for about a month and a half while my bike was laid up last year.

Can't wait to go darkside on it.

Brodie

Is that top box mounted right to the rear seat? Cool!

So, do you happen to know if there is a mark somewhere on the rear shock that tells me what setting it is on? (I see the numbers all around the side, but I don't see an arrow pointing to one of them or anything...)

And is that an aftermarket steering damper on there?

 

[Brodie]

It's a Scotts steering damper on it. I bought the bike from one of my son's friends. He used it for a track bike for a little while. It used to have the Repsoil livery, I think he dropped it a few times and just had it painted black.

The rear shock has a 7 step cam for preload. You need a toothed spanner to move it. It also has an adjustable damper setting as well as a compression damper on the remote reservoir. The front end also has preload (the large hex), rebound damping (top of the forks), and compression damping(near the axle on both legs). It's quite adjustable when freshly serviced.

My daughter wanted to drive it to school and the skating rink. No way was I going to have her ride with her ice skates in a backpack, so I found a seat on eBay and mounted the Givi trunk to it. It looks way out of place, but at least it sits forward closer to center of mass.

She took the MSF course, drove it a few times then moved out of the house leaving it behind. Poor thing, I have to give it some exercise every once in a while.

The other thing I think is a Godsend is the Loobman chain oiler I have mounted to the passenger peg. That chain never runs dry, just a squeeze every 50 miles or so and it's happy.

Have fun with your little bike. :clapping:

Brodie

 

[jcyuhn]

I just bought a pristine (2K miles!) '01. With a Corbin saddle, fresh PR2s, and soft luggage, my wife is riding it as a sport-tourer. Have to say I am really impressed with it. All the controls, the gearchanges, the fuel mapping, is so smooth and feels just right. I wouldn't want to put in a 500 mile day on it, but it sure shows out some faults in the FJR (engine vibes, throttle response, and surging, anyone?).

I got an '04, it's my daughter's bike.
Brodie

Hmmm... Only 01-03 had the split seat, 04-06 changed to a "banana" seat. But it's not unheard of to swap out the seat subframe...

 

[chrisflock]

I just bought a pristine (2K miles!) '01. With a Corbin saddle, fresh PR2s, and soft luggage, my wife is riding it as a sport-tourer. Have to say I am really impressed with it. All the controls, the gearchanges, the fuel mapping, is so smooth and feels just right. I wouldn't want to put in a 500 mile day on it, but it sure shows out some faults in the FJR (engine vibes, throttle response, and surging, anyone?).

I got an '04, it's my daughter's bike.
Brodie

Hmmm... Only 01-03 had the split seat, 04-06 changed to a "banana" seat. But it's not unheard of to swap out the seat subframe...

I wondered about that, but I wasn't 100% sure what year the swap was.

I know what you mean about it, the F4i does just feel 'right'.

 

[I h8 winter]

I got an 02 F4i

 

[I h8 winter]

.

 

[Designer]

Very nice bike. My buddy has an 01 F4I and he uses his for touring. During our last Black hills trip he opened up his F4I and blew the plug right out of the head, all the threads were pulled out (10MM). He had to rent a giant U-haul to get the bike home but he was able to insert heli-coil to fix the problem. Good luck with your bike.

 

[CAJW]

I HAD an 02'. Like was posted above, split personality, very docile around town, but hit 9K and she really moves out. I really miss her and would've kept it around iffin I knew I was moving into the heart of many twisty roads in CA. My SuperMoto fills the void nicely, but still miss the F4i. Add heated grips, Double Bubble windscreen, RD and you're ready to have some fun!

 

[chrisflock]

I HAD an 02'. Like was posted above, split personality, very docile around town, but hit 9K and she really moves out. I really miss her and would've kept it around iffin I knew I was moving into the heart of many twisty roads in CA. My SuperMoto fills the void nicely, but still miss the F4i. Add heated grips, Double Bubble windscreen, RD and you're ready to have some fun!

RD?

I don't know if you all checked out my ride report, but I ended up taking the F4i on a little trip to the UP of Michigan. It stood in well as a touring bike, though obviously there wasn't as much storage space as the FJR.

 

[noland]

I had a F4. Hated it. Small. Great acceleration and brakes but PSYCHOTIC - Steering is twitchy. I could not trust that machine carrying speed into sweepers and decreasing radius turns. Made me miss my favorite bike, my GSXR750. Suzuki does sport so freakin' well. My FJR is a natural progression from the GSXR as I get older and appreciate a more comfortable ride. Please let me know what your experience is with the F4 after a while. Thanks!

 

[UselessPickles]

FJR > F4I: