RossKean
Well-known member
Don't think you can check on-line, but a Yamaha dealer should be able to help.I have the VIN already actually. Do you know a place to check it online or should I go into a dealer?
That recall PDF is useful. I'll have to check the vin plate to see if it's been "punched"
It looks like if we have a two week or so period of sub 30 degree PA weather, I should grab the propane heater and go ahead and rebuild all of these spider grounds.
These heated grips aren't factory. I can see that little box that seemingly all older bikes with aftermarket heating come with. Hopefully I don't need to re-wire that too! It also has aftermarket lights. My local dealer has an 06 FJR, 50k miles, but they wanted $7000 for it! I was naively interested until the salesman tried starting it and it cranked once and not again (dead battery). I asked how long it had been sitting, he said a day.... It had another non OEM fuse box under the passenger seat, lights, a phone charger, heated gear controller... I was figuring I'd just go ahead and have to redo everything... But it couldn't even do a test ride. He charged the battery, then I got it down the street and stalled it and it again couldn't crank. The battery must have been totally shot. But, after that my friend looked on marketplace and found this 08 for $4400 listed the same morning. Going to get it Saturday, I am excited. So all is well!
About the seat. I'm not very big, so I don't *need* a crazy good seat. I've put maybe 25k on my VFR800, 400 miles / 9 hours a day was when I'd start getting uncomfortable. We'll have to see how I get along with this FJR's stock seat. It might not ever need upgrading with me on it.
Having put 300k on 2nd gen FJRs, how do you feel about the gearboxes? I've heard from my friend who went from his older automatic one to his new manual 6 speed one and he says the gearbox will be a little noisier, less smooth, and might rev a little higher on highways. Thoughts?
Read this on servicing/repairing spiders
https://www.fjrforum.com/threads/my-spider-bite-story.170085/
Gearbox is practically bulletproof. The 6-speeds are a few hundred RPM lower at highway speed for a little less buzz and marginally better fuel economy, but I never had any issues and certainly nowhere close to red line at any sane speed - even in fourth. There was a recall for most of the 6-speed transmissions - replaced some gears.
A few problems reported for bent shift forks in the five speed (2nd gear mostly), but usually attributed to abuse.
An aftermarket fuseblock (switched and unswitched circuits) is the way to go for electrical accessories. Just make sure it is all wired correctly. I hate having multiple leads hanging off my battery. Check out Fuzeblock FZ1 or some of the offerings from Eastern Beaver.
FJR is fairly kind to batteries. I never use a tender (just an occasional top-off during the winter). Still running the 12 year old, 100,000 mile OEM battery in my 2011.