Howdy - Tell me about my 2003

[fairytat]

Hi Fairytat! There are a few of us FJR riders in the area....give me and/or dragonfly a shout, we both ride 2-up with our wives so if you run with us you won't feel out numbered by the guys. I have a corbin seat and the stock seat with the Spencer mod...if you wanted to try the spencer mod I could loan it to you for a ride one day.
Also, my last FJR was a 2003....but I ride a 2005 now.....be sure to stop by at nashvilleriders.com and see if we have any local rides scheduled. I look forward to riding with you soon.

Hey! Nice to see another middle TN rider here. I'll check out the website. I don't worry too much about feeling outnumbered. I ride mostly with guys. A lot of lady riders don't appreciate my aggressive riding style. I never cared much if I looked good riding, I just want to have a great time. I'd love to check out the Spencer mod. We'll have to do that sometime.

 

[fairytat]

Ask the Forum if someone would loan you a set of seats so you can have yours rebuilt, or ask if someone would sell a set that you could have rebuilt.

DAMN IT Alan, get outta my head!

Christey - if you want to get your seat customized, I have a spare GenI stock seat (driver and passenger) you can borrow while the work is being done.

And definitely keep an eye out for seats for sale - I bought my Russell from someone on this forum several years ago. As Sooze says, she gives the Russell "two buns up."

I might take you up on that. I'm gonna wait a bit longer and see if I run across a used one. I've been looking at the Saddlemen seats but I don't see very many people talking about them so that makes me think it's not a great choice. The Russell seems like the seat to have but they do look a little odd. Just sayin

 

[wheatonFJR]

Ask the Forum if someone would loan you a set of seats so you can have yours rebuilt, or ask if someone would sell a set that you could have rebuilt.

DAMN IT Alan, get outta my head!

Christey - if you want to get your seat customized, I have a spare GenI stock seat (driver and passenger) you can borrow while the work is being done.

And definitely keep an eye out for seats for sale - I bought my Russell from someone on this forum several years ago. As Sooze says, she gives the Russell "two buns up."

I might take you up on that. I'm gonna wait a bit longer and see if I run across a used one. I've been looking at the Saddlemen seats but I don't see very many people talking about them so that makes me think it's not a great choice. The Russell seems like the seat to have but they do look a little odd. Just sayin

I try not looking at the seat while riding...

...and my butt doesn't check with my eyes first to determine whether it hurts or not.

 

[Chiefblueman]

What benefit is the subframe stiffener?

Keeps your little spindly subframe from cracking from loading/overloading the top case. I don't know the design, but that's certainly the intent.

It's been known to happen.

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/151850-gen1-subframe-stiffener-kit/

 

[wfooshee]

You've already got the Yammy topbox judging from your avatar pic. If you want to actually carry stuff as you travel, consider saving up for a Givi, as well as the seat you want to buy. Givi's rack/handrail is steel tubing, replacing the stock plastic rack/handrail assembly. There is no one reporting a subframe crack failure who uses the Givi rack. The Givi boxes are much more useful in shape and volume, as well.

If you need to delve into the bike further than just lifting the tank, I humbly refer you to my fairing and cowl removal thread for Gen-I FJRs. It's not in the FAQs like Kaitsdad's Gen-II thread, which I find to be an egregious oversight and an affront to my status here by the powers that be

, and even I have to Google it to find it when I want it.

A big +100000 on the Master Yoda riding position. Put no weight on your hands. Any forward lean should be at the hip joints, not in the spine. Back straight, then. Legs and back hold up your upper body, your arms and hands do not. To check your position, let go of the bars while riding. If you have to shift your weight, then your position was incorrect.

I've been babysitting my brother's VTR for a couple of years. He abandoned it here when he moved to CA, apparently unwilling to ride it that far. (Gee, wonder why. How many gas stops would it take to get a 100-mile-range bike from here to there!!!!!????!) So changing your posture will be a BIG step from that bike to this. The VTR is a hoot for a half hour or so, but then I'm ready to park it and do something else. But it surprises me to hear you say one of the reasons you went to the FJR from that was lean angle. Was your VTR lowered or something? I seriously doubt the FJR has a lean angle advantage over that.

 

[Chiefblueman]

Big difference between VTR and the VTX Fairytat was riding.

 

[wfooshee]

Hell. Read is hard.

OK, never mind on the lean angle thing. Seating position difference still applies....

 

[fairytat]

If you need to delve into the bike further than just lifting the tank, I humbly refer you to my fairing and cowl removal thread for Gen-I FJRs. It's not in the FAQs like Kaitsdad's Gen-II thread, which I find to be an egregious oversight and an affront to my status here by the powers that be

, and even I have to Google it to find it when I want it.

I wish I had seen this prior to installing the slider pegs. It would have helped a lot with my learning curve. I did discover during that process that the bolt holding the two pieces together at the bottom under the radiator is missing. I need to look into finding a replacement.

 

[fairytat]

Big difference between VTR and the VTX Fairytat was riding.

Huge difference! I have learned the the VTX was a big, low cumbersome bike. It had foot boards and those things scraped turning too hard into a parking lot. It was fun to go down the road dipping from side to side making them scape. I even had titanium plates on the bottoms of the boards for a minute so I could get pretty sparks when they touched the ground.

Then I learned that riding a bike that makes sense for me was way more fun.

 

[Chiefblueman]

Sounds like you had good fun on the VTX. I think dragging titanium bits on the FJR would be kewl

 

[McRide]

You may be disapointed after changing to another tire.... I've had most of the 'blue chip' brands over the years and IMHO, the Conti Motions are the best for neutral steering aka agressive riding,althoug not the best on mileage. To each his/her own...

 

[Scooper]

I'll chime in on Dyna Beads . Have run them on a few Pilot Road 2's now with great results.

Welcome home by the way.

Scooper

IBA # 55459

 

[Warpdrv]

I wouldn't be too overly worried about scraping the highway pegs on the FJR, you really have to be very very aggressive to get them to scrape. I ride pretty darn aggressive and its very rare that I have touched them to pavement. I'm not saying it can't be done or doesn't but unless your a track/sportbike rider its rare you will see an issue.

I know what your saying about the pegs on the VTX. Rode one for a little bit and my god it makes me wonder how people ride those things.... I prefer to turn when I need to turn and not worry about scrapin metal.

 

[jmgrif]

I have Wild Bill brackets with some after market pegs? The pegs fold back if extended in a fairly hard lean but if that happens my primary peg feeler is lifting my foot which is about as far as I'm comfortable with! If I were to touch the hard bits on the highway peg I would be off the bike and sliding on my ass. My bike is 2nd Gen and maybe the attachment location to a Gen 1 is different?

 

[fairytat]

You may be disapointed after changing to another tire.... I've had most of the 'blue chip' brands over the years and IMHO, the Conti Motions are the best for neutral steering aka agressive riding,althoug not the best on mileage. To each his/her own...

I'm glad to hear that. So far I've not been disappointed. It had Pirellis on it when I bought it but they were toast so I never really rode on them. Everybody seems to have their own opinion on tires. The cruiser folks seem to LOVE Metzlers but the only set of those I ever bought ended up, for me, being nuetral (back) and really crappy (front). I wouldn't waste my money again. I stuck with Dunlops. So maybe I'll try some of the ones suggested but I have no issue with another set of Conti Motions.

 

[fairytat]

I'll chime in on Dyna Beads . Have run them on a few Pilot Road 2's now with great results.

Great! I have some laying around and wanted to use them when I change tires next time.

On the VTX I usually went thru 2 front tires before the back needed replacing. Does that seem to hold true on the FjR as well? Also, somebody talk to me about tire pressure. Is the recommended pressure the best? And how the heck do you easily check the pressure!

You have to almost lay on the ground to get to the rear one.

 

[fairytat]

Sounds like you had good fun on the VTX. I think dragging titanium bits on the FJR would be kewl

It was cool! I had her for 6 years and rode the hell out of her. I wish I could have kept both. When I'm feeling lazy and just want to zone putt-putting down a country road I miss the VTX. It was super comfortable. Then I see a curve ahead and I'm glad my ass is on the FJR instead.

I will say it was super comfortable after all that time because I had the right seat, the right height on the bars, etc. I'm sure in time the FJR will be similar.

 

[FJRacer]

I wouldn't be too overly worried about scraping the highway pegs on the FJR, you really have to be very very aggressive to get them to scrape. I ride pretty darn aggressive and its very rare that I have touched them to pavement. I'm not saying it can't be done or doesn't but unless your a track/sportbike rider its rare you will see an issue.

I must be doin' sumthin' wrong cuz I drag thos pegs about everytime I'm out. Judging by our respective locations I bet I've got a LOT tighter curves to enjoy in my neck-o-the-woods!

And I would agree, pegs to pavement is nothing to worry about. They aren't the lean limit on my Bike. As long as I'm not running across grit or oil, and keep my big feet from draggin', the tire still has enough weight(on it) and bite to make that curve.

 

[Chiefblueman]

I'll chime in on Dyna Beads . Have run them on a few Pilot Road 2's now with great results.

Great! I have some laying around and wanted to use them when I change tires next time.

On the VTX I usually went thru 2 front tires before the back needed replacing. Does that seem to hold true on the FjR as well? Also, somebody talk to me about tire pressure. Is the recommended pressure the best? And how the heck do you easily check the pressure!

You have to almost lay on the ground to get to the rear one.

I run 42 rear / 40 front. Steers better and fights front tire cupping.

 

[bluesdog]

While you're waiting on a replacement seat, try working in a copious amount of neatsfoot oil or similar leather softener/conditioner, (assuming your Corbin is leather!) I did that with my second-hand Corbin, and it made a world of difference, as it allowed the seat to more easily conform to my butt.

For the tire pressure-checking issue: Next tire change, have a couple of these installed --