Interested in a 2006 AE but scared of potential issues

[fastpappy]

Love grip puppies. 

I would feather one of the brakes in tricky situations starting off.

Dragging the rear brake helps for really slow mo stuff.

 

[lonerider]

 I've found these to be the most comfortable for my hands. If you don't have factory heated grips, they are a fairly easy install with a cotter key extractor and compressed air. The closed end can be punched out with a 1" arc punch and a wood dowel inside the grip. 

 

[Rolavine]

As for the AE throttle, the secret is to retrain your right hand to ease on the throttle to find the sweet spot rather than feathering the clutch. Not difficult but takes a little while since you need to create new muscle memory. As for the grip diameter I like the Grip Puppies. They feel much better and help with any vibration also inexpensive so if you decide you don't like them not a big investment and easy to install. Just my $.02. 

Good stuff, just what the bike is trying to teaching me, with computer controlled consistency. Before I started rolling my own grips (bicycle bar tape and heat shrink) I used something like the puppies, and they didn't last a year, they came apart in a rainstorm after being baked in the sun. Are these more durable?

 

[YummYam]

Dragging the rear brake helps for really slow mo stuff.

+1

 

[fastpappy]

Good stuff, just what the bike is trying to teaching me, with computer controlled consistency. Before I started rolling my own grips (bicycle bar tape and heat shrink) I used something like the puppies, and they didn't last a year, they came apart in a rainstorm after being baked in the sun. Are these more durable?

I used to use foam grips back in the 80s that did that. Had to change them all the time and when I first got the Puppies I thought it was going to be the same deal but I thought hey they're cheap enough and easy enough to install so what the hell but I haven't had that problem with the Puppies. Although I do keep my bike covered when I'm not riding. Even when I was commuting I would throw the cover on once I got to work (Construction sites tend to be filthy) and I don't intentionally ride in the rain unless I'm caught out in it but the Puppies are holding up great and even work ok with my heated grips. I just Googled them and see them for 20 bucks. I think I paid 4 or 5 bucks when I bought them tells you how long they have lasted but of course YMMV.

 

[Rolavine]

I've got 800 miles on the AE, and I'd rather have a clutch, but it's almost 50-50. The AE does somethings brilliantly, and once you are moving it's all plus for the AE. Still using the foot shift  but I found out about the secret horn blow using the hand control! I love the bike, and just like every other one I've ever had, it puts a huge smile on my face and makes me joyful. 

After all, Only Bikers know why dogs stick their heads out of car windows!

 

[fastpappy]

Yeah I only use the foot shifter due to a bad left hand the reason I went to the AE in the first place. Tell me have you been stuck in traffic yet? That's where the AE really shines and stands out from the regular clutch models.

 

[kiwi]

Glad you love it!

 

[owsley]

I had an '06 and an '07 AE. Loved them, went to a '13 for some upgrades. Sure wish they still sold em here. I would be on one.

 

[Hudson]

You should buy the 09 listed here FS that belongs to my friend Leo

 

[teacherman]

I've an 06 AE and after the inital learning curve, love it. I've put 70,000 on the bike with no issues at all...that is after the shifter failed at 10K miles. Turned out there was a recall on the shifter that hadn't been done so the dealer took care of it. Taken two cross country rides on it. Additionally, the AE is awesome when I was commuting/ lane splitting on the L.A. Freeways. Index and thumb to shift. Wonderful in traffic.

 

[Diablo1]

When I first got my 2006 AE, I nicknamed it the clunk-o-matic. One day, I played around with different shifting techniques and finally figured out the best way for seamless upshift. Just close the throttle a tiny bit, pull the paddle shift, and open back the throttle quickly. As for downshifting, follow the manual and wait until rpms drop to 1500, to minimize engine braking.

 

[mcatrophy]

When I first got my 2006 AE, I nicknamed it the clunk-o-matic. One day, I played around with different shifting techniques and finally figured out the best way for seamless upshift. Just close the throttle a tiny bit, pull the paddle shift, and open back the throttle quickly. As for downshifting, follow the manual and wait until rpms drop to 1500, to minimize engine braking.

For down changes, do the opposite of your up-change technique. As you change down, open the throttle a tiny bit, then back it off to where it was. Works at any rpm. Just learn the timing, also how much and how quickly according to engine load and speed. Changing down with power on ("I need a lower gear going up this hill" is very different from a trailing throttle "We're slowing down from 70 to 35"). Think "unload the gearbox during the change". With a little practice these become second nature.

These days I am riding a 2018 with throttle-by-wire and YCC-S, it does the throttle control for you when you change gear. Gets it pretty good most of the time. Trying to help it usually confuses it and makes the change worse.

 

[Ray]

I love my 2006 AE and have no issues at 40k miles. I especially like the finger shifter because my race bike is GP shift and this way my feeble mind does not get confused . I have grip puppies and they work great and hold up for a long time.

 

[Mikesgts1000]

+1

I agree dragging the rear brake helps in slow U turns. Love the auto clutch on my 2007 FJR1300AE. Have 56,600Kl on it now and other than regular maintenance items no issues. I added a round plastic disc on the bottom off the bar electronic gear shift as on long twisty rides my thumb was aching, this fix works good as it places the activator closer to my thumbs reach. I purchased the FJ-AE after selling my ST1300 because my arthritis was limiting my distance riding, it worked, love the bike it'll keep me riding a good few years.

 

[mcatrophy]

... I added a round plastic disc on the bottom off the bar electronic gear shift as on long twisty rides my thumb was aching, this fix works good as it places the activator closer to my thumb's reach. ...

Use your finger to flick the finger lever back when you change down, no need for the thumb at all. I've always done it this way ever since I blew the horn a couple of times trying to use my thumb. It's probably quicker than using the thumb if your hand is properly on the grip.

 

[Mikesgts1000]

Use your finger to flick the finger lever back when you change down, no need for the thumb at all. I've always done it this way ever since I blew the horn a couple of times trying to use my thumb. It's probably quicker than using the thumb if your hand is properly on the grip.

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try when the FJ comes out from winter hibernation. The added section I mounted to the bottom has worked good for me but I have on occasion pressed the horn button by mistake!

 

[sthomag]

A few days ago I bought a 2006 AE garage Queen. I've put only a few hundred miles on it. The bad of it, is starting out. In first gear at a stop, the electo clutch is disengaged, and you have to rev the motor to engage it, It's not that easy to get smooth, but I'm leaning how to do that, and there are some slipper revs involved. I also miss being able to glide with the clutch disengaged, like when you not sure if the next light is just about to go green. Because you can't glide, if you take your hand off the throttle you get some engine braking, not a big deal in 4th or 5th.

Making a smooth getaway from a stop is easy: you just drag the rear brake a little and ease off as you get going. This also helps slow maneuvers in all bikes: slipping the clutch against the rear brake. The FJR AE auto clutch is terrific, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Diablo1]

There are two things you can do to greatly improve the low speed driveability of the AE and the ease of acceleration from a stop. Adjust the clutch engagement rpm to around 1500, you can do this with the dash buttons. Get Ivan’s flash on your ECU.

 

[Rocnsanman]

Grip Puppies are too large diameter for me. I use bicycle handlebar tape, the silicone variety. one wrap then finish off with a thin strip of 1 1/2" heat shrink to keep the whole shabang from unraveling. BTW, this doesn't affect the heated grips at all.