Issues up the wazuu !

[darknight]

We bought our '09 FJR in May after doing hours of research on what an awesome machine this is and have had nothing but problems since day one. It has been in the shop on and off for 32 days and counting now. Idle issues, stalling, tps changed, now fuel pump is bad, loud roar from front wheel(tech says it't normal), windshield squeeks, bags rattle(tech says it's normal), loud clunking shifting, this is the first Yamaha I have owned and am quite disappointed. I wanna love it, but I'm strugglin'. My wife and I had plans to ride to Colorado this summer. Guess what, we didn't. We have had to cancel trips because the bike is down at the dealership! Any input would be great. Like I said I wanna love it, I really do.

 

[majicmaker]

Damn Dude!! It most have been built on a Japanese Working Holiday!! (I lived in Yokahama, Japan for 4 years). Those boys and girls can party!!

Sorry to hear that. You must have the Lemon from HELL! Don't worry, Yamaha will make it right. Hang in there!

 

[madmike2]

This doesn't sound good.

Which dealer? Have they contacted Yamaha? Have you considered calling Yamaha Customer Service?

You will have to work on understanding that you are a 1/10-percenter. Many of us have tens of thousands of miles on our bikes with none of the issues you are reporting so it's difficult for us to "walk in your shoes".

Your report indicates they've changed the TPS...IIRC, that isn't required on the '09, only the older iterations. Arriving at 32 days in the shop might be close to the lemon-law in CA. You'd need to check and not take my word for it.

I am truly sorry to hear of your problems. Believe me when I say yours is a rare experience. Not to say this is the bike for everyone, it's not, and over the years a few have admitted so and gone elsewhere in the Sport Touring spectrum.

It sounds more to me that your dealer is incapable of diagnosing and repairing your motorcycle, hence my second question at beginning of my response.

My first FJR came with Bridgestones (it was totaled on Hwy 49), my second came with Metzlers. I wasn't happy with either so I changed them at the first opportunity. YMMV....tires are far too personal a subject.

My windshield has never "squeeked" though the rubber seal the "U" bracket slides through will occasionally rub against the metal. My bags don't rattle, there are adjustments for the bags (the lower mounts come with shims and the dealer should know that).

It really sounds to me that your dealer is letting you down. That's a shame. I

ll be crossing my fingers for you.

M

 

[bramfrank]

I'd say welcome to the board, but that isn't what you want to hear right now.

Often, shops have no clue about the FJR because they sell so few of the model.

From what you say, it may be a number of minor issues that are causing you concern. Issues that may be simple to resolve.

Stalling, for example is often tied to low idle speed settings. The bike should idle when warm at between 1000 and 1100 rpm. If it isn't, then there is a simple control to adjust it.

Why was your TPS changed? I gather your bike is an '09 and there were no inherent issues with the model/year. Perhaps the dealer was just thrashing about looking for a solution to your issues?

Your fuel pump is bad? That's isn't a first, but it is pretty rare. I suppose stuff happens.

A 'roar' from the front wheel may be from a cupped tire - running too low tire pressure will impact on the tread blocks and you will hear loud noises when cornering - can that be your issue?

My saddlebags are 'loose' a bit, by design, but they don't rattle. Are the rubber blocks that the bags rest on actually installed?

Squeeky windshield . . . mine rattles a bit (though not at 80 miles an hour - but it bounces around somewhat) and there is a whistle when things line up the right way - not sure what I can say about that.

Loud clunking when shifting; Often a timing issue. By timing I mean the timing between your feet and your clutch and throttle operation. However when oil gets older, the tranny shifts 'less well'. If you came from a ZX14 or C14 I could see how you might find the tranny clunky. If you came from a BMW you'd be amazed at how smooth it is.

My suggestion would be to try and hook up with someone with more experience on the ride than you have in your area and that you trade bikes to see what others consider 'normal'. The dealer's operation is such that they quite possibly simply don't quite 'get' all of the little details.

 

[SockMonkey]

We bought our '09 FJR in May after doing hours of research on what an awesome machine this is and have had nothing but problems since day one. It has been in the shop on and off for 32 days and counting now. Idle issues, stalling, tps changed, now fuel pump is bad, loud roar from front wheel(tech says it't normal), windshield squeeks, bags rattle(tech says it's normal), loud clunking shifting, this is the first Yamaha I have owned and am quite disappointed. I wanna love it, but I'm strugglin'. My wife and I had plans to ride to Colorado this summer. Guess what, we didn't. We have had to cancel trips because the bike is down at the dealership! Any input would be great. Like I said I wanna love it, I really do.

Just out of curiousity, what bike did you own prior to the FJR..?

 

[Chaysinfun]

Sorry to hear that. Must be one of those fluks...Built on a Monday or Friday. Don't realy know. I've heard terrible things about some bikes that other owners will swear by. Just the other day my friend said he bought a V-Strom and it was nothing but a piece of crap since day one. He finally sold it after only 4000 miles and says he'll never own a Suzuki again. I've had NO problems what so ever with my FJR. It's been one of the best bikes I've owned. I hope Mamma Jamma will figure yours out. Good Luck.

Chays

 

[moto]

We bought our '09 FJR in May after doing hours of research on what an awesome machine this is and have had nothing but problems since day one. It has been in the shop on and off for 32 days and counting now. Idle issues, stalling, tps changed, now fuel pump is bad, loud roar from front wheel(tech says it't normal), windshield squeeks, bags rattle(tech says it's normal), loud clunking shifting, this is the first Yamaha I have owned and am quite disappointed. I wanna love it, but I'm strugglin'. My wife and I had plans to ride to Colorado this summer. Guess what, we didn't. We have had to cancel trips because the bike is down at the dealership! Any input would be great. Like I said I wanna love it, I really do.

Time to contact Yamaha customer service (they seem to want to help). The only thing I understand that is normal on the FJR is a first gear 'clunk'.

As for the bike -- you shouldn't have to grow to love it, it should just happen -- call Yamaha!

NOTE: this is my first Yamaha / Asian bike as well.

Good luck.

 

[darknight]

Thanks so much the comments, it helps me to think that things are gonna get better. My last bike was a Suzuki RF900, my favorite bike of all time until it got stolen. I ahve contacted Yamaha customer service and was treated like crap, the lady was very rude. I asked the dealer about shims for the bags and they said they never heard of such a thing and that maybe I could put a piece of rubber on the mount. I haven'y seen the bike in so long I'm not sure if there is bushings on the bag mounts. They changed the TPS 'cause when they disconnected it and the bike ran good for awhile, even though the same problems popped up within a few days with the TPS disconnected. I just spoke with a lemon law attorney yesterday and was informed that he had filed a lawsuit against this dealership in the past with a problem the same as mine. The dealer and Yamaha fought the client for two years until he ran out of $$ and dropped the suit.

The initial fix was to set the idle up, after I had complained for two weeks and was told to run another tank of gas trough it, and put in a bottle of Techron every other tank.

The clunking is in all gears, ya kinda like I am a novice shifter, none of my other bikes had the issue, but I can work on the timing deal maybe it is me.

The fuel pump quit cycling on start up a few days before I took it this last time. After taking a week to check it out they decided to order the part. So now I'm just waiting.

I can't wait to ride!! At least my wife and I got one good ride to Rainbow Pools before everything went south. And Colorado, maybe next year!!

Thanks for all your input, I greatly appreciate it!

Hope to meet you on the road!

 

[madmike2]

Thanks for all your input, I greatly appreciate it!
Hope to meet you on the road!

I'm not that far from you. Once you get your bike back (hopefully, he said, with fingers crossed), if nothing else, maybe we can make your location a destination and have some of the "collective" from the Central Valley gather. One or two of us could try your bike or change bikes with you to see if the shifting is the bike or you. I will tell you that mine was a bit stiff until after 4k-5k miles. It's still a little "clunky", it's a Yamaha thing in comparison to the old Connie I had, but I've had Yamaha shaft drives before.....

 

[darknight]

Thanks for all your input, I greatly appreciate it!
Hope to meet you on the road!

I'm not that far from you. Once you get your bike back (hopefully, he said, with fingers crossed), if nothing else, maybe we can make your location a destination and have some of the "collective" from the Central Valley gather. One or two of us could try your bike or change bikes with you to see if the shifting is the bike or you. I will tell you that mine was a bit stiff until after 4k-5k miles. It's still a little "clunky", it's a Yamaha thing in comparison to the old Connie I had, but I've had Yamaha shaft drives before.....

Sounds like a plan, we want to hook up with some other riders, all our friends talk about getting bikes and riding together someday. Thanks!

 

[Auburn]

Maybe I missed it, but how many miles are on the bike?

 

[painman]

Wow darknight, I'm sorry to hear your story. Owning a new bike is suppose to be a pleasure for sure. Not the issues you speak. If I may interject just a couple thoughts here......try another call to customer support as I've had really good luck with Yamaha when I ever came up against a problem if I felt my dealer wasn't coming through on an issue. It is worth a try.

Second, concerning dealers in Nor Cal, Roseville Yamaha is highly recommended by many riders, as well as those here on the board. No dealer should be "holding" your bike to trouble shoot as long as you speak for the issues you speak. Something is amiss.

Thirdly, coming off a totally different type of bike to the FJR, I too had problems you speak of shifting and I found out shifting this beast is best done quickly and with-out hesitation, otherwise you will be clunking gears and finding it difficult to match rpm's when moving on into the next gear. I really did have to "learn" to ride this bike and now I wouldn't having anything else. And they all "clunk" into first gear, especially when not warmed up yet.

Well hope you get things ironed out and the NorCal group is a seasoned bunch of old farts, I mean bike riders who won't let you down. And as MM2 demonstrated are there to help. Ride safe and keep us updated, PM. <><

 

[majicmaker]

Keep us posted Darknight, This is NOT NORMAL!! This bike is so reliable, It's scary. Don't start hating it. You will miss out on the joy that it brings to all of us.

Put your frustration in neutral until Yamaha figures out what the hell is going on with it. Trust Me!! You will LOVE THIS BIKE!! :yahoo:

 

[r1byker]

Thanks for all your input, I greatly appreciate it!
Hope to meet you on the road!

I'm not that far from you. Once you get your bike back (hopefully, he said, with fingers crossed), if nothing else, maybe we can make your location a destination and have some of the "collective" from the Central Valley gather. One or two of us could try your bike or change bikes with you to see if the shifting is the bike or you. I will tell you that mine was a bit stiff until after 4k-5k miles. It's still a little "clunky", it's a Yamaha thing in comparison to the old Connie I had, but I've had Yamaha shaft drives before.....

Count me in also; I'm about an hour from Manteca. I'd be happy to let you try my bike.

 

[Rogue]

There is always the chance you got a "Lemon" but it sounds to me more like 90%+ of your problems are being caused by the dealer!

 

[darknight]

You guys are so cool, I am very excited now, I thought maybe these bikes were just crap and I got suckered. The bike only has 2100 miles on it, the dealer put on nearly 800 of that trying to fugure out what the problem was.

Work calls me and I must go, gotta pay for the "beast".

 

[MCML]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, Darknight. Hang in there, though. The FJR "crew" up in Central Cali really does have an incredible amount of hands-on experience and are "old souls" too.

 

[Patriot]

that sucketh and I'm sorry you have to go through this poo poo

(Shane Stump, calling Shane Stump to the white courtesy phone)

Shane is the only nightmare story with his AE I can think of recently

prayers, kuddos, good moji, and sacrifice of a chicken to the Feejer gods coming from the deep south

I, ahhhhh, know, what it's like to be without my precious Feej

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

 

[twistedcricket]

I would almost suggest the dealer isn't doing more "harm" to the bike than "good" - get the bike out of their shop and hopefully MM2 (and others) can help you out. If this forum does nothing else, it's a wealth of helpful people willing to help other riders.

The shifting for me, initially, did upset me. I didn't think it should be that 'rough'. I'm used to it now and better with my 'timing'. I wouldn't change a bunch of things all at once, like that dealer is attempting.

Do you have close-up pics of the rear bags? Where they rest just above the exhaust, are there rubber bushings?? There should be...

Did you purchase the bike from this dealer? Have you received/filled/returned the Yamaha Customer Satisfaction form??