Near mishaps on my new FJR (AE)

[FuzzyRider2]

1. I am sure we have all done this one. I was parking the bike and attempting to do a stylish foot peg down, begin dismount all in one motion when to my horror I discovered my heel had caught the kick stand extension and it had come back up. Came very close to dropping the bike right there in the parking lot of the local dealer.

2. You have to have an AE to appreciate this - This morning when I came out of the polling place, I started the bike up as normal and headed out on the street. When I attempted to shift into second ( I always use the finger shifter) nothing happened! I backed off on the throttle and tried again with the same result. Now I was getting worried - had this thing broken after only 2 weeks of use. Finally I realized that I had stopped the bike in first gear and when restarting it had neglected to press the button to activate the finger shifter. How fast will this thing go in first gear? This could be potentially dangerous and I hope I can discipline myself NEVER to do it again.

 

[Eric L]

I bet you can go pretty damn fast in first gear.

1. I am sure we have all done this one. I was parking the bike and attempting to do a stylish foot peg down, begin dismount all in one motion when to my horror I discovered my heel had caught the kick stand extension and it had come back up. Came very close to dropping the bike right there in the parking lot of the local dealer.

2. You have to have an AE to appreciate this - This morning when I came out of the polling place, I started the bike up as normal and headed out on the street. When I attempted to shift into second ( I always use the finger shifter) nothing happened! I backed off on the throttle and tried again with the same result. Now I was getting worried - had this thing broken after only 2 weeks of use. Finally I realized that I had stopped the bike in first gear and when restarting it had neglected to press the button to activate the finger shifter. How fast will this thing go in first gear? This could be potentially dangerous and I hope I can discipline myself NEVER to do it again.

 

[cruppelt]

I bet you can go pretty damn fast in first gear.

Hell yes!!!! Like 85mph.... :lol:

I've had this same issue a few times, only intense worry about it happening again made me change my evil habits to completely avoid that forever.

Every time I park it for longer (like more than 20 minutes or so) I ALWAYS use the center stand, which means putting it in neutral. I've never forgot to turn the finger shifter on once with that - it's just too obvious. But I've done the quick stop in first gear without the shifter turned on several times, and it's VERY painful, not to mention horribly embarrassing :dribble: . I still park it side stand once in a while, but I made it a habit to ALWAYS check the shifter light before I twist the throttle.

 

[Jim Morrison]

Did the button thing 2 times... now I make sure I hit it before I move the bike.....

 

[RossKean]

...Every time I park it for longer (like more than 20 minutes or so) I ALWAYS use the center stand, which means putting it in neutral....

Don't have an AE but always park in gear, whether or not I use the centerstand. No problem popping it up in the stand while its in gear.

 

[mcatrophy]

.... How fast will this thing go in first gear? ...

9000 rpm = 62 mph. But, please, not on a cold engine!

My RPM/Speed calculator.

 

[ionbeam]

Next time you are winding it out in 1st gear, when you get it up to ~6k rpm, pop the throttle wide open and let us know what happened

 

[BobMercer]

FuzzyRider2,

I can sure relate to your kickstand experience. I did that same thing while dismounting at a WallyWorld gas pump. I quickly found myself pinned against the pump by the leaning FJR. Could not move, and yelling with a helmet on is not very effective. Some big dude happened to notice my situation and quickly came to my rescue. WHEW!!! I'm now very much more cautious with the kickstand when dismounting.

On the other issue, I've never ever used the hand controls to shift my AE. I want to keep my left foot conditioned to shift, so that I remain familiar with the shifting process.

Bob

 

[mcatrophy]

...

On the other issue, I've never ever used the hand controls to shift my AE. I want to keep my left foot conditioned to shift, so that I remain familiar with the shifting process.

Bob

I take the opposite view. By only using the hand switch on my AS [AE], when I ride a conventional bike I don't forget to use the clutch lever.

 

[plug]

1. I am sure we have all done this one. I was parking the bike and attempting to do a stylish foot peg down, begin dismount all in one motion when to my horror I discovered my heel had caught the kick stand extension and it had come back up. Came very close to dropping the bike right there in the parking lot of the local dealer.

ignacio, the forum cop, had asked me to be nice to you ladies and I thought, you know, he`s right I should settle down a bit. After all I am a newbie around here and I should show some respect.

But then we have the stylish endeavors of FuzzyRider2 and his gymnastic parking lot dismounts and I know it`s not going to happen. Now Fuzzy my man what you want to do is fit a ABS disconnect switch on the old FJR so that next time that you pull into the dealership you can stand her on the front wheel and then spring off and pop down the center stand before the back tire hits the deck. Or you could persevere with your method until you break something.

plug.

 

[dustyrains]

Well, the key to not forgetting about engaging the hand shifter is to develop a starting routine. Second thing you do, after turning on the key, before cranking the engine, is push the hand shift button. Just a new habit to cultivate. Just like you probably never would forget to put your side stand down before dismounting. Alternatively, I think someone on the forum published a way to make the hand shifter always be engaged when the key is turned on. Just a thought.

 

[midnight rider]

.... How fast will this thing go in first gear? ...

9000 rpm = 62 mph. But, please, not on a cold engine!

My RPM/Speed calculator.

Thanks for the link to rpm/speed calculator All my sports bike had them listed easy to find[my last gsxr 1000] Had not found any for the FJR.

 

[cruppelt]

...Every time I park it for longer (like more than 20 minutes or so) I ALWAYS use the center stand, which means putting it in neutral....

Don't have an AE but always park in gear, whether or not I use the centerstand. No problem popping it up in the stand while its in gear.

Sorry, no can do on my bike. Absolutely impossible to get it up on the center in gear. And believe me, I tried. :dribble:

Only two things that are semi-non-standard are the front forks are lowered (but by less than 1/4"), and the shocks are in need of rework at nearly 25k miles, that might keep the bike lower as well.

 

[bikerkash]

When in doubt foot shift. I have tried to have the hand shifter come on by default with the key and according to a very good mech. that cannot be done so I have made it a habit, before I get on the bike to turn the key on with my right hand while at the same time I use my left hand to activate to hand shift button. This is always done before I get on the bike.

 

[bucky]

On an AE, with the engine running and stopped, and in any gear, the auto clutch is disengaged. So you can put the bike up on the center stand..as long as the engine is running or even if the ignition switch is turned to the run position with the motor off. But I would not recommend doing that, as to much can go wrong, like a twist of the throttle if the bike engine is running.

I virtually never use the center stand as the bike is far more likely to tip over either putting it on the stand or taking it off the stand or just falling over while on the stand if the surface is not level or too soft. Besides that it is to much work, especially to take it off the center stand. My procedure for using the side stand is simple. Always park the bike on the level or facing uphill, and the side to side level is downhill on the kickstand side, have a passenger dismount, leave the bike in 1st gear, turn off the ignition and let the bike move slightly to engage engine/clutch, put the side stand down, double check the sidestand is fully down and then dismount carefully. I also carry a 4 inch square piece of 5/8 inch plywood in the lockbox to put under the sidestand if the surface is not hard. Never had a problem and I doubt I will.

And use common sense, which from time to time seems a little lacking when I read some of the stories of bikes "mysteriously falling over".

 

[wheatonFJR]

...And use common sense, which from time to time seems a little lacking when I read some of the stories of bikes "mysteriously falling over".

:lol:

 

[mcatrophy]

...

And use common sense, which from time to time seems a little lacking when I read some of the stories of bikes "mysteriously falling over".

Nothing the least bit mysterious about mine falling over.



(Click image for larger view)

Story posted here.

As to whether common sense was applied, yes it was, but simply inadequate . It needed uncommon sense :blink: .

 

[Scarbo]

Yeah, I can relate to the kickstand experience too. But in my case, it was the velcro cover on my leather riding boots (over the zipper on the inside of the boot) that caught the kickstand extension and popped it back up just as I was leaning it over on the kickstand. Unfortunately, the bike was going down and I couldn't stop it. I did keep the fairing from hitting the pavement, but still scratched the engine and hard bag. Bummer.

 

[wheatonFJR]

...

And use common sense, which from time to time seems a little lacking when I read some of the stories of bikes "mysteriously falling over".

Nothing the least bit mysterious about mine falling over.



(Click image for larger view)

Story posted here.

As to whether common sense was applied, yes it was, but simply inadequate . It needed uncommon sense :blink: .

...yeah, then there's that extremely high wind thing too. oops.