Orderly progression of mods

[2Bull]

My friends,

Just got a 2008 black beauty last week, mint with 3k miles on it. I traded my brand new Tiger for it! I love it. I have a bad obsession with motorcycles. What are some of the first things I should do with this bike? Its pretty trick stock but I was thinking of getting a PC-8 fuse block and adding some conspicuity lights and outlets for heated gear and heated grips.

Im getting fired up to do the suspension. Maybe the exhaust but I hate to lose mileage. My Tiger had a sweet sound but **** mileage after I but a new exhaust on it.

WHERE DO I START!

 

[wfooshee]

Being in Rhode Island, getting ready for heated gear is probably a really good start. Other than that, ride it for a while, get adjusted to it, then decide what you want to fix, whether it be seat, bar risers, pegs, or if you've got the bucks, suspension upgrades.

Sliders. You wanna protect the plastic if the bike gets dropped. Even with sliders you're gonna scratch the stator cover if it's over to the left (verified with real-world data,) but not as bad as without.

 

[tcfjr]

I got my '05 new (remember PDP?), so it's been a while, but the first things I did were a power strip behind the dash and new Magnum Blaster horns. I commute in SoCal traffic, and the wimpy stock horns just don't cut it. Next was a high end radar detector. This bike was made to ride fast, right?

As wfooshee says, ride it for awhile to see how things work for you.

 

[08FJR4ME]

Welcome from the Southshore of Massachusettes,

Well if it stalls like mine did when I bought it you will want a PCIII or PC5 installed. You can set 2 modes with the PC5 economy or go like hell mode. You will have plenty of time pretty soon to farkle as the weather is getting colder up in these parts. I rode through the Island of Rhodes last weekend while on our way to the Vanilla Bean Cafe in Promfret, CT. There is another ride in November put on by Cota95 the day after Thanksgiving for the hearty souls brave enough to venture out. Check the Northeast section for any rides that may be happening.

Ride Safe,

Dave

Edit: By the way I love the Avetar, Some of the parts I made are flying in those things. Of course iffen I was to tell ya! h34r:

 

[Ian Stephens]

First thing like wfooshee says, is frame sliders - gotta have those.

Next you might want to think about Brodie's or RoadRunner's spider harness. You never know when the spider might bite.

For me, one of the earliest changes I made was a new windscreen. Get her out on the highway and see how the airflow is. I'd be real surprised if the stock windscreen is tall enough.

After that, the order of farkling depends on how you ride it. LD vs mostly city, chugging around vs sport biking it. There's lots of threads here on various farkles - you just have to decide on the priority depending on your needs.

Ian

 

[2Bull]

Many thanks for the replies,

I have been getting wrapped around the axle deciding what to do. Regarding the "spider", since I want to add more electrical options, I was thinking I would get that done. I will have to examine that thread to learn more but it does seem wise to do it now.

I did put frame sliders on! Not that I will need them!

Ordered a radar bracket from Gaurald and wonder which detector is best, seems like Valentine is solid. Any experience with the one thats sold by Twisted Throttle which is built more specifically for bikes?

People seem pretty happy with suspension mods. I am intrigued by the PC. I like the two mode thing. Is it easy to switch modes?

Wind management on the FJR is pretty damn good stock. Coming from the Tiger it is heaven! That is one of the reasons I got rid of the Tiger, I could not get it right. I bought three different windscreens and eventually settled on the stocker with a bracket mod. I hesitate to get into that again with the FJR but I will research to see if there is an exceptional one worth buying. I am 6'2 so I do not need super high ones but would like a high one that did not buffet.

Dave

 

[2Bull]

Is there a difference after doing the airbox mod that you can truly feel? I did that on the last bike and difference was subtle. Are you doing a new free flowing air filter with that?

 

[sergeantnic]

I didn't notice a difference because I bought the bike with the mod already done. But it's an easy free mod so can't hurt. Seems in my non scientific opinion getting more air in a less retricted manner into the motor can't hurt.

I'm still running the OEM filter. Really, I can't bye into the hype of fancy filters.

 

[rvnmaniac]

Let's see I've had my 2007 for 14 months it originally had 6200 miles on board. Just went over 14k this week. The first thing i added was the sliders, next was windshields. Then Cobra shields on the exhaust to stop the melting of my heels. Russell Day long seats, they are great. Power Commander III was the latest install. Still sitting at home waiting to be installed are Throttlemeister, 905 crash bars front only, tailblazer, Knifemaker Passenger Floor boards which I can’t find right now, FJ Randy’s Horn Harness, Helibars, Gen II fuse box bracket, and I think finally a PC-8 Fuse panel. I am so addicted……..

 

[Fred W]

One thing to consider:

Before spending any money on windshields, be sure that you like (and will be keeping) your stock seat first.

Why? Because if you do end up buying a custom seat (Russell or Mayer) it will change your sitting height. That will effect which shield feels best to you pretty dramatically.

 

[2Bull]

Has anyone installed a Power Commander 5 to an FJR? I bet it would work. The official line from them is 2009 bikes and up but there is no difference in the bikes since 2006 so I bet it works! I like that dual mode deal.

 

[Auburn]

Has anyone installed a Power Commander 5 to an FJR? I bet it would work. The official line from them is 2009 bikes and up but there is no difference in the bikes since 2006 so I bet it works! I like that dual mode deal.

Doing one in the next few days. Just waiting for the autotune module to get here. There is a different fuel map loaded for the '06 then for the '09 according to MotofuelUSA.com when they send them out.

 

[Texan]

Is there a difference after doing the airbox mod that you can truly feel? I did that on the last bike and difference was subtle. Are you doing a new free flowing air filter with that?

Might make a slight difference if you are at WOT and 9k all the time, but if you ride at less than 100%, you'll likely not notice it.

If you ride long distance, adding a seat like a Russell pays immediate dividends. A radar detector and vizalert was on my early farkle list. I agree with the sliders suggestion.