Overloading the FJR

[yamaha-bob]

I just had the rear bag installed (top) and the owners manual said do not load all 3 at the same time. That does not make a whole lot of sence to me. Dearler told me it's ok that's why you bought it! Im wondering with a full load and passenger how will the bike react? Thanks>>>BOB

 

[angus]

It will react like a bad *** Sport Tourer. I do it all the time In fact I will be leaving for the Blue Ridge Parkway Sunday morning with all three loaded plus wife (wife won't be loaded)

 

[wambow]

I just had the rear bag installed (top) and the owners manual said do not load all 3 at the same time. That does not make a whole lot of sence to me. Dearler told me it's ok that's why you bought it! Im wondering with a full load and passenger how will the bike react? Thanks>>>BOB

Each saddlebag is rated at 20 lbs.ea. I have a Givi 46V case. When installing the Givi rack for the case onto my 06 FJR, I noticed a sticker that said the rack was rated for 7 lbs. What ? I know the case and rack will carry safely more than 7 lbs. I had a Givi 46 case and rack on my 05 FJR and traveled with at lease 20 lbs of stuff in the case. Saddlebags and case will not hold all you want, but will hold all you need. Travel as lite as possible.

 

[EasyRider]

I just had the rear bag installed (top) and the owners manual said do not load all 3 at the same time. That does not make a whole lot of sence to me. Dearler told me it's ok that's why you bought it! Im wondering with a full load and passenger how will the bike react? Thanks>>>BOB

Not good, I recently overloaded my bike with the stuffed full size and medium Mot Fizz bags and had stuffed side cases for camping at Americade. It was the first and last time I will over load my bike like that. It was very top heavy and the front end felt light.

My son had his clothes in bags on the sides of his GSXR 600 but I had the tent, sleeping bags, air mattresses and my closes in my Moto Fizz bags and stock side bags.

No more bike camping for me unless the bikes are in an enclosed trailer behind my loaded for camping Doge Ram.

Or pack very light with a light passenger and stay at a hotel. B)

Another solution is a GoldWing with a Trailer.

 

[yamaha-bob]

It will react like a bad *** Sport Tourer. I do it all the time In fact I will be leaving for the Blue Ridge Parkway Sunday morning with all three loaded plus wife (wife won't be loaded)

Thank you and have a safe trip. Once there, then wife can get loaded!!

 

[yamaha-bob]

I just had the rear bag installed (top) and the owners manual said do not load all 3 at the same time. That does not make a whole lot of sence to me. Dearler told me it's ok that's why you bought it! Im wondering with a full load and passenger how will the bike react? Thanks>>>BOB

Each saddlebag is rated at 20 lbs.ea. I have a Givi 46V case. When installing the Givi rack for the case onto my 06 FJR, I noticed a sticker that said the rack was rated for 7 lbs. What ? I know the case and rack will carry safely more than 7 lbs. I had a Givi 46 case and rack on my 05 FJR and traveled with at lease 20 lbs of stuff in the case. Saddlebags and case will not hold all you want, but will hold all you need. Travel as lite as possible.

I looked into GIVI but my friend own's a Yamaha Dealership so of course I went with the factory one. That would of been my second choice. I do plan to travel light but need the extra space..

THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Geezer]

I pack my side cases and Givi V46 with as much stuff as I can get into them. Never had a problem.I'vs also carried camping gear strapped to the back seat. It is a little more top heavy that way but only presents a problem in the parking lots.

If you do a search you will find that some folks have handling problems at high speed with bags and top box. You will also find a few people who had cracked rear sub-frames from severely overloading the back of the bike.

 

[JRO]

I just had the rear bag installed (top) and the owners manual said do not load all 3 at the same time. That does not make a whole lot of sence to me. Dearler told me it's ok that's why you bought it! Im wondering with a full load and passenger how will the bike react? Thanks>>>BOB

The warning against loading all the luggage is typical CYA from a large corporation. As already noted, you can use all three cases. You can use all three cases, and carry a passenger. The bike's handling will be affected, acording to the weight and distribution of the load - just like any bike.

When not carrying a passenger, or a bunch of junk, I've gotten into the habit of removing my top case. I find that with the case on, riding solo, my top speed is limited to about 130mph. Any more than that, and it handles funny. Remove the top case, and you can ride normal highway speeds.

 

[Allnight]

...I find that with the case on, riding solo, my top speed is limited to about 130mph. Any more than that, and it handles funny. Remove the top case, and you can ride normal highway speeds.

Wow...I wouldn't have called 130 'normal highway speeds'.

This is an interesting thread though, as I've been contemplating something for a backrest for the wife.

 

[dbvolfan]

Yeah, I think yyou would be OK as long as you didnt fill 'em up with lead. I seem to recall some members who had issues with their bags and damage to the subframe but I think it was more related to the mount, than the weight(?)

All I know is that I am paying more attention to the warning labels.....I made the mistake of trying to haul too much yesterday in my 2k lb- 5x8 trailer and lost a tire at 50mph, 1 mile from home. Managed to limp in and after putting the spare tire on, realized I also need a new axle. DOH!

 

[FJReady]

I have a Givi 46 that I've packed fairly full with loaded sidecases also and ridden thousands of miles under a variety of conditions. Never a problem. Some of these miles included a 110 lb passenger. (that does increase the frequency of front wheel coming up) My only caution is that the presence of the top case sometimes causes a slight weaving of the bike up around 115 mph. Don't know if that's the case with a passenger though. Only have experience with triple digits and a top case on solo rides.

 

[BladeRunner]

While I am one of those FNG's and not an experienced FJR guy, it seems to me if you are going to consistently carry heavy loads some adjustment to the suspension may be necessary.

I had a connie and if I travelled at a high rate of speed or carried a heavy load, the front end would "boat" on me.

I had a friend that suggested I tune the suspension so that it was firmer and more forward centric.

This did the trick and I was able to ride safely.

I have yet to try this type of thing with the FJR but I think it may be something you want to look into.

Also the connie had air adjustable front shocks which made this easier.

I don't think this is true of the FJR.

 

[KnuckleHead]

I pack my side cases and Givi V46 with as much stuff as I can get into them. Never had a problem.I'vs also carried camping gear strapped to the back seat. It is a little more top heavy that way but only presents a problem in the parking lots.
If you do a search you will find that some folks have handling problems at high speed with bags and top box. You will also find a few people who had cracked rear sub-frames from severely overloading the back of the bike.

I cant say that I have overloaded mine, but I do run with the Yami trunk and side bags once in a while and I have noticed that as soon as I put that trunk on, the bikes gets a bit unsteady at freeway speeds. I can only assume that it is due to the change in areo dynamics and the wind funneling around me and hitting the trunk. Without the trunk, the bike is one solid mofo.

 

[Knifemaker]

On our trip to Tennesee , I had 16-1/2 lbs in each side case, and about 20 lbs in the top case, along with my wife and me (about 290 lbs suited up total.

Although I could feel the extra weight at stops, I had no handling problems. Had the rear shocks set to "high" and added a bit more preload up front, but that was it.

My wife says she was completely and "lavishly" comfortable on back with eh added backrest pad to the Yamaha top case.

As suggested, I would not load the bags with much more weight than this, and because of the aerodynamic issues with the top case and riding solo, one should add a bag between the rider and top case if no passenger is present.

Make sure to check your tire pressure now and then and remember that extra weight is back there...as the bikes performance will not really seem to change...

KM

 

[UKDave]

The Yamaha side cases are nicely made but a useless shape and just not big enough for me (and my wife) so we have a full Givi setup with optional 38 litre or 46 litre side cases and 46 litre top box. Fully loaded, they put over 50 lbs on the back end but never any mechanical issues in 70,000 miles. Handling is a different story. The stock shock would be almost bottomed at that load with rider and passenger but an Ohlins shock with heavyweight spring and damping suitably adjusted gives me a good ride still with some sporting pretensions. It's all about that crappy OEM rear shock.

 

[sonicspeed]

my wife tells me that i overload my FJR whenever i get on it :wacko:

 

[juniorfjr]

I've gone three years now with the side bags and a fully loaded givi 46. That and I'm no poster child for jenny craig. Together the two of use, with riding gear, gotta be pushing the 500 lb range. So we are exceeding yamaha's reccomendation, just gettin' on. Handles OK, but will improve the shock this year.

 

[HYCLE]

Terri and I rode 2000 miles overloaded, see picture below.

Just add another 450 pounds of people.I have a used wilbers shock that even has the light spring that came with the shock on the group buy. Works for me and cruises at 80 mph all day long with sprints up to 120 mph.

 

[mdisher]

Loaded...

Side cases loaded with as much **** as I could cram in them, top case too, but mostly with stuff I wanted fast access too. Big blue water-proof bag on back seat had all the camping gear.

Top heavy? Somewhat but only at low speeds in parking lots and a little harder to get off the center stand.

Did I take too much ****? You bet...

Unstable? Only during one run north of a buck-30 on one of those remote closed circuit strips in SD... It was so long, so flat, so boring I just had to do it...

Other than that, all parts performed better than expected.