:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
:yahoo: :yahoo:
What follows is a long drink of cool water for me. So, if it's in the wrong forum, or a duplicate thread then just deal with it. :dribble: :blink:
But it's been a long, hard, EXPENSIVE two months since I bought my unblemished, only slightly used (700 miles. Now 3200 miles) So, I'm celebrating. Sue me.
:yahoo: B)
B) B) B)
Man oh man, what an improvement. I’ve just installed a PCIII on my 2006 FJR 1300A. Now, I love this bike but I’ve had serious issues with the herky-jerky throttle coming off idle. It was most dangerous during slow, parking lot maneuvers. In fact, I bought it new and when I test-drove it I noticed it had a real bad tendency to “kill” when starting off from stop signs/lights. I wrote it off to inexperience with the clutch, etc. Within the first 2 weeks of ownership it stalled 3 times while I was making slow, short radius 180 degree turns. Each time it stalled about a third of the way around just as I was getting well leaned over. The result was a “tip-over” each time causing great anguish/embarrassment, etc. Not to mention scratching up my almost new FJR without a scratch on it when I purchased it.
So, being a person with short appendages (arms and legs) and being almost a seasoned senior citizen I had a multitude of problems with the bike. Throttle spring too strong, needed more rise and pullback and needed a lower seat or longer legs, etc. But the thing I needed most was to smooth out the herky/jerky throttle coming off of idle. The driveline lash was also annoying but a direct result of the throttle problem.
I did the spring mod, removed any slack in throttle cable and did the Barbarian mod. I put grip puppies on because there was also a lot of vibration coming through the grips, especially above 4-5,000 rpm’s All this helped but didn’t eliminate the problems. I also noticed very definite “surging” at freeway speeds.
When one starts to add up all the “little problems” I was having, it started to make quite a long list. Oh yeah and I want a bigger windshield too!
Well, I decided my next mod was going to have to be the PCIII. The reviews and reports by those putting one on were very positive, especially on the 2006. Well, just installed it and took it for ride along the same route of my daily commute. I figured I would “notice” any differences or improvements (or lack thereof) along that route. It also encompassed city stop and go driving as well as high speed freeway driving, with frequent changes in throttle.
Well, here are my first impressions:
1. The herky-jerky throttle coming off idle is gone! I couldn’t make it stall on startup even when I tried. The throttle is very precise and can be applied in miniscule increments. I can start up, let the clutch out more rapidly, to the point of the engine rattling because of being lugged…and still not stall the engine. It is a joy to use. It will take me a while before I “trust” starting up from a stop without “blipping the throttle” to get the rpms up. But it doesn’t seem necessary now.
2. The buzz! What happened to the buzz? Normally I have to engage the “Vista Cruise lock within 15 minutes of starting my commute. Thereafter every 5 minutes or so was necessary to keep my right hand from going completely numb. On this round trip to my work location back home, about 50 miles, I only engaged the lock a few times, and then only as a “precaution”. I didn’t want a “numb” right hand while negotiating certain freeway interchanges. My impression is that the buzz is much more subdued and less bothersome. Maybe I won’t need that expensive triple tree and risers after all. Or, at least it can wait till I’m doing more touring, rather than commuting.
3. My fuel economy seems to be better. I had run the tank down to make it easier to take it off. Burning off the fuel was accomplished yesterday making some “high speed” runs on the interstate causing my average mpg to drop to about 27 mpg. Normally its been running around 32 mpg. I have an explanation. (Officer) In CA the average speed on the freeways starts at 70-75 and goes up from there. I sometimes use the awesome acceleration of the FJR to find a nice quiet spot amongst all those cars. This requires a lot of fuel and is fun to boot. So, I’m only averaging 31-33 mpg. On my short 50-60 mile circuit the average mpg went from the 27 mpg to 35 mpg. Quite an improvement, considering I was varying the throttle and gearing to get a feel for the changes in the way the bike ran, post PCIII. I’m anxious to see if there is any improvement commuting to work next week. My hunch is there will be.
4. The surging has gone away. When I first got the FJR I thought it was just “wind gusts” that were jerking me around. I started to get a little suspicious when I noticed that on some days there actually was no wind but it still felt like I was taking some gusts and slowing/speeding down/up (surging). I confirmed it after applying the Vista Cruise lock and the bike surged with my hand off the throttle. Noticeable especially in 4th and 5th gears at 70-75 with the lock engaged. Well, while it is not quite gone, it is greatly reduced and doesn’t “rock” me back and forth like it used to. I think a simple TBS will eliminate it completely
5. With all these improvements, I may not need risers. This is a very pleasant surprise and very welcome. The bike is most comfortable now commuting around town. I can delay any such improvement till next summer and maybe add a real cruise control for my travels after retirement.
6. Performance/acceleration seems to be the same. It is just a much smoother, well mannered machine now. I realize it might be morphing into something more like a ST1300 (dirty word), I don’t know. But the improvements are like night and day to me. I might add very welcome ones to boot.
That’s my take on it. All and all the very first thing I should have done. Well, I guess they weren’t available, so I can’t blame myself too much for “waiting this long” to do the PCIII. You guys are right, It’s the FI mapping, stupid me. Bigger grips help, but only treat the symptom. The PCIII is the cure. IMHO.
LC
