PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome) Begins!

[RossKean]

Unless there is a major reversal in the weather trends in the northeast, I'm done for the year. At 20,000 miles, it is the lowest distance ridden in the last 5 years or so. Time to plan some maintenance stuff and trips for next season. Winter sucks!

Maintenance HAS to include refurbishing rear shock and doing u-joint, drive splines, suspension pivots. A valve check (and probable adjustment) is in order and installation of some auxiliary lighting too. Normal fluid renewal and I am thinking about replacing my OEM battery - almost 7 years and 105,000 miles.

Trips next year will include CFR in Newfoundland (couple of days for the gathering followed by a week of touring on the Rock) and possibly (I hope) a major North American tour. If NERDS happens, I will be there too. Next year will be better than the past one; limited only by the need to show up for work!

I am highly envious of those who can ride year-round without dealing with bitter cold, snow, ice and sand or salt.

 

[LKLD]

That's ok, I'm envious of those that ride in the summer, with mid 70s temps, and twisty roads with breathtaking vistas. Yeah, we can ride year-round in Flatistan, but mid 90s with humidity in 90s, and full gear in the summer, does not a comfortable ride make.

That said, it's 70 degrees, cloudy, and time to go riding.

 

[FJRay]

Put mine away a few weeks ago in a friends shop . Two old cars and two bikes with batt tenders and covers. It's a sad sight but it gives me a bunch of shop space at home for projects.

 

[beemerdons]

Ray and Ross, I feel your pain Brothers! My FJR was also parked because it started raining here Thursday night here in Phoenix, until just now when I rolled it out to the curb. Off for a ride to Los Hermanos Mexican Restaurant in Superior, Arizona; best Menudo Rico North of Mexico, es verdad ese! jes' sayin' and nuff said! https://www.loshermanosrestaurant.com

 

[FJRay]

You and the rest of your snow bird buddies can have it. I'll take my cold mountain forest land over the idiot infested desert anytime.

JSNS!!!

 

[beemerdons]

You and the rest of your snow bird buddies can have it. I'll take my cold mountain forest land over the idiot infested desert anytime.

OK Brother Ray, then I am eating your bowl of Menudo Roja! Ross mi Amigo, I will save a bowl for you though!

 

[FJRay]

Good mexican food can be found most anywhere if a person knows what good mexican food is. Here we have both from very good to Taco bell. Taco bell seems to get most the trade leaving the good stuff for me.

 

[bwv]

Looks like it made you throw up... and maybe yer stomach's bleedin a little...

19.6F and 2" of white **** on the ground... I indeed have PMS

 

[airboss]

Temps here will get up to almost freezing.

Well at least I have heated space to play with the bikes all winter.

Sure are going to be some shinny motorcycles come spring.

PS BD https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/****.gif

 

[bgross]

There is a "downside" to SoCal winter: both bikes require routine maintenance, but it's so hard to take the time when it's sunny.

I replaced the front tire on the Wingabago this week (while we were taking the edge off those clouds that Don got a day later), but I had to wait until today to scrub it in.

The horror....

The road is calling, but so are the fluids on both bikes.

It's 61F and not a cloud in the sky.

As they say in Phoenix, "Mañana".

 

[bluesdog]

Sigh.

I typically park the feej when my car information display says, "ICE POSSIBLE" -- which happened a couple of weeks ago

Because on the roads around here, it most certainly is. The valley twists and turns nicely, but those same twists, turns and high and low spots through varied forested areas alongside a cold river usually mean damp and icy sections

With heated grips, and a heated vest, is isn't the cold that gives me PMS, but that damned ICE

Sigh...

 

[lnewlf]

Looks like it made you throw up... and maybe yer stomach's bleedin a little...
19.6F and 2" of white **** on the ground... I indeed have PMS

11 degrees here at 2000 ft...and 2 inches of nature's leprosy...so bummed I took the shield off and greased the tracks and lubed the clutch switch...

if it rains and washes the salt away I'll be out next wk..

 

[Canadian FJR]

Just got back from a little ride

Canadian FJR

 

[HotRodZilla]

Just got back from a little ride
[img=[URL="https://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af207/scottcameron/SAM_2025.jpg%5D"]https://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af207/scottcameron/SAM_2025.jpg][/URL]

Canadian FJR

Bad ass!!!

 

[RossKean]

Just got back from a little ride

Canadian FJR

I think a KLR might be in my future as a second bike. I think that's one I would ride a number of days throughout the winter. Some knobby tires and heated gear. How's the stator output on the KLR? Is it equal to the task of jacket liner, gloves and some modest auxiliary lighting?

 

[Canadian FJR]

I run the vest & heated grips hours at a time. I try to shut one or the other off when using the fog lights. After todays ride, it's time to put the studded tires back on. I put most of my KLR miles on during the winter. Summer is too hot for woods riding and I'd rather be out on the FJR during the warmer months.

Canadian FJR

 

[bwv]

Just got back from a little ride

Canadian FJR

Dammit.. you guys with the KLR's gotta quit making me wish i didnt trade mine in !!.. first Bugnatr.. now you...

I damn near dropped mine last year around this time.. horsin' around with the slippy white stuff...I pulled that big muscle on the inside of my left leg pretty good savin' it. That bike was a blast when there were 3 or 4 inches of snow in the yard... I do miss it for that stuff (and for the wheelies and trail rides).

 

[Fred W]

Yes, awakening this morning was a major disappointment.

We awoke to a couple of inches of fresh white powder in the driveway (bad enough) but underneath of that was a nice glaze of sheet ice. We needed to get to the local market (very early) to get our turkey for the upcoming holiday gluttony on Thursday, and the word on the streets here is that there is a shortage of good size birds this year. No snow tires on the little lady's SAAB yet (I'll be sure to mount them up later this week), so off we went to market, (jiggety jig) in my little electric company provided conveyance.

To say it was a little slippery driving is a gross understatement. Luckily the foul weather conditions kept most of the regular heathens out of the market and we scored a fine 19 pounder (at only 99 cents a lb) along with some other goodies.

Luckily I took some time yesterday to take a little 3 hour ride in the dipping temps instead of raking leaves for the umpteenth time this fall. That ride will help stave off the PMS until the streets can melt and I can get back out again. I've come to the conclusion that all of this fearful dread of (dry) road salt corroding away your precious motorcycle is a bunch of hooey!! I'll probably get another couple of rides in before the end of the calendar year, and throughout the entire winter will look for those days when the roadway is dry (enough) and ride some more.

If that means I have to replace my 85k miles FJR a bit prematurely (if prematurely is even possible anymore) , then so be it. It's my bike. I own it. It doesn't own me.

 

[lnewlf]

yep- gotta agree with that...20 years and 100K on my FJ1200 all year long and the only salt damage I saw was that the chomies [wheels] corroded.. Oh yeah, and the cases..swingarm too..cooling fins..most bolt heads..some electrical connectors.....actually the damn salt ate everything

but, due to the salt

I'm on the Feej

by the time the FJR is junk so will I be...

meebee time to get a Grom