Putting off the first service to 1200 miles

[DaveD]

I'm buying my second FJR - a 2009 - from D+H, and I'm planning to ride her home to Boston at the end of March. Google says it's somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200 miles.

What's everyone think - is it OK to wait until I get home to change the oil and check the nuts-and-bolts, or would you stop halfway and try it get it done somewhere?

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

Stop. Change the oil and filter.

Or, don't.

(But I would)

 

[Lee B.]

oil change even on the road is fairly easy. if you do decide to do it on the way home I'd ask D&H to lossen and then retighten the drain plug/bolt. I got mine home from D&H, did the change at 600 and needed a breaker bar to get the drain plug out. if you are on your second FJR you may already know this. Sorry if I'm telling you what you know.

Lee

 

[FJReady]

On my cross country trip last year I did two oil and filter changes along the way. In Walmart parking lots. They sell Rotella T and ST7317 filters and aluminum roasting pans, I mean aluminum oil drain pans. Couldn't be easier.

That said, I don't think extending the first change to 1200 miles would be all that bad for the FJR. But I'd change it at 600. Just 'cuz.

+1 on the suggestion to have D&H crack the drain plug. Be sure to bring that 17mm wrench with you too.

That should be a nice ride. Maybe a little cool when you get close to home. Good Luck.

 

[Patriot]

have 'em crack that oil filter while they're at it...the same Japanese Gorilla that installs the plug also install the oil filter

 

[cota95]

Bought my 06 from D&H a couple of years ago and rode it home to RI. I stopped in Virginia in a Walmart parking lot-choose one with an auto service center. I bought the oil inside, brought my own filter with me, and the auto service guys loaned me a drain pan and took back the used oil for no charge. Along with having D&H loosen the drain plug, I would also buy the filter wrench from your local dealer or D&H. Fits over the end of the filter and uses a 1/4 inch drive. Also bring a single sheet of aluminum foil to go over the body work under the filter to catch the drain oil dripping from the filter. You can catch the best part of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way home. If you haven't been down that way before and want a gps file of a nice route home, drop me a PM. Good luck, it should be a nice ride home.

 

[rockmurf]

Definitely change the oil and filter.

 

[na1g]

I believe the Owner's Manual states that Hell will freeze, the ice caps will melt, and Sarah Palin will be elected President if you pass the 600-mile mark. These are not good things but, frankly, I wouldn't worry about going 1200 miles (please note that I said "I"). If you feel compelled, you can easily change the oil in a motel parking lot with a box wrench (included in the tool kit?) but you will need a way of collecting and disposing of the used oil. Pleeeze don't dump the oil in a storm drain. The filter will need a filter wrench and something to turn it. Or you could hit a Yamadealer along the way and ensure there will no gray-area about the warranty.

Modern machining processes are so good that the old break-in oil change is a thing of the past. My Honda car doesn't call for an oil change for 10,000 miles and after that it only gets a filter at every second change. That said, I'll confess to changing my Yamie's oil and filter at 300 miles, and my Honda car's oil at 1,000 miles. Old habits die hard.

pete :cold:

 

[KYRider]

I would not worry going 1.200 miles. Do it when you get home.

 

[72Duster340]

IMHO I would recommend changing the oil at 600 miles at a dealer because any warranty work will be done by a local dealer vs. D&H. Don't give them a chance to try to "void" the warranty which is not really legal but it can lead to problems no one wants to deal with.

 

[fljab]

What's everyone think - is it OK to wait until I get home to change the oil and check the nuts-and-bolts, or would you stop halfway and try it get it done somewhere?

It's probably not a big deal to wait. Saying that, I did mine @~75 miles, then again at the dealer during the 600 mile checkup, but I was at home so it was easier up on the lift plus had all I needed.

Good ideas on what to carry to change it, but if it was me, I'd just locate a dealer along the way, call ahead, and have them do it. Worth the $ IMO and no question that it was done for warranty purposes.

YMMV, that sounds like a great trip regardless!

 

[C&C]

A bigger concern on your 1200 mile journey would be possible constant engine speed (i.e. if you are 'slabbing' it back home); the 1200 miles on the oil is of little concern.

 

[FJReady]

This got me thinking. Way back in the old days of the Yamaha PDP torture there were alot of threads about the Motoman break in that included a recommended an oil change at 25 miles after a vigorous engine workout. I know I'm violating thread hijacking etiquette by asking this, but just thought I mention it since we're talking about oil change intervals.

OK, back to regularly scheduled programming.

 

[DaveInMn]

....or do like I when I picked up my FJR at D&H. I picked it up before noon and scheduled the 600 mile service for 2 days later.

I brought it back with ~850 miles on the clock and Nick did the service which took about three hours (because of all my questions -- my first FJR). Very reasonably priced 600 mile service too. :good:

...another Dave D

 

[huron52]

I have read the posts and the one thing that anyone failed to say was the dealer at the 600 mile oil change would like to see what's in the oil.

So I would say if you have to ride it all the way home without seeing a Yamaha dealer to check the oil I would ride all the way home and have it done there!

But then, that is only my opinon

 

[DaveD]

thanks for all the good advice. I'm leaning toward just cranking on through, and then having the new baby looked over by my regular mechanic here in the People's Republic of Massachusetts.

Cota95 - thanks for the offer of route suggestions. I'll send you a PM. I might also start a separate thread on that specific topic.

 

[dcarver]

I vote stick at 600. Lot's of metal stuff suspended in oil and filter at the first change. If the FJR had separate oil for engine/gearbox, like on my Harley, BMW, or Dodge, I'd say no problem. But it doesn't. So change it. IMHO, YMMV, but it's not all that hard to change, even on the road.

Subscribe to the FJR Assistance List, find a member in route, stop by, spend a night with them, take them out to dinner after changing oil and filter - you will make a new friend for life, and your skoot will love you.

 

[midlifeuturn]

I have a second bike as was planning a trip to Yellow Stone with it. I was fortunate enough to get my FJR about two days before the trip. I knew the trip would be in the 1200-1300 mile range and was also concerned about doing the first oil change, cause I'm pretty anal about those things. The dealer service center told me no problem with waiting to change the oil whne I got back. He said the 600 mile service recommendation is a minimum, as you would be not doing the bike any benefits by changing it prior to that, but 1200 miles would not be an issue at all. Like one of the responses mentioned - He said he was more concerned that I not do any constant speed (rpm) driving for long distances while the bike was breaking in.

 

[08FJR4ME]

I'm buying my second FJR - a 2009 - from D+H, and I'm planning to ride her home to Boston at the end of March. Google says it's somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200 miles.
What's everyone think - is it OK to wait until I get home to change the oil and check the nuts-and-bolts, or would you stop halfway and try it get it done somewhere?

DaveD

If it's any consolation D&H told me to just change it when I got home. My only concern would be coming straight home doing all highway miles. After buying from D&H I went to see my son in TN which was 238 miles on all backroads. So at least I got to vary the speeds and RPM for the first 280 miles. I left Saturday Morning around 10:00 A.M. and pulled in the driveway on Sunday evening around 8:00 P.M. and of coarse I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express.

My best suggestion would be to go around N.Y. and take the TapenZee bridge into Connecticut. It will save you $20.00 in tolls and the roads really suck big time going through N.Y. City. "Its a death wish" The lower section of the Blue Ridge Parkway would be a nice ride but it will also add another day to your trip. IMO

If you want just let me pick up the bike and ride it home.

I promise to break it in just write for ya. Any questions just PM me.

Dave from MA also

EDIT: WHATEVER YOU DO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CRAMPBUSTER INSTALLED BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE DEALER!!!!

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