Should I stay away from the 1st gen?

[SacramentoMike]

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The "right price???" What the heck does that mean? How MUCH, fer Pete's sake? (We is nosey hereabouts. OK, I'M nosey.)

Some good extras there, notably the grip heaters, windscreen, risers. That Corbin seat will be handy. You can sit on it while you send your stocker for a rebuild somewhere else.

 

[Patriot]

So, to update this thread, I have made an appointment to view the Gen 1 that is located in my hometown. It is the right price and has the following goodies- how much ?

- 37,000 KMS (kilometers per second...that thing is fast...ah, 23,000 miles I gather) good

- ABS very good

- Corbin seat as well as stock good

- 3/4” Heli bar risers good

- OEM heated grips very good

- Extra set of carbon mirrors eh...go with FZ1 mirrors later on

- New back tire very good worth $135 or so...curious what tires he runs...wanna check the front as well

- Slightly oversized Yamaha wind screen OK at first, within a few months I went with the Gen I CalSci Medium with the vented holes - lotsa choices here

- OEM hard case side bags and top case Top case worth some serious money - check and make sure the side case inner bags are included

- Nylon bike cover good

- GPS or Ipod mount good

- Always ran with synthetic oil good

- LED brake and signal replacement bulbs see if the stock bulbs are available - led bulbs are not as bright as incadescent, so IMHO a minus

- Black sheepskin seat cover try it

- Vest plug-in good...might be able to use for a battery tender as well

It would be nice to buy a bike that someone has spent money on, as opposed to me selling a bike that I have spent all the money on.

It seems the general consensus here is to not worry about the valve tick. So wish me luck! take a listen to both sides of the motor started from stone cold...knives thrown down or marbles in a can

can be trouble...the marbles in a can mean the Cam Chain Tensioner is weak and needs to be replaced

 

[garyahouse]

Just a note. I gave 6500 for an 05 w/ ABS and 4k miles just 6 months ago. That was a 1000 dollar option if I recall, so they should cost a bit more than non ABS models. I got a corbin and oversize windshield... the only farkels Sounds like some great farkels on the bike you're considering. What kind of price is he asking?

 

[mailmanbob]

Just a note. I gave 6500 for an 05 w/ ABS and 4k miles just 6 months ago. That was a 1000 dollar option if I recall, so they should cost a bit more than non ABS models. I got a corbin and oversize windshield... the only farkels Sounds like some great farkels on the bike you're considering. What kind of price is he asking?

Now, you have to remember this Canada...prices are high. Anyways he is looking for $7500(CAN$). A comparable in Tacoma (minus ABS and the trunk)would be about $6000. But it is a hassle to bring it over the border. Not to mention it would cost me $200 just to go look at a bike on the mainland. The good side is I should be able to sell my Pacific Coast for around $4000, so not bad really.

 

[TomInPA]

Just a note. I gave 6500 for an 05 w/ ABS and 4k miles just 6 months ago. That was a 1000 dollar option if I recall, so they should cost a bit more than non ABS models. I got a corbin and oversize windshield... the only farkels Sounds like some great farkels on the bike you're considering. What kind of price is he asking?

Now, you have to remember this Canada...prices are high. Anyways he is looking for $7500(CAN$). A comparable in Tacoma (minus ABS and the trunk)would be about $6000. But it is a hassle to bring it over the border. Not to mention it would cost me $200 just to go look at a bike on the mainland. The good side is I should be able to sell my Pacific Coast for around $4000, so not bad really.

I think your comp in Tacoma would go for $6500-$6800+ due to the top case and accessories, and prices will firm up in spring. I think you are doing fine. I paid $6300 and bought a 05 ABS in Reno December 1 at the bottom (?) of the market, and didn't get the top-case. In the long run, you will make the bike yours. Good luck. Hope it works out for you.

 

[garyahouse]

Looks like the forum has given you its blessing. Now the only thing that matters it the condition of the bike. Just curious, has the owner ever been on the forum? Some of the old timers (sorry guys) might remember him?? Hope you can remember everything the forum told ya when ya go to see it. Remember to tell the guy not to start it before you get there. Get it out in the open when you start it so you don't get all the echo from inside a garage... the sound of the exhaust can limit how much engine noise you hear. By the way, ever hear a normal sounding FJR? That would help, for comparison sake, before you actually do this. Soooooo, go for it dude, and bring us back some good news.

Gary

darksider #44

ps: to the forum: you guys are amazing. Your wealth of knowledge and your willingness to take the time to share it is amazing.

 

[cota95]

The good side is I should be able to sell my Pacific Coast for around $4000, so not bad really.

Thread hijack...what year PC do you have? I bought an 90 PC last spring. Hijack over.

 

[Karmak]

The "tick" should be fixed by a Yamaha recall, so I wouldn't even worry about that as an issue. The only other complaints with the Gen 1 are heat issues(you live in Canada, those will probably be welcome) and alternator output(which may be a concern depending on how many farkles you want and if you want heated gear).

I wouldn't shy away from one though!

>I lived through the "ticker generation," and unless I've missed something that happened later, there was never a recall for that problem. Yamaha never officially owned up to it, although it did repair them if the dealers were on board and advocated for the customer. I will also say that this Board was responsible for diseminating a lot of info that people with tickers used to convince dealers to stand behind them. If you do a search you'll come up with plenty of info.

>Yamaha did do a recall for melting ignitions.

>There were far more non-tickers than tickers, so you pays your money and takes your chances.

>I had an '05 that started exhibiting ignition problems, although I didn't know what it was at the time-it became known more widely a bit later and the recall fixed it. Brodie's ignition relay also fixes that problem.

>If you watch (and listen)to a video on Dale Walker's Holeshot site (the audio with the video actually)you will clearly hear the "tick" so you'll know what to listen for. You could also spot the beginning of trouble by looking into the exhaust ports-if you find evidence of oil you probably have a ticker.

>Despite all the above, the 1st Gens are great running bikes and far more did not have problems than did-I still miss my '05. If I had money to play with, I'd get another if the price was right.

>I actually installed NOS on my '05 and it ran great with no problems.

I'd say give it Hell-grab one if you can-

I stand corrected Karmak. I thought in my research that I had heard that the Gen I's were eligible for the fix, but obviously I was mistaken. But my stance still stands, I would not shy away from a Gen I. They are definitely proven.

It was sureal-Yamaha did eventually fix them (as I mentioned, some guys had a hard time getting it done, others easier, depending on dealer support) without ever admitting culpability. Interestingly, some people here got a copy of a Yamaha tech bullitin that warned of premature valve guide wear-so Yamaha did know about it. That's the only complaint I've had against Yamaha and I've had at least one Yamaha since 1986, when I bought my first FJ 1200. I forget the percentage, but only a small percentage developed the problem compared to the total number sold.

It may just be imagination, but I would swear my '05 handled quicker and was a bit faster. This could be a result of being lighter and having a slightly shorter wheelbase. At one time, when I had the '05 and the Gen II came out, I rode a friend's and I felt it tracked a bit better on straights but was a little slower on turn-in. Again, possibly the longer wheelbase, but tires could have been a factor also.

>As I mentioned, I wouldn't hesitate getting another '05 if one popped up at the right price. One thing I would always suggest going for is a new suspension, especially if the '05 has accumulated some miles. A lot of us went to a Wilbers through a group buy and it really transformed the handling. Others have used Penske and Ohlins with great results.

 

[Patriot]

As I mentioned, I wouldn't hesitate getting another '05 if one popped up at the right price. One thing I would always suggest going for is a new suspension, especially if the '05 has accumulated some miles. A lot of us went to a Wilbers through a group buy and it really transformed the handling. Others have used Penske and Ohlins with great results.

I will be reporting next month on my Sasquatch Rebuilt Stock shock with all new internals and spring for $475 total.

Jay guarantees the parts are the same as Penske and will perform as such.

https://www.sasquatchrider.com/

 

[FJR Flyer]

No, just the Gen 1 owners..... [rimshot].