The '06 Question No One's Asked

[RadioHowie]

Okay, annoyed, but not offended.

But it's important to me to know if you understand where I'm coming from. There have been a LOT of stupid statements made about this issue and I honestly wonder if those making the stupid "scooter" and "gay bike" comments have a clue or are they just being purposely ignorant, trying to be "kewl".

And thank god you recognize the significance of the use of smilies. You'd be surprised how many folks DON'T get that, either. :blink:

 

[twowheelnut]

Well, now that you have a proper picture for your avatar all is forgiven!

 

[RadioHowie]

Yeah, been meaning to do that.

 

[RonBB]

Perhaps the clutch is simply a centrifugal unit with an electrically operated servo unit for shifting. The Cushman Super Eagle had a centrifugal clutch for starting & stopping in the late 50's & early 60's. The transmission (two speed-then) was shifted manually but could easily be operated via servo/servos & ECU now with a modern design.

 

[Randy]

There has not been anything published that indicates that it's a centrifugal clutch. In fact, I don't think there has been anything published to say that it's anything but a standard clutch like the standard version - it just has an electronic mechanism doing the clutch work for you.

 

[RadioHowie]

I'd bet the farm it's simply the stock clutch operated by a release rod and throwout bearing just like the "normal" version. Take a look at the picture on the Yamaha web site and you see everything that "normally' would be there.

There's the slave cylinder with the fluid line running to it, just like the "old" FJR, but this time the fluid line doesn't run up to the clutch master cylinder on the handlebar, 'cause it ain't there anymore.

Plus, I don't think there's a centrifugal clutch made that can handle the FJR's 100 foot pounds of torque, or its 600 pounds of avoirdupois.

 

[Skippy]

Post deleted by the stupid poster who had not read the specs on the Yammie site before posting.

Skippy

 

[FJRottie]

All this electric operated clutch stuff sounds like a gay scooter application. :lmao: :lmao: :rolf:

 

[Vstar2FJR]

I'd bet the farm it's simply the stock clutch operated by a release rod and throwout bearing just like the "normal" version. Take a look at the picture on the Yamaha web site and you see everything that "normally' would be there.

Stand yer ground RadioHowie, you're ahead of many on this board. What the whiners, naysayers, and gay scooter afficianados don't know, they'll learn soon enough.

Just think, this should once and for all end the debate as to which FJR's are faster, silver or blue. Why, because the 1300AE model (silver) will be able to get to top speed faster because it will shift faster. Click, click, click to work through the gears using your left hand or left foot will be much faster than manual shifting using a clutch. Even shifting without the clutch on an 05 and older will be slower because you will still have to release the throttle to unload the gears. I'm betting that the electronic shifting will only slightly and seamlessly decrease RPM's very little to make this the quickest shifting bike around. That's why the Formula 1 cars went to this type of arrangement. Their shifts are measured in thousandsth of a second, usually in the single digit thousandths. The only clutch they have is to assist them from a standing start, from pit lane or the start of the race.

 

[RadioHowie]

And while a thousandth of a second doesn't matter mutch in the overall scheme of things, when you shift ten thousand times in a 500 mile race, you've saved ten seconds. Many a race has been won by less than 10 seconds.

But in the real world, where 10 seconds over the course of 2 hours really doesn't make a damn bit of difference, it's still a way to showcase corporate technology by endowing a flagship product with the newest features.

And make no mistake...the FJR is Yamaha's flagship...not the R1 or the R6. Those are the Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchies of the Yamaha product line...only important now as long as there is a now. In 5 minutes, it'll be somebody else's 1 liter or .6 liter super bike.

 

[Vstar2FJR]

And make no mistake...the FJR is Yamaha's flagship...not the R1 or the R6. Those are the Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchies of the Yamaha product line...only important now as long as there is a now. In 5 minutes, it'll be somebody else's 1 liter or .6 liter super bike.

I agree with you 100%. I'm even willing to go out on a limb and say that by the 2008 racing season, you will see this on the Yamaha race bikes for the same reason you see it in racing cars.

Yamaha is using this as a test bed, and I applaud them for their efforts. They will not fail IMHO. By the 2007 model year, Honda and BMW will have clutchless shifting on their sport touring machines, and probably the Wing as well.

 

[Kevin]

I normally walk the un-started FJR out of the garage before getting ready and give it a good eye-ball all around. I wonder if I can even do this on the AE (walk it out unstarted, that is). Maybe I would have to find neutral (whatever it may be) the night before when I shut down. I'd love to have the finances to find out.

I love gadgets but this just sounds like an expensive piece to break to me. I'll stay with a "regular" (didn't want to say "standard" trasmission).

 

[smthng]

Probably my first and last post on this issue (it's just not that important to me at this point)...

Almost everyone has said why this system is gonna suck, although there have been a few who've dissagreed and said it's the bees knees and will flog any manual shifting you can manage. I disagree with both... I think someone (not neccessarily me, but I might be close) can probably shift faster than the E model without using the clutch. I can do clutchless shifting now without grinding or jamming the gears in, although I generally don't because I'm sure it's not incredibly healthy for my tranny. But, I'd be willing to bet that if you were going for speed... the A model can go toe-to-toe with the E model if you have the right rider doing it.

But... where I see the E model really making its sales is in major metropolitan areas with commuters. I'd love the E model every time I get stuck in traffic. After 15 minutes of DC stop and go traffic, my clutch hand is yelling at me. The E model would rock for this.

As for how they do it... doesn't really matter. There IS a neutral there somewhere, it IS easy to find when you need it, the clutch DOES work at stop lights (on hills, parking, reversing, etc) and the bike DOES know when and where to use it. Yamaha couldn't (and wouldn't) sell a bike that can't be handled by a normal rider. Even though the clutch lever may be missing, the clutch and tranny essentially have to remain the same and the electronic gadgetry has to have the brains to figure out what your doing without dumping you on your ***. I'd be willing to bet that other than a few disclaimers in the manual (like "Caution: Suddenly opening the throttle while stopped may lead to traffic violations, injury, death and public embarrasment"), it'll work, act and feel just like the A model.

 

[radman]

I'll be more than happy to drag race the first Yespa off the line. Or compare shift speed. It may be a technical wonder, but built for speed shifting it ain't. However, until it's in the real world and run through the paces by ar least several hundred riders, no one will know for sure.

 

[galxy5]

electronicly actuated hydrolic shifting

HHmmm

like my drag bike,, and drag rail

the tech is not so new,,

my buddy and I were talking about this and he said "well maybe I can have a bike now" he is diabetic and has circulation issues and neuropothy in his feet which makes it hard for him to foot shift ,, with this type of shifting he can enjoy riding once again

and BTW RadioHowie

I do come from the automotive world ,, and most of the riders here are far more tech advanced than you might think ,,

that is why we ride the FEEJER

 

[gr8eyes]

According to posts elsewhere, neutral is at bottom, on the foot lever and goes sequentially up thru the gears N 1 2 3 4 5. so you can sit in traffic in neutral then shift up once give it the gas and go.

 

[Randy]

According to posts elsewhere, neutral is at bottom, on the foot lever and goes sequentially up thru the gears N 1 2 3 4 5. so you can sit in traffic in neutral then shift up once give it the gas and go.

Doh!!! When all else fails, read the case!!! I just noticed in this pic that it says "N-1-2-3-4-5" right above where is says "Made in Japan" (like we didn't know this already).

 

[RadioHowie]

and BTW RadioHowie I do come from the automotive world ,, and most of the riders here are far more tech advanced than you might think,

that is why we ride the FEEJER

Wouldn't argue with you one single bit on that.

I'll give it to you that as a general rule, folks who ride motorcycles have a better grasp of "the technicals" than the average cager. And I expect that as a general rule, those who inhabit forums are much more knowledgeable on the subject of that forum than those that don't.

However, even with those two "givens," my comments were directed to and about those who continued to make the "scooter" and "automatic transmission" comments. I thought for a while they were tying to be "cute", but realized after a while they really didn't understand the concept of the autoclutch and were being particularly pigheaded about the issue.

Lastly, I don't know if technical knowledge has that much to do with being an FJR owner. I think that's more along the lines of someone who has discriminating tastes, demands value without sacrificing quality, and knows a great product when they see one. Don't matter how it works, if it looks as good and goes the miles it can with as little trouble as it does, and for 3/4ths the price of an equivalent competitor.

 

[RadioHowie]

According to posts elsewhere, neutral is at bottom, on the foot lever and goes sequentially up thru the gears N 1 2 3 4 5. so you can sit in traffic in neutral then shift up once give it the gas and go.

Doh!!! When all else fails, read the case!!! I just noticed in this pic that it says "N-1-2-3-4-5" right above where is says "Made in Japan" (like we didn't know this already).

Funny...I was thinking "no one's eyes are that good" 'til I popped the pic into Photoshop and blew it up. Damn, there it is N-1-2-3-4-5!

You gots some good eyes. None of us spotted that.

Way to go, Randy. :clap:

 

[radman]

I would imagine that cover is one of the few parts that would transplant easily. However, few would make the connection, nor get the joke. Fewer still would care.