The planets and stars are back in alignment in my world.

[SkooterG]

A low-mileage version of the same year as the old bike? Perfect choice.

Bye GS. It was nice to try 'ya out.

Truth be told, after I let you sit your smelly ass on the GS for several hundred miles there was no way in hell I was going to keep it. You RUINED it! :****:

On second thought, check out the tires as those are past their best before date. If you see any checks or cracks, buy some new shoes!!

Oh, no doubt. Rear is a replacement and is fine, but the original almost 8 year old front is showing hardening/glazing and some cracking. Fortunately, I still have about 3 sets of tires in storeage just waiting for some abuse.

If I'm ever looking for a new ride, I'll have to figure in the cost of a finders fee for you Greg. My God, that Skooter bike is pretty as an 18-year-old virgin walking down the Las Vegas Strip in a little black dress on a Saturday night! Gorgeous!

I've been looking long and hard since June. There are still quite a few low mile (less than 12k) 04 and especially 05 FJRs out there, but not all are pristine, and not all are good or great deals. I looked at a couple 7k 04 FJRs that were described as pristine, but were not. Not bad, just not my idea of pristine. There were others similar or even less mileage, but priced beyond what I considered reasonable. And there were a few I missed.

For example, here's the one that got away: An 04 non-abs FJR with only 1800 freaking miles! NEVER even been in the rain! I contacted the seller in Orlando about 24 hours after the ad came up and he told me it sold in 30 minutes for full price ($5900). Ad is no longer up, but it had risers, aftermarket windscreen, Yamaha topbox, and looked like it just came off the showroom floor. Incredible.

And, when I was weak and almost went to the TRUE DARKSIDE, I could have bought an 09 with 3800 miles for $8,000. All stock except for some minor scratches from parking lot drop. Sometimes, when I am feeling particularly like a dipshit/dork/moron I regret not making that Gen II purchase.

My question is where are you going to put that bandage that says "Stupid hurts"?

Hopefully NOWHERE on the new virgin!

Good point. I might hafta make him another one.

Better make a few. Ya never know. I had a minor boo-boo with FJR#2 just the other day. F*%#ing sand! When am I going to learn to keep FJRs on PAVED roads?

Are you going to teach this one to fly???

I sure hope not!

Will be looking forward to your post on the new 04 sometime in the future.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Nice Score!

My FJR is still in pieces.

 

[dcarver]

Hey KoolAid-boy, glad to see you finally grew a set and came back to the FJR fold.

Nothing wrong with German marque - it's just a different platform. You're to goofy for one of them sophisticated machines.. :lol:

 

[user 213]

Congrats on the new to you '04 Skooter. So many tidbits for potential comment, but I'll leave them alone. Awesome pics, and good that you took them now, 'cause that bike will never be that clean again. :good:

 

[Checkswrecks]

Glad to have you back and the bike's a finder.

I rent big GS's because that's what's usually available when I travel. Kinda like going to Hertz and knowing what you'll get. The ergos and suspension are great, but I've never understood what people see in that engine or gearbox.

 

[Joe]

Greg,

Does the new bike address the heat issues?

Did you keep the heat parts from DOW?

Just wondering as that was the killer for me.

Joe

 

[SkooterG]

Greg,

Does the new bike address the heat issues?

Did you keep the heat parts from DOW?

Just wondering as that was the killer for me.

No, nothing addressing the 'heat issue' on the new bike. Nor did I have any 'heat parts' on the DOW. 'Heat issue' has never been too big an issue for me. I will say the DOW was a cooler running bike than FJR#2, also an 04. Time will tell how FJR#3 is.

All I did to the DOW was weatherstripping around the bottom rear of the tank, and stick on insulation to the bottom of the tank. Not sure how much those 'heat mods' did. I'll most likely do those to FJR#3. Oh, the DOW did have a PCIII which I personally think helps. All FJRs are not created equal. FJR#2 is definitely hotter. Not enough to be a deal killer, but definitely a bit more annoying. One of these days I'll stick the PCIII on it to see if that cools it some. But I do enjoy the upper 40s mpg I get without the PCIII.

There was (perhaps still is) an 04 abs for sale in WV that had 2800 miles (now 3200 or so) that apparently was a 'Hot' one based on the owner's description, and also that of another forum member who test rode it and didn't buy it because of the heat which was hotter than his 03 FJR. That kind of scared me away from it (as well as the distance). Still, my theory is 'hot' FJRs have lean fuel injection which can be solved. So far just a theory however.

 

[Fred W]

Congrats Greg. Nice score.

She sure is purdy!! :thumbsup:

 

[Harald]

Congrats on scoring on the new Scoot! Couldn't ask for anything more other than perhaps it being a superior Gen II version.

On second thought, check out the tires as those are past their best before date. If you see any checks or cracks, buy some new shoes!!

Oh, no doubt. Rear is a replacement and is fine, but the original almost 8 year old front is showing hardening/glazing and some cracking. Fortunately, I still have about 3 sets of tires in storeage just waiting for some abuse.

I've seen pictures of your normal tire usage and am shocked that you are considering replacing that front tire while it still hold air.

 

[user 213]

I've seen pictures of your normal tire usage and am shocked that you are considering replacing that front tire while it still hold air.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

[garyahouse]

I bought my 05 about 7 months ago with 3800 miles on it. Imagine that!!!!! Enjoy the new toy!!!

On another note, I think I might have one of the "hot ones" that SkooterG mentioned, though it's not an 04. I posted a thread, "pipes are blue and so am I," several months ago. But all I got was maybe this and maybe that. I didn't know that there were others out there that had the same problem. When I bought my bike, the pipes just in front of the mufflers were dark blue and purple. The mufflers themselves were gold colored. I often wondered what might have caused it. I'm guessing that the bike ran lean? Any input out there? Skooter, what do you think? Not sure if it's still running hot as since I cleaned it up with bar keepers friend, the mufflers have stayed their normal chrome bright color (or lack thereof). And we have yet to have really warm temps here in Fla since I cleaned her up.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[Big-D]

This is my first real post since I've joined the forum over 4 years ago, I came close many times but never felt any of it was worth a reply, until now. Mabye its the planets and stars, who knows, but thats the best fookin news I've read on this forum. I can feel the love......and its all good.

Well, you are averaging one post per year now, keep up the good work!

Greg, you were really lucky to locate a find like that. Now knowing you and stretching the life of a tire, are you planning on keeping that front tire and running it until its bald or .........................?

 

[Greb]

Congrats for finding such a beautiful Gen I.

I'm happy that Yamaha has done very little changes to the FJR. Change for change sake is never good. Why mess with a good thing? Anyway, I rest easy knowing that God forbid anything should happen to my '08 I'll have plenty of gently used FJRs waiting for me.

I totally agree on the GS, I drooled over the GS in the showroom and drank gallons of Kool Aid while wathing Long Way Round, but when I actually rode one I wondered what all the buzz was about. I really wanted to love it, but just ended up appreciating my FJR that much more.

 

[blueman]

Great Score. Gen 1 too. yah man!!

 

[spoilsport]

I almost bought a 1200GS for my long haul runs last month, but ended up with the FJR instead. Now I'm thinking I'd like to have a Super Tenere sittin next to her. That S10 would be a nice bike for Colorado...

 

[sgoat]

Wow Greg, what a stunner! She's a beauty. Hope you have many great (and upright) adventures with her. Too bad you couldn't have kept DOW just for the memories. Must have hurt to let here go. Congrats amigo!