Waaay Looong first ride

[Mackeroni]

Hey all... So excited I can hardly sleep. :yahoo: I finally sold my Stratoliner and will be flying down to AL to pick up my new FJR at D&H next week. I plan to string together most of my favorite roads on the way back: Cherohola, the Dragon, Blue Ridge and Skyline before I head home to Ohio.

Anyway... I could use some advice. This first trip is roughly 950 miles. With all the switchbacks and combination of low and high speed limits, I should get a good break-in on the tires and the engine. However, this is somewhat farther than recommended before the first oil change. I have no problem stopping along the way to take care of this if I have to... but will I be in danger of voiding the warranty :dribble: if I wait until I get home?

Thanks!

 

[vandy]

You might be able to find someone that can supply a spot to get the oil changed on the way home if you know where and when you want to do it.

Alot of fjr owners betwen the dealer and home.

 

[Roy Epperson]

Hey all... So excited I can hardly sleep. :yahoo: I finally sold my Stratoliner and will be flying down to AL to pick up my new FJR at D&H next week. I plan to string together most of my favorite roads on the way back: Cherohola, the Dragon, Blue Ridge and Skyline before I head home to Ohio.
Anyway... I could use some advice. This first trip is roughly 950 miles. With all the switchbacks and combination of low and high speed limits, I should get a good break-in on the tires and the engine. However, this is somewhat farther than recommended before the first oil change. I have no problem stopping along the way to take care of this if I have to... but will I be in danger of voiding the warranty :dribble: if I wait until I get home?

Thanks!

I talked with the service manager where I got my bike about our travel and ride plans and "got the go ahead" for going over 600. I had first service at about 850 miles. His comment was not to worry. Your "mileage" may vary You might wanta check with the dealer you'll be using or who you have a relationship with.

We've been going to this shop for 7 years. The current service manager is has been there about 18 months but the lead tech knows us and how we take care of our bikes for 7 years.

 

[Mackeroni]

The more I think about it, the more I think I better just change it enroute. I can pick up a filter and crush washer when I buy the bike...check the standard tool kit to make sure I have the correct wrench. I might even take a socket with me...and as long as its not raining, any WalMart parking lot will do. I can buy the oil, a cheap funnel and something to drain into. Heck, they will even recycle the drained oil. If it is raining, I can pull into a DIY carwash bay. Nobody's ever using them when it rains.

Necessity is the mother of invention!

 

[Mackeroni]

I talked with the service manager where I got my bike about our travel and ride plans and "got the go ahead" for going over 600. I had first service at about 850 miles. His comment was not to worry. Your "mileage" may vary You might wanta check with the dealer you'll be using or who you have a relationship with.

We've been going to this shop for 7 years. The current service manager is has been there about 18 months but the lead tech knows us and how we take care of our bikes for 7 years.

Good thought. I'll check with the local dealer's service guys to see what they think. They might not recognize me though. Except for tires and valve adjustments (which are thankfully few and far between), I generally do my own wrenching.

That reminds me. The local dealer sales guy told me there were no more FJR's coming in until the 2009's arrive in September. He wanted me to call him if I found one somewhere. I need to see his face when I tell him I'm headed to Alabama to pick mine up...and how little it cost. :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

 

[08FJR4ME]

I just did the ride from D & H to Massachusetts, There is Yamaha dealer wright off the highway on the way up. Real easy to get to, right off the exit. I stopped there to have him check the grease that was all over the back of the rim. He said it was normal because they over

pack them at the factory. He said just wipe it off and if it goes away not to worry.

My bike is going into the local dealer next week. I have had a couple issues with it. The steering bearings loosened up about 400 miles into the trip. After talking to the yamaha rep's today the said they would cover it under warranty. The second issue sofar is it has started to stall a lot when i blip the throttle. Even at normal ease on it. Doesn't matter if the engine is cold or hot. I changed the engine and gear oil the next day when i got back.

Good luck with the trip, The people at D & H cycle are awsome to deal with. You will love the bike.

ENJOY!!!!

 

[FuzzyRider]

The more I think about it, the more I think I better just change it enroute. I can pick up a filter and crush washer when I buy the bike...check the standard tool kit to make sure I have the correct wrench. I might even take a socket with me...and as long as its not raining, any WalMart parking lot will do. I can buy the oil, a cheap funnel and something to drain into. Heck, they will even recycle the drained oil. If it is raining, I can pull into a DIY carwash bay. Nobody's ever using them when it rains.
Necessity is the mother of invention!

I absolutely agree that you should change the oil enroute. Like you said, pick up a filter and crush washer at D&H and take 'em with you. You'll need a 17mm socket for the oil drain plug. For a mess free oil filter change take a 4mm allen wrench and use it as described here: https://www.fjrtech.com/getdbitem.cfm?item=33

Enjoy your ride back home - by the time you get home I'm sure you'll have a good idea about what farkles you need on the bike - grips, windshield, risers, etc.

 

[fattymoon]

I just did the ride from D & H to Massachusetts, There is Yamaha dealer wright off the highway on the way up. Real easy to get to, right off the exit. I stopped there to have him check the grease that was all over the back of the rim. He said it was normal because they overpack them at the factory. He said just wipe it off and if it goes away not to worry.

My bike is going into the local dealer next week. I have had a couple issues with it. The steering bearings loosened up about 400 miles into the trip. After talking to the yamaha rep's today the said they would cover it under warranty. The second issue sofar is it has started to stall a lot when i blip the throttle. Even at normal ease on it. Doesn't matter if the engine is cold or hot. I changed the engine and gear oil the next day when i got back.

Good luck with the trip, The people at D & H cycle are awsome to deal with. You will love the bike.

ENJOY!!!!

Good luck with your new bike, Mackeroni.

What does it feel like when your steering bearings are loose? Are these the same thing as wheel bearings? The reason I ask is that I'm feeling just a hint of "slop" in my handlebars, as if there's a quarter inch space somewhere. This started when I got the bike out of the shop after getting an oil/filter change at 80 miles. Is there a way to check steering/wheel bearings?

 

[mcatrophy]

...The reason I ask is that I'm feeling just a hint of "slop" in my handlebars, as if there's a quarter inch space somewhere. This started when I got the bike out of the shop after getting an oil/filter change at 80 miles. Is there a way to check steering/wheel bearings?

Might be the floating brake disk, particularly if it only happens when applying the brakes.

Grasp one of the brake disks with both hands, try to rotate it one way and the other, see if it moves a gnats; repeat for the disk the other side.

Mine have always done this a bit, one more than the other. Some say this is a major problem, others that it is natural with floating disks. I am of the "natural" camp.

 

[FZ/FJR Mike]

IMO an oil change along the way is an excellent idea. I'd recommend a stout 17mm socket & ratchet as many have found the drain bolt with thread lock on them & very difficult to break free the first time. Should be quite an adventure. Ride safe!!!!!!!

 

[cota95]

When I bought my 06 at D&H and rode it home to RI, I found a Walmart in VA and changed it in the parking lot. They gave me the drain pan to use and disposed of the old oil.

 

[08FJR4ME]

Negative on the floating disc,

The local dealer has allready inspected the bike. While i pushed down on the back he move the front handle bar and they would just swing to both sides. There should be a slight resistance and they should stay in in position went not pushing.

"Ride report in this morning" A fellow bagger turned the corner in front of me and never looked. There was a car coming in the other direction and he seemed more concerned with the cager. Did i mention it was an HD. Anyway after applying the awsome ABS brake system we dropped down a gear and proceeded to pass. And yes there was a passing Zone. He made an atempt to catch up but

as you know it was futile. Made my morning. Sorry for the off topic, just had to mention it. I am sure he wannted to catch up just to see what just smoked him!

 

[ARFJR]

Don't forget to change the oil in the rear end after you change the engine oil! It will be pretty dirty at 600 miles.

 

[gregory]

+1 on the "stout" socket wrench. I ended up using a 4 foot pipe as a cheater bar!

Congrats on the new ride, good luck on the ride home and kkep us posted!

Gregory

 

[angus]

Hey all... So excited I can hardly sleep. :yahoo: I finally sold my Stratoliner and will be flying down to AL to pick up my new FJR at D&H next week. I plan to string together most of my favorite roads on the way back: Cherohola, the Dragon, Blue Ridge and Skyline before I head home to Ohio.
Anyway... I could use some advice. This first trip is roughly 950 miles. With all the switchbacks and combination of low and high speed limits, I should get a good break-in on the tires and the engine. However, this is somewhat farther than recommended before the first oil change. I have no problem stopping along the way to take care of this if I have to... but will I be in danger of voiding the warranty :dribble: if I wait until I get home?

Thanks!

I rode a friends Liner last week and thought it was the bomb compared to a VTX or Harley.

 

[DaveInMn]

Hey all... So excited I can hardly sleep. :yahoo: I finally sold my Stratoliner and will be flying down to AL to pick up my new FJR at D&H next week. I plan to string together most of my favorite roads on the way back: Cherohola, the Dragon, Blue Ridge and Skyline before I head home to Ohio.
Anyway... I could use some advice. This first trip is roughly 950 miles. With all the switchbacks and combination of low and high speed limits, I should get a good break-in on the tires and the engine. However, this is somewhat farther than recommended before the first oil change. I have no problem stopping along the way to take care of this if I have to... but will I be in danger of voiding the warranty :dribble: if I wait until I get home?

Thanks!

If you got a couple of extra days, you could do like I did. I picked mine up at D&H and run around Alabama and Georgia for two days and to it back to D&H for the first service. Had about 850 miles on it. Jerold told me not to take it over 1000-1200 miles before the first service.

 

[ADHinVA]

If you're taking the BRP, There is a Yammy dealership, just off the BRP, in Waynesboro VA, Wayne's Cycle Shop 1-540-943-1111. Maybe, 5 minutes off BRP at the most.

This is where I purchased my 06 and they've been GREAT to work with!!!

Ask for Mike... He's the service manger.

 

[Mackeroni]

Don't forget to change the oil in the rear end after you change the engine oil! It will be pretty dirty at 600 miles.

Rear end oil?... You mean my butt's gonna wear out? ... or do I have to do something to the shaft drive mechanism?

Thanks...

 

[Mackeroni]

Hey all... So excited I can hardly sleep. :yahoo: I finally sold my Stratoliner and will be flying down to AL to pick up my new FJR at D&H next week. I plan to string together most of my favorite roads on the way back: Cherohola, the Dragon, Blue Ridge and Skyline before I head home to Ohio.
Anyway... I could use some advice. This first trip is roughly 950 miles. With all the switchbacks and combination of low and high speed limits, I should get a good break-in on the tires and the engine. However, this is somewhat farther than recommended before the first oil change. I have no problem stopping along the way to take care of this if I have to... but will I be in danger of voiding the warranty :dribble: if I wait until I get home?

Thanks!

I rode a friends Liner last week and thought it was the bomb compared to a VTX or Harley.

Yeah...it's the bomb alright. B) B) I really wish I could afford to keep it, AND buy the FJR. The Liner is great for local rides up to 300 miles or so, but it is not really intended for long-distance touring. The main problems... leather-covered leaky hard bags and too-much-weight-on-your-a** seating position. I know some money could have fixed (replaced) the bag problem, but my back would never have gotten used to the riding position in spite of the repadding I did on the seat. Plus, after riding a Katana 600 and FZ1 over the course of ten years, I could not get used to leading with my feet instead of my head. It felt especially wrong over 80 mph.

Those issues aside, the bike is a real kick. Lots of big power and torque. The eBay buyer is picking up the Liner this weekend. I already have a speech prepared... "Please keep my phone number in a safe place. If you ever consider getting rid of it, I might want to buy it back."