What did you do to your FJR today?

[ice_station_zebra]

Wow temps hit 57 F today...perfect weather for working in an unheated garage and just in time for me to finish winterizing the bikes including my new (to me) Versys. FJR is still the main steed, but will be looking forward to breaking the Versys out of the paddock around the middle of March !

Very nice Versys.

But, what is it with you Northerners buying bikes just in time to put them into storage?

From my experience, the supply and prices of used bikes are just better at this time of the year. I've wanted one of these for 5 years and this just came up. Couldn't refuse...6K miles and showroom condition for $6,000 including brand new Givi V-35 quick detach luggage! It had to come home with me!

 

[bgross]

I drill the head off and then with the part out of the way you can remove the rest of the bolt.Blame it on Don or Skooter for the over torque.

Hahaha!

Not long after buying Lucille, Don & Greg forwarded an email to me regarding some routine maint. that Greg had performed previously. In that list was the observation that nearly *everything* was over torqued. Sounds like Don having Scooter work on Lucille was a good change from whoever he'd had before.

What little I know about wrenching I've learned from my own mistakes. About 40 years ago I was replacing the water pump on my Datsun 510 - and snapped a bolt off in the engine block. Yeah, over-torque!

After using a drill and and E-Z Out on that Datsun bolt, I bought a Craftsman torque wrench, having decided that "it takes less time to do a job right than it takes to do it over".

Sometimes I wish I'd taken Auto Shop instead of Drafting/Machine Tool Design....

 

[Geezer]

From my experience, the supply and prices of used bikes are just better at this time of the year. I've wanted one of these for 5 years and this just came up. Couldn't refuse...6K miles and showroom condition for $6,000 including brand new Givi V-35 quick detach luggage! It had to come home with me!

I guessed that it was the price. I like the yellow color on that bike. Good luck with it.

 

[DarkSpirit]

Finished installing Hyperpro rear shock assembly, and welded a couple of extra braces to my Sky Hook so that I can start on the front fork springs

and steering head tapered bearing replacement.

 

[Lauren_TK]

I added Motorcycle Larry Peg Lowering kit, and a Shad45 top box.

I have the Shad brake light kit, but installing that involves drilling, and I ran out of gumption to be in the garage at the current temperature.

 

[Geezer]

I replaced my Escort X50 radar detector with a new one. The old one was pretty tired and required frequent cleaning of the circuit board to prevent false laser signals, and the output jack was worn to the point where the connection to my audio was not reliable. And, since I got an ad from Best Buy for a new one for $200, I couldn't resist. The new one is definitely different. It feels much lighter and the case is a different color. I hope it is an upgrade to the older one and not just a cheapening of the parts.

 

[El Toro Joe]

I replaced my Escort X50 radar detector with a new one. The old one was pretty tired and required frequent cleaning of the circuit board to prevent false laser signals, and the output jack was worn to the point where the connection to my audio was not reliable. And, since I got an ad from Best Buy for a new one for $200, I couldn't resist. The new one is definitely different. It feels much lighter and the case is a different color. I hope it is an upgrade to the older one and not just a cheapening of the parts.

That's a great price...

 

[lnewlf]

I use a mix of 50-50 ATF and acetone as a penetrating oil. Squirt it on and leave it overnight. Repeat as necessary.
Also, heat applied to the area the bolt screws into, or the nut if there is one. Repeated heating and cooling can sometimes loosen it up a bit. The penetrating oil mix will burn readily.

Once the bolt head is stripped you'll need another way to grab it. Before drilling it, see of you can get a nice big set of vice grips on it. It may help to grind a couple of flat spots on opposite side of the bolt head. If that won't work, the the drill is next.

Once you drill the head off then you no longer have the choice to just close it back up and forget it.

If you drill the head off you may be able to get the part out of the way and have easier access to use the penetrating oil and heat.

You're making me nervous...acetone is a great paint stripper..

 

[Fred W]

I replaced my Escort X50 radar detector with a new one. The old one was pretty tired and required frequent cleaning of the circuit board to prevent false laser signals, and the output jack was worn to the point where the connection to my audio was not reliable. And, since I got an ad from Best Buy for a new one for $200, I couldn't resist. The new one is definitely different. It feels much lighter and the case is a different color. I hope it is an upgrade to the older one and not just a cheapening of the parts.

I believe the X50 is a souped up Escort Passport 8500, right? If so, here's the permanent fix for the false laser alerts. I made this repair on two different 8500 units that were having regular, intermittent false laser alerts (back when I posted the fix over a year ago) and neither have had a single recurrence.

Unfortunately, my audio output connection on my old escort 8500 has also become irritatingly intermittent. I may try and replace the female jack with a pigtail cable with a female connector on the end to resurrect the old girl. She does still seem quite good at picking up the pesky radar signals.

 

[FJReady]

Let's see... over the weekend I put some gas stabilizer in the tank and gave it 20 miles to 'work in'; mounted a set of Garauld's excellent highway pegs (road test forthcoming) and moved the bike to a corner of the garage to make room for the car. On set of winter can be slightly depressing.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Installed Canyon Cages (removed R&G Sliders which are now for sale) and installed AeroFlow Headlight protectors.

 

[Geezer]

I replaced my Escort X50 radar detector with a new one. The old one was pretty tired and required frequent cleaning of the circuit board to prevent false laser signals, and the output jack was worn to the point where the connection to my audio was not reliable. And, since I got an ad from Best Buy for a new one for $200, I couldn't resist. The new one is definitely different. It feels much lighter and the case is a different color. I hope it is an upgrade to the older one and not just a cheapening of the parts.

I believe the X50 is a souped up Escort Passport 8500, right? If so, here's the permanent fix for the false laser alerts. I made this repair on two different 8500 units that were having regular, intermittent false laser alerts (back when I posted the fix over a year ago) and neither have had a single recurrence.

Unfortunately, my audio output connection on my old escort 8500 has also become irritatingly intermittent. I may try and replace the female jack with a pigtail cable with a female connector on the end to resurrect the old girl. She does still seem quite good at picking up the pesky radar signals.

Yes, I saw that when you first posted it and did solder the tabs. I also cleaned the flux off of the board with alcohol and periodically clean the debris out that seems to work it's way in there. Each of those made a significant difference, but the false alerts still come back after a while. Mine is pretty beat up from many miles in the sun and weather so I don't mind replacing it at this point. I looked into sending it in to Escort for an update which they offered last year, but mine was too old to qualify. I could never ride in my neighborhood without one.

 

[Allen_C]

Installed a Shad S45 matte black top trunk and removed the silver side panels and silver under-tank trim panel to start the carbon fiber decal application.

 

[LKLD]

Rode it.

 

[Niehart]

Installed a Shad S45 matte black top trunk and removed the silver side panels and silver under-tank trim panel to start the carbon fiber decal application.

Can't wait to see how those side panels turn out. Keep us in the loop. Thanks

 

[Allen_C]

Installed a Shad S45 matte black top trunk and removed the silver side panels and silver under-tank trim panel to start the carbon fiber decal application.

Can't wait to see how those side panels turn out. Keep us in the loop. Thanks

Most definitely! I will post pics and may even try to make a template in case others want to try the same thing.

 

[Lauren_TK]

I installed the Shad Top Box Kit Light.

Mmmmmm. . . Extra brake-lighty goodness.

 

[Allen_C]

I took her for a short ride, about 40 minutes including the one rode, within 2 hours of my house, with some curves. 70 on a 35 country road is not a problem, is it?

 

[clocklaw]

Installed my new Laam Seat:

 

[Lauren_TK]

Friday, I patched my tire and replaced the 3 amp fuse. (As discussed in another thread.)

Saturday, I rode 90 miles.

Sunday, I installed the battery tender cable that came from the Vulcan.