What is a option from another bike you miss on your FJR?

[gixxerjasen]

I have never understood the fascination of folks with self cancelling turn signals on a motorcycle. I can't think of the last time that I was all "OMG, if I have to reach all the way over there to cancel this turn signal just one more time, I think my thumb is going to fall off!"

 

[BanjoBoy]

I mis the deep, set back dash on my old FJ1200. It had mor "visor" effect so you could see the instruments bettah in the sunlight.

I have never understood the fascination of folks with self cancelling turn signals on a motorcycle. I can't think of the last time that I was all "OMG, if I have to reach all the way over there to cancel this turn signal just one more time, I think my thumb is going to fall off!"

With fond memories, I recall like'in 'em on my XS500, 'n XS750, butt when I had 'em on my pos '05 Bring Mor Wallet they seemed to be on too long in town, (I'd have to manually shut 'em off.) and not long enough merg'in freeways. (I'd have to manually turn 'em on twice.)

Don't mis 'em at all; now I just look down occasionally to make sure I'm not in triple digits, 'n that nun of them green lights are blink'in.

 

[timk]

Helmet locks

 

[Old Guy]

I have never understood the fascination of folks with self cancelling turn signals on a motorcycle. I can't think of the last time that I was all "OMG, if I have to reach all the way over there to cancel this turn signal just one more time, I think my thumb is going to fall off!"

You might never, ever forget to turn them off, and if that's the case, I salute you. But we mere mortals do occasionally forget.

I assure you it has nothing to do with the effort required. It does have to do with riding even a short distance in traffic erroneously signaling for a turn you don't really plan to make. Other drivers will take that signal as the gospel a run over you when you fail to do what was expected.

My ZRX was the first bike I'd owned in decades that didn't self cancel. I also rode a Voyager when I bought it then replaced that with a Goldwing -- both of which had self-cancelers. I started manually cancelling both of those bikes when I bought the ZRX just to help reinforce the habit. My thumb didn't fall off -- never even got sore. And it did help. But despite that I still forget once in a blue moon.

Put me down in the "miss self-canceling signals" column. Even if the bike had them I'd still manually cancel because I've still got the ZRX. But I still like the assurance that if I forget, the bike will remember.

As for disabling them because they turn off too early, I used to hit my Goldwing again if it turned off too quickly. it was no big deal. Hit it twice to keep it going or hit it once to turn if on then once to turn it off. I don't see a difference.

 

[gixxerjasen]

I do forget from time to time, but then I just look like the average Dallas driver at that point. It's not like anyone here is looking at them anyway. Heck, I think the signals actually confuse most folks because they have no idea that vehicles are equipped with them.

 

[Old Guy]

I do forget from time to time, but then I just look like the average Dallas driver at that point. It's not like anyone here is looking at them anyway. Heck, I think the signals actually confuse most folks because they have no idea that vehicles are equipped with them.

Ah yes. Dallas. Turn signals are considered a warning to block that hole quickly before that guy can get into it.

FWIW, I did have a very close call on the ZRX right after I got it. I was running along next to shopping center when a woman looked straight at me and pulled out. I barely got stopped without hitting her. Her shocked look didn't help. It was as if she looked straight at me, pulled out, then was surprised at my presence. I then realized my right signal was on and she thought I was turning in.

 

[Uncle Hud]

From an Atlanta commuter: if vehicles are giving me lots of room, that means my turn signal is still blinking. Drivers around here are helpful that way.

 

[gixxerjasen]

From an Atlanta commuter: if vehicles are giving me lots of room, that means my turn signal is still blinking. Drivers around here are helpful that way.

We moved to Cleveland from Dallas. I was waiting to pull out into traffic and my wife and I had an argument about the rude hand gestures this guy in traffic was giving me. Figured out, he was waving at me to let me in. Who knew?

 

[Old Guy]

From an Atlanta commuter: if vehicles are giving me lots of room, that means my turn signal is still blinking. Drivers around here are helpful that way.

I see that in other parts of the country. I can turn the turn signal on, and people in the other lane will often move back and make room. When I get back to Arkansas it's like someone flipped a switch at the Arkansas line and everyone goes into aggressive mode.

 

[ionbeam]

In New England you don't ever use your turn signal; never give the enemy a hint of your intent. They will indeed speed up and close the gap or pull out and cut you off.

 

[Jim_McG]

How true about New England - even more so in Boston where I'm from. Also, when merging never let the other driver see you made eye contact or you just lost and got cut off! Thread hi-jack over.

Although my FJR is only a few days in my possession, I too wish it had cruise, canceling turns, and a windshield that didn't shake like its about to fall off. That will be the first upgrade.

 

[gixxerjasen]

How true about New England - even more so in Boston where I'm from. Also, when merging never let the other driver see you made eye contact or you just lost and got cut off! Thread hi-jack over.

Last time I was in Boston the roads needed restriping so bad I couldn't tell if I was merging, cutting someone off or just staying in my lane.

 

[Fred W]

How true about New England - even more so in Boston where I'm from. Also, when merging never let the other driver see you made eye contact or you just lost and got cut off!

Yep. That was how they taught us to negotiate the big Rotary at Rte 2 and Fresh Pond Parkway (now gone) in Driver's Ed. Peripheral vision was your friend.

That said, the one feature I wish the FJR had from a previously owned bike would be a V4 engine like on the VFR800, but still FJR sized to 1300cc. Man that was a smooth running, high revving engine. 800cc and it made over 100 hp. At 1300cc it would be like 160hp! And the sound that emanated from its exhaust was just awesome.

 

[Old Guy]

Most of my road trips take me west. I'm sort of loosely planning a trip to Maine this year, but your posts about the NE are making me want to go west again. LOL

 

[Old Guy]

How true about New England - even more so in Boston where I'm from. Also, when merging never let the other driver see you made eye contact or you just lost and got cut off!

Yep. That was how they taught us to negotiate the big Rotary at Rte 2 and Fresh Pond Parkway (now gone) in Driver's Ed. Peripheral vision was your friend.

That said, the one feature I wish the FJR had from a previously owned bike would be a V4 engine like on the VFR800, but still FJR sized to 1300cc. Man that was a smooth running, high revving engine. 800cc and it made over 100 hp. At 1300cc it would be like 160hp! And the sound that emanated from its exhaust was just awesome.

A friend rode a Suzuki Cavalcade some years back. That was a 1360cc V-4. It had a terrific engine, but it sure liked gas stations. At any rate, he now rides an 1800 'wing, but he says he misses that V-4 as well.

 

[Fred W]

@Old Guy - Maine has some fantastic scenery, the best seafood in the world, and a few interesting "Mainiac" characters knockin' around. But I would never classify it as a great motorcycle riding destination. Set your sights further north and continue on up to Nova Scotia, maybe add on PEI. Ride the Cabot Trail and the Sunrise Trail (aka Mini Cabot). Spend a couple of days there. You will thank me afterward.

 

[Old Guy]

@Old Guy - Maine has some fantastic scenery, the best seafood in the world, and a few interesting "Mainiac" characters knockin' around. But I would never classify it as a great motorcycle riding destination. Set your sights further north and continue on up to Nova Scotia, maybe add on PEI. Ride the Cabot Trail and the Sunrise Trail (aka Mini Cabot). Spend a couple of days there. You will thank me afterward.

I've thanked you many times already, though maybe not in writing. I'll need to get a passport -- never done that. Thanks ... again.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

@Old Guy - Maine has some fantastic scenery, the SECOND best seafood in the world, and a few interesting "Mainiac" characters knockin' around. But I would never classify it as a great motorcycle riding destination. Set your sights further north and continue on up to Nova Scotia, maybe add on PEI. Ride the Cabot Trail and the Sunrise Trail (aka Mini Cabot). Spend a couple of days there. You will thank me afterward.

Sorry my friend. Smart as you are, you are human and still make mistakes. Therefore, I had to fix it for you.

And I did have a Sport Tourer with a 1300cc V4. I traded it in on my FJR.

 

[Fred W]

Sorry Redfish, you don't have any Homarus Americanus down there in LA. So, therefore Maine is still the best, though the Canadian Maritimes should be included in that generalization. Perhaps I should have narrowed the category to shell fish, but to me that is what good seafood is: Oysters, clams, lobster maybe a bluefin tuna thrown in for good measure. And the colder the water is the better these taste.

As for the V4 1300, that is true. And Honda did a credible job on that engine, if only they had Yamaha's bent on performance it would have / could have been a killer bike. As you already know, I could probably have been very happy on a ST1300. As long as it was a pink one.

 

[ionbeam]

...you don't have any Homarus Americanus down there in LA...Perhaps I should have narrowed the category to shell fish, but to me that is what good seafood is: Oysters, clams, lobster. And the colder the water is the better these taste...As for the V4...

and the Maine gulf shrimp plus the bay and diver scallops. Yum.

Had a Honda V-4 that hummed along quite good, but Honda had it oriented wrong in the chassis compared to the ST.