When you joined The Forum...

[Redfish Hunter]

When you first joined this forum, if some of you can remember that far back, what did you do first? What were your reasons for joining? Did you immediately start posting all your important questions or did you check first to see if the answers were already here? Did you assume that even though thousands of FJRs were on the road You were the very first one to have "this question"?

I know that before I ever joined I lurked. I lurked for a few years off and on. I had nothing of value to contribute, I just had questions. I came here for answers and by golly, all the answers I needed were already here. I just had to search. Then I had to read.

After lurking for a very long time and learning something about the different personalities here, I decided I wanted to be part of this insane asylum. I wanted to join the conversation and be friends with some of the faceless FJR pilots who graced this forum with their knowledge and wit.

When I did join, the instructions told me to Read! the FAQ, the bin-o-facts, the forum rules... Wow, more good FJR stuff to read! Better and better.

Somehow, I don't think we all have the same respect for the work that has already been done here. Some of you contributed to that work. Some of you still are doing that work. I sure would like to see some of the newcomers showing a little more restraint before hitting "Start New Topic" and maybe doing a little more searching to see if maybe their question has already been answered. Or maybe already answered hundreds of times.

Let the meanness and the goodness begin.

 

[Geezer]

I joined when this forum was new, so there was no collection of useful information to search.

In the beginning it was a pretty informal place with a good mix of technical questions and answers along with socializing. There was very little profanity, but a lot of spirited and good humored disagreement. Over time the personality of the collective has changed as the collective itself has grown and changed.

 

[Tyler]

I have never owned an FJR but joined this fine forum when one of the members that I knew from another forum (Andrew/OrangevaleFJR) passed away and we were directed here for memorial info, etc. I was welcomed into the fold and have met some of the most wonderful friends here... and I also received a huge amount of support after my accident from this place... it holds a special place in my heart.

 

[lacofdfireman]

I can pretty much guarantee that this topic was started for me in particular. Because I have been given 2 warning from Moderators for 2 Separate topics I have started. One on Looking at buying another FJR and one for asking about if anyone would be interested into looking into doing a Group by for Russell Seats for our fine machines. I am a Previous FJR owner (Bought me a new 07AE) but only owned for a short time. Probably less than 6 months and put maybe 3k miles on it. I asked some silly questions in that thread like did it have a auto retractable windshield. To be honest I should have know but I honestly didn't remember. I have owned numerous bikes since then. This 08AE I just bought is my 4th bike this year and I have probably owned 6 or 8 others in the past 6 years. I just like riding different stuff. My question was legit but was moved to NEPRT and I was given a warning. So today I posted in the Group Buy section a Topic asking if anyone was interested in possibly doing a Russell Group Buy. Well yes it is my fault I didn't read the forum rules. I belong to many other Forums which I participate in daily and have never had any issues. And to be honest I thought this is the forum that I would ask about such a thing. But it does state in the Group Buy Forum rules that my question should have been asked in the Parts forum. My bad and I wrote to the admin and apologized for posting in the wrong forum and he sent me another Warning.

I have learned a ton on internet forums and there are tons of questions that are going to be asked over and over. When I look at a forum "I" chose the topics I want to read and respond to. If I see a thread that has been asked a million times I pass it over. No big deal I don't participate in it. If I see a thread I feel I can learn about something I want to know I read and participate. I have 225 Posts here on the FJR Forum. I know that is not a ton but I think people should also know I am legit and it's not my first day on a forum. I'm not here trying to piss people off or ruffle feathers. I come to the FJR forum to learn more about my new to me 08AE. I can almost guarantee just by posting my opinion here I will either get another Warning or they will ban me. But I will say that from what I remember about this forum from back in 07 the mood on this board has changed. And to be honest from what I have seen it hasn't been for the better. I still plan on being a member here and participating when I can. But I won't be offering my opinions and posting up questions like I have been. I guess it's time to go back to lurker status since it seems like I must be a pain for the Mods. This is by far the best FJRForum out their and I hope I still get to participate but if not thanks for all the info. And the FJR is still one amazing Machine.. Even the AE....

 

[Redfish Hunter]

lacofdfireman,

I have a few thoughts for you to ponder.

1. It is not All About YOU! That attitude is what drives noobs to post when they should be reading.

2. I am not a moderator, I did not move your posts. I agree wholeheartedly with the mods decisions though. What were you thinking?

3. If you would READ just a little more you would have learned that 1) You really have to be an *** to get banned from here. 2) This thread is about the good and the bad.

4. You are absolutely correct about this being the best FJR forum out there. You can easily become an asset to this place, don't get your feelings hurt because you got called out for acting silly.

5. Confession is good for the soul. You should feel better already.

Now, quit messing up my thread! Cheer up, enjoy your time here.

 

[lacofdfireman]

lacofdfireman,
I have a few thoughts for you to ponder.

1. It is not All About YOU! That attitude is what drives noobs to post when they should be reading.

2. I am not a moderator, I did not move your posts. I agree wholeheartedly with the mods decisions though. What were you thinking?

3. If you would READ just a little more you would have learned that 1) You really have to be an *** to get banned from here. 2) This thread is about the good and the bad.

4. You are absolutely correct about this being the best FJR forum out there. You can easily become an asset to this place, don't get your feelings hurt because you got called out for acting silly.

5. Confession is good for the soul. You should feel better already.

Now, quit messing up my thread! Cheer up, enjoy your time here.

Hey thanks for putting me in my place. Points well taken and no hard feelings.. Hey btw is the FJR still a 5 speed. haha

 

[user 31223]

I lurked and read before I joined, then I joined because I was interested in buying stuff , so needed to be a member.

My one challenge, with many of the old posts with the useful information that have been posted before, is its old, the links are broken, the pictures don't appear or they seem to relate to the gen1 vs the gen2, or early gen 2 and are no longer relevant to later gen 2's like mine.

now that being said I have found great value and some people have definitely helped the issues that are mine, achiu and fred w to name 2, and maybe mine only, Lean stumble, issues installing risers for example.

I too received a warning when i posted in the wrong forum, my bad as I too had not read all the blurb. I frankly post less here than other forums I belong to, because there is an aggressive element here that i do not wish to stir up, just not my style, but I visit every day even so and will as long as I'm an FJR owner and hope, since you asked, that my 02 cents helps you.

 

[RadioHowie]

There's an FJR Forum???

 

[bgross]

As a relative newcomer, I appreciate the depth of experience and information available here. It is relatively easy to find (using either the forum search function or via Google) and usually Gen-specific.

Often I trip over topics that are not a current concern - but nothing ever seems to be 7 degrees of separation away.

Several board members have graciously responded to PMs, others have directed me (via a link) to a previous topic - that I somehow missed in my search - and I've even had my peepee whacked a time or two for cluttering up things (I deserved it!).

This isn't the only Forum that I frequent, but it is the best - like the FJR itself!

 

[bluesdog]

iirc, I joined because I regarded the forum as a place to learn and share information about the fjr.

Also, since I live in the boonies, and have few riding buds close by, it's a place to socialize a bit.

Regarding information seeking, I've followed the tips from here for quite some time...

I've also tried to contribute to this living fjr encyclopedia, and help out as much as I am able

 

[HelzBelz]

I basically will always consider myself lurker, I am still frustrated that the search feature doesn't always turn up things that I know I've read. I still am horrified at some of the responses from know-it-all's when someone asks questions that have been asked before. Its as if people don't care if new members feel comfortable here. "Use Search", "read the FAQ", Send it to the NEPRT, accused members of trying to ruin things, warn members for really no good reason.

Hell, I personally think its easier and more acceptable to kill a human being in the middle east than it is to ask a question round here.

I like the google+ group that has started up, and even the facebook group is interesting. But the level of info that can USUALLY be found on here if you know how to run a good search is unbeatable.

I was born and raised in Staten Island New York. As far as I am concerned, some of the BS that has been said to me online would have gotten some of these guys a serious asskicking if they did it to my face. But I am not 18 anymore, and I now live in Montana and am usually on my meds.

That being said, I have a 09 service manual, and lots of tools in my garage, and I stand ready to lend a hand to any member who asks. Even the rude em-effers I have seen on here. I value this place for what its worth.

Now, lets talk about tires.

 

[Chiefblueman]

I joined last year because I wanted to know as much as possible about the FJR. I kinda bleed Yamaha blue having owned four others, I still own and enjoy an '01 FZ1. I'm a chronic tinkerer and MUST mod all vehicles I own. The best place to learn the strengths and weaknesses of a machine is a forum such as this. The best thing I learned as a noob was how to search the site using google. I have farkled my FJR to a fare thee well and I blame youse guyz! Since joining there's been seats (3 of 'em), grips, fuseblock, screens (3 of those), suspension, AIS block offs, hiway pegs, subframe reinforcement, de-balled gas filler, risers,levers, heat mods, aux lighting, passenger footboards, throttle lock, stainless steel brake lines, CCT and more. I told my wife you guys are to blame for this so you got some 'splainin to do. Gathered much info on maintenance and mod procedures. This is my way of thanking this place and the folks that make it up.

A pretty good group here. I usually post if I think I can help a brutha or sista out. I miss Odot.

 

[exskibum]

I joined in the fjrforum's infancy, a transfer/refugee from Newman's EZ Board forum dust-up. I'd had my new 2005 FJR just over two months, and was trying to learn all I could about it as the FJR took over for my first (1997) Blackbird as my primary motorcycle. I'd followed Warchild's great illustrated technical pages on the Blackbird, so I followed the same guru for the FJR, initially on the EZ Board forum.

On Saturday, June 25, 2005, I met some great folks in Auburn for my first group FJR ride (up 49 through Downieville and Sierraville to Truckee and back down old 40 to Auburn):

Mr. & Mrs. Highlander

Mr. & Mrs. RicInSac

Rog & Deb

Mr. & Mrs. Bluestreek

madmike2

Toecutter & Eve

and a couple others I don't recall.

At our late lunch in Truckee, Toecutter told me about the exodus begun 2 weeks earlier from the EZ Board forum. I came over here the next day when I got home to South Lake Tahoe from my Mom's house in Auburn. With those good folks as riding companions and the nucleus of the NorCal contingent, it's mostly been about the great people riding FJRs for me, from the beginning.

I miss the several who are now gone or are too infrequent posters.

 

[BkerChuck]

I joined just over a year ago when I bought a used '07 that was traded in at the dealership I work for. I'd previously owned a FJ1100 and had some Yamaha experience but knew the quickest way to learn more was to go where the knowlegde is. I went on a RTE in Bedford, PA last fall and met a few owners/ forum members. I went on my first rally this spring, Mason Dixon 20/20 and met more. I try to search first before asking but as stated above, I know there have been times I've read something and when searching can never find it again. I may be getting older but my memory isn't that bad yet! I've yet to be called on the carpet or spanked but I certainly don't fear it. If I overstep or do somthing dumb I accept being put in my place. I try to contribute where I have first-hand knowledge and avoid just echoing the crowd in order to sound knowledgeable. I work part time for a HD dealership and have over 15 years experience in that area as well as owning and having owned Buells so I feel comfortable offering advice in those fields when they come up. I've yet to find a forum that was perfect. They are all the result of their users/moderaters. Having said that, this is the only forum I check everyday. Thanks to all who have helped me, may help me in the future, or have asked my advice! I appreciate the hard work that goes on behind the scenes and will strive to not make it any harder for those doing such work.

 

[ionbeam]

When you first joined this forum, if some of you can remember that far back, what did you do first? What were your reasons for joining? Did you immediately start posting all your important questions or did you check first to see if the answers were already here? Did you assume that even though thousands of FJRs were on the road You were the very first one to have "this question"?...

In 2003 there were several smaller forums and one big well integrated FJR Owners forum in the UK. The first big forum that was US based was the EZ Board. The EZB had a few crashes that effectively wiped out all the knowledge base that the forum had accrued, then strong personalities started to bump. As a result Travis (slapnpop) started this Forum which initiated a mass exodus from the EZB which was then expedited by Newman banning everyone on the EZB that joined this Forum. Our very own little soap opera

The postings, how-to and banter kind of seamlessly slid into this new empty Forum as a continuation from the old EZB. Most of us already 'knew' each other from the other forum and most of the topics just carried along without interruption.

I was a leader in some ignoble FJR issues. I found the TPS to be a Total Piece of Shit leading the way for everyone else after mine failed. I found the CCT to be a POS leading the way for everyone else. I was also probably the first person to grenade an engine because of the CCT. After the Ground Spider started biting, BkrK12 and I walked the NHTSA agent through the problem in Dan's garage using his Gen II as an example which resulted in a Yamaha Notification to Recall after a couple of weeks and then in roughly a month the actual Spider recall. The NHTSA agent knew about the problem from the Forum and was shocked to find out that the word 'spider' for the grounding terminal was made up here and not a technical term

After 10 years or so of collecting experiences and delving into every last nut, bolt and aftermarket part I think that we have reached a point where the age old question, 'Has anyone ever...' can always be answered yes, do the search

Over time we have added drops to the bucket of knowledge and a few members have bored holes in the bucket and dragged down the level of intelligence too. As much as the information and banter here, the Forum has facilitated strangers getting together and meeting hundreds of best friends they never knew they had. I have really enjoyed traveling to all kinds of riding events and meeting as many people as I can. I have to say, the Forumites are a bunch of really nice people that happen to share a common interest.

It's been a fun ride for me and my pillion!

 

[mcatrophy]

Got my first FJR about 100 years ago, in March 2006. Choosing the FJR was for medical reasons, but I found browsing the Forum made me happier and more confident with my choice. Yes, I did a great deal of reading, but I've still occasionally asked a question that's been answered before. Memory never was very good, and after 71 years of abuse, it's getting worse.

Joined the Forum in August 2006. Made odd minor posts, then asked my first "difficult"question in July 2007. (Bl**dy useless forum couldn't answer my question

. Luckily the problem eventually went away all by itself).

Been "shot down" for a topic once, but managed to convince

"the management" that I hadn't really transgressed

.

I think I made one useful contribution which hopefully helped repay some of the information and entertainment I've gleaned from the Forum.

Issues? One is that the range of FJRs "allowed" for my profile is limited essentially to US variants. My '06 was an FJR1300AS, the nearest available was the FJR1300AE. My present one is a 2010 FJR1300AS. There isn't even an AE for a '10. Maybe one day I'll get a Gen III, then I won't have a problem. Unless Yammy stop selling the AS in America?

And the perennial problem with forum response time. I'm not complaining at all. It's a nuisance, but one I'm quite prepared to live with for all the knowledge, humour and general irreverence to be found here.

 

[RossKean]

Joined because I was interested in buying an FJR. Did a lot of reading and asked a few questions (after searching) and learned a lot about the bike. It has been an invaluable technical resource. I ended out buying my bike from a forum member 3 1/2 years ago.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Good Stuff! Thanks to all of you for taking the time to give a positive response. I did not fully realize we were old enough to have a "history" until I read ionbeam's post. This makes me appreciate this forum all that much more.

 

[RaYzerman19]

Freakin' ST guys! I used to be one, but sold mine. Redfish stubbornly hangs on to his...... ha ha. Enjoyed mine, so I know why he's still got it. I still hang with the ST guys and their events, lots of good guys over there. Back when I joined the FJR crowd, I saw lots of newbies being admonished for not using the search function enough, so I tried to be good....... hopefully my knowledge of wrenching helps some, I'm no expert, just know enough to be dangerous...... my definition of expert - an ex is a has-been, and a spurt is a drip under pressure.