When you joined The Forum...

[huron52]

.... Been here since I don't know when.

But it's funny people still don't know me.....or is it they don't want to admit it?

I'm not totally agreeing with Ionbeam about being the first person to say bad things about the CCT (cam chain tenioner) because I remember posting about replacing mine Oct 6 2006 @86,000 kms and getting talked down by Scooter that "they don't fail". I have since replaced it twice since I have own my low mileage bike. I do believe he maybe the first person to destroy his engine and maybe that it why more people payed attention.

As for my TPS it's still original... but thinking of changing it soon.

 

[RadioHowie]

OH MY GOD, there's a cam chain tensioner, too!!!

 

[Doc4216]

I joined this one a couple months ago after I bought my used '08. I started one another FJR site, which I am still on, however, I find myself coming to this one more frequently now. I do not start many threads, I read a lot for entertainment mostly but also for the novels of information that is on here. I like know there is tons of knowledge here and tons of fun, because hey, if you can't pick on your cousins every once and a while, what's the point of going to the family picnic?!

 

[leedavis]

I first connected to the internet before it had pretty pictures and you needed to know a little UNIX to use it. Not reading the FAQ, not searching, making redundant posts and the other usual suspects are the same ol', same ol' I've seen since Usenet. I'm always surprised that there are still so many people who appear to have just discovered the internet, but there it is.

 

[wfooshee]

I joined because the judge gave me a choice of 30 days or permanent fjrforum membership.

Shoulda done the 30 days.....

Actually, I've tried to find a forum for every vehicle I've owned, and the FJR was the first motorcycle I owned personally, as opposed to borrowing/stealing/using other people's bikes. I was desperate for information as I distrust the local Yammy dealer intensely.

 

[BikerGeek99]

I honest cannot remember if I joined here first or bought my FJR first. Either way, both events happened at aboot the same time.

Then I started reading aboot some of the stuff you could add to an FJR.

Then I said to the girlfriend (at the time - she's the wife nowadays), "Hey - a bunch of FJR guys are getting together in West Virginia. Whattaya say we go down there?"

That was EOM '08. After meeting some of the fine (and ... uh ... "other") folks from this forum at that little gathering - ionbeam, scab, fencer, jwilly, extrememarine, jaegermeister, to name a few - we were hooked.

After having been around here a while now, and meeting more fine (and ... uh ... "other") folks, for some reason I still keep coming back.

The willingness of folks around here to help complete strangers is second to none. I, for one, am a complete ***** when wielding a wrench is involved. Several folks around here are entirely too kind to me, and I am eternally grateful. I do my best to help others, whether they are new to the forum or not, all that I can.

Anyone need a battery swapped out? I have developed a very unique approach to battery installation...

 

[rogdeb]

Good post Redfish

Made us realize again what a great crowd of peeps we know from this forum, and what a wonderful group of friends, great friends, we've made because of this forum

Add to that the knowledge I've gained of a great bike, that came from all corners of the USA and different parts of the globe --- PRICELESS !!

Two happy peeps here,

Rog n Deb

fjrforum ... since 2005

fjrowners ... since 2002

x-ezboard

 

[Bugnatr]

OH MY GOD, there's a cam chain tensioner, too!!!

Don't forget the ticker's. Most of these gen 2&3 newbies probably haven't a clue about the tick.

 

[ionbeam]

OH MY GOD, there's a cam chain tensioner, too!!!

Don't forget the ticker's. Most of these gen 2&3 newbies probably haven't a clue about the tick.

Like the word 'spider' being made up on the Forum, the word ticker (as in Timex keeps on...) was coined here too. Guys were walking into dealerships wanting to have their bikes checked to see if they were tickers, and the dealers were looking at them and thinking

Only to be made worse by telling the dealer that they read about it on the internet. It was so much easier to say ticker than tell the dealer that you believe that your valve stems are rattling in the guides

We soldiered on in the face of the instant gas mileage readout on the new Gen II being stuck at 17 (replace the entire meter assembly), altitude sickness (replace the whole ECU), self immolating ignition switches (drill out security screws and replace the switch, then the dealers didn't read the whole bulletin so riders end up with two sets of keys), non-concentric throttle pulleys, the FSM giving the wrong torque value for the oil drain plug, bulbs instead of LEDs on the Gen I meter assembly, '03 and early '04s with fuses misidentified or not identified at all, '03s being susceptible to the O2 sensor throwing a code if you washed your bike . Yup, we have sailed some stormy seas together over the years. If there is a fault we will find it (or make one up).

All of these things played out on the Forum and our little self-help group managed to get us through it all. We also showed people all kinds of goodies that are just too cool and manage to help everyone spend lots of money that they didn't have

 

[UberKul]

Joined to learn about the 2005 I was thinking of buying. Started posting to ride with like minded folks and found some good friends in the process. The FJR is just a motorcycle, but some of the riders are special.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Hey, it's Friday....let's get banned!

So...I came here several years ago when a sweet deal on a 2004 popped up on our local forums. I'd recently wrecked my FZ1 and was looking for a replacement. Came, read, posted, got some good info. Then some guy on the FZ1 forum struck pure gold in sending me pics of his Yellow and Black pristine FZ1. The FJR was history and I was on a fly n buy to KC. The FJRForum was a distant memory as well.

Fast forward a bit and it's the 2011 IBR. I got directed to the thread going on here and thought "Hey, this is easy because I'm already a member!" Warchild gave us an excellent insight into the rally and the commentary from other former rally riders really added to the armchair experience. At the end of the rally I moved on again.

Then the fateful FZ1OA get together in Arkansas happened. Some old guy showed up on an ugly brown 2007 FJR to ride with us. He was a nice enough guy it seemed and took off with us. We hit a particularly sweet section of road and when we got to a nice straight he passed me and the leader to take off out in front. No way I was letting some old guy on a heavy piggy FJR leave me in the dust. I chased that stupid brown bike for all it was worth...he saw me in his mirrors and turned it up a notch or two. I believe his words were something like "No way I'm letting that ugly yellow bike catch me!" I wasn't gaining but he wasn't leaving me. Thank goodness for a red pickup truck who slowed him enough for me to be able to catch and ride with him. We had some laughs at the next stop and I knew I was ruined. That bike could go faster than I can...so why not get one?

So I picked one up. My wife is annoyed that every time I acquire a new vehicle, there's a new forum for me to join. She swore I could find a nose picking forum if I wanted to. (There is at least one!) Naturally I headed over here. Strangely this forum covers picking boogers and putting them on others bikes quite a bit...hrm...

Of all the forums I've been a member of, this one has had perhaps the strangest personality to it. On one side, the amount of good technical information is astounding. The bin o facts pages and comparison matrix are positively fantastic. The pictorals by mcatrophy are amazing and superbly helpful. At the same time there's a large amount of BS to sift through and some serious animosity issues.

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

This here is a sad thing for a member to post. I have to agree that it is largely true though. I spend more time sifting through search engines trying to see if I'm going to get slammed for asking something rather than actually trying to find the solution.

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'd like to change this and point out that it's much more acceptable for someone to offer bad advice or to talk about sheep shagging than it is to ask a question.

On a completely unrelated forum I poked around on I tripped across a post by one of the moderators from a while back. A new guy was getting slammed for not using the search feature and I wish I could find it but it was perhaps the most elegant and insightful response I've ever seen to this type of thing. One of the better points was that just because something has been asked before and answered, doesn't necessarily mean the answer is the best answer or still relevant. Oil threads come and go, but if we had a member ask about tires back when the 2003 FJR came out and then regarded the thread as answered, it would be completely irrelevant today because of the number of different tires that have been released since and many have been discontinued.

I'll never understand the animosity that happens when someone asks a question. If you are annoyed that it's been answered before, move on. That's way easier than to open the thread...wait for it to load, then type your response, and then wait for it to post. I also don't understand how the forum with the worst search function ever is the one where folks are most likely to get all bent out of shape telling them to search.

I've also managed to notice that it all depends on who you are on the forum. Two folks can ask the same question and one goes straight to NEPRT while the other receives lots of attention.

All in all though I stick around because this level, quality, and quantity of information for the FJR simply cannot be found anywhere else. I've gotten to know quite a few of the members and have a great amount of respect for them. I thoroughly enjoy reading the adventures of folks like Gary and seeing Tyler's photos. This is one I frequent every day, and while I enjoy it, I also recognize that it could be better.

RH, not sure if this is what you are looking for but there's my feelings out there...let the banning begin.

 

[petey]

OH MY GOD, there's a cam chain tensioner, too!!!

Don't forget the ticker's. Most of these gen 2&3 newbies probably haven't a clue about the tick.

Like the word 'spider' being made up on the Forum, the word ticker (as in Timex keeps on...) was coined here too. Guys were walking into dealerships wanting to have their bikes checked to see if they were tickers, and the dealers were looking at them and thinking

Only to be made worse by telling the dealer that they read about it on the internet. It was so much easier to say ticker than tell the dealer that you believe that your valve stems are rattling in the guides

We soldiered on in the face of the instant gas mileage readout on the new Gen II being stuck at 17 (replace the entire meter assembly), altitude sickness (replace the whole ECU), self immolating ignition switches (drill out security screws and replace the switch, then the dealers didn't read the whole bulletin so riders end up with two sets of keys), non-concentric throttle pulleys, the FSM giving the wrong torque value for the oil drain plug, bulbs instead of LEDs on the Gen I meter assembly, '03 and early '04s with fuses misidentified or not identified at all, '03s being susceptible to the O2 sensor throwing a code if you washed your bike . Yup, we have sailed some stormy seas together over the years. If there is a fault we will find it (or make one up).

All of these things played out on the Forum and our little self-help group managed to get us through it all. We also showed people all kinds of goodies that are just too cool and manage to help everyone spend lots of money that they didn't have

ionbeam, you forgot the Owners Manual recommended (36/lbs) front tire pressure...

 

[ionbeam]

ionbeam, you forgot the Owners Manual recommended (36/lbs) front tire pressure...

I'm sure I forgot a bunch of other stuff too, it seems the older I get the better I forget things. I'd like to think that it is a way to clear space for new things to move in but right now what I'm experiencing is like echos in a large empty cave :lol:

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Wow. This one has turned up way more good stuff than I ever hoped.

Gixxerjasen, that was very good stuff. I think many of us needed a thread like this to get some things off our chest.

Don't stop my friends. I have enjoyed every single response so far.

 

[MEM]

Of all the forums I've been a member of, this one has had perhaps the strangest personality to it. On one side, the amount of good technical information is astounding. The bin o facts pages and comparison matrix are positively fantastic. The pictorals by mcatrophy are amazing and superbly helpful. At the same time there's a large amount of BS to sift through and some serious animosity issues......much more acceptable for someone to offer bad advice or to talk about sheep shagging than it is to ask a question.

I'm wondering if The Issue at which longtime Forum member take umbrage is that it seems as though new members totally ignore this Strong Encouragement from Administration.
"Forum Terms & Rules

As a new user you MUST first visit the New Forum Members (that's this one) and introduce yourself to the board. Only after you post your first message here you will then be allowed to post to other parts of the board.

You also are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to review several special board areas we have constructed just for new users including New Members Read This, Important Information for New Users, and Bin-O'-Facts of popular information for the various model years of FJRs. The members are most appreciated and helped are the ones that do a little work to see if a question has been asked before.

.......

You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, troll-like, or otherwise violative of any law...."

I believe it was Iggy who was fond of pointing out - on behalf of the board founders/Admins - something to the effect: "You are a guest in our house. Our house, our rules". So, IMNSHO, it seems kind of disrespectful - to not read, or behave as though one hasn't read, the basic rules of conduct. Like not taking off your shoes at someone's door before stepping past a pile of shoes onto gleaming hardwood floors . But you're right - if it annoys you, move along! Let the Admins deal with it as they see fit.

That said, it does seem to me that this place is 'cliquey' in that profanity, vulgarity, abuse and hatefulness seems to be condoned in the case of a few individuals. Then again, perhaps there are ARE repercussions behind the scenes. Hell, Iggy and I have exchanged PMs and everyone knows how adorable I am

This post took forfreakingever on this iPad. I'm done !

 

[Fred W]

Around the turn of the millennium I was getting back into bikes after a hiatus to raise three kids through their busy teen years (we did a lot of boating and bicycling), and I was searching for "the bike." My last bike before taking the self imposed "time out" had been a BMW K100RT, so I had a good idea on the sort of bike I wanted. But my gosh, how bikes had changed in such a short time. After buying, riding for a while and ultimately rejecting (and selling) a handful of bikes, I had a 2001 Kawasaki Concours in the garage as well as a '94 BMW R1100RS. I had heard the buzz about the FJRs, but of course had never ridden one.

There was a very lightly used 10k mile 2005 on eBay from a seller I had used before. I started my research on the bike model, much as I had all the prior ones, by seeking out and joining the forums of that model. And that of course brought me here. After the COG and BMW forums, what a welcome breath of fresh air this place was. Yes, it was still fairly new here (this was 2006) but there had already begun to amass a good amount of forum knowledge.

My first questions were stupid ones about finding the best windshield or seat or something equally as NEPR

We also soon got to meet and ride with a bunch of like-minded New England FJR owners quite early on. ionbeam was one of the first few I ran across, so you might imagine that I was pretty much sold on the clientele here. Looking back at the photo from the first group ride that we had ever attended I see a few still familiar faces...

Back row left, that is me being all newby cool (damn, I don't remember my hair being so dark), and Josie next to me, Alan (ionbeam) is 4th guy from left (his moss was lookin' pretty full and dark then too). No Helen so maybe she was behind the camera? Skip (Nice Rumble) was the ride leader who shortl;y after got rid of his FJR and only dual sports now. Charlie Hoss is next and Tom (snikr) next to him. Haven't seen Tom this year. Retirement must keep him too busy. Couple far to the right are Iris and Jim (Zooom) and they turn up here and there still. Dan Bkr12 (center front) hasn't been around much lately.


I have always been a little turned off by the search police nazis on here, and other forums. I realize that most every facet of FJR ownership has been discussed before ad infinitum, but so what? If a new owner has a question about his new to him bike and there are answers out there I don't really see how it is such a huge imposition to be pointed in the right direction. If that happens to be a link to the Bin Of FAQs, or an old post, or even some of the great compilation web sites hosted by some of the long time owners here, then that's fine. If you don't feel like answering, move on and keep your yap shut.

But getting all nasty and just telling the newbs to "go search for it" is just apt to alienate the new owners and disenfranchise them from the forum. If I don't feel up to answering a redundantly asked question, then I just skip over it. But if I answer one I give my best attempt to help them dependent on how the question was originally asked. I may have inadvertently given someone bad advice, hell we're only human last time I checked, but never intentionally, and if I find out later that I did, after the fact I will make a public retraction. It seems the least I can do in that circumstance.

For the past 30+ years I have been a technical support engineer in real life on a complex medical imaging product, so giving repair advice is in my blood. I hope that I am not one of the characters who contributes to the negative vibe that some folks take away from here. If so, I apologize as that has never been my intent. My ego doesn't need very much stroking these days. I realize I am verbose, and sometimes like to use big words, and that can turn some folks off. If so, feel free to block my content.

In summary, this is arguably the best balanced, most informative, least time wasting forum I have ever had occasion to come across. How much better could one really expect it to be?

 

[MEM]

I realize I am verbose, and sometimes like to use big words, and that can turn some folks off. If so, feel free to block my content. In summary, this is arguably the best balanced, most informative, least time wasting forum I have ever had occasion to come across. How much better could one really expect it to be?

I have to stop Liking your crap. I'm starting to look like a sycophant :blink:

 

[Fred W]

You can suck up to me all you want, MEM. Just realize that there is no advantage to ever be gained from it.

(yeah, I had to look it up. It was not previously in my personal lexicon. Thanks)

 

[AVGeek]

I was one of those who moved over from the EZ-Board, which I had joined (as well as the FJR Owner's Forum previously mentioned) during the run-up to buying my 04 FJR. The first time I saw (and sat on) an FJR was at the AMA Superbike races in Fontana, and I remember being pulled between the FJR and the Aprilia Futura. In the end, my Yamaha loyalty won out, and I've been a Tuning Fork owner for ever...

It did take me some time to sign up here, though. In the early days, once I felt I knew enough about the particular model, I tended to not visit the forum for longer periods. Now I seem to pop in almost every morning while eating breakfast...

 

[exskibum]

I'll never understand the animosity that happens when someone asks a question. If you are annoyed that it's been answered before, move on. That's way easier than to open the thread...wait for it to load, then type your response, and then wait for it to post. I also don't understand how the forum with the worst search function ever is the one where folks are most likely to get all bent out of shape telling them to search.

FWIW, you're not alone in that, unless we're talking about the obviously clueless repetitive poster who posts 5 such threads in a day about each step of whatever inquiry is at hand. I've been here from the beginning and have read a lot of threads. But over time and with getting older, I don't necessarily remember the details of an issue I haven't had to deal with or haven't thought about in years.

Several times, I've considered starting a thread about a question with "would someone who knows please save me a little time if you know where the answer to XYZ is?" But in substance, that'd be the prohibited act of asking for help before I've wasted an hour and gotten frustrated at my inability to find something.

So, . . . I mostly do anything in my power to avoid asking questions. Sometimes that stalls me doing something, because I just don't have time at the time I'm thinking about it to do an extensive search or to read a sometimes significant number of resulting threads the search terms turn up to find an answer a directed question might elicit. That is especially so with the often painful thread loading times that have prevailed since the last software DOWNgrade.

Others disagree with my perspective, and they have more power or influence, so my tack is to continue to avoid asking questions when at all possible, and then, to do so only after documenting my unsuccessful efforts to find the answer through a fruitless search.

For me, if I know the answer to a question, I don't care if it's been answered before, and I'll usually answer it or direct the inquirer to a thread where it is discussed (e.g., where I know or can easily find it). If I don't know, I don't post. Which is what most baffles me -- when someone posts up a scathing rebuke to first do a search, do they (1) know the answer but not feel like giving it, (2) know the answer, give it and then get a preaching high, or (3) not know the answer and just feel like wasting their own time posting the rebuke instead of ignoring the question?

Confused as you, but not too worried about being banned for it.