Worried about dropping the new FJR

[HaulinAshe]

Signed up for a Precision Maneuvering Class being held in Durham NC this weekend. Starting to be a little bit concerned about dropping my brand new, never before been scratched FJR. Don't think Cherie would love on me much if I scratch her up. Not to mention what that would do to the farkle budget.

Just wondering if anyone else has taken a similar class using their FJR and has any words of wisdom. Specifically, can you tell when you are about to get in over your head?

Remember, I'm only 5'10"/30" inseam, so I cannot flat-foot the bike.

Precision Maneuvering Class

 

[E1Allen]

I have the ERC friday with the same guys. I can see that there are bikes bigger than the FJR there. The only thing I can suggest is that you run over the cones instead of dumping the bike.

 

[gypsy]

Jeff I put sliders and tip over guards on mine (of course I did it a few weeks after I dropped her). I had the TOGs first so when I put the sliders on I just left the TOGs as well. I certainly would have preferred not to drop it but after that I no longer had to be so concerned about dropping it.

I got the TOgs from fjrgoodies.com and the R&G sliders from www.bikejohnny.com

gypsy

 

[HaulinAshe]

I have the ERC friday with the same guys. I can see that there are bikes bigger than the FJR there. The only thing I can suggest is that you run over the cones instead of dumping the bike.

The world just keeps getting smaller!

It's the really slow stuff that worries me. I have a hard time with finesse on the 07 clutch. Thinking about rushing-in a different slave cylinder. Already have sliders (as you saw this weekend).

I guess it's just a bad case of performance anxiety. <_<

 

[Cdogman]

I did the ERC last year on my GL1800. Looks pretty similar. I do alot of slow time on my 06AE. I think you will be fine.

The best advice I have (and I got it from here) if not to worry about finessing the clutch. Let it out and apply a miniscule amount of throttle, then use the back brake to modulate the speed, instead of the throttle and the clutch. I had to learn this for riding the AE in slow mode.

From what I hear you are an accomplished rider and I think you will do fine

 

[JimLor]

Here's what ya do, get her running (in the garage), side stand up, in nuetral (or neutral if you must), drop a glove on the right side, lean over an pick it up (think to yourself, "I'm da man!" and then overcompensate and let her drop to the left. No really, you'll get a small scuff on the bottom of your left sidebag that you can mostly buff out and you won't see anyway. And the best part is that you get to practice lifting her up by backing up to her, right hand on left grip, left hand on left grab rail, then lift with your legs! The only place I ever worry about dropping ole Maxine is in the doggone garage!

You'll feel better, no more anticipating the first time. Once you do it you can then say fuggetaboutit and just ride!

Send pictures.

Your buddy,

Jim

 

[jwilly]

Jeff,

You're overthinking this!! You will be fine man. Just watch out for the enexpected bird to the helmet!!

-jwilly

 

[HaulinAshe]

Here's what ya do, get her running (in the garage), side stand up, in nuetral (or neutral if you must), drop a glove on the right side, lean over an pick it up (think to yourself, "I'm da man!" and then overcompensate and let her drop to the left. No really, you'll get a small scuff on the bottom of your left sidebag that you can mostly buff out and you won't see anyway. And the best part is that you get to practice lifting her up by backing up to her, right hand on left grip, left hand on left grab rail, then lift with your legs! The only place I ever worry about dropping ole Maxine is in the doggone garage!
You'll feel better, no more anticipating the first time. Once you do it you can then say fuggetaboutit and just ride!

Send pictures.

Your buddy,

Jim

Thanks Jim!

I'll be sure to remove my radar detector first. That way I don't risk damaging THAT!

 

[JimLor]

Nah, won't even get close to squishing that. Hope you know this was meant in fun!

 

[HaulinAshe]

Nah, won't even get close to squishing that. Hope you know this was meant in fun!

Rest assured I have a well-developed sense of humor. It gets exercised every morning when I'm forced to shave that face in the mirror.

I am, however, a bit sensitive about the size of my radar detector.

Time to get this back on topic...

Thanks for the throttle vs. clutch suggestion. That might be a bit "challenging" on the 07. Even with the G2 throttle tube it's still a bit snappy off the bottom, but definitely getting better as the miles grow.

To expand on JWilly's idea... I should request replacing the orange cones with rubber buzzards.

 

[Cdogman]

The idea is to NOT move the throttle at all unless needed for a bit of speed. The Throttle gets set at just above idle and forget moving it. Now it is all back brake, continious pressure, modulate the brake pressure and leave the throttle set and alone pulling against the brake. I have a G2 and a snappy o6, It can be a challenge for sure

Try in parking lot for about 5 minutes and all the sudden it is pretty easy.. Or not... I have to make stuff up to compensate for my sloppy balance

 

[Glenn]

Classes are great but its the simplest things upset the apple cart. I have a two month old 07 and dropped it this last Saturday. 6:15 Am, foggy and damp. Pulled in for gas, stopped, put down my left foot and out it goes and down goes the bike. Slight road rash to the left bag and slider. Did my first back to the bike and walk it up maneuver. Ego slightly bruised and some cosmetics. Lesson here is always be conscious of the conditions you are riding in. Damp roads, oily conditions, slick lane markers can bite you.

 

[FJRPierre]

I've taken my 03 on "motorcycle instructors only" ERC every year as a "guest" since my soninlaw runs the courses so last year I know I'm not very good on the "go real slow" part so I just do my best but I am pretty good on the cones slalom, tight circles, and U turns in a box. So I'm whizzing away in a conga line, showing the young people how its done on a big bike inside the tight circles and the BZX#$rd right in front of me does an unexpected manouver and I dump the bike!!!

The moral of the the story is 99% of the dumps have to do with your doing something more or less stupid (ie following too close on tight inner circle). The other 1% of the times are nearly unavoidable (but ask yourself would it have happened if I was doing 10-20kmh slower?)

Play it safe and you'll be fine. I'm 5'10" and my main concern was poor footing in gravel/dirt/grass when stopped. I finally put some lowering dogbones on last year and they have made some real difference in my sure footedness without any apparent effect on handling etc.

 

[feejer222]

Dont know what all the fuss is about. Lots of throttle, clutch and back brake, and do it like you DONT intend to fall off, (have confidence in yourself), in otherwords, like you have done it fifty times before and you will find it easy.

Take yourself to an empty car park and practice turning tight circles. Rev the bike like you are going to set off in a hurry, by doing that the power is there at a set rate and you can control the pull with the clutch. This also stops the chances of a stall. (Dont worry about the revving engine, you can moderate that when you have got used to the procedure). Now share the job between clutch and back brake, (use plenty of back brake, it stiffens the whole bike up).

Racers will often trail the back brake to keep the suspension stiff in a slow corner.

You will be astounded at how tight and slowly you can turn without putting a foot down. I do it with wife and baggage on without thinking about it, have not come unstuck yet......yet!

 

[BrunDog]

Cdog mentioned it above - for the class, raise your idle speed a bit, say, to about 1500. You'll need less throttle and you can do more work via clutch. Wet plates are your friend.

Or, you could bolt some blocks of 2x4 to your shoes to help with that flat-footing thing...

-BD

 

[BobMercer]

Jeff,

Might be a good idea to leave the side bags at home for the class, unless you really need them to carry items. If you do put it down you will have a lot less to worry about.

I can also relate to Glenns experience. I pulled in to the local Wally World gas station one Saturday morning and put the sidestand down. Started to dismount and over it went pinning me against the pump. Person at the adjacent pump came running around and puled the bike upright. Sure was happy about the prompt response, but I was sore for several days.

Good luck with the class, I'm sure it will provide you with some extremely usefull techniques.

Bob

 

[slapnpop]

Take off your mirrors, and I'll send you a set of pre-scratched bar-ends. Between those and the sliders, you shouldn't have any non-replaceable damage in a low-speed tipover. Let me know if you want them.

 

[juniorfjr]

Just go out to the garage now and knock it over and it will all be over. :blink:

 

[BrunDog]

If you take the bags off, the cans will be at risk. Wrap the ends in some type of heat resistant guard or tape. Then, if you lay it over: Bar ends, slider, can "slider", no harm no foul!

-BD