zackbilly1 - Goldwing Gadget Dude, Now New '13 FJR Owner

[zackybilly1]

Edit by SkooterG: Moved a bunch of off-topic posts and started a new thread before Warchild found out and went all Jihad on your *****...........

I had noticed a few comments about starting a list or notes somewhere on the accessories from the GenII that will fit GenIII.

I picked up my '13 (my first FJR) and I am really impressed with it. But now, I'm ready to start farkling the bike for its intended purpose...long distance service. Not really being familiar with the previous FJR's, I'm kind of low on the learning curve on this one. I have ordered a HeliBar Triple Tree & risers (their website has been revised to include 2013s on their products). I already have driving lights and am figuring out mounts. I also already have a GPS I intend to use and am working on a design for a fuel cell. I would like to put some hiway pegs & crash bars on it but still have questions about that one.

Although un-familiar with the FJR, I not new to farkling for long distance. https://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?304851-I-modified-my-Wing-cat-is-out-of-the-bag

Until vendors can catch up, any advice would be appreciated.

Z

 

[Fairlaner]

You might want to edit you post so it only shows it once....

R

 

[zackybilly1]

Wow & WTF....no wonder it was slow loading....got to watch that.

Z

 

[bgross]

For those in our midst who didn't arrive via the Wingbago World Wormhole, let me suggest that "Z" is not without an impressive resume in the realms of farkling, long distance riding and inventiveness. "Good Enough" does not seem to be in his vocabulary, as you might deduce from viewing some of his installations.

Santa would suffer serious 'shrinkage' if he left his North Pole Workshop and stopped by Z's shop. It's Hondapotamus Heaven, home to several of the Big Girls and their various trailers & other toys.

Z may be a recent arrival at fjrforum, but he's the 'real deal' and will be a genuine asset.

Aw, just go take a look.

Be gentle with him -- the cranky old men on the gl1800 board tend to be a bit more... reserved.

Welcome, Z!

 

[zackybilly1]

FJR Pilot,

Thank you for the warm introduction. Although there is no reason to be, I feel a little frustrated not knowing more about the FJR and previous generations. This will be a feather-weight bike for me coming from the Wings but I do have some ideas on custom farkles. I'm just trying to get the basic store-bought stuff resolved before I get too deep into the fabricating.

Not to offend anyone but I did try a ST1300ABS and although I liked the power-train, there were too many things about it I didn't fall in love with. Things I wouldn't have known without owning one. When I show people the new FJR they say "that's a lot like an ST1300" but it is not. I like the lower center of gravity and not sitting on a "heat pump". I added an McCruise to the ST and it was better than a throttle lock but always felt like the after-thought that it was. Aside from the 82 mph cap on the cruise, the one on the FJR operates flawlessly with no lag. I'm going to doctor up the clutch lever microswitch for earlier disengagement but the bike does everything its suppose to do quite well. On the ST, with the stock windscreen jacked up, the poor aerodynamics gave the bike an unstable feeling at higher speeds and I suspect that is why Honda quit offering the OEM Top Box for it as it would just add to the problem.

On the new FJR, I like the way it runs, the way it shifts, the windscreen, the way it looks, the instrumentation, the seating position, the smooth power delivery, the fuel capacity, the handling and the color. It just needs a few personal modifications to suit my taste. Can't ask for anymore than that out of a bike.

I'm looking forward to the build and the ride. Ain't skeered.

Z

 

[gixxerjasen]

They're back!

Font, Size, Bold, Italics, Underline, It's all back.

Nothing there before no matter what I clicked, Jason u da man.

Glad I could be of assistance.
Holy crap Z! I don't think my short *** could see over all of that!!! Nice setup and welcome to the FJR world.

 

[deanw]

Not to offend anyone but I did try a ST1300ABS and although I liked the power-train, there were too many things about it I didn't fall in love with. Things I wouldn't have known without owning one. When I show people the new FJR they say "that's a lot like an ST1300" but it is not.

You're showing it to GoldWing people, aren't you?

I once took someone on a date on my '04 FJR. We stopped by some friends of hers- H-D people. They said the FJR was "just like a Buell".

On the new FJR, I like the way it runs, the way it shifts, the windscreen, the way it looks, the instrumentation, the seating position, the smooth power delivery, the fuel capacity, the handling and the color. It just needs a few personal modifications to suit my taste. Can't ask for anymore than that out of a bike.

This could get interesting...

 

[zackybilly1]

This could get interesting...

It sure could and you can help. What would you add to this blank canvas?

Of course I show it to GoldWing people....its in the link for the GW forum above. My loyalty is with two wheels. I'm going to buy and ride what I think is the best bike for the style of riding I do. To me, the FJR has proven to be at the top of the list but, for me, the 2013 and its new improvements put it over the top for me. With a traditional/proven in-line four and up-to-date technology, personally, I think it is a helluva lot of motorcycle for the price. Even at 2/3 the horsepower, it would still be a fine bike and plenty of fun. This is the ultimate and could be the definition of a "Sport Touring" bike with even more emphasis on the "touring" portion than ever before. You may or may not be surprised that many folks on the GW forum have or want an FJR. Many GW riders are multi-bike people.

I may be having fun but I'm not playing.

 

[deanw]

This could get interesting...

It sure could and you can help. What would you add to this blank canvas?

My tastes in LD farkles is simpler than yours.

On the list- fuse panel, GPS, Aux lights, seat, Autocom / 2-way

On the fence: HID headlights,better hand / foot protection. Trailer hitch / trailer (for dog)

Not interested, but some are: aux fuel.

"Highway" pegs? Fairlaner has a set of OEM tip-over guards; it'd be interesting to see if there's a way to add a pair of fold-out highway pegs to them.

I was thinking to myself last night it would be interesting to see the full wiring diagram for your Wing. I'm a software guy- your bike has too many buttons for me, but I look at this project every once in a while and get an itch to do something:

https://www.arduinopassion.com/scooterputer-a-computer-for-your-scooter/



Of course, the new FJR has nearly all of that, but there's no reason not to use the same hardware (arduino based) to provide other information and run a bunch of other farkles.

Even at 2/3 the horsepower, it would still be a fine bike and plenty of fun. This is the ultimate and could be the definition of a "Sport Touring" bike with even more emphasis on the "touring" portion than ever before. You may or may not be surprised that many folks on the GW forum have or want an FJR. Many GW riders are multi-bike people.

I'm guessing the Wing being on it's side was intentional this time?

 

[RossKean]

I had noticed a few comments about starting a list or notes somewhere on the accessories from the GenII that will fit GenIII.

I picked up my '13 (my first FJR) and I am really impressed with it. But now, I'm ready to start farkling the bike for its intended purpose...long distance service. Not really being familiar with the previous FJR's, I'm kind of low on the learning curve on this one. I have ordered a HeliBar Triple Tree & risers (their website has been revised to include 2013s on their products). I already have driving lights and am figuring out mounts. I also already have a GPS I intend to use and am working on a design for a fuel cell. I would like to put some hiway pegs & crash bars on it but still have questions about that one.

Although un-familiar with the FJR, I not new to farkling for long distance. https://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?304851-I-modified-my-Wing-cat-is-out-of-the-bag

Until vendors can catch up, any advice would be appreciated.

Z

I just read through most of your thread on the 'Wing forum and I am impressed. I might suggest that you start a new thread here for your "blank canvas" FJR project. I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Ross

By the way, Welcome to the forum!!

 

[gixxerjasen]

Nice Kat.

 

[bgross]

Deanw wrote:

"I'm guessing the Wing being on it's side was intentional this time?"

Though I can't speak for Z in this specific instance, that particular 'position' is not an uncommon one among 'potamus folk when changing tha rear tire/wheel. It's an especially useful method if the bike wear a trailer hitch.

 

[deanw]

I figured it was intentional, for some sort of maintenance- or he was very lucky in having arranged to tip over onto a carpet runner.

 

[Fairlaner]

easiest way to remove the rear wheel....
R

 

[BobbyBlue]

I was thinkin maybe its gonna rain? Welcome Z , I was gonna go to Barber to see some bikes but yer closer and i bet you'd have colder beer ! Good on ya man !!!

Bobby

 

[zackybilly1]

This could get interesting...

It sure could and you can help. What would you add to this blank canvas?

My tastes in LD farkles is simpler than yours.

Not all of my bikes are Farkle Maximus. They are to varying degrees.

I'm guessing the Wing being on it's side was intentional this time?

In the one of the pics, there is a rear wheel standing up in front of the resting bike. That's not a car tire but a M/C tire that made one too many runs across I-10. As mentioned below, with a hitch, this is the quickest, simplest way to change the rear wheel. Some later models have an 80 watt amplifier for the audio system mounted in a container right behind the rear wheel....same end result as having a hitch. I haul a complete spare rear wheel everywhere in my trailers. I can shred a rear tire and be back rolling in about 10 minutes if motivated.

The wiring diagram is in notebooks and not really that complicated. Everything is in dedicated harnesses with multi-pin weatherproof plugs and could be swapped to another Wing if needed. Its about like wiring forteen 8-track tape players on a bike. Seriously, other than the FLIR, it not that much different from other farkled bikes...just packaged a little different.

When you start talking writing software, I'm already out of the conversation.

Thanks for the starter list...that's the stuff I'm trying to learn.

Z

 

[zackybilly1]

I had noticed a few comments about starting a list or notes somewhere on the accessories from the GenII that will fit GenIII.

I picked up my '13 (my first FJR) and I am really impressed with it. But now, I'm ready to start farkling the bike for its intended purpose...long distance service. Not really being familiar with the previous FJR's, I'm kind of low on the learning curve on this one. I have ordered a HeliBar Triple Tree & risers (their website has been revised to include 2013s on their products). I already have driving lights and am figuring out mounts. I also already have a GPS I intend to use and am working on a design for a fuel cell. I would like to put some hiway pegs & crash bars on it but still have questions about that one.

Although un-familiar with the FJR, I not new to farkling for long distance. https://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?304851-I-modified-my-Wing-cat-is-out-of-the-bag

Until vendors can catch up, any advice would be appreciated.

Z

I just read through most of your thread on the 'Wing forum and I am impressed. I might suggest that you start a new thread here for your "blank canvas" FJR project. I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Ross

By the way, Welcome to the forum!!

Thank you, Ross.

There is nothing I'd like better than to start that thread but I don't know enough about the FJRs (past & present) to dive in with confidence. I'm reading, sifting and reading more. I'm not finding answers to questions I have and am finding answers to questions I haven't even thought of. I hate to just show up here (the new guy) quizing everyone on this and that without doing some reasonable homework on my own. I did a lot of reading here before I bought the bike but the information didn't sink in then like it does now with one sitting in my shop.

However, there may be another way to skin this cat. I've got some ideas on the approach and when I get things sorted out, I may go about this in a different manner. I am in y'all's area of expertise and am well aware of it. I don't take that lightly.

Z

 

[zackybilly1]

Nice Kat.

I have two of them. The one in the pic in the previous post, I bought new off the showroom floor in March, 1982. The second one is in my shop but its hard to tell its in there at the moment.

The second one I picked up a few years ago is a low serial number bike and the body panels were hand-laid fiberglass. The one I bought new right when they hit the market had ABS plastic panels. I was going to restore it but now am thinking about doing something sinister with it (modify for wider tires, inverts, de-rake/stiffen frame and black it out.

Z

 

[zackybilly1]

I was thinkin maybe its gonna rain? Welcome Z , I was gonna go to Barber to see some bikes but yer closer and i bet you'd have colder beer ! Good on ya man !!!

Bobby

Bobby,

You are welcome to come by as I'm right on the way but you owe it to yourself to go to Barber's at least once. If you could go in October when they have the Annual Vintage Festival combined with the AHRMA races, you'd go back for more, This is my buddies bike (he has a rider) and he took 1st in the nation two years running.

I like the museum but when walking through the pits seeing and hearing all these old bike dressed in race trim, its a blast.

Z