fjray

19 hours ago, kilo3 said:

Dave Moss would replace the master cylinder every 3 months, I mean it's only 15 bucks. 😁

Is this true?   Seems impossible, the price. 

I'm saying yes to this.  I'm  curious what others think.  

Ok. I did about  30 miles of off road once. Never again. 

11 hours ago, knyte said:

My 15 has always been a bit noisier in N with the clutch out, but I hesitate to call it a rattle.

The cam chain tensioner on the other hand - now THAT rattles.  Then goes away.  Then comes back.

Oh well, the bike was cheap!!

Love your positive attitude! 

I'd wager if you ever did the brakes on a 1800 Goldwing, all eight bleeders in the correct order, you'd put new fluid in just to insure that it wouldn't get gunked up and then it would really take some $$ to get it going again.  So yeah, bleeding every year wasn't something that I was ever going to forgo.  Think about this heavy pig of a bike, with a sweet motor, downhill into a switchback.  You don't want old fluid in there.  

On 1/22/2021 at 2:34 PM, betoney said:

No, kidding, I have seen older guys absolutely OWN some twisty roads on Goldwings and other larger touring bikes.  On more than a few occasions I have been passed by riders on FJR's and C14's on twisty canyon or mountain roads and absolutely embarrass me with how quickly they pulled away and vanished, literally within a few corners they were completely GONE!!

Yep.  Have video where a bunch of us Wingers, on car tires, blew past 3 600 crotch rocket riders.  Search for " Yellow Wolf on Deal's Gap or yellow Goldwing on deal's gap.  He was a doubter at first but after riding with us he also went to a car tire rear.  Talk about traction in the rain, you can get a runflat, they're cheaper than an MC tire, and they last for ever too.  Except the edges if you're in the twisties all the time.  He's sold the Goldwing now so it's only memories for me.  And old videos.

On 12/22/2020 at 3:33 PM, Funnelli said:

You can adjust them out further than the stock ones,  so I would say yes.

I never found the stock ones to be a problem though.

One wonders why if the stock ones weren't a problem, why change to that?  Is it just me who thinks that looks ugly?  I added the mirror extension because I'd seen my elbows often enough.

17 hours ago, betoney said:

 

I agree with this, for someone who just putters around back roads or commutes to work, there is no real issues with the tires or suspension, however once you pick up the pace, they can quickly get overwhelmed. 

My only real complaint with the oem tires was slipping on damp pavement, I had the back end step out on several occasions when cornering through an intersection or traffic circle, not enough to crash but probably slip 4"-6" off my line - enough to raise the pucker factor when it isn't expected. 

Since switching to aftermarket tires, I have never had that happen again with any brand.

My findings exactly.  I am as cheap as anyone you'll meet, but will not use tires I feel might put me on my keister. I kept the take off for a while figuring if I found someone in a bind, they could have my original and I'd even help them mount it.  Then I decided if it wasn't good enough for me, I'm not giving them to anyone else.  And I was an advocate of less than the stickiest rubber going for more life on my VFR. I'll probably go to a less sticky longer mileage tire on the FJ once I start riding with slower friends.  Which I hope doesn't happen for years.

On 1/24/2021 at 9:13 AM, koth442 said:

Tire feel is a VERY subjective thing. Some people don't like the feel more than others. Personally, I ran them dead. 

Makes sense.  On my original tires my bike slid sideways in a curve with the power off, in the rain.  If they don't work for me in the rain, off they go to an early grave.

On 1/22/2021 at 3:14 PM, 2and3cylinders said:

I made the mistake of selling my very tricked out 72 H2 Mach IV, 81 GPz550D1, 88 NT650 Hawk Gt & 61 Matchless G80Cs Cafe (among others), and vowed to keep what I have...

"If I knew then what I know now, when I was younger", Rod Stewart "Ooh La La"

Genius

 

I too had a 72 750 triple Kawasaki.  I walked past a 74 KZ900 the other day and noticed it had one disc brake on the front, and a drum brake on the rear.  As did my 750 triple.  And we're complaining about brakes today?  I wouldn't own either one of those today as a bike I expected to ride, safely.

On 1/23/2021 at 6:09 PM, nhchris said:

Big benefit of my shaft drive ST was it was QUIET at speed.  FJ chain, sprocket and xmission noise not good!

Wear earplugs.

On 7/12/2020 at 10:33 AM, Firemedic1428 said:

Unfortunately it seems for something for both of us to use Ill have to go up to something more substantial in size. I know the BMW F Series bikes handle about another 100+ pounds than the Tracer but still pushing it. 

I'm just large framed as it is, straight out of Basic Training I was still 224 pounds. Guess I need to shift my research to Gold Wings or the sort. Ugh. 

Hey now, you can have a ball in the twisties on a Wing.  I put on a ton of miles on the best roads in NC, TN, north GA, VA, WV.  And you can ride there and back in comfort.  But, it is heavy and my age is starting to dictate that I get a lighter bike.  And now I truck it to the mountains and back home.  Still the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

Just now, texscottyd said:

Ok... now I’m intrigued.   What was the effort to mount the R1 calipers on the FJ?  I’m running the 320mm R1 rotors, but still have the stock FJ calipers with appropriate spacers.   The idea of a caliper upgrade is very appealing, as I suspect that’s the weakest link in the stock FJ braking system.  

I'm dying to hear about this too. 

And you've got the best color, best year of the original FJ. 

On 1/14/2021 at 4:10 PM, Ride365 said:

I said that same thing.......and here I am with another chain drive bike, just not many good options with a shaft unless you go Bavarian.

Exactly.  How often do you have to mess with a chain?  I had Goldwings for 25 years and thought I'd get tired of oiling and adjusting the chain.  Nope, I may adjust it once between tire changes which is caused by the bike being so much fun to thrash in the twisties that I've yet to get 2,000 miles on a set of tires.  And, you can change gear ratios at the drop of a hat.  Obviously you know what you want and don't want.

Just now, Waldo Jeffers said:

Because the bike is pretty new and I’m lazy

Reason enough.  When I'm charging into downhill switchbacks, I want new fluid in the system.  You have a 2020 model but it might be a full year at least on that fluid.  I'm lazy too, which is why I haven't changed to steel braided lines on mine.  

3 hours ago, peteinpa said:

Depending how fresh your last flush is  just run it out the bleeder. The fluid in the calipers is the worst, it gets all the heat.

No better time to do a flush then when doing pads. 

Exactly. Why wouldn't you change it?  

On 1/13/2020 at 10:23 AM, 2and3cylinders said:

As an old(er) engineer, I never make assumptions, or even presume much.  I understood your "handle" referred to your FJ-09 rather than you, and age is a relative.  Most everyone when it comes up think I'm a lot younger that I am; genetics I guess because I certainly don't do the things I should to better preserve myself.  Unfortunately, I used my body as a "hammer" in my youth and consequent joint damage has caused  me significant arthritis and sciatica issues that I'm trying to manage well enough to pull 500 mile days.  A Sargent saddle, different handle bars and screens, a throttle lock and Cramp Buster (toying with getting electronic cruise control), more ergonomic hand levers and fine tuning of control interfaces, upgraded suspension, rubber covered foot pegs, tank grip pads, easier to activate and much better stopping brakes, decent ear plugs, good helmets and gear, highway pegs, and lots of NSAIDs, stretching, needles and PT, etc have enabled me to still pull long, repeated days in the saddle.  I'm actually more comfortable riding than driving in a cage.

With a 32+ inseam I may try then moving my highway pegs closer to your location (though I have driving lights up there) on my set of Givi case guards.  Their current position (which is why I posted the pics, though harder to spot as they're black) is OK and I can actually rest the back of my calves on them with my legs straight out.

I've considered an AM can but I like to be stealthy and installing one would entail investing even more money and time including having the ECU flashed again.  As I've invested way too much in it already for what it is, as for a comparable capital outlay and a bunch less wrenching time (I do ALL my own work in my comfy and compact personal "shop") I could have had a very nice FJR or ZG14 (but didn't want the weight and girth nor all the plastic).  I'm satisfied with my fastest red's performance given what it is.  It doesn't feel particularly fast or powerful to me (I'm maybe a bit jaded by other higher performance bikes I've had); adequate would be the term I'd apply to my FJ-09.

Oh and in regard to assumptions, my "handle" reflects that one of my current two Yamaha's has two cylinders (a 76 or 77 RD400, I can't recall offhand), and to the subject vehicle at hand.  Not that I'm quite all there.  My memory has never been good for several reasons, and has eroded further as time marches on.  She Who Must Be Obeyed (a "saint" of a "Human Female") thinks my cranial function decay has been enhanced by CTE from landing on my head one too many times.  Possibly so, and mostly likely from many years as a fervent Judoka, and really only twice significantly from parting ways with a two wheeled conveyance; one with a motor, one without.

Sorry for using up so much bandwidth on topics directly related to this thread's topic.  And again, no insult intended but engineers have never been known for their tact, empathy and having a deft hand with social graces...

I had a 77 RD 400, hotted up a bit with expansion chambers and other mods.  Very fun cheap bike.  Which had self canceling turn signals, for crying out loud.  Why not on the FJ?

On 1/19/2021 at 6:04 PM, Shizzle said:

The bike is fine right out of the crate for most. I wouldn't want to be a passenger one one though. I'm 6' 235 and the suspension works fine for me as do the stock tires. Wear that set of tires out and then buy what you want.

Ride what makes you happy.  I'd like to look at your "chicken strips." Because the stock tires are not good at all, took mine off at 500 miles for safety's sake. Again, I've ridden a Goldwing for years aggressively down in NC/TN on a car tire rear tire.  You can pretty much do anything on any bike if you want to.  I used to race an enduro 125 Yamaha back in the day against the YZ's, because that's what I had.  Never won, but never came in last either.

I might add, when they eventually break in to your own heinie.

I'm just guessing but I think a lot of people ride harder than others.  So, we have results all over the place. 

I can feel the pads contacting the rotors. It just doesn't seem to make much of a difference. I don't really use the rear brakes that often.  I can get the ABS to engage so I guess everything is working.  The brick on a rope comment might have been a bit of an exaggeration. 

I did. I keep after my maintenance on the brakes.  I often bleed them more than once a year.  I can't believe I haven't replaced the brake lines yet.  Lazy I guess. 

1 hour ago, Heli ATP said:

Corbin ranks high on my list...

Corbin

I love my Corbin. 

I'm happy your rear pads improved your bike.  I was so happy when I got the rear upgraded pads but I swear it made no difference.  At all.