My First NEW FJR!

[sacramentomike]

After owning four used FJRs, I just bought a leftover 2023 for a nice markdown ($2,600 off) from Roseville Yamaha. Transferred what I could from the old one--the Givi trunk, the Seth Laam seats, Admore light bar, bag guards, and the Clearwater Kristas and Darlas (removed, but not yet installed on the '23--letting Clearwater handle that little detail). I just couldn't count on the '09 for a long ride, I decided, so maybe now Spearfish is on the table. Hope so.

Anyway, for now, just call me Mr. Happy!

[Intech]

Congrats on the new ride Mike!

[extrememarine]

Nice!! Pictures required, btw!!

Congrats!

[sacramentomike]

Looks a lot like every other FJR though, Wayne. Blue, though. And shiny!

[wheatonFJR]

Congrats SacMike, that's awesome!

However, don't let that VCR blink 12:00, and don't you dare not post a new bike, you bastard!

[BikerGeek]

Congrats, Mike! You needed that for sure!

[LKLD]

Big congratulations on the new bike!!

[0face]

Niiiiiiiccccee!

[SkooterG]

Resistance is futile! Glad you followed my encouragement!

[BkerChuck]

Congrats on the new ride!

[El Toro Joe]

Congrats on the new bike, Mike

[gixxerjasen]

Looks a lot like every other FJR though, Wayne. Blue, though. And shiny!

Doesn't matter, NBD requires pictures posted.

[Hppants]

New bike day is indeed a good day. Congrats and may she give you unlimited (s)miles.

[wheatonFJR]

Still don't see any damn photos...I say it's all a lie.

[SkooterG]

Phucker! You're old enough to know that without photos it didn't happen!

[Panman]

What do you mean you could rely on the 09, how many mile's?

[extrememarine]

What do you mean you could rely on the 09, how many mile's?

I'm guessing a half mil or more... I'm 1000% confident in my abused poor example 2009 won't leave me stranded until it does...



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[sacramentomike]

Since you asked, here's the whole sad story: In May last year, I bought the 2009 with under 7,000 miles on it in Tucson. Rode it home, no probs. No problems up to the Fort Bragg rally and back a couple months later, or around here. But then I started for Baker City last year and made it about 60 freeway miles, just a few miles short of John's (JREW's) place, where I had a loss of power on the freeway. It came back to life after I downshifted so I thought it was ok, but then it happened again within just a few more miles. Just no response to the throttle; it just seemed to decelerate. Once again it seemed to clear up, but now I'm feeling a definite "oh-oh". Got to John's with shaken confidence but we started to head north for OR. Lost power AGAIN in about three or four miles. Then it kicked in again but now it was time to ditch the planned long ride up and back to Baker City. John, bless his heart, offered me the use of his 2013 FJR (that he wants to sell now), since he'd just bought a new '23--like my new one.

I rode the '13 for a while 'cuz John jumped off from Oregon to ride all over North America, went to EOM or somewhere, finally made it back and we switched back after he helped me try to figure out the '09's issues--bled the brakes, mumbled a few incantations, but the mystery was still open. For local riding it's been fine, but a few weeks later three or four of us started another group ride up north, and the damn problem repeated, almost in the same place, near John's. I turned back home while the rest of the group took their ride.

I took the '09 out to Roseville Yamaha and they took a fairly thorough look through, including the whole electrical system, and found no problems. A clean bill of health! Since then it's been fine for local riding and I got the mileage up to the current 12K miles or so. So I'm thinking if I hold my mouth just right, maybe it'll be fine. But just over a week ago we planned another group ride, and at about a similar distance from home, pow! Loss of power down by Jackson. So everybody turned back and we all headed home, maybe partly because it was cold and rainy, in their case. But they didn't want to ditch me either. Good guys.

So crap. That's why I say I don't dare rely on it. That's why I didn't ride to Texas to see the eclipse, which I really wanted to do, or didn't consider the Black Hills ride coming up (till now!). But what was I going to do now? Well, two things happened. One was a call from Rod Meyers, one of the local group ride guys--don't know your forum handle, Rod, but he ccalls to tell me Roseville Yamaha has a leftover '09 with $2,600 off list that has just six miles on the odo! The other thing was my lovely wife, Sacramento Janet, who said "just buy it." She actually talked me into it, bless her heart.

So I pulled off what I could, including the Clearwater lights, which I'll let Clearwater install on the '23 next week--WAY beyond me. Then I'm going to turn the 2009 over to Roseville Yamaha for them to sell on consignment. I'll take a hit, but that's the way it goes. And I feel like since they had their mechanic go over it for two hours and couldn't find anything, they can take ownership of any problems that may come up. I don't want to sell it to somebody with an undiagnosed problem like this, but being an extra step removed from the sale makes me feel some better. And for shorter rides, it's as good as any FJR anywhere-ish.

I know with all this detail and explanation, there'll be a lot of ideas and possibly suggestions, but I'm happy to just step back from the whole thing. I'm sure some of you could come in and find and fix the problem and you'd have a very clean titanium gray 14-year old AE that could still run a long time once diagnosed and repaired, but it's not something I want to take on. I loved the automatic clutch, by the way, so now it's still kind of a PITA having to shift all the damn time. LOL. I'll get used to it again. If you're one of the guys who has a great suggestion for me to repair it, though, just make me an offer and fix it yourself. I'll give you a GREAT deal!!

By the way, I'm as fumble-fingered with computers as I am on motorcycle maintenance, so if you want to see my new bike, come to Spearfish. It'll be there. I haven't posted a pic since Photobucket crapped out. Sorry.

[wheatonFJR]

Nice story. Wish it were true Mike. No piccies, didn't happen.

[Hppants]

At this stage in my life, "Punt" is ALWAYS an option. Life is too short. Good on ya, Mike.