What did you do to your FJR today?

[gixxerjasen]

I only ask because....experience.

[bungie4]

Both of mine got noticeably lower gas mileage on the shoulder seasons, without fail

[N4HHE]

Replaced my air filter which was the last thing on my list to do to get the bike ready for a full season of miles and smiles. Prior to the FJR I had 2 Wings. Changing the air filter on those GW’s was a major PIA and took hours to complete. It was so nice to see that this was a simple job.

I agree the GL1800 air filter is a fairly big job but the FJR is far from trivial.

Not sure about the AE but on my 2016A it was quick and easy. With a YouTube video it took about 45 minutes. Next time 30 or so as I know how simple it is. Pull off the left panel, off with 2 black covers, replace filter and back together. A one beer job so a head scratcher on the comments. Guess the AE is different.

5 minutes is simple. 30-45 is not.

[rbentnail]

I agree the GL1800 air filter is a fairly big job but the FJR is far from trivial.

Not sure about the AE but on my 2016A it was quick and easy. With a YouTube video it took about 45 minutes. Next time 30 or so as I know how simple it is. Pull off the left panel, off with 2 black covers, replace filter and back together. A one beer job so a head scratcher on the comments. Guess the AE is different.

5 minutes is simple. 30-45 is not.

That's what I thought too- replacing the air filter is not "quick and easy". Straight forward maybe, not simple. I cuss at it every two yrs when I replace mine.

[D-Eagle]

I find where I live, I get poorer mileage at the shoulder seasons. Combination of cooler temperatures (FJR seems to like hotter weather) and winter blend gasoline has a little lower energy content.

This. Our Winter gas gets worse gas mileage. It is noticeable in the car.

[extrememarine]

I'm not going to hide it, your comment made me look/ check again and look deeper...

I propped bike up on center stand and jack to get the front wheel off the ground; swapped out new brake pads and back to old ones, spun wheel - same resistance with either set of brake pads.

I'm going to run it and track it - I trust the comments - winter blend fuel is likely the contributor...

I only ask because....experience.

[FJRoss]

I'm not going to hide it, your comment made me look/ check again and look deeper...

I propped bike up on center stand and jack to get the front wheel off the ground; swapped out new brake pads and back to old ones, spun wheel - same resistance with either set of brake pads.

I'm going to run it and track it - I trust the comments - winter blend fuel is likely the contributor...

I only ask because....experience.

Easy check is to go for a ride and make a point to not use the front brake for the last few minutes. Mostly coast to a stop or just use rear brake. See how warm the front rotor is - keep in mind that the use of the rear brake will activate one of the piston pairs on the front right.
Brake pads remain in very light contact with the rotors but shouldn't be enough to make the rotors hot. Rotor will get really hot if a pad is dragging substantially.

[raYzerman]

I think winter gas is just with another alcohol (e.g. methyl hydrate or Heet) added as a gas line antifreeze.... total alcohol likely still not more than 10% is my guess. Chalk it up to cooler ambient temps I'd say..... will improve once weather gets warmer.

[FJRoss]

I think winter gas is just with another alcohol (e.g. methyl hydrate or Heet) added as a gas line antifreeze.... total alcohol likely still not more than 10% is my guess. Chalk it up to cooler ambient temps I'd say..... will improve once weather gets warmer.

Winter fuel blends contain a higher proportion of volatile components (especially butane). Butane is cheap to produce and they can get away with it in winter because of less evaporation loss in colder temperatures. It also helps with starting cold carbureted engines. Butane contains a bit less energy per gallon than less volatile gasoline components. Not a huge difference but that combined with longer warm-up times where the engine runs very rich contributes significantly to poorer mileage.

[gixxerjasen]

If you have a sticky piston, I don't think rotating the pads will help determine the issue. What FJRoss said above. But it could be winter gas, I just thought I'd bring up something else to check/worry about and keep you up at night.

[Hppants]

I rode my FJR 100 curvy miles to have tacos in the middle of the woods.

Then I took the long way home.

Terrific day.

[extrememarine]

Gee, thanks - it's not like I have a 2000+ mile weekend ride coming up.

I'm just gonna send it...

... I just thought I'd bring up something else to check/worry about and keep you up at night.

[gixxerjasen]

I was rebuilding my caliper the day before a 4500 mile trip. JSNS.

[LKLD]

Took her on a 100 mile shakedown ride, in getting ready for our trip next week. She’s still a beast…all good.

[escapefjrtist]

Maintenance time today;

• New T32GT front tire, took the nasty (dump-truck) handling PR4 off. Probably has another 1500 "wheatie" miles left in it though!

• Flushed F&R brakes and clutch. Rear was spongy, hope this firms up things another year. Clutch typical discolored.

• New plugs...whoo hoo!

• Coolant flush and cleaned protective radiator screen.

• Checked air cleaner, still good to go.

• Replaced neutral safety switch. 5th gear indicator has been flaky since, like, Spearfish II. No need to get in a hurry...

Ready for riding season!

~G

[extrememarine]

Rode it to finish tear down of the front axle on Dad's tractor. Transported 2 axle portal hubs home on the back seat in a dry bag. Did not even look at MPG / fuel gauge because it's running well, solid and sorted. T (minus) 18 days until the 1911 Ride - #southbound and #hammerdown.

[wheatonFJR]

Aired the tyres, duct/taped the bike and rode it for the first time since the Saturday after Thanksgiving with Lumberg and 1911. After STAX, had an informative pre-ride. Revised the ride route based on Today’s ride. Ride time is the same, but more better roads, less metropolitan wagon train roads.

Weather was perfect.

[BkerChuck]

Got out yesterday for a nice 215 mile jaunt and added another 25 murals to my count. Here's a few of the nicer ones.





















Noticed some signs of weepage on my right fork so need to try the seal mate trick and see how that works. 50k on the bike so I know they need services. Have to check my supplies and see what parts I have already stocked and what I need to order. Should order some better fork springs to compliment the Penske rear shock I scored last year.

[raYzerman]

The Traxxion fork spring kit is totally plug and play and comes with pre-cut spacers, and is the right price..... at 50k you'll need lower bushings for sure, (I say leave out the middle ones) and get new upper bushings although you might be able to salvage the uppers. Fork seal kit WSV-W003B-00-00 has 2 dust seals and 2 oil seals complete set for cheaper than you can buy individually. Ride on up to WNYFJR's tech day in June, we'll handle it....... need 2 quarts of the fork oil of your choice (I have spare upper bushings you can have)....

Your current front springs are progressive (dual rate 0.85/1.0) and tend to dive unless you crank the preload right in or almost right in. You likely need 1.0 spring rate, but you can't quite get there.... but try cranking preload right in first, then see if you think adequate.

[BkerChuck]

The Traxxion fork spring kit is totally plug and play and comes with pre-cut spacers, and is the right price..... at 50k you'll need lower bushings for sure, (I say leave out the middle ones) and get new upper bushings although you might be able to salvage the uppers. Fork seal kit WSV-W003B-00-00 has 2 dust seals and 2 oil seals complete set for cheaper than you can buy individually. Ride on up to WNYFJR's tech day in June, we'll handle it....... need 2 quarts of the fork oil of your choice (I have spare upper bushings you can have)....

Your current front springs are progressive (dual rate 0.85/1.0) and tend to dive unless you crank the preload right in or almost right in. You likely need 1.0 spring rate, but you can't quite get there.... but try cranking preload right in first, then see if you think adequate.

Ray, I've been looking for fork springs and for whatever reason 2014 and 2015 are not shown on any of the normal source sites including Traxxion. Have to see how things progress and whether or not I can delay rebuild that long.