Jolene, Jolene, Jolene...

[ionbeam]

Jolene is already unique in her resurrection. She deserves something special to set her apart as such. I feel it would only be befitting of her to be either tastefully whored out with a Kenny Roberts throwback yellow and black motif...

[Festus]

No, we're not painting Jolene! She's already beautiful

It's almost.......ALMOST....riding season, so this project needs to wrap up, not continue

[Uncle Hud]

<snip> .... however, having seen the FJR in yellow, it really doesn't work for it. Don't know why but it doesn't.

I am also a big fan of yellow-painted vehicles, but I'd like to utter something close to heresy: in the world of motorcycle styling, FJRs take the place of big Buick SUVs. Not your grandfather's Buick, perhaps, but something more akin to the newer, slightly jazzed-up Buick SUVs. We have big bags, a bulky (though aerodynamic) fairing, and most of us carry a topbox and assorted devices scattered across our handlebars. The FJR disguises its sportbike DNA very well.

While I dearly love the Kenny Roberts paint scheme, it's probably not the best idea for a Buick SUV or an FJR.

[Hppants]

Or..... maybe ride more and stress less?

You can only ride one '13 at a time. Use the pretty bags every time you ride. In the rare event that both bikes get ridden at the same time, then whomever is tasked with getting to use the bike that you are not riding - he or she will be so grateful they get to ride one of the greatest motorcycles of all time, they won't care if the bag has a little rash on it or is vinyl wrapped in some thing neutral....

[BkerChuck]

I think the pic Ionbeam posted was Todd Witte's 2003 he rode in the Iron Butt Rally. I happen to like that paint scheme and so far am thankful Yamaha hasn't painted one like that as it would kill my budget to go pay full price and get a new one. I don't think all yellow would work on the FJR but broken up with white and black like the KR colors works for me. Of course i also saw on the FJR FB group a wrap someone did using the 1985 FJ1100 colors that i think is drop dead gorgeous.

Your bike, your decision. I'm just happy to see it back on it's wheels and under it's own power!

[ionbeam]

I think the pic Ionbeam posted was Todd Witte's 2003 he rode in the Iron Butt Rally...

Bingo!

[gixxerjasen]

Yes ionbeam, that's the one. Just doesn't seem to work well on the FJR. Maybe it's the Buickness that Hud mentions. The FJR definitely seems to be a "Darker Color" style of bike.

[danh600]

The color must be hard to match. I know the Corbin smuggler I got for my 2013 doesn't exactly match. It's very close and most people wouldn't notice.
However if you look close it's more "silver" then the original color.

Looks like a match in this picture but up close you can tell.

[Steel_Gin]

Did a little digging and found the post BkerChuck was talking about, I remember seeing it as well. I will add the pictures once I get someplace to upload them so they can be hosted. If you want to see them sooner and are on FB do a search for FJR Owners wrap, it's a January 12th post in that group. It even had a top case, the guy did a great job!!

[Festus]

I stopped by there tonight, swapped out both exhaust, took the dash out and finally put in all the missing bolts in the dash area I had left off while trying to take that first test ride. Less parts bolted on, less things to fall off, I figured

Only thing left is to put the new left side fairing on. I'm holding off on that because Viper Dad and I are going to try and ride a little Friday afternoon, so I just wanted her to be all buttoned up for Friday afternoon. Also got my own bike, Eleanor, back together as well. So both bikes are ready to ride.

And if there was a woodshed at this forum, I'd take some of you out to it for suggesting Jolene needs to change her looks!



Once we shake her down and all is good, then we'll move to the front and start with the forks. Probably just going to change the oil.

[LKLD]

Steve, Jolene never leaked at the forks. Hell, she never leaked from anywhere. She was getting quite spongy at the front though , so an fluid change should do the trick.

I am glad to hear, that you are keeping her color stock.

[raYzerman]

What was the mileage again? 48k? I'd swap out the bushings and seals as well, it's time. Spongy... progressive springs.... wind in the preload to one or two lines showing to lessen the effects of the lesser spring rate, thus lessening brake dive. Set damping at 8 clicks out on them all and tweak from there.

[Festus]

58,000 Ray. I might do that. I'm on the fence about it. Rob was lighter than me, and it's showing 3 rings on the forks. Mine is showing 1 ring, so I'm going to tighten that up and see how it acts. Right now it's pretty soft when braking but not crazy.

[raYzerman]

Bushing wear mostly is evident around 30k or so, at 58k, I'd swap them out. Gives you an opportunity to get things really cleaned out, as A's bushings travel within the aluminum lower leg and aluminum oxide sludge occurs in the bottom of the forks, turns the oil gray. ES's don't have that problem (no aluminum) and can go a lot longer. You'll need to make/have a special tool to seat the middle bushing (1-7/8 ID or 2" OD tubing, exhaust pipe extension with the weld bead filed off on the ID).

[gixxerjasen]

Festus: How do I remove the handlebars? How do I disconnect the throttle? I'm gonna fully rebuild these forks!

Oh wait, nevermind, I'm the wrong person to be making these comments...just don't "GixxerJasen" your forks.

[wheatonFJR]

Festus: How do I remove the handlebars? How do I disconnect the throttle? I'm gonna fully rebuild these forks!

Oh wait, nevermind, I'm the wrong person to be making these comments...just don't "GixxerJasen" your forks.

Jasen = "up"

Gixxer = "f@$k"

EDIT: There has to be a thread around here that makes that point...

[ionbeam]

Jason Sticks a Fork in his front end job.

[gixxerjasen]

Festus: How do I remove the handlebars? How do I disconnect the throttle? I'm gonna fully rebuild these forks!

Oh wait, nevermind, I'm the wrong person to be making these comments...just don't "GixxerJasen" your forks.

Jasen = "up"

Gixxer = "f@$k"

EDIT: There has to be a thread around here that makes that point...

Not on this forum. It became an official FJR term thanks to AJ during the Iron Butt Rally.

[Festus]

Festus: How do I remove the handlebars? How do I disconnect the throttle? I'm gonna fully rebuild these forks!

Oh wait, nevermind, I'm the wrong person to be making these comments...just don't "GixxerJasen" your forks.

I'm actually more frightened by the forks than the transmission. That shit is a black art to me. I might have to connect with Bob and see if he'll give me a hand if I bring the forks to him. I don't think he's doing a tech day this year, is he? Anyone know?

[gixxerjasen]

Routine maintenance on the forks isn't so bad. Probably easier once that evil center bushing isn't there anymore. Many including Traxxion don't reinstall it. Making suspension changes and modifications of course would require some of the dark arts, and it IS dark arts for sure.

My lesson learned as I've been told would have prevented my folly goes like this. Put a little sideways flex in when doing the slide hammer action. If you feel it stick, you've just done a minor gixxerjasen. DO NOT FOLLOW ANY ADVICE ON THE WEB THAT SAYS TO JUST KEEP TRYING. Sigh.

I was told this box represented $1300 of trash. Thanks to some ordering, ebay and traxxion, I was able to resolve it for significantly less.