2014A to 2018ES Rambling Drivel

[gixxerjasen]

High viz really stands out in the city, and that's mostly where I need it to work on my commute. That said, if I had that ugly flat blue bike, I'd certainly be tempted by the Nolan.

C'mon Bill, order it, it's only money. Well, I can say that because it's only YOUR money.

[bill lumberg]

It's not uncool looking at all. I get (and own), some cool looking gloss and flat black helmets. But with the white helmet, I could tell every incremental head motion when (wheaton) checked mirrors or picked up a car waiting to pull out in your peripheral vision.

[danh600]

When we first got our bikes my wife had a white helmet with some designs. I had a black helmet with designs. We took a break one day and there was no shade around. We had our helmets off and they were sitting on a picnic table. I walked over and put my hands on both helmets. I was shocked at the temperature difference. The white helmet was much, much cooler. No more dark colored helmets for me.

My silver helmet probably isn't that visible, but my high rez jacket certainly is.

[Hppants]

It is - I could see you in my mirror quite well.

[bill lumberg]

I have a little over 2,000 miles at this point. I intentionally waited to order Heli bars, as I wanted to see how I adapted to the stock bar position. When I purchased my 2014, going from a BMW RT position to the stock FJR position was culture shock. I couldn’t correct that ergonomic fast enough. Going from a 2014 with helis to a 2018 with stock bars has been much less unpleasant. I can say that I could run the FJR indefinitely with stock bars. I’ve ridden multiple 7-8 hour days on the stock configuration. But I’ll always have a torqued spot below my shoulder blades until I put helis on.

The suspension is simply superb. I had 84,000 miles to perfect my adjustment of the 2014a suspension. The 2018 ES feels better in every way, on every setting. I chose ES for the new bike so I could switch on the fly. The unexpected benefit was that the new ES is just more refined and balanced all the way around. Feels better. Rides better. I didn’t have any issues or complaints with the 2014 suspension through trade-in. No notable degradation of the 14 suspension over time. The 18 is just dialed in. Reminds me a bit of the suspension on the BMW. Feels unflappable.

That said- the 2018 has more bar vibe. A lot more. Since it’s new, i don’t know what it is yet. Could be the crappy original tires. Could be other stuff. I’ve not found a TBS to actually affect vibes at all, so I doubt it’ll help on this bike. Judging from TBS’s and trying two different throttle body assemblies (before and after synch) on the last bike, I think the assemblies feel and vibrate differently due to variance within tolerances.

I have a random but frequent bar wag on deceleration, most notable hands off. This can rapidly develop into a tank slapper. I’m not alarmed, but it’s not normal or acceptable. From previous experience, I anticipate that loosening, bouncing, and re-torquing the forks will eliminate the problem.

[wheatonFJR]

That's awesome. That's awesome.

Everyone is different, but I never did put risers on my 13. I've done 980 mile days on it. I just like to be a little lower body posture wise in the curves. New tires will smooth things out...but it sounds like something else as well?

[bill lumberg]

Yeah. I have a new appreciation for the stock configuration. The wag is just a tire or fork torque issue. I’ve had it suddenly appear before following a tire change. Not worried about it. It’ll resolve.

[Hppants]

Torque your steering head bearings. That plus the new tire in the front should make a difference.

[bill lumberg]

I will do so. Got helis inbound. That’d be the time.

[raYzerman]

I'd blow that 023 up nice and hard (40-42), wear it out, and yes, always retorque a new FJR's steering head after a couple hunnert miles or at the 600 mile service. Next set of tars should be better.

[wheatonFJR]

I'd blow that 023 up nice and hard (40-42), wear it out, and yes, always retorque a new FJR's steering head after a couple hunnert miles or at the 600 mile service. Next set of tars should be better.

Oh, he's WAAAAY past that 600 miler...

...but I'm with you Ray.

[gixxerjasen]

This has definitely turned into rambling drivel. Nice prediction there Bill.

[danh600]

Bill

Did you have your 2014A suspension set to factory or did you fiddle with it?

[bill lumberg]

It was a pogo stick from the factory. I set it in the middle for a while. Ended up with two rings of front preload showing solo, 1 2up. Rear on soft for me, hard for pillion.

[bill lumberg]

Finally caved and bought the heavily discounted matte blue neotec II from chromeburner. If I like it, comms will follow, though they will come from revzilla. I always get European plugs when I order electronics from Italy or the Netherlands. Funny, that.

Hmmm, wonder how well this would match.

https://www.amazon.com/Shoei-Neotec-Mod ... 3109&psc=1

Yea, I'll spend your money for you.

Oddly enough, this was posted on another forum...... https://www.chromeburner.com/shoei-neot ... blue-metal

[gixxerjasen]

Looking forward to a shot of it sitting on the tank for comparison.

[danh600]

How is the matte paint holding up?

This paint job is starting to grow on me.

[bill lumberg]

The matte paint looks great, but scratches easier. I'd buy it again. But it is an adjustment to not be able to wax the paint. The matte paint on the shoei is holding up superbly.

I tried Chemical Guys matte paint sealant. It was a waste of time. It looks better when I just wash it with a mild soap solution. I may try Dr. Beasley's matte paint sealant just to have tried it. I am slowly getting used to the ease of cleanup and the nearly maintenance free finish of the matte blue FJR. It's a good bike. That matte blue finish gets a lot of compliments. If it's any indication of my view on the bike- I bought it last November and I'll be ready for the first valve check by Halloween.

[bill lumberg]

Blue paint at six months, 15,000+ miles.

[Hppants]

First valve check in 11 months? Ride on, man - serious respect!!!