FJRiders.com

While riding somewhere in SE Oregon I passed this.

Hmmmmm, the memories... with that exhaust, he's very likely got some mods under that rear hatch....

Oil change and EOM pre-flight check completed. T-minus 9 days until launch...

5 days until my EOM launch. I'm taking the long way....

Over the long weekend, I did a post-NAFO wash on the bike; it looked like a crime scene on the front end and rain grime was all over it. I reached a point where I said, "Well, some of those bugs are now a permanent part of the bike" and called it a day and went for a ride on the S10 (my planned EOM ride).

Stopped by my Indy shop and ordered parts to fix my mangled exhaust bracket.

Ordered a new tire. Just trying to track down what is causing the bouncing/fluttering at lower speeds. It’s wearing new pr4gt and r5gt tires. They and the wheels look fine. They’re balanced. But I’ve got a bouncing fluttering (I perceive it to be the front end) that is maddening. Not really noticeable at highway speed. Really noticeable between 10 and around 45 mph.

Other than than never settling down at low speeds, it handles like it always has. No issues at speed or in turns. I’m baffled. Best guess is an out of spec tire. Time will tell.

So between the storm and basement flooding and the trashing and appliances failing and more trashing and everyone coming over for labor day I haven't been near the bike so today I checked the tires and corrected the pressures.

Rode it home.
14 days
2 FJR meets
7 states - 2 new plus 2 new for the FJR.
5 National Parks
5,112 miles.
48,232 bugs
Temps ranging from 34F to 110F, all in the same day!!!!

gixxerjasen wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 5:02 pm Rode it home.
14 days
2 FJR meets
7 states - 2 new plus 2 new for the FJR.
5 National Parks
5,112 miles.
48,232 bugs
Temps ranging from 34F to 110F, all in the same day!!!!

Road it home yesterday. Not far from home I rode along this road which drops into a Coulee aka a drainage from the Ice Age Floods.



Add a FJR.




It has taken me a while to appreciate the excellent riding I enjoy these days as a retired old fart. I used to live in Western Washington where I rode around volcanoes, along rivers and very large bodies of water in a very green (and often wet) environment where traffic was always a concern. In Eastern Washington it is quite different. The vistas are more expansive and roads are lonesome. If I take a left turn out of the development I live in traffic is never a problem. I love it.

Looked it over and everything a go for EOM. Thought about washing it but sits already show room clean.
Gonna wash it anyway this weekend.....only way I know to guarantee riding in the rain.

fontanaman wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:44 pm.... It has taken me a while to appreciate the excellent riding I enjoy these days as a retired old fart. I used to live in Western Washington where I rode around volcanoes, along rivers and very large bodies of water in a very green (and often wet) environment where traffic was always a concern. In Eastern Washington it is quite different. The vistas are more expansive and roads are lonesome. If I take a left turn out of the development I live in traffic is never a problem. I love it.

I look very forward to the same phenomenon. If fact, I look forward to seeing YOUR phenomenon, those desolate Eastern WA roads. Ride on, my friend.

Deagle10 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:32 am Thought about washing it but sits already show room clean. Gonna wash it anyway this weekend...

HERETIC!

Deagle10 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:32 am ..only way I know to guarantee riding in the rain.

Just ride with TimDOG!

Some folks like to wash their bike in the middle of a trip. I like to let the trip accumulate till I'm home and can have a sit down session with the bike giving it a good cleaning, removing all the dirt and bugs. That happened today. She's back to being shiny and ready for a couple of day/weekend trips to get her over the 100K mark.

bill lumberg wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 4:25 pm Stopped by my Indy shop and ordered parts to fix my mangled exhaust bracket.

Ordered a new tire. Just trying to track down what is causing the bouncing/fluttering at lower speeds. It’s wearing new pr4gt and r5gt tires. They and the wheels look fine. They’re balanced. But I’ve got a bouncing fluttering (I perceive it to be the front end) that is maddening. Not really noticeable at highway speed. Really noticeable between 10 and around 45 mph.

Other than than never settling down at low speeds, it handles like it always has. No issues at speed or in turns. I’m baffled. Best guess is an out of spec tire. Time will tell.

I know it's a bit of work, but how about breaking the bead, rotate tire 180, blow it back up and rebalance....... by chance when new, did the wheel come with a significant amount of clip on weights from the factory? Next tar change, balance the wheel separately, then install tar, etc.

To check out of round, get a stand and hold a piece of chalk just barely touching the center of the tread... rotate, any significant chalk on the tire will be the out of round spot, then guess how much out of round that is...

bill lumberg wrote: ↑Sun Sep 05, 2021 4:31 pm Today, I found that one muffler mount was torn away and bent at almost a 90 degree angle. Hoping to be able to get it fixed in time for eom.

Are you talking the part welded to the muffler? I have an extra right side can if that is what is fubar.

Thank you. It’s the left side, and it’s the part that attaches to the sidestand assembly. Not too expensive. About $90 altogether for parts.

Toter wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 9:40 pm

bill lumberg wrote: ↑Sun Sep 05, 2021 4:31 pm Today, I found that one muffler mount was torn away and bent at almost a 90 degree angle. Hoping to be able to get it fixed in time for eom.

Are you talking the part welded to the muffler? I have an extra right side can if that is what is fubar.

Excellent advice. I’ve done thst, and it’s either something else, or the defect in the tire or damage in the wheel is so minor that I can’t detect it. At some point I’ll have to swap on an other wheel and/or tire, perhaps front then rear, to further the diagnosis. I may crack things, rebalance and remount this weekend.

My suspicion is- it isn’t something mysterious. It’s a bent wheel or an out of spec tire, it’s just so subtle that it only manifests at side street speeds, and it’s difficult to visually detect in a static or garage setting. When it all started, I was sure the front wheel was damaged from a pothole. Even though I cannot find a defect, that’s still the most likely issue.

raYzerman wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 9:23 pm

bill lumberg wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 4:25 pm Stopped by my Indy shop and ordered parts to fix my mangled exhaust bracket.

Ordered a new tire. Just trying to track down what is causing the bouncing/fluttering at lower speeds. It’s wearing new pr4gt and r5gt tires. They and the wheels look fine. They’re balanced. But I’ve got a bouncing fluttering (I perceive it to be the front end) that is maddening. Not really noticeable at highway speed. Really noticeable between 10 and around 45 mph.

Other than than never settling down at low speeds, it handles like it always has. No issues at speed or in turns. I’m baffled. Best guess is an out of spec tire. Time will tell.

I know it's a bit of work, but how about breaking the bead, rotate tire 180, blow it back up and rebalance....... by chance when new, did the wheel come with a significant amount of clip on weights from the factory? Next tar change, balance the wheel separately, then install tar, etc.

To check out of round, get a stand and hold a piece of chalk just barely touching the center of the tread... rotate, any significant chalk on the tire will be the out of round spot, then guess how much out of round that is...

waiting for parts tomorrow to finish the hard wire I did today for tank bag power. Could have used it on my western trip so I figured I would give it a try. Say delivery by tomorrow 7pm...

Went over Renee today before EOM. Fresh oil and filter, differential lube, checked all the brakes, fluids ok. I think this trip will be the coup de gras for these Angel GTs. 3,000 on them so far we'll see. Last year the T31 GTs were showing cord when I got home, 4,800 mi. total.