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Nate is an excellent metal worker - he fabricated that bar to quell the vibration from those lights as they are quite large hanging out there on the end of the front stay.

As to your relay arm, the hard part has been done (cutting the front c/s bolts). I took a close look yesterday at my bike ('14A), and whether or not I was willing to pry the exhaust. It has to move a LOT in order to make room for the front relay arm bolt/bushing. I don't think I'll be taking a chance on that. If an exhaust stud where to break at he header, that would be a big deal. So simple to just remove the rear tire and mufflers, jack up on the axle, and then set the bike on the jack stands.

My $0.02 worth.

Nate is an undocumented engineer…

Did the 600 mile service. Installed 1” riser blocks. Kind of wish I’d left it alone.

bill lumberg wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 11:32 am Did the 600 mile service...

Excellent, now you can pin that throttle on the Skyway like old times.

FJRoss wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 9:55 am I was just speculating if it was worthwhile to bother with the swingarm bearings... I have never heard of anyone who got into it and found them desperately in need of fresh lube. I suppose it wouldn't take that long since I'll have the rest of it apart anyway. Good time to have a look at the U-joint, shaft and front splines...

If you've done a swingarm before, then you likely have your answer. I've done two, one on my project bike since it was in a basket. How can water get in there? Right end had sealed bearing. There's a torquing procedure to follow........

To me, totally a revenue generator in the Yammy maintenance schedule. My answer, work on something else.

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 2:52 pm

FJRoss wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 9:55 am I was just speculating if it was worthwhile to bother with the swingarm bearings... I have never heard of anyone who got into it and found them desperately in need of fresh lube. I suppose it wouldn't take that long since I'll have the rest of it apart anyway. Good time to have a look at the U-joint, shaft and front splines...

If you've done a swingarm before, then you likely have your answer. I've done two, one on my project bike since it was in a basket. How can water get in there? Right end had sealed bearing. There's a torquing procedure to follow........

To me, totally a revenue generator in the Yammy maintenance schedule. My answer, work on something else.

I haven't done the swingarm on this bike. I figure there is little likelihood that it needs anything except for the very small chance there was an original assembly error (bad seal or insufficient grease). Still, I agree that it is pretty far down on the list of things that really need to be done. Once I get the wheel, shock, drive shaft/pumpkin and relay arm off, I'll "exercise" the swingarm and see if there is significant resistance to movement or any grittiness. If it is smooth, I'll call it done.
I bought the bike with 58,000 km - around 75,000 km ago. Time to have a look at drive shaft, splines and u-joint anyway. Don't know when the PO did that but it was likely whenever he did the relay arm. Don't think he did the swingarm...

Installed LED headlights to join the 21st century.

Nice 200 mile ride today; started working on 2023 calendar contest fodder, had lunch (thanks Don!) and did a quick check of my "you shouldn't ride a FJR here" button

Just a guess, but I'll bet the martini's taste like butt crack...


Lunch in Bay Port (Michigan)


where's Don?

FJRoss wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 10:09 am

Any info on that light bar? Looks pretty substantial. My Clearwater Ericas are mounted on mirror mounts and are heavy enough to vibrate the mirrors pretty badly on a rough road...

Ross that's actually a mock up of what I eventually want to build.
I just threw it together with a set of brackets that are no longer obtainable (unless I'm asked nicely) and a stainless marine grab bar. Those lights weigh about 5lbs a piece (substantially more than your Erica's) and the extra support helps keep them steady
Eventually I'd like to install a set of Clearwater Sevinas or Erica's and although not needed I'll probably keep the bar incase I decide to Install an infrared camera one of these days I'll have something easy to mount it to.

natehawk750 wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 9:08 pm

FJRoss wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 10:09 am

Any info on that light bar? Looks pretty substantial. My Clearwater Ericas are mounted on mirror mounts and are heavy enough to vibrate the mirrors pretty badly on a rough road...

Ross that's actually a mock up of what I eventually want to build.
I just threw it together with a set of brackets that are no longer obtainable (unless I'm asked nicely) and a stainless marine grab bar. Those lights weigh about 5lbs a piece (substantially more than your Erica's) and the extra support helps keep them steady
Eventually I'd like to install a set of Clearwater Sevinas or Erica's and although not needed I'll probably keep the bar incase I decide to Install an infrared camera one of these days I'll have something easy to mount it to.

The Ericas may be lighter but weight is still significant. With the Clearwater mirror mounts on my Gen II. There is more mirror shake than I like on a rough road. I would love to find a way to stiffen them up. My bike came with the Clearwaters - I probably would have chosen something lighter (and cheaper). I don't do a lot of night riding so they mostly run at minimum intensity for conspicuosity. They go to full with high beam or with the horn. Amber fork-mounted Glendas as well. The Ericas are pretty impressive on the infrequent occasions when I find myself on a back road after sunset.

extrememarine wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 8:20 pm where's Don?

Evidently Wayne felt the need to see how the FJR and the Tenere 700 will differ on gravel roads. I took the flat, empty, paved, farm country roads to test if Wayne balanced my wheels correctly.

Replaced my worn out rear T32GT with a brand new T32GT.

It was a b@t%h to get on, because I used too much lube and I ended up chasing the tire around the locked in place wheel. Even the clamps spun. By time I got the tire on it was cold. What a struggle. Next time ..... more heat and less lube.

That tire handled really well, right to the end at about 6500 miles, and that was well beyond the wear bars.

John d wrote: ↑Tue May 03, 2022 7:15 pm That tire handled really well, right to the end at about 6500 miles, and that was well beyond the wear bars.

Good to know. I have a set waiting to go on and a trip that (unfortunately) includes a lot of slab.
What did it take to balance them?

I find Bridgestone T30/31/32 balance very easy.

I lube liberally and do not “chase the tire around the rim” because I use the No-Mar spoons and two Yellow Things to mount. Never got the hang of using the 2-prong end of the mount/dismount bar.

N4HHE wrote: ↑Tue May 03, 2022 8:50 pm I find Bridgestone T30/31/32 balance very easy.

I lube liberally and do not “chase the tire around the rim” because I use the No-Mar spoons and two Yellow Things to mount. Never got the hang of using the 2-prong end of the mount/dismount bar.

I use everything, whatever it takes.

FJRoss wrote: ↑Tue May 03, 2022 8:13 pm

John d wrote: ↑Tue May 03, 2022 7:15 pm That tire handled really well, right to the end at about 6500 miles, and that was well beyond the wear bars.

Good to know. I have a set waiting to go on and a trip that (unfortunately) includes a lot of slab.
What did it take to balance them?

It took one 7 gram weight. The last one needed none. It's good that Bridgestone tires have balance dots.

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Tue May 03, 2022 9:45 pm

N4HHE wrote: ↑Tue May 03, 2022 8:50 pm I find Bridgestone T30/31/32 balance very easy.

I lube liberally and do not “chase the tire around the rim” because I use the No-Mar spoons and two Yellow Things to mount. Never got the hang of using the 2-prong end of the mount/dismount bar.

I use everything, whatever it takes.

Me too. That is why I have (4) No-Mar spoons. Often 2 is not enough, especially with a T32GT. Latest tire started with (3) which was only just barely enough. After the 3rd the tire was still not over the rim but was lubed well enough that I could push the last bit over by hand. No chance at getting a spoon between tire and and rim.

A couple of times frustrated not being able to get the last part over the rim and not being able to get a spoon inserted I have used the bead breaker to push the remainder of the tire on.

Well it was actually Monday, but took the wheels off to have new tires mounted...dropped the wheels and tires off yesterday to be mounted, picking them up today after work...

Fed it. Replaced the temp tag with the official one.

bill lumberg wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 6:49 pm Fed it. Replaced the temp tag with the official one.

Are you going to paint those city bags or leave them flat black? To me, they don't look awful but do look out of place...