What did you do to your FJR today?

[fontanaman]

Rode from Riverton Wyoming along Wind River Canyon to Thermopolis Wy. Nice blue sky morning. Eating breakfast at Black Bear Cafe.

[Blueridgerider]

^^^^^^ If there was an FJR in the foreground, I say submit that for the 2021 calendar.

Hey, all of us are familiar with that kind of weather, right?

Too funny Hud! There is an FJR buried in between all the other bikes under the covered area staying nice and dry. We all know that if you ride any kind of distance you will ride in the rain especially if your friend is Johnny Raincloud

I gave my other bike some love yesterday and rode a couple hundred miles in Upstate SC/WNC on a day where the forecast was 80% chance of thunderstorms. That is most always misleading as around here that means some will get it some won't and not all day as in most places. The sun was out in the morning and I headed out for a great day of riding and the weather was perfect but I made the mistake of stretching it out more than I should have. Almost without warning 60 miles from home the sky got dark fast. Checked the radar and it looked like I could beat it so made a bee line for home.

Before long I saw a car heading towards me with his wipers going full speed and then it started to come down hard, pulled over, put the Frogg Toggs on and thought I was good to go. This was one of those storms that just kept growing bigger and it seemed to follow me. I pulled over twice as there was lightening but it never seemed to end so I made a decision to go for it. As you can see in the short video it was pouring hard, Big Drops. It was borderline dangerous as it was hard to see and there were big puddles that cars were kicking up and I was afraid that one might take me out or I would ride into one. I put my flashers on and did my best to watch the road. This guy in a Jeep behind me was covering my rear (Or Six in Navy Fighter Pilot Terms) which was comforting so I knew no one would hit me from behind. I get about a mile from home and it not only stopped but was dry! Pulled into a dry driveway soaked leaving a trail of water into the garage. So at my house it was the 20% that did not get wet. Go figure right?

I think many of us have been in that situation and its always a tough call. In hindsight I should have just waited it out as long as it took as it was a very dangerous ride home the last 20 miles. You get home from that situation saying it was ok because I made it safely but many things could have happened that could of ruined an otherwise great day and it makes you think. Next time I probably will do the same thing and take the chance to get home. I just hope one of these decisions doesn't end up biting me as there will be many more situations just like it. Just thought I would share my rain experience just yesterday as like you said, "Hey, all of us are familiar with that kind of weather, right?" so we all will have to make this decision at one point or another.

[wheatonFJR]

It's hard to stop 20 miles away from home. But you are right, weather here is very different with it's localized intense storm cells. Up north you might have a 2, 6 12, or 36 hour rain. Here it can be 15 minutes but still get the same amount of rain out...hydroplaning is a common concern here, whereas up north in Wheaton, I can count on one hand the number of times rain caused that concern.

[extrememarine]

Rode home from west Michigan to finish off a great 4 day adventure. Rain, water crossing, sun and even discovered a new riding move we've coined, "tail-of-the-fish". Not to be confused with "tail of the dragon" in NC. Tail of the fish involves wet roads, urgent acceleration, loss of traction, dirt bike skills, and a change of underwear.. video to follow...

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[raYzerman]

Could you please edit out the part where you change your underwear, thank you very much!

[extrememarine]

Could you please edit out the part where you change your underwear, thank you very much!

Will safe the part that soiled them, and insert b roll from there!

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[bungie4]

Rode from Riverton Wyoming along Wind River Canyon to Thermopolis Wy. Nice blue sky morning. Eating breakfast at Black Bear Cafe.

If you have time, head south to Lander and jump on 131 to 300 and report back. It looks tasty.

[Geezer]

I took my '05 to the local shop and got the state inspection done. I have been using this one man shop for more than thirty years. It used to be attached to a small mom and pop Yamaha dealer which sold motorcycles and boats. About fifteen years ago they sold the Yamaha franchise and became a dealer in various brands of three wheeled motorcycles. Last year they sold off the last of the three wheeled inventory and closed the showroom. The shop is closing in July. The only dealer less than an hour from me now is a Harley dealer. The times, they are a-changing.

[danh600]

I took my '05 to the local shop and got the state inspection done. I have been using this one man shop for more than thirty years. It used to be attached to a small mom and pop Yamaha dealer which sold motorcycles and boats. About fifteen years ago they sold the Yamaha franchise and became a dealer in various brands of three wheeled motorcycles. Last year they sold off the last of the three wheeled inventory and closed the showroom. The shop is closing in July. The only dealer less than an hour from me now is a Harley dealer. The times, they are a-changing.

Sad to see small dealerships closing. The ones in Florida stay alive by selling 4 wheelers and PWC. No way they could stay in business just selling motorcycles.

I just found a Mom and Pop Yamaha dealership. Well actually Mom and Pop passed it on to their son, who passed it on to his two sons. So now it's a third generation dealership run by two brothers. So far I have been happy with them. (Well, except screwing up the registration on my new bike.)

They are competing with a larger corporation that has Honda, KTM, Suzuki, Indian and Harley right on the same street as them. They seem to be doing fine. They told me Covid actually helped their business. More people doing outdoor things. Much different atmosphere than the corporate dealership right down the street.

Nice people I am going to throw my business their way.

[Hppants]

I rode 300 miles today. It got to 89 this afternoon, and believe it or not, it was tolerable under the sticky clouds.

Just kind of free-lanced it thought the back country. Took a few photographs. I've got an idea for a ride report.

[Spininprop]

Rode it to a gun shop and bought bullets. Just in case the zombies come.

[fontanaman]

Rode it over Chief Joseph Pass and Beartooth Pass. It was a grand day to be on the FJR.

[danh600]

I rode 300 miles today. It got to 89 this afternoon, and believe it or not, it was tolerable under the sticky clouds.

Just kind of free-lanced it thought the back country. Took a few photographs. I've got an idea for a ride report.

I ride year round here in Florida. I just get a good early start in the summer. 89 is fine. For me 93 seems to be the cut off. At that point it's time to head to the house. Just to humid. You can add 10 degrees to get the "Feels like" temp.

That is for day rides. Now on a long trip temp is just a number. I adjust.

[bill lumberg]

Ordered a new set of tires for it. I prefer the R5GT. But the 4GT’s were $111 cheaper for the set. The big three (for my tire shopping) were all the exact same price for 5GT’s. All three had different prices for 4GT’s. Hmmmm..

[Uncle Hud]

Hmmmm, clearing out unsold inventory of the "old" model?

[bill lumberg]

Perhaps.
R5GT Set:
Rocky mountain $405/revzilla $405/Dennis Kirk $405

PR4GT Set:
Rocky mountain $306/Revzilla $372.27/Dennis Kirk $294

Plus applicable tax/fees.

I personally disliked the RSIII's, though I know you and many, many others find them superb. I still need to get outside my comfort zone and try the Angel GT2's (or A spec or whatever the right one is). Last time I looked at them they were priced like the premium stuff. Need to check their pricing again.

Hmmmm, clearing out unsold inventory of the "old" model?

[Uncle Hud]

I personally disliked the RSIII's, though I know you and many, many others find them superb.

Yeah, but I don't ride at or near Mach 2, so the modest performance tires work mighty fine on my FJR.

[bill lumberg]

I just don’t ride well enough or fast enough to get outside my comfort zone when it comes to tires.

[rbentnail]

Rode it to work. Twice. Looks like summer is here, forecast is for daily 50% chance of evening rain and isolated thunderstorms. WooHoo! Sit it out or ride through it? Hmmm......

[fontanaman]

My Pirelli Angle GT Spec As are starting to square off at 3500 miles. The first set I had squared off too but I rode the bike from Texas to to Spokane Washington via the Pacific coast. Was hopeful the set I have on now would not square off. The Angels go about 7k miles but the last 1000 miles - meh.

$300 is a good deal on PR4's.

Washed my FJR today.