What did you do to your FJR today?

[gixxerjasen]

I know how good sc178 is because it’s just out my back door

Nobody likes a braggart.

[wheatonFJR]

Wheatie, where you have your suspension set at.... front preload lines showing and damping clicks out for comp and rebound...... also, rear damping?

The rear is shot...almost as stiff as it can get. It's toast.

[raYzerman]

Meaning bouncy with the rebound dialed in less then 5 clicks out? If so, oil likely leaky, no damping. Stock shock I assume, somebody may have one out there but rare. New one's like $600

[Spininprop]

New Road 6 rubber installed. Ready for more miles.

[fontanaman]

New Road 6 rubber installed. Ready for more miles.

How do you like the Road 6 and how to they compare to other tires? Oh dear I invited the rabbit into the rabbit hole!

[wheatonFJR]

Meaning bouncy with the rebound dialed in less then 5 clicks out? If so, oil likely leaky, no damping. Stock shock I assume, somebody may have one out there but rare. New one's like $600

It was 12 clicks out when bouncy, moved it to 5 clicks out and the ride was greatly improved. But I will need to dial it up all the way when I add overnight bag, and various weather gear.

Its done. Forks felt good, but fork oil has not been changed since purchased in 2019. It was due for sure back in 23 when I quit riding regularly, and likely due a couple years before that.

I will say, the Gen3 shock was a solid, properly sprung stock shock. The Gen1 stock shocks were inadequate for anything but highway riding.

[fontanaman]

Good to see Mark riding again.

[Spininprop]

No idea, this is my first set of Road 6. I've run Road 5 sets and loved them. Been running a few Road Smart 3 sets so I'm hoping for a little better cold weather grip of the Road 5. But RS3 are great tires.

New Road 6 rubber installed. Ready for more miles.

How do you like the Road 6 and how to they compare to other tires? Oh dear I invited the rabbit into the rabbit hole!

[Hppants]

Good riding there, no doubt. Did you go check out the big water fall?

[raYzerman]

12 clicks is the standard setting from the factory, not a lot of damping, so no doubt mushy. 5 clicks of rebound on the shock is usually good for twisty riders, you don't need to change it if adding weight.
Fork springs are progressive, 0.85/1.0 spring rate. You can never achieve 1.0 rate, which is likely what you should have for your weight. So dial the preload all the way in. As for damping, a good starting point is 8 clicks out for both, tweak from there....

At 30k miles your bushings will be showing some wear... so somewhere between 30-40k, just do a full rebuild (bushings, seals, oil).

[bigjohnsd]

At 30k miles your bushings will be showing some wear... so somewhere between 30-40k, just do a full rebuild (bushings, seals, oil).

Ray, I read an article that advised that one can extend bushing life by rotating the upper fork cylinder 1/4 turn within the triple clamps to change where the bushing wear takes place. Any thoughts or experience?

[wheatonFJR]

Good riding there, no doubt. Did you go check out the big water fall?

If you're talking to me, yes we've been to that waterfall several times and love it. We go to various waterfalls in the area. My hiking days are behind, but if there are short walks on fairly level terrain I'm good with that. I do enjoy my riding though. I am finding the joy again in that.

[Hppants]

Good riding there, no doubt. Did you go check out the big water fall?

If you're talking to me, yes we've been to that waterfall several times and love it. We go to various waterfalls in the area. My hiking days are behind, but if there are short walks on fairly level terrain I'm good with that. I do enjoy my riding though. I am finding the joy again in that.

Of course I know you've been to Whitewater Falls - heck, you and I went there one time together. I was just wondering if you went this week, and if so, how was the flow? That particualr waterfall is one of my all time favorites - the walk to (and behind) it is very nice.

[wheatonFJR]

Good riding there, no doubt. Did you go check out the big water fall?

If you're talking to me, yes we've been to that waterfall several times and love it. We go to various waterfalls in the area. My hiking days are behind, but if there are short walks on fairly level terrain I'm good with that. I do enjoy my riding though. I am finding the joy again in that.

Of course I know you've been to Whitewater Falls - heck, you and I went there one time together. I was just wondering if you went this week, and if so, how was the flow? That particualr waterfall is one of my all time favorites - the walk to (and behind) it is very nice.

No, I did not go this week, so I didn't see the flow. Rainfall has been off and on, and the mountains get more than we do. Unlike your proclivities, my motorcycle riding generally has biobreaks, and overlook stops only. I appreciate your photos and understand your desire to hike, I just do not mix the two. Hope all is well at the ABB.

[El Toro Joe]

Got out for 200+ miles of much needed two wheeled therapy. 70 degrees and sunny...doesn't get any better than that.

[rbentnail]

After 1/2 a day of yard work, a buddy texts and says he's hungry. Took a half a tank of gas but we ate and rode some backroads for several hrs, he and his girlfriend on their big HD and me on my cute little FJR.

[raYzerman]

At 30k miles your bushings will be showing some wear... so somewhere between 30-40k, just do a full rebuild (bushings, seals, oil).

Ray, I read an article that advised that one can extend bushing life by rotating the upper fork cylinder 1/4 turn within the triple clamps to change where the bushing wear takes place. Any thoughts or experience?

While I have not given that a lot of thought, it does have merit..... bushing wear is on the forward and rearward side of the lower bushing, so turning it 90 degrees would indeed put you in fresher teflon territory. I'll buy that, just never thought of doing it.

We should also mention by that 30k, the lower has been sliding up and down continuously in the lower aluminum tube. This creates aluminum fines that are "in suspension" (there's a pun there) in the oil, until there's too much of it and some sinks to the bottom..... contaminating the damping sets and if really bad, blocking the compression damping port.... so ya really need to be taking them apart and giving them a good flush, IF you haven't been changing the fork oil at more frequent intervals.... which you can do any time. So... new recommendation, change oil every 10 k and rotate the fork tubes 90 degrees.... would take you to over 50k before needing bushings. Kool.

I'll also mention the middle bushings on Gen2/3 do nothing much as far as a few of us can tell... never worn. I think that's due to the bushing expanding into its groove when it seats. The middle ones are however very likely destroyed by removal when the lower bushing slide-hammers into it.

As well, the upper bushings are never worn, may not even be damaged by the slide-hammer removal method. Excellent chance you can re-use them. I have a collection if you need a couple.

[Niehart]

Packing to get out of town Wednesday to go to the why not in Baker City. Wahoooooo!

[FJRPittsburgh]

Picked up my Shad SH50 topcase off of the highway. The plastic latch that "secured" the topcase to the mount broke apart. I inherited the case when buying my first used 2013. The case was 12 years old and I'm sure the plastic "locking" mechanism was getting brittle. Since I already have a secured Shad mount, I'll order the 58X expandable topcase. I've always wanted one anyway.

I've always had Givi topcases up until now. I like how the Shad models operate more. (unless it's rolling down the highway)

The Shad SH50 I had is no longer made. My guess is they had some failures with this model. The currently available Shad cases have a great reputation.

[fontanaman]

Moved it to a different place in the garage. Put the Triumph where the FJR was so I could remove the Carpuride 702S Pro and reinstall the Garmin 590 mount.