What did you do to your FJR today?

[fontanaman]

That very well might be. The beauty of being retired with your own tire machine (as you know) is that I can use ALL of the tread on my tires.

If the RS4s are not installed by May 1 the collective here will demand this line be removed from your profile: "I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living. Or get busy dying."

Just kidding of course. There is just no way you will ride less than 2k miles in the heart of the southern riding season.

As you can see my mouth is getting sassy with the winter season in Spokane.

[gixxerjasen]

Ya'll act like he's got only one bike and no kayak.

[SkooterG]

Ya'll act like he's got only one bike and no kayak.

Or that he doesn't spend too much time posting on Facebook!!!

[SkooterG]

Rode the '23 about 200 miles today. A little cooler today - only in the upper 60s. Rode to my favorite Mexican place - Headquarters Cafe in Maricopa, Arizona. Then it was a stop in Casa Grande, for some cheap gas @ $2.73/gal. Then on to Florence, Arizona, for the purpose of the trip: To go get two NIB black saddlebags as well as two NIB black mirrors. All were a great deal.

Interesting side story: The gentleman that was selling them is now in his early 70s and is getting out of riding. He put 169,000 miles on a '17 FJR! He's my Hero! But that is not all! He is only 5'3" tall and had dropped the FJR several times over it's life! He's my Hero! He had bought the replacement parts but never put them on. Hence my good fortune. Interestingly, he got $2,000 for his high-mile, not-so-pretty-anymore '17 FJR. I thought that was pretty good for miles/condition. The guy that bought it showed up pulling a trailer with about 6 bikes on it already. And bought his FJR without so much as a test ride. Apparently, the buyer makes several trips a month scooping up older bikes and then takes them to Tijuana, Mexico, where they sell like hotcakes. I had no idea.

And in the 1,000 words department....... Me thinks the Raven Black sidebags on a Cobalt Blue FJR don't look so bad.

[Toter]

Rode the '23 about 200 miles today. A little cooler today - only in the upper 60s. Rode to my favorite Mexican place - Headquarters Cafe in Maricopa, Arizona. Then it was a stop in Casa Grande, for some cheap gas @ $2.73/gal. Then on to Florence, Arizona, for the purpose of the trip: To go get two NIB black saddlebags as well as two NIB black mirrors. All were a great deal.

Interesting side story: The gentleman that was selling them is now in his early 70s and is getting out of riding. He put 169,000 miles on a '17 FJR! He's my Hero! But that is not all! He is only 5'3" tall and had dropped the FJR several times over it's life! He's my Hero! He had bought the replacement parts but never put them on. Hence my good fortune. Interestingly, he got $2,000 for his high-mile, not-so-pretty-anymore '17 FJR. I thought that was pretty good for miles/condition. The guy that bought it showed up pulling a trailer with about 6 bikes on it already. And bought his FJR without so much as a test ride. Apparently, the buyer makes several trips a month scooping up older bikes and then takes them to Tijuana, Mexico, where they sell like hotcakes. I had no idea.

And in the 1,000 words department....... Me thinks the Raven Black sidebags on a Cobalt Blue FJR don't look so bad.

Did you not have Cobalt bags for this bike? If you did, you are afflicted beyond recovery!

[SkooterG]

Did you not have Cobalt bags for this bike? If you did, you are afflicted beyond recovery!

Yes, I do have the original Cobalt Blue sidebags that are still in excellent condition as this FJR only has 20k miles on it. And I am afflicted!

But there is a method to my madness.........

For four months now I have been trying to sell my '17 FJR with left side drop damage from the previous owner. I've gotten calls/emails, a couple tire kickers, and one low-ball offer. I thought I had it priced properly for the damage. Perhaps not. Well, I am going to fix all the damage. raise the price, and hopefully have better luck. Getting cheap replacements for the damaged left side sidebag and mirror was a win! He actually saw my FB ad for my '17 and contacted me.....

[Panman]

The G man and I put a set of RS'4s on my spare FJR rims, might not even get to try them this year as the FJR has new PR4's on it now. Next we started check out the Penske on the rear as it is way to stiff. I can bounce on the seat and you barely see the bike move down. So we pulled it off, first checking the swing arm and relay arm for easy movement then puled the spring cycling just he shock with no spring then checking the nitrogen pressure and all is good as we can tell without a complete disassembly. Put it back on and the suspension seemed to move a bit better.
We called it good and went out to lunch then down to the local MC shop and kicked a few tires. We parted ways and I went home and balanced the newly mounted tires and took the FJR out around the hood, 10 miles maybe, still stiff so back on the lift and remove the shock and do a complete disassembly on it and see if I F'd up the job cleaning and recharging and re-oiling.

[Hppants]

Ya'll act like he's got only one bike and no kayak.

or two bicycles. Or .....

So many hobbies, so little time.....

[Panman]

Got the shock off.

Glad I have a lift thanks to DB for the Heads up. Reworked the drum brake clamp so a disk would fit.

I'm lucky I have a good work area.


Shock is past due as records show 2-20 as las t re-fresh.

[raYzerman]

I like the steps to your ramp... I need to upgrade mine now, lol.
What is your spin on the service interval for a shock? 4 years seems a bit short to me... mileage?

[Road Runner]

I like the steps to your ramp... I need to upgrade mine now, lol.
What is your spin on the service interval for a shock? 4 years seems a bit short to me... mileage?

I used to do mine every 2 years/20k miles. It always felt good that way. going 3 years/ 30k mile and it starts to fade/not dampen as well when it got hot.

[extrememarine]

The fjr eats tires, man. It eats them like salty potato chips with a good beer.

A while ago, when I shared the somewhat short lifespan tires on my FJR had, someone on the internet told me that maybe I should learn how to ride...

[Panman]

Auburn welded an extension on his ramp and I thought about it but where I store it under the sink doesn't accommodate that.
I think anything over 20,000 is to many miles for the shock and that would be depending on how hard I would be pushing it. Maybe sooner, this time it only had a little over 20,000 miles.

[escapefjrtist]

What is your spin on the service interval for a shock? 4 years seems a bit short to me... mileage?

I rebuilt my Tenere shock at 30K and that was too many miles Ray. I'll be rebuilding (which is changing oil and o-rings) in mine at +/- 2 years regardless of mileage. Helps to have the parts and equipment to easily go through them!

We went through Panman's shock in 2020 when he bought it used. Something has happened internally to it. Rebound adjustment doesn't seem to do anything and shock packs down when riding. Be interesting to see what's going on once we get it apart. I encountered something similar to this a few years ago when I found a broken roll pin on the rebound adjustment. Doesn't seem to be this case...but we'll see!

~G

[raYzerman]

Panman's problem sounds unique..

Thanks gentlemens..... I had a Penske on the VFR of unknown age, it looked old... one day the main seal gave out, lost all it's oil. Sent it off for rebuild, which was reasonable.
On the '07 FJR, had a RaceTech G3, never had a problem with it, transferred it to the '14 with about 30k on it, never noticed any degradation in damping. Took it off to have it re-sprung (original spring way too strong) and decided to have it rebuilt it anyway. Currently it's got at least 30k on it, and no degradation in damping. Might be the design, it has hi/lo speed compression adjusters with remote, and remote preload, plus rebound of course.

Is it losing nitrogen charge perhaps....
I never believed hydraulic oil degrades except when hot when viscosity changes.... in the past, if it doesn't leak, then carry on...

[Road Runner]

I have had 2 Ohlins on FJR's and they both feel not as good after 20k miles when riding like an Extreme Marine. Sorry Wayne I couldn't resist, but if the shoe fits, well you know. I think I have about 25k on the one I have now and it is ok for normal riding but if pushed you notice it is not as good as it once was. Just been my experience. Good thing I don't ride that hard any more, so maybe one more season before rebuild. Plus I'm cheap.

[SkooterG]

Yikes. I'll sometimes go 40-50 thousand miles before rebuild. Sometimes as low as 30k. I don't notice any degradation. Did have an Ohlins leak oil after about 20k miles of hard two-up fully loaded touring ripping up the Alps. That shock has 140k miles on it. Other than that never any problems including with a Wilbers with about 400k miles on it? Wilbers and Ohlins purchased new. I know others love them, but I haven't been as impressed with the two used Penske shocks I have. I always wanted to try the RaceTech G3 but that is one pricey sob!

[Road Runner]

I think Ohlins recommends 12k for rebuilds, but, you know. I used to do every 20k with good results, but now older and cheaper I'll go 30-40k. When I get to be Gregs age I'll go 40-50k. Or maybe forget to do it all together. Too many bikes to remember what needs what.

[gixxerjasen]

Yikes. I'll sometimes go 40-50 thousand miles before rebuild. Sometimes as low as 30k.

I call BS. Soon as the shock starts to wear out you just go "Well, that one is worn out, time to buy another FJR."

[wheatonFJR]

Yikes. I'll sometimes go 40-50 thousand miles before rebuild. Sometimes as low as 30k.

I call BS. Soon as the shock starts to wear out you just go "Well, that one is worn out, time to buy another FJR."

Nailed it!