FJRiders.com

Rode the crap out of it.

Finally made it to SEO

Rode it to get the oil scalding hot, then oil and filter change.

Rode it home from SEO, in the rain. Temps dropped 20 degrees by the time I made it home.

played with rockets today

New LED headlight bulbs in the 2014. Old set started flickering a lot recently and right one went dim. They lasted 4 years and 55k miles so not complaining too much. Besides the total PITA of changing headlight in these bikes

What I read was Chuck knows how to change my light bulbs….

Didn’t get to make SEO but that didn’t stop me from getting some seat time.


I had a work conference up in Naperville Illinois. (Think south west burb of Chicago). My brother lives about 50 miles west. I rode up to his house Saturday to avoid some bad weather and enjoyed temps in the upper 50s to middle 60s.

Riding north central Illinois 2 lanes are pretty nice.




I stayed with him Saturday night


My niece his daughter who lives in the same town had a baby girl Tuesday . I headed over to see her and got some snuggle time while mama took a break.

About an hour of this will sooth the soul.



Now I am holed up in a hotel contemplating what to do for dinner.

Conference is all day tomorrow. Getting reimbursed 70 cents a mile feels a little like stealing on the FJR. I will make about north of 225 dollars round trip riding up here.

Looking forward to next month when I ride down to Atlanta for another work trip. The plan is to stay and play in North Georgia a few days.


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Did you get it up to FJR max?

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 9:32 pm Did you get it up to FJR max?

Absolutely not!

That would be irresponsible.

I think I only hot triple digits once while ripping a 4-5 car pass on rt 47 south of Morris where I could see for 2 miles.

I had one near police encounter. I got it slowed to mid 60 something before he could lock me in if he was running radar. It’s just too easy to run 70+ with so little traffic in the flatlands.

I saw a white SUV that had “that look”. I rolled out of the throttle and applied a little back brake so as to not dive the front end and totally give it away. No harm no foul.

Ride to work. Now THAT's making lemonade, my friend.

Well done.....

Did some work on the FJR in preparation riding to NE Oregon for a 4 day ride. I launch tomorrow afternoon.

Hppants wrote:Ride to work. Now THAT's making lemonade, my friend.

Well done.....

As stated before, I had the work conference and I found premium parking for the FJR. It was raining when I pulled up so I just made the best of it.




I went by Marty’s former living quarters.



If you don’t believe that I don’t blame you. In reality, this was one of the worst of the worst prisons in America at one point. My great grandfather was a guard here back when it first opened.


Here is the wiki link. Some infamous inmates that included John Wayne Gacy and Richard Speck. Spooky place for sure.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statevi ... nal_Center


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I personally haven't been in that one but I have a couple of friends who did time there. One was an associate of the El Rukn's Jeff Fort. He said Fort was a "Geechee Rice Eatin Mfkr". lol. The El Rukns were a notorious gang in Chicago.

El Rukns, now there's a familiar noun in a broadcast.

I've been to 26th and California, but just as a visitor. I've been in the area of Joliet, but didn't pop in. I've also ridden past Marion on the way back from Hooterville.

Rode the FJR from Spokane to Pendleton Oregon today. Backfire Station in Pendleton is a motorcycle themed restaurant featuring Hodaka Motorcycles.

This is a Rickman Hodaka.



Here is a Combat Wombat.



The worldwide distributor of Hodakas was PABATCO, for Pacific Basin Trading Company. Its headquarters were in the rural town of Athena, Oregon about 25 miles from Pendleton. In June there is Hodaka Days event in Athena Oregon.

The story of Rickman is fascinating. Rickman traditionally a frame designer was selling complete motorcycles using a Hodaka engine in the early '70's. When frames and suspension from the big three improved dramatically Rickman lost market share and faded into obscurity.

Cav47 wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 8:02 pm Blah blah blah....

About an hour of this will sooth the soul.

As good as it gets!

You are a rich man my friend.

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Wed May 07, 2025 7:07 pm El Rukns, now there's a familiar noun in a broadcast.

I've been to 26th and California, but just as a visitor. I've been in the area of Joliet, but didn't pop in. I've also ridden past Marion on the way back from Hooterville.

LOL... I had to bail out my ex-wife from 11th & State. She thought it was good idea to fight a cop over a parking ticket.

Rode 320 smiles today including a road I have never been on. Went from Pendleton Oregon to Prineville Oregon. Google maps says it is 182 miles. I rode the smiles route.

If you follow my ride reports you have seen this photo.



You haven't seen this one. This is about 10 miles from Condon Oregon.



You just can't make this $hit up.

Prineville is a economic melting pot for agriculture, ranching, recreation, forest service and high tech aka server farms. Sprinkle in the Oregon is weird and it seems to just work. Something for everyone.

Toter wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 11:20 am

raYzerman wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 8:31 pm

Toter wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 2:39 pm Probably not electronic. No fault codes using GS-911. Right side front rotors is heat discolored, left side not. Looks like dragging caliper heated brake fluid to boiling and front lockup. Bike panic stopped. Luckily was going straight. When stopped, front lever rock hard, unable to move bike. Had to open bleeder on right side to relieve pressure, and move bike from road. Didn't feel any dragging, or sluggishness of bike. Was in 6th gear loafing along at 55 mph on rolling hills. Blockage at Master cyl., I woul expect both rotors dragging. Wierd, how sudden it was. Didn't lock tire. Maybe ABS prevented a lock. Couldn't tell as it was uncommanded. We shall see.

If I may remind everyone of my suggestion to bleed brakes annually.... either of two things could have happened, (a) the fluid may have had enough moisture in it to expand when heated (steam), and built pressure inside the brake fluid reservoir which caused your panic braking. (b) brake fluid level in reservoir was at max/maybe more, and did not have room to expand. Never fill brake fluid to max, just a hair under is good.

Your dragging caliper caused the overheating and expansion of the fluid..... however, let's see what the warranty boys say....

Update:
Heard from the dealer yesterday. They tested ABS unit and could find no faults or issues. They are working with BMW North America. Plan is to replace right caliper, pads, and rotor.

Update:
Got the bike back from BMW. New right caliper, brake pads, rotor, rivets, and screws. ABS and ECU diagnosed, no faults. All covered under warranty. Bike rode fine on the way home. Rotors cool when pulled into garage. While BMW at dealer, decided to take FJR up to Cherohala, as weather was so nice. Stopped in Ellijay to call FJRPittsburgh and set up Bluetooth for XT, phone, and Cardo. Left bike running. While talking and setting things up, bike must have died. Would not turn over fast enough to start. Attempted a bump start in 3rd gear, no dice. F#$%$&@k!!!!!! Luckily, I had stopped in front of an Ace Hardware. Pushed over by shop, and used a jump battery to start. Got back home and ordered battery. WTF! That battery was only 7 years old? DOH! Was going to take a ride on the DRZ, but, thought better of that, and sat down with a bourbon. Figured I used up all my luck lately. Could have stranded me at the Cherohala on a break.

Seven years, though possible, is stretching it for a battery in my experience. No voltmeter indicating battery condition when not running?

Glad you weren't stranded.