I just got a 91 fj1200 a couple of months ago. Was loved but not really well cared for and not modernized.
Purchased for 2250 $ cdn. Spent 200 for an internal tank coating/another 600ish so far from RPM (fork springs/emulators/spin on/etc), have 150 into a GL1800 shock that is enroute.
Likely a full repaint over the dark season.
Here's my q?
At what point does one say ... Oh hell I should just sell it and get a _______ and not have to keep updating it? Or does that happen?
What is a competitor to it now and why are you still riding an old bike when a newer now will be as good or better?
Its a super community on here, tons of help and sincere replies...is that a factor?
Cheers.
Don
I have ridden a few other bikes in my past. But since the FJ, I know will keep and ride it as long as I can. I may get another bike, but the FJ is a keeper. So I don't have any issues putting money in to her that I would never recover if sold. I am doing it to make me happy every time ride.... Not everyone will feel the same way, but it is how I feel..
never give up , never surrender .
Quote from: Easterntide on May 24, 2014, 05:45:38 PM
Here's my q?
At what point does one say ... Oh hell I should just sell it and get a _______ and not have to keep updating it? Or does that happen?
What is a competitor to it now and why are you still riding an old bike when a newer now will be as good or better?
Its a super community on here, tons of help and sincere replies...is that a factor?
Cheers.
Don
There aren't many bikes out there that match the FJ. Contrary to popular moditus wisdom, you can actually find a stopping point with the upgrades. I'm on a '92 ABS and did a few of the common mods (front and rear suspension, relays, oil cooler, SS brake lines). At the risk of getting tarred and feathered, I'm still running the factory oil filter setup...factory airbox......stock seat...and stock wheel/tire combo! I'm quite happy with them all. Short of the few obvious things, I think Yamaha got it quite right with this bike. It'd sure be difficult to find something as simple, durable and comfortable with this much torque and that perfect balance between "sport" and "touring."
About the only other bike I've considered is the new FJR1300. During my rebuild, there were more than a few nights in the garage where I thought it would be just easier to write a check and forget all those Ziplock bags full of parts. I pushed on with a deadline of getting ready for a cross-country trip. Rebuilding the FJ was a lot of work, but I now know every nut, bolt, bearing, seal and wire on this well thought out, but simple bike. I managed to finish it all in time and left on the trip. There were times on long haul days in the southwest where I would have liked a proper cruise control the FJR has. Having to adjust the (cheap) chain every two days had me wishing for shaft drive. Going up over 10,000 feet in Wyoming made me wish for fuel injection. Riding 22 days across Canada had me wanting for heated grips. Those were all things I *didn't* have on my FJ. The things I *did* have: dead-simple to troubleshoot and work on, a bike that handles like the best of the sport-touring crowd, a motorcycle that would almost always start a conversation at a fuel stop, a bike that I wanted to get on every morning and put in another 500 miles and most of all, a bike that always put a giant smile on my face every time I twisted the throttle!! Even with my heated-grip-envy, by the end of the trip, I had the right bike...made the right choice...and became even more fond of this classic.
The humble bastard forgot to add a link to his epic trip. http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10252.msg98799#msg98799 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10252.msg98799#msg98799)
You are welcome, see you in a few days for another good FJ ride to the FJ Rally.
I would say when you stop loving the FJ it is time to pass it on to someone who will.
It's not about money, time or anything like that. I ride a pretty stock bike and have clocked up some big miles and just love riding it. If you loose the passion then it's time to sell.
Cheers
First of all welcome. What an interesting question. I currently have five bikes. 1985 FZ 750, 1991 FZR 1000, 84 FJ1100, ( I started a thread 84 restomodification on it ) 86 FJ 1200 and a 1990 FJ1200.
The only bike I am currently riding is the 90 FJ 1200. It has an 02 FZ1 swing arm, wheel, brakes etc. Penske shock, 3.5 inch FZR front wheel, blue dot calipers, race tech gold emulators , corbin lady and gunfighter seats. I am so happy with the suspension, brakes, power, comfort that all the other bikes never get ridden so I took them off the road. ( They aren't for sale though)
Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to test ride a 2014 FJR 1300. The one with the fancy electronically adjustable suspension. I was impressed with the smooth ride, power, comfort etc. The bike really is awesome. A few people laughed at me and said after the ride I would buy one. When leaving the dealership I went for a nice ride on my FJ. I can tell you that my opinion is that the FJR is not better by 14,000 dollars. I enjoy sport riding in comfort, sometimes riding 900 plus kilometers in a day. The FJ never leaves me wanting.
The other point is, does it really have to make sense? Do you really like the bike? Most of us have always liked FJ's. I bought my first one at age 22. So there is a nostalgia/ love affair that also comes into play. From a purely financial stand point it makes no sense to spend money on these bikes. They are almost worthless. The idea for me is that I am having a blast. I don't care if someone else thinks I am a stupid dork. I ride an FJ because it makes me smile.
If you don't think it's worth spending time or money on then you are doing it for the wrong reason. Hobbies are expensive and fun.
When do you jump ship? When it stops being fun. jmho
I second fj johnnie's take on the discussion. I ride a FJ because it makes me grin. Will it run with a ZX 14R? No. Is it as comfortable as a Goldwing? Not really. But it will do just about anything that you ask of it in a very competent manner. But, honestly, there are a lot of great motorcycles available today. If a FJ doesn't push your buttons, its time to start test riding bikes that have caught your eye.
Joe
IMHO there is nothing that can touch the FJs' "bang for the buck" For 5 grand or less (with upgrades) you are a cunt-hair away in real-world performance from stuff in the neighborhood 15K, and you are riding an acknowledged classic.
Doing my own maintenance and repairs and riding my FJ's is really a fun passion and hobby for me. I have owned six of them to date and still currently have three. If having an up to date bike is your thing then I would move on to something else. I know on this website modifications is a popular thing, however, I personally think the FJ is a great bike stock just the way it came from the factory and I appreciate it for what it is. - Barry
I rode my friends 2009 concours 1400 fully expecting to be awed. Honestly, I couldn't wait to get back on my fj. its hard to explain. the fj is just sweet spot times 10. The motor is amazing. Plus you get tons of people coming up to you in utter respect looking at the fj. I can totally afford a new bike but refrain, not %100 sure why. Just love that simple old school tech
Quote from: fj johnnie on May 24, 2014, 08:00:09 PM
From a purely financial stand point it makes no sense to spend money on these bikes. They are almost worthless. The idea for me is that I am having a blast. I don't care if someone else thinks I am a stupid dork. I ride an FJ because it makes me smile.
If you don't think it's worth spending time or money on then you are doing it for the wrong reason. Hobbies are expensive and fun.
I agree with the above statement. I got my first FJ at the age of 21. I rode it for 2 years and had a serious accident on it. Later I got a 84' Interceptor 1000 and rode it for 7 years. After my accident, I was still young and was happy just to be riding again. I took a 15 year hiatus from riding and found my current FJ by accident. During the test ride I instantly remembered why I loved my 1st FJ so much. I have caught the moditus disease in a bad way. I won't list all the mods, a few are, Oil filter adaptor, FZR front wheel, GSXR rear wheel, RPM fork valves, BMW K1200RS rear shock, VFR800 Master cylinders.
There are some great quotes I can use from earlier posts,
I may get another bike, but the FJ is a keeper
dead-simple to troubleshoot and work on
a bike that handles like the best of the sport-touring crowd,
a motorcycle that would almost always start a conversation at a fuel stop
a bike that always put a giant smile on my face every time I twisted the throttle!!
I ride a FJ because it makes me grin
it will do just about anything that you ask of it in a very competent manner.
Doing my own maintenance and repairs and riding my FJ is really a fun passion and hobby for me
IMO, I think the FJ is one of the best motorcycles ever designed. Mine was a turd when I purchased it. Thanks to this forum and the many great members, I now have a bike that that gets noticed and for many who have no idea what it is, they are often amazed when I tell them that they are looking at a 25 year old motorcycle. Moditus is not required, Like Capn Ron and roverfj1200 mention, they have pretty close to stock FJ's and are happy with them. Many of us are not original owners and our FJ's may have changed hands many times before we find them. There are all levels of neglect that we find after we purchase our FJ's. Through this forum every glitch, snag, hiccup and problem has been encountered. If a person has enough patience and commitment, they can have a extremely reliable 20+ year old classic. Stick with the direction you are going and you will have a great riding FJ.
Fred
Quote from: Easterntide on May 24, 2014, 05:45:38 PM
why are you still riding an old bike when a newer now will be as good or better?
Admittedly I am in the deep end of the mod pool, but my bike is as capable as the K1300S BMW I had at the time I built it... Wizard is more capable for me actually since it is built to my spec... and the k13s a benchmark bike in the super sport touring category. What you will love about an FJ is how you can make it yours... mod to taste, ride it like you stole it, and it will keep coming back for more.
Frank
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7648200146_b23d12607d_c.jpg)
Quote from: FJmonkey on May 24, 2014, 07:29:40 PM
The humble bastard forgot to add a link to his epic trip. http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10252.msg98799#msg98799 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10252.msg98799#msg98799)
Hey...wait just a darned minute... I am NOT humble!
:biggrin:
Motorcycles are like girls, lots of them around, they come and go but someday if you are lucky you will find the one that's right for you. When you do you will keep each other in sickness and health. :drinks:
George
Quote from: movenon on May 25, 2014, 12:16:45 AM
Motorcycles are like girls, lots of them around, they come and go but someday if you are lucky you will find the one that's right for you. When you do you will keep each other in sickness and health. :drinks:
George
Couldn't have said that better...
I think in my case that I've got something i can customise myself and make a bike that is my own. Yes i could buy a z1000 and have similar comfort, more power and better brakes for 5-6 grand and if your not into wrenching and knowing everything about your bike then thats what you would do.
The knowledge and satisfaction that comes from building something from the ground up and then riding it across the country is priceless in my opinion. I wouldn't of even tried to build a bike had i not got the fj to play around with. Its given me the confidence now to play around with other bikes as well.
For me, one bike is not enough. I love the FJ for what it is, a classic competent Sport Tourer that's easy to work on and fun to modify. My second bike is new ('14 ninja 1000) and I love riding it for all the reasons i own a new sport bike. Riding 2 up my wife and I prefer the FJ.
Some guys have more than one woman for the same reason, one doesn't meet ALL your needs.
Scott
Mmmm, there have been reasons as to when to move on, all valid. For me, the main reason to keep the ol' girl, is I have a great bike that I own. I'd love a new Triumph Sprint with panniers/fuel injection etc, but I don't think I'll be able to afford one any time soon. I paid $10995.00 for my FJ 1n 1994, and it goes better today than the day I picked it up. (Thanks Randy :good2:) Its comfy, goes fast when I want to, looks "nice", easy to work on, and is relatively bullet proof.
I'm always looking for another FJ to sleep in the shed, one just isn't enough!
Quote from: novaraptor on May 24, 2014, 08:21:51 PM
When do you jump ship? When it stops being fun. jmho
My feelings exactly. The FJ is a good balance of power and handling. It is simple to work on with a great group of guys to offer advise and support. It is just fun. Dave
What a great thread! I agree with all the reasons stated thus far. I've been an FJ owner for 20 years now - bought my '86 in 1994, then bought the '92 in 2005 and sold the '86 a couple weeks later (it's important to have an overlap, not a gap between bikes). I "upgraded" to the '92 because I was looking for something that was just a little more touring friendly - something that my wife would enjoy a bit more as well, and with the larger fairing the '92 has fit the bill just nicely. Like FJ Johnnie I've ridden a few new bikes and although I've been impressed with their handling and performance, none of them ever screamed "buy me!" and when I got back on the FJ it never felt like it was lacking. Sure, I've been stuck on the side of the road a few times but in most cases have been able to diagnose and fix the problem on the spot - something that would be difficult to do on a modern motorcycle. Just ask my friend Bruce who's '08 Moto Guzzi Stelvio died and made him bail on on our Alaska ride, just 3 days into the ride! My FJ died a day later on the plains of South Dakota but it was due to a faulty (old) fuel pump which I was able to bypass for two days before installing another. Try that on a fuel injected bike. Besides all of that, I just love the FJ - the way it looks and the way it rides. And as the saying goes: "If I have to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand".
Zwartie
Well, that's been pretty well covered. I have a variation on the theme however. In a rare moment of lucidity I realised I had many projects that I will never get to, for some of them I have been acquiring parts for over 30 years. Most of it is stored on a friends farm 100km's away and while I visit often I rarely bother to look at any of it. A recent excursion revealed all sorts of things I had forgotten about, even a car I forgot I had.
I have started to sell it all off.
I considered all the sensible things I could use the money for then it hit me, another bike. Yeeeeeees, another bike!
With a budget of $13-$14k for a second hand bike I was salivating at the thought of going shopping and the difficult task of choosing just one.
My excitement was short lived. As I gave it some thought and scoured the net it became increasingly obvious that I couldn't find a bike I wanted, well, just one (K1300GT) but it was too expensive.
What I was loosely looking for was something that would do everything the FJ does, but better.
There are only so many bikes out there and I've considered them all. The only thing I'm luke warm towards is an R1200RT but they are an acquired taste, not something you take for a quick blast and fall in love with and I'm not convinced it will be sporty enough.
So, while I continue to consider that, the FJ will get a bit of a birthday with some new goodies.
I have hypothetically considered, while on trips, what I would replace the FJ with, what would another bike do better than the FJ is doing right now, and never actually come up with anything. Now I have the opportunity to do it and the answer is the same.
Who would have thought an old dinosaur like the FJ would be so hard to top.
BTW, that's an additional bike I am talking about, not a replacement. I could never sell the FJ.
Noel
As that legendary English rock band Status Quo once sang:
"there's something 'bout you baby I like"
Quote from: ribbert on May 25, 2014, 08:16:58 AM
snip>
With a budget of $13-$14k for a second hand bike I was salivating at the thought of going shopping and the difficult task of choosing just one.
My excitement was short lived. As I gave it some thought and scoured the net it became increasingly obvious that I couldn't find a bike I wanted, well, just one (K1300GT) but it was too expensive.
What I was loosely looking for was something that would do everything the FJ does, but better.
<snip>
Noel
Like a lot of others, I have been wandering down this path, sometimes faster, sometimes just a shuffle. I too wanted something that would do everything the FJ does, but better.
KTM SMT.
Lighter: 550 lbs vs 419, check.
More power: 105-ish (stock) vs 117, check.
Water cooling, check.
Fuel Injection, check.
Narrow seating: V-twin vs inline 4, check.
Rider & Passenger comfort ... Well, I guess a test ride would have been nice, too bad it's so far away ... for now.
Sell the FJ: not likely :negative:
Interesting read for sure..... when to quit modding? When to move on..?
I have lost count of the bikes over the years and I feel very lucky to have experienced so many. I always tried to look at bikes as "catch and release". Buy, Improve, Release. Repeat as needed.
My first FJ was a red and white 86'. Got it when I was 21 and rode it from Detroit to LA, LA to the northern tip of Vancouver Island and back to San Luis Obispo where I made my home.... Nostalgia is a big part of it for me. THAT set of handlebars. THAT dash and gauge set. THAT motor. It has taken me many places and provided me with a Rolodex of fantastic memories.
When the 92' came up in 2005 with only 1250 miles and for only $5000 I did not hesitate at all. I knew then I would not likely ever sell the bike. The wide range of attributes mentioned already are hard to overlook add to that the connection to my youth and years/miles of history. Not much could replace that.
Like Frank, I went into the deep end when I decided to "fix" the issues I perceived. For me it was mostly about getting the bike to accept modern sport rubber and sizes. To then discover how many mods can be done and just how good you can make the FJ was the dawn of a brand new love affair for me. Grafting on the front and rear ends of a 2007 R1 was not as hard as I thought it might be. The result: a totally unique FJ that was distinctly mine.... Next step - BIG motor. Not gonna start until I figure out what to name it....
Finally, we FJ owner's have a very special advantage over 98% of the models out there. Someone somewhere decided that the FJ motor needed to go into a Legends race car. This simple twist of fate has resulted in development, parts and expertise that would otherwise not have happened. We owe much to the involvement of Legends Car racing. If nothing more - we got RPM and RANDY!!
Factories stop supporting their models after a fixed amount of time. Parts get rare and expensive and engine development typically progresses to the point that the cases on an 86 would not fit on a 92 version of most bikes......not so much for the FJ. They built such a strong platform from the beginning that it has stayed nearly the same.
I guess in the end it is a personal decision. That said, the odds are stacked in the FJ's favor......
I am never selling. For me and my FJ there is no end.....
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/FJ1200%20Yamaha%20Upgrades/IMG_0647.jpg)
Dam fine looking scooter :good2: :good2:Big R
I was a catch and release guy myself, till I found the fj and got the Moditis bug .
Made it into what I wanted and never looked back.
Well, with my web and a lot of FJ owner friends, for me its difficult to move on... in a form or another, FJs have been present in more than 1/3 of my life and more than 500.000 kms travelling and riding them. FJs are parts of myself. And I like myself a lot ! :nyam1:
Like yoy I've only had my fj a couple of months..and I'm admitedly. a harley guy...and love the 60's model Triumphs.... i haven't started the mods yet lol... finances dictate what i can do...and Christine needed some basic maintainace when i got her...as of right now i may..no will have other bikes..but I'm keeping my fj for the same reason someone else stated earlier..each and every time we ride... :biggrin: she makes me smile
Quote from: Flynt on May 24, 2014, 10:54:18 PM
ride it like you stole it,
A proverb from Frank
:good2: That's great man!!
Simple
When you park your FJ...do you walk about 10 ft away, only to turn around and look at her?
Yes? The fire's still burning....Keep her...
No? The magic is gone.....sell her.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on May 25, 2014, 07:31:11 PM
When you park your FJ...do walk about 10 ft away, only to turn around and look at her?
Yes? The fire's still burning....Keep her...
Fortunately I still feel that way about my motorcycle
and my wife!
Zwartie
Yep, I do the same thing with my Jannie....going on 39 years now.... :drinks:
The delima is what to do when Jann and my FJ are together.....a very tricky situation.
Jann refers to my FJ as Pat's "mistress".....so she knows...she reads me so well...
Quote from: Zwartie on May 25, 2014, 08:33:46 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on May 25, 2014, 07:31:11 PM
When you park your FJ...do walk about 10 ft away, only to turn around and look at her?
Yes? The fire's still burning....Keep her...
Fortunately I still feel that way about my motorcycle and my wife!
Zwartie
You are a lucky man Zwartie.
A good question.
For most of us we're of "a certain age", and the FJ really hooked us back then.
Most of us also seem to enjoy tinkering and making stuff better, and the FJ is good for that.
But for me, the main reason must be that the FJ is a fundamentally great, competent design. Yeah, newer bikes do everything better, but it's only by a matter of degrees, nothing revolutionary. The only things we are starting to really miss out on are the excellent ABS and traction control systems. Those two items might drive me to consider a new bike someday. Those two things we can't top, no matter how hard we modify.
I'd say within the last fifteen years, cars, and then bikes, have reached a level of refinement so great that what the engineers have achieved, is for the most part, unavailable to us on the street, in everyday conditions.
So your 'busa can do 120mph in second gear before it hits the limiter? Guess what, I don't fucking care.
Modern sportbike performance will leave us in the dust, but it requires committing felonies on public roads.
What we have available in our FJs in everyday conditions, is more than good enough 90+% of the time, and there is no way that I can justify the incremental performance improvement from my $1800- FJ to that $17,000- K1300S I like for that cost difference.
(I know of a couple of people who've turned in their modern liter-bikes for something with less performance because it was unusable on the street.)
She's more than good enough for me, and when I walk away, she still makes me turn around and smile... :dance2:
My various mosickle adventures dictate a couple of different bikes to an FJ and I can't afford three regos so, no FJ.
But in a year two FJs in Oz will be eligible for club or vintage rego and at that point I'll buy one, do it up and never sell.
So the fire is still there. Is it there for you?
Well this thread got a lot more traction than I expected!
I'm 47 and the mid 80's motorcycle world caught my passion. That era had all kinda weird bikes trying to do all kinda weird things. Turbos/katanas/v4's/ mono shocks and on and on. That was an era of passion and experimentation. For me that has more soul than a perfectly executed and refined generic style that today's market is seemingly full of. A new 2014 gsxr is the same as a cbr as a ninja as a ....
The orig Fj11 brochure hung tacked to my bedroom wall for more than a few years, as did the 650 honda turbo and the CBX and so on.
The nice part about the FJ is that it's still current and supported...and a really soulful ride :-)
Thanks for the fun replies...Been a pleasure to Read.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on May 25, 2014, 08:41:15 PM
Yep, I do the same thing with my Jannie....going on 39 years now.... :drinks:
The delima is what to do when Jann and my FJ are together.....a very tricky situation.
Jann refers to my FJ as Pat's "mistress".....so she knows...she reads me so well...
Do not attempt to polish the wife.
Further, do not make comparisons in front of her. Things like better handling, more muffling....
It goes poorly.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on May 25, 2014, 08:41:15 PM
Yep, I do the same thing with my Jannie....going on 39 years now.... :drinks:
The delima is what to do when Jann and my FJ are together.....a very tricky situation.
Jann refers to my FJ as Pat's "mistress".....so she knows...she reads me so well...
Yes Pat , My wife refers to my FJ as "the Mistress" very similar situation and she knows when I have been with the Redhead . :drinks:
Quote from: andyb on May 26, 2014, 09:04:25 AM
.......Do not attempt to polish the wife.....
Au contraire mon frere....although it's true, a different technique is needed....
Quote from: Mark Olson on May 24, 2014, 07:02:39 PM
never give up , never surrender .
(http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m23h5igcLC1qa1ujjo9_r1_250.gif)
I got to spend a lot of time on a Kawasaki Concours 14/GTR1400 while in Australia and a short spell on a Triumph Tiger.
The Connie was in all respects was a fantastic bike. My only two gripes was the way the fairing directed engine heat onto my sins and feet, and I couldn't get the suspension sorted well enough without the hard bags on the bike to make a comfortable ride on rough Aussie roads. The former was fixed on later bikes and the latter could be taken care of with a nice aftermarket shock.
The Tiger was a completely different animal. Very comfortable, idled like a Chevy 350 with a cam in it (cool sound). Suspension was well sorted out but my height and the installed windscreen put my head in dirty air. With so much ground clearance it was a very odd sensation to just keep leaning and leaning and leaning into corners. Felt like you could ride it horizontal though corners before the pegs or your feet even came close to touching the ground.
Go back about two weeks ago, I took the FJ out for the first time in about 8 months. Hopped on it and my first thought was "wow.. this feels small..". Put it into gear and take off. Took three attempts to find the pegs. My memory was still programmed for the Connie. Was a bit surprising at how far I had to raise my feet to find the pegs.
The FJ is a great bike, and at least in my experience gains a lot of attention at fuel stops and such. It's a well known and respected classic. But.. there are a lot of advantages to a new(er) bike. We all know what they are so I won't go into detail. Spending so much time on a newer bike gave me a lot of food for thought as to what I would want in a different bike. At this point I can not justify buying another bike given where I live and our very short riding season. I was very fortunate in finding a low mile FJ to begin with and have had no mechanical issues over the years. I know others have not been so lucky. Hell I'm still on the same chain and sprockets I installed nearly 40,000 miles ago..they are still going strong..
I will keep the FJ, since I look at it like a classic car. As I get older, I find myself wanting to tinker with cars and bikes less and less. The FJ requires a bit of tinkering to keep her running in tip top shape but it's become more of a chore for me. I use to enjoy it and maybe that will come back when I leave Oregon for a nicer climate.
It's been a fun ride so far, let's keep it going that way. :)
It's funny. How some of you said that you still look back as you walk away. I was asked yesterday why. Park where I do instead of
Right by the door like the other bikes. I said because I can see it where it's parked. And when I look at it, it makes me happy.
Hello everyone,
As have other FJ owners, my modifications of choice are updated brakes, wider 17" rims with modern tires; the RPM's Unipod air filters, Fork Brace, Oil Cooler and the owner's choice of upgraded suspension front and rear.
Here are a few pictures of additional modifications perhaps not as common.
Picture #1 - the two additional gauges are oil pressure and temperature. For quick reading the gauges indicate 180*/40 lbs at the 10:00 position and are angled. The key remains readily accessible. Below them is a colored volt meter (voltage level correlates with a color – easier to note at a glance as opposed to numbers). Above the dash is the monitor for the radar detector [the detector unit itself is located inside the front of the fairing while the control unit is located behind the air vents of the right inside panel]. On top of the monitor is the antenna for the GPS speedometer. On the left above the high/low beam toggle is the on/off switch for the radar detector. To the right of the blinker toggle is the on/off for the auxiliary driving lights.
Picture #2 – to the left of the reserve toggle is the switch for the auxiliary fuel tank (located near the full pump, is the fuel transfer valve which is activated as is a redundant on/off valve to ensure positive fuel shut off). Towards the bottom of the panel is the plug in for heated gloves.
Picture #3 – this is where the main added fuse panel is located – powered from this panel is the radar detector, heated gloves, driving lights, fuel transfer valve & redundant fuel shutoff for the auxiliary fuel tank, gauges, side marker lights et al. The fuses light up in the event that they should blow. All accessories have their own, lower amp fuse between this fuse block and the individual accessory.
Picture #4 – On the lower right panel is the rheostat and indicator light for the heated gloves. The green light on the top right near the wind screen blinks red when the radar detector is triggered. Interestingly, the light was initially centered directly in front of the rider; however one tends to look down the road, not noticing that it is blinking. Now mounted off to the side, it is easily seen in the peripheral vision. The radar detector usually is not discussed because you never know when a LEO may be reading the Forum.
Picture #5 – This shows the position of the auxiliary driving lights. Originally mounted on the case bars, they were moved to this higher position and are noticeably more effective. The light mounts bolt directly to the mirror mounting points. The headlight is 80/100 watts utilizing the upgraded headlight relay modification. Directly below the front of the fairing are the laser deflectors. These units are wired into the radar detector and utilize the same monitor.
Picture #6 – Shown is the sending unit for the oil pressure gauge. The braided steel line runs from the sending unit to the right side oil galley.
Picture #7 – Here is the GPS speedometer. It has been located at several different points within viewing area of the camera. Thus any nuances of the suspension can be evaluated at known speeds over a variety of road surfaces. No video no proof has been updated to include an accurate account of the speeds attained.
Addressing the question: "at what point does one jump ship?"
The answer is "not anytime soon!"
Ride safe everyone.
Picture #1
http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_0.jpeg (http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_0.jpeg)
Picture #2
http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_1.jpeg (http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_1.jpeg)
Picture #3
http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_2.jpeg (http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_2.jpeg)
Picture #4
http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_3.jpeg (http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_3.jpeg)
Picture #5
http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_4.jpeg (http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_4.jpeg)
Picture #6
http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_5.jpeg (http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_5.jpeg)
Picture #7
http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_6.jpeg (http://fjowners.com/gallery/7/295_26_05_14_11_46_02_6.jpeg)