Best Sport-Touring Bike: ?

[Bill_Rockoff]

Checking 'em is reportedly easy with feeler gauges.  Re-shimming them is a bit more involved, but Dave tells us it's a Saturday job, made a bit easier if you remove the motor from the trellis frame.  I can't imagine any maintenance tasks that a Ducati dealer would do that Andrew or I couldn't do, and he plans to do the belts this winter just to baseline the bike.  I think Andrew has put 5,000 miles on it in 2014, and I put 1,000 miles on it before that, so it is getting to be time. 

For any machine shop work, that would need to be done by someone else.  And definitely, the quickest way to performance would be to have it tuned by someone who knows their way around these things.  I think his is running a bit rich, maybe there's some power to be had with a proper tune.

But given all the "Modifier Anonymous" work you have done on your '84, I can't imagine a Ducati maintenance item you couldn't do that a dealer somehow could.

[Pat Conlon]

Thanks Bill!

When you get into it, let me know how the valve check process turns out.... Happy New Year...Pat

[Flynt]

Frank mentioned the K1300's. Bucket loads of power, but a long wheel base makes them more Autobahn blaster than twisties bike (according to owners, many of whom have had both)...

If those owners had K12S vs K13S, I'd agree...  I had an '06 K12S and it didn't turn anything like the '09 K13S I had next.  Typical of BMW, the K13S had something like 88 small changes based on the collective input on the K12S.  An obvious one was the engine size increase, but that was drivability instead of power...  the K12S was more highly tuned and made slow speed throttle response touchy.

The changes that really stood out were very minor geometry changes that, according to MC World, "make the K1300S carve corners like a mid-weight sport bike"...  My FJ has a shorter wheelbase than stock with raised rear/lowered front and the K13S was just as fast on turn-in and held its own at Sonoma Raceway riding with mostly 600cc rice rockets.  I miss mine, but Wiz is my child at this point and stays in the stable...  the K13S had to go.

Still I have that wandering eye...

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcd/4799278950.html

Frank

[Burns]

owner/operator maintainability is never a criteria for a "best of" selection by anyone in the business of selling NEW motorcycles.  Let alone the fun:dollar ratio.

FJ's Forever

[Pat Conlon]

owner/operator maintainability is never a criteria for a "best of" selection by anyone in the business of selling NEW motorcycles.  Let alone the fun:dollar ratio.

FJ's Forever

Mike, you nailed it....

[FeralRdr]

owner/operator maintainability is never a criteria for a "best of" selection by anyone in the business of selling NEW motorcycles.  Let alone the fun:dollar ratio.

FJ's Forever

Mike, you nailed it....

Now let's be fair.  How many VFR 800 V-Tec Interceptors would be sold if the marketing boys listed what was truly involved in doing your own valve adjustment on that particular valve system.  Let alone advising their customers that valve adjustments on them can run upwards of $1,000.    

And it ain't even a Ducati. 

[Mike Ramos]

A Paean to a Sport Tourer

Good evening gentlemen,

After reading the various comments re: The Best Sport-Touring Bike, it may be true that the "Sport" part of sport touring has been diminished.  Large heavyweight motorcycles are for "Touring"; however despite claims to the contrary, they seem to be lacking in the "Sport" department; and while there are true "Sport" motorcycles on the market, they seem to be lacking from the "Touring" aspect.  No doubt there are exceptions to the rule; however they seem to be few and far between.

As it pertains to a combination of over the road and sport riding the FJ performs exceptionally well.  While the design may be old, with the modern updates (suspension, tires, and brakes et al) it is anything but old, and all for much less than the cost of a new motorcycle.  While 100 hp may be modest by today's standard, it remains in and of itself a considerable amount of hp.  It remains competitive with both long distance and sport motorcycles. 

Long service intervals are more than an advantage, they are a necessity.  Hoping not to jinx myself or other owners, the overall reliability of the FJ seems to be quite good and well founded.  As my over the road rides are usually unaccompanied, often fast paced and frequently in desolate and isolated surroundings, it is an important aspect which is appreciated. 

There is also an auxiliary fuel tank utilized because often stops are few and far between; throughout the Western States there are still remnants of small town America left to explore and the extra range is needed during late or all night excursions.  On other occasions mere curiosity gives rise to a desire to explore an intoxicating and beautiful, seemingly unending and almost overwhelming landscape. 

Over the road journeys are exceptionally comfortable; yet should a situation arise where the "sport" aspect is encountered, to date the FJ has held its own against other motorcycles and the occasional encounter with an automobile; typically without regard to ambient conditions and at a moment's notice without fiddling with power modes or on the fly suspension changes.  Especially at night when traveling at speed, unseen and potentially dangerous road surfaces are regularly encountered that simply do not allow time for 'on the fly" adjustments.   

As far as comparative weight, statements about the BMW being lighter are incorrect, add in the weight savings from a modern exhaust and the lithium battery and the FJ is perhaps less.  The high cost of repairs is almost a given as unlike the FJ, most new motorcycles are difficult to repair should an electrical or mechanical problem be encountered.  The driveshaft is more complex than the chain (a 'weak link' in some BMW's) and with the extended life spans of modern chains they are almost a non issue – with few adjustments necessary.

As an aside: However unfounded the claims, it is a fact that the ''lecture'' on chains and auto lubrication was breeding somnolence.  The "testimonials" cited have about as much validity as those quoted when the oil thread discussion gets heated.  As shown in the videos, if you believe that a drop or drops of oil (in wet, dry or dusty conditions) at speed is beneficial, that is your uncontested prerogative.  Gentlemen, please do not misconstrue, chain oilers just gotta work 'cause the model most recommended is made by Barnum, specifically the P.T. model.  It is claimed to be better than beer, booze & broads – well better than the beer and booze anyways...  It's positively true; there is even a bottle of Old Calhoun's Whiskey due & payable at the next WCR...!  I know, I know... but someone had to say it, perhaps they will listen now...!    

Back to the subject at hand: it has been said that pictures are quaint, so below is a video that emphasizes both aspects of Sport and Tourer; it is a compilation of rides in 2014.  From November, some high desert footage (while perhaps foreboding I have never found it to be boring) traveling into a beautiful, almost intoxicating, painted sky; when after having left the far northern mountains of California, I ventured south to Texas, then traveled north through the Rockies on the way to Idaho before returning to California.  Almost no traffic so late in the year, a most delightful ride.  There is a clip of a storm front I was heading into, taken when I stopped to change my visor from tint to clear.  Once in Idaho increased rain and a considerable amount of off road mud was encountered.  When there is a discussion about dual sport riding, if tooling along is not your cup of tea, simply be judicious with the throttle and you will not tear up the tires nor fall off the 'edge' of the earth.

Heck, on some unknown back country road there were even wild animals encountered with asses not nearly as wide as the luggage seen on some motorcycles (true touring rigs, no doubt!); fortunately it did not affect the chain – only the fairing and a speck or two on the face shield – however Barnum's semi- automatic face shield cleaner saved the day... whew...      Seeing is believing...!   

Okay, as usual it is mostly true and it all began in the early morning hours while crossing a bridge to who knew where when, once again, I was Wandering Aimlessly...

In closing, Happy New Year to everyone, remember to stay in good humor, laugh at ourselves from time to time (!) and of course always ride safe.

Midget

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAObr8z9Vr0&feature=youtu.be

[ribbert]

Excellent and informative post Mike, as usual, but the link comes up "this video not available" with a sad face.

Noel

[oz.fj]

Excellent and informative post Mike, as usual, but the link comes up "this video not available" with a sad face.

Noel

Video worked for me!

Mike ... A most excellent video portraying the true sports tourer.. The Mighty FJ...

[Mark Olson]

Most excellent Mike , you are quite the road warrior .

Looking forward to the WCR .

[movenon]

Excellent post and video Mike !  Thanks for the digital winter ride  .. Makes me want to out and work on the FJ 
George

[Bones]

Excellent and informative post Mike, as usual, but the link comes up "this video not available" with a sad face.

Noel

If you've got an Apple computer or iPad Noel, some videos won't work because Apple doesn't support flash content. My iPad can't play the video but the computer with windows system on it does.

[ribbert]

Excellent and informative post Mike, as usual, but the link comes up "this video not available" with a sad face.

Noel

If you've got an Apple computer or iPad Noel, some videos won't work because Apple doesn't support flash content. My iPad can't play the video but the computer with windows system on it does.

Thanks Tony, yes I tried on my iPad and iPhone.

Btw, have you settled into the fork upgrade yet?


Noel

[Bones]

Yes Noel, I got a pm from an esteemed member suggesting I play around with spacer length, so I pulled the cap off to shorten the spacer a bit when I realised I still had one more adjustment to go, so turned the preload right back to zero and settled with that. Rides well now.

[ken65]

Just a couple of days ago a mate came around with a 2009 Suzuki bandit, the abs model. He wanted me to compare it to the fj to get my thoughts on it ... A comparison between older and newer technology...  It makes the fj seem, like an old diesel tractor as far as brutal acceleration goes, felt much lighter, for me at least a more upright comfortable position . i fell in love with it with in the 1st 100 metres after the front wheel reengaged the earth.  he paid under 3k for it with a mere 18000kms on it. i wont sell my fj but i really want one of these aS MY MAIN RIDE.  It was a sweet bike...

ken