Can't Stop Grinnin'

[AppleJack]

Woo Hoo,
She runs, and accelerates hard again.  Changed oil as a precaution (64 miles) and rode it like it's supposed to be ridden. 

It's amazing how these projects go, isn't it?  Now that I'm "done" there seems to be so many other things that crop up. Little stuff like the rubber mounts for the side covers.  Missing bleed screw rubber covers.  Tires that are ten years old!  Actually the front has '04 date code. 

Lower fairing had a large crack on the left side and now a good portion of it is missing - I went for a 60-mile jaunt Sunday and it's in a ditch in rural York County somewhere I suspect.  Ha

Oh, and the fuel gauge only goes to half when tank is actually full - I swear it worked when I had tank off and plugged harness in to verify it. 

But, what a ride this thing is...

[aviationfred]

Good to hear that you are grinning from ear to ear . Something to highly consider..... Before your next spirited ride, ditch the 10 year old tires.  The rubber has hardened and grip is severely limited. No need to turn you ear to ear grins into extreme heartache. 


Fred

[anson45]

Ditto on the tires just in case you missed that.
And yes these bikes are great. Worth keeping them on the road.
Anson

[AppleJack]

i hear yah.  Just turning out of an intersection I can feel the rear breaking loose - 20 mph. 

And the mirrors are just about useless - the middle portion of each one is really bad.  It's turned to this opaque grayish-white and can't really see  much of anything to the rear.  What causes this?  This bike has definitely been stored indoors, so I don't understand what's happened to these mirrors...

What has everybody gone to in terms of a replacement?

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Jon, do us a favor. Revise your profile so in your signature line you show the year FJ (1985) you have.
It saves you time so you don't have to keep reminding us, and it helps us to give you correct information.

Anyhoo...in looking at your intro. post I see you have an '85, which has bar mounted mirrors (unlike later model FJ's)

I am not a fan of the oem mirrors I had on my '84 (also bar mounted) They were too narrow and caused wind turbulence. They looked like Mickey Mouse ears.
I went with Rizoma mirrors. Very expensive but very very good quality. I bought the Radial mirrors in black with longer arms.
http://www.rizoma.com/universal/mirrors/en

The thing to remember with your Yamaha and aftermarket mirrors, is that on all Yamaha's the right side mirror base is a reverse thread.

Hope this helps.  Pat