9000 miles on an 84 fj

[azure]

Thank you to all! Please pm me if there is anything I can impart that might be helpful in support of your trip.  I am going to try to sneak in a ride today!

[azure]

I don't know how well this post card has circulated, but this is my kind of routine!

[PaulG]

It took me a while to catch up but it was worth it.  I really like these epic accounts.  When you start expressing things you think may be unique to you, only to realize there are many here who have comparable thoughts or experiences is enlightening.  Amongst my close circle of friends I have known for 40 years, I am the only one that rides.  Why is that?  Why wouldn't anyone want to do this?  The answers are here and in other trip reports.

Thanks for the write-up.  Now if only Cap'n Ron would get off his ass and peel off anoother 10,000 miles.  Winter is almost here and I will need something to read!   



My favourite lines


I had a lot of thinking to do. ...  Making this trip helped me come to a certain peace, not because I solved any great problems, but because all those jiggles and bumps on an undulating road kind of shake out the angst and anger one carries around sometimes without ever being aware of it.


Much of what you say will/has found kindred spirits on this site.  You don't realize these things on day/weekend trips.  It takes several days on the road to realize how much shit gets crammed into our brains.  Being able to focus on the ride and let everything else wick off of you is a great form of therapy.  Shrinks should stop prescribing Prozac and start giving out motorcycle licenses.  Focus enough and your immediate world is a bubble surrounding you, allowing the world to pass by you and contemplate at your leisure.  If I'm lucky, this sometimes happens to me.   


I trust the feeling that with age comes experience, perhaps because there seem to be dwindling other positive attributes that are in tandem with increasing age.

Yep, goin' there myself...   



I knew from previous, recent trips that I could no longer see clearly enough to rely on maps to guide me as I rode.

Phew!  And I thought it was just me!  I figure if I stop buying maps I could pay off a GPS in no time.   



Every town used to have a Main Street, just as every kid was named Billy or Susie.

Paintings by Norman Rockwell in my head.   



I love and abide the adage that if one does not care for more than one of New England's seasons, then one should move.

One of our Canadian icons of literary history, the late Pierre Berton once said (to paraphrase) "having to live through winter makes you appreciate summer that much more".  I still wouldn't mind knowing whats it's like to ride all year round though...   




...and the unfortunately named Athol.

Maybe the person in charge of naming it had a lisp.   



I realized on visiting Oxford, however,  that with the passage of time, several members of the student population looked like the grandchildren of friends...


I get that same feeling with some women at work.  Like my buddy told me, "Yes, you might be technically old enough to be their grandfather.  But your NOT their grandfather."  Does that seem creepy?   



I always wanted to be a writer, but it seemed too solitary, and I never worked at it. I love music, and even though I didn't feel as facile playing music as I did writing, I put my efforts into music as my primary pastime,

Good choice.  Musicians get the chicks.  Writers get the chicks with hairy armpits and legs.   



... what makes what I've written enjoyable to look at, is that my thoughts are not unique, but perhaps very similar to what you might have also thought in the same place and time? Makes you consider what it is about riding, and perhaps more specifically cycle touring that attracts us.


Yes, it is exactly what you are writing about, and what others have done here also.  It's so hard to answer non-riders when they ask "Why do you like to ride a motorcycle?", without coming up with some cliched line out of The Wild One, or Easy Rider.  Everyone on this site knows why, and everyone else on this site can relate to it even if the basis for their desire or sense of enjoyment can be different.  Am I making sense?   




Finding a filter for the fj is not impossible, but not easy either.


On our way to the MotoGP in Austin in 2013 we stopped in Texarkana at a Yamaha dealer.  My brother needed a new rear tire, so I had them do an oil change.  After draining the oil, they went to grab an oil filter.... eventually they found one, in it's dusty box with the tape turned yellow.  The last one stuffed into the back of the shelf.  Boy was I "glad".   




Sleeping three in a room is an art I have yet to master.

Brings back distant memories.  I am the youngest of 10 children and remember sleeping two to a bed for years, and on occasion three if we had company staying over.  As the family grew up and out it expanded to three to a room, then two, then my own room by the time I was about 11.  Later in college, my roomate snored like a frieght train.  I got to throwing shoes at him to stop.  So yes, it is an art I have never mastered.   



I even like the smell, blown past sometimes too quickly to smell the pine and moss,

The same experience driving through the Adirondack forest in northern New York state back in 1991.  The cedar groves creating an aroma I don't think Ive experienced since.   



I am pretty sure that most of us are always looking for the next upshift, that is not there. .... I probably tried to shift into 6th hundreds of times, and still continue to do so.

Maybe RPM could come up with a buzzer that sounds like that 'loser horn" from the Price is Right, for every time we try for 6th.     




I would be surprised to find myself in Lubbock Texas again.

Funny, you're not the first person I've heard that from!   




...and the ripstick he did a bang up job painting.

OK. You got me here. What's a ripstick and why is it shaped like an hourglass?  I have to know!   


Once again, great write up.      

[racerrad8]

Finding a filter for the fj is not impossible, but not easy either.


On our way to the MotoGP in Austin in 2013 we stopped in Texarkana at a Yamaha dealer.  My brother needed a new rear tire, so I had them do an oil change.  After draining the oil, they went to grab an oil filter.... eventually they found one, in it's dusty box with the tape turned yellow.  The last one stuffed into the back of the shelf.  Boy was I "glad".   

You guys know I have a fix for that...right?

The RPM spin on oil filter conversion will allow you to go to any auto part store for your oil filters. Heck, I am sure there is even a oil filter at any Yamaha dealership that would screw on to the adapter as well...

Randy - RPM

[PaulG]

Already got it. It was the first thing I bought from RPM.

[FJmonkey]

Yep, the spin-on adapter is the gateway purchase to Moditus...

[azure]

It took me a while to catch up but it was worth it.  I really like these epic accounts.  When you start expressing things you think may be unique to you, only to realize there are many here who have comparable thoughts or experiences is enlightening.  Amongst my close circle of friends I have known for 40 years, I am the only one that rides.  Why is that?  Why wouldn't anyone want to do this?  The answers are here and in other trip reports.

Thanks for the write-up.  Now if only Cap'n Ron would get off his ass and peel off anoother 10,000 miles.  Winter is almost here and I will need something to read!   



My favourite lines


I had a lot of thinking to do. ...  Making this trip helped me come to a certain peace, not because I solved any great problems, but because all those jiggles and bumps on an undulating road kind of shake out the angst and anger one carries around sometimes without ever being aware of it.


Much of what you say will/has found kindred spirits on this site.  You don't realize these things on day/weekend trips.  It takes several days on the road to realize how much shit gets crammed into our brains.  Being able to focus on the ride and let everything else wick off of you is a great form of therapy.  Shrinks should stop prescribing Prozac and start giving out motorcycle licenses.  Focus enough and your immediate world is a bubble surrounding you, allowing the world to pass by you and contemplate at your leisure.  If I'm lucky, this sometimes happens to me.   


I trust the feeling that with age comes experience, perhaps because there seem to be dwindling other positive attributes that are in tandem with increasing age.

Yep, goin' there myself...   



I knew from previous, recent trips that I could no longer see clearly enough to rely on maps to guide me as I rode.

Phew!  And I thought it was just me!  I figure if I stop buying maps I could pay off a GPS in no time.   



Every town used to have a Main Street, just as every kid was named Billy or Susie.

Paintings by Norman Rockwell in my head.   



I love and abide the adage that if one does not care for more than one of New England's seasons, then one should move.

One of our Canadian icons of literary history, the late Pierre Berton once said (to paraphrase) "having to live through winter makes you appreciate summer that much more".  I still wouldn't mind knowing whats it's like to ride all year round though...   




...and the unfortunately named Athol.

Maybe the person in charge of naming it had a lisp.   



I realized on visiting Oxford, however,  that with the passage of time, several members of the student population looked like the grandchildren of friends...


I get that same feeling with some women at work.  Like my buddy told me, "Yes, you might be technically old enough to be their grandfather.  But your NOT their grandfather."  Does that seem creepy?   



I always wanted to be a writer, but it seemed too solitary, and I never worked at it. I love music, and even though I didn't feel as facile playing music as I did writing, I put my efforts into music as my primary pastime,

Good choice.  Musicians get the chicks.  Writers get the chicks with hairy armpits and legs.   



... what makes what I've written enjoyable to look at, is that my thoughts are not unique, but perhaps very similar to what you might have also thought in the same place and time? Makes you consider what it is about riding, and perhaps more specifically cycle touring that attracts us.


Yes, it is exactly what you are writing about, and what others have done here also.  It's so hard to answer non-riders when they ask "Why do you like to ride a motorcycle?", without coming up with some cliched line out of The Wild One, or Easy Rider.  Everyone on this site knows why, and everyone else on this site can relate to it even if the basis for their desire or sense of enjoyment can be different.  Am I making sense?   




Finding a filter for the fj is not impossible, but not easy either.


On our way to the MotoGP in Austin in 2013 we stopped in Texarkana at a Yamaha dealer.  My brother needed a new rear tire, so I had them do an oil change.  After draining the oil, they went to grab an oil filter.... eventually they found one, in it's dusty box with the tape turned yellow.  The last one stuffed into the back of the shelf.  Boy was I "glad".   




Sleeping three in a room is an art I have yet to master.

Brings back distant memories.  I am the youngest of 10 children and remember sleeping two to a bed for years, and on occasion three if we had company staying over.  As the family grew up and out it expanded to three to a room, then two, then my own room by the time I was about 11.  Later in college, my roomate snored like a frieght train.  I got to throwing shoes at him to stop.  So yes, it is an art I have never mastered.   



I even like the smell, blown past sometimes too quickly to smell the pine and moss,

The same experience driving through the Adirondack forest in northern New York state back in 1991.  The cedar groves creating an aroma I don't think Ive experienced since.   



I am pretty sure that most of us are always looking for the next upshift, that is not there. .... I probably tried to shift into 6th hundreds of times, and still continue to do so.

Maybe RPM could come up with a buzzer that sounds like that 'loser horn" from the Price is Right, for every time we try for 6th.     




I would be surprised to find myself in Lubbock Texas again.

Funny, you're not the first person I've heard that from!   




...and the ripstick he did a bang up job painting.

OK. You got me here. What's a ripstick and why is it shaped like an hourglass?  I have to know!   


Once again, great write up.      

Hilarious and thoughtful responses Paul, I am glad some of this stuff rang true for you too!

I am also saving up a bunch of ride report reading to inspire me over the hibernation season. In some past years I've been able to find enough clear days to ride once a month through the winter, but last winter was particularly tough.  All best to you and happy trails!

[azure]

Finding a filter for the fj is not impossible, but not easy either.


On our way to the MotoGP in Austin in 2013 we stopped in Texarkana at a Yamaha dealer.  My brother needed a new rear tire, so I had them do an oil change.  After draining the oil, they went to grab an oil filter.... eventually they found one, in it's dusty box with the tape turned yellow.  The last one stuffed into the back of the shelf.  Boy was I "glad".   

You guys know I have a fix for that...right?

The RPM spin on oil filter conversion will allow you to go to any auto part store for your oil filters. Heck, I am sure there is even a oil filter at any Yamaha dealership that would screw on to the adapter as well...

Randy - RPM

I certainly am a big fan of RPM, but held off on the filter adapter because the original filters are relatively inexpensive. I didn't realize however the trouble to be had in tracking the little devils down. I am making my purchasing list, and checking it twice...

[Country Joe]

Yep, the spin-on adapter is the gateway purchase to Moditus...

Yep,
My gateway purchase as well.

[markmartin]

One of our Canadian icons of literary history, the late Pierre Berton once said (to paraphrase) "having to live through winter makes you appreciate summer that much more".  I still wouldn't mind knowing whats it's like to ride all year round though...   

I ask myself the same question every day.

[azure]

One of our Canadian icons of literary history, the late Pierre Berton once said (to paraphrase) "having to live through winter makes you appreciate summer that much more".  I still wouldn't mind knowing whats it's like to ride all year round though...   

I ask myself the same question every day.

I checked out where Hampden ME and Scarborough Ontario are, and hope you can both console yourselves  with the knowledge that when riding is possible, you guys are in really nice places to do it!

Back in 2008, I met my nephew in Dallas at the beginning of March where we rented bikes from Ryder rental, and spent 5 days and 1800 miles riding down to and around Big Bend. Although I have not been able to do it since, I still rely on the thought that, when going from the house to the car is an arduous and sometimes dangerous endeavor, there is a place that is 85 degrees and possible to get to.

Then again  there's always this...

[Klavdy]

All best Pat! I look forward to meeting you, especially since Mike R speaks so highly of you, and I think highly of him!
Thanks,
Ben

everyone that has met those two fine gents thinks highly of them.

[azure]

You guys know I have a fix for that...right?

The RPM spin on oil filter conversion will allow you to go to any auto part store for your oil filters. Heck, I am sure there is even a oil filter at any Yamaha dealership that would screw on to the adapter as well...

Randy - RPM

I have to share something pretty wonderful that happened to me today. I am not sure if this is the best place to put it, or if doing so with a copy of the note that I just received and the response I sent, will illustrate what accompanied the note. This doesn't happen much to me, hell it never happens.

Ben,
This is a gift from a forum member. He wishes to be anonomous.
Robert Raduechel



Dear Robert, and the wishing to remain anonymous *****,

I am bowled over by your generosity. I must be getting soft in my old age, as the idea of a gift, given for no other reason than goodness of heart caused a tear. Perhaps being the recipient of such a kindness in the face of the terror that was visited on some of our friends in Paris last eve informs my emotional state, but this in no way detracts from the goodness of your gift, or my appreciation for all the help and support you have given me.

Thank you with my best wishes!
Ben

[Country Joe]

You guys know I have a fix for that...right?

The RPM spin on oil filter conversion will allow you to go to any auto part store for your oil filters. Heck, I am sure there is even a oil filter at any Yamaha dealership that would screw on to the adapter as well...

Randy - RPM

I have to share something pretty wonderful that happened to me today. I am not sure if this is the best place to put it, or if doing so with a copy of the note that I just received and the response I sent, will illustrate what accompanied the note. This doesn't happen much to me, hell it never happens.

Ben,
This is a gift from a forum member. He wishes to be anonomous.
Robert Raduechel



Dear Robert, and the wishing to remain anonymous *****,

I am bowled over by your generosity. I must be getting soft in my old age, as the idea of a gift, given for no other reason than goodness of heart caused a tear. Perhaps being the recipient of such a kindness in the face of the terror that was visited on some of our friends in Paris last eve informs my emotional state, but this in no way detracts from the goodness of your gift, or my appreciation for all the help and support you have given me.

Thank you with my best wishes!
Ben

It's pretty tough to find finer folks than FJOwners..... just more evidence of that.

[fj johnnie]

 I too have received gifts from FJ owners. More than once. They are a great group. I have also paid it forward to others. John