Minor disaster

[Millietant]

So, today was the day I'd arranged the annual MOT (Govt Safety) test for the FJ.

I'd given the bike a check over, a clean and satisfied myself everything would be OK, then decided to turn the bike around in the driveway so I could just ride off at the necessary time for the test, no faffing about manoeuvring it in the hot sun with full riding gear on...I thought.

Well, that's when it happened....lost my footing on the left while sat on the bike and didn't have the strength or flexibility in my dodgy left hip to stop the thing from going over on it's side.  The first time in 31 years that I've dropped the bike (Liz did something similar on it in the driveway back in the early 1990's).......furious doesn't even begin to describe how I felt.

Anyway, fortunately, as I was partly under the bike, the damage isn't bad, just a couple of small scratches to the mirror, bar end and clutch lever (that I've already touched up as a temporary job), a couple of scratches on the side air scoop and the plastic rub strip (did its job !!) and a couple of small scratches to the Lacquer on the engine cover. The worst part of the damage was that it wouldn't start at first once I'd righted it, then it ran all woolly, misfiring on at least 2 cylinders and wouldn't seem to clear up. No fuel spilled (engine wasn't running anyway), nothing out of the rubber overflow pipes, but it just didn't want to run. Given the time (it was rapidly approaching test time) I quickly got togged up and took the bike down to the test station. By the time I'd gotten there (with about 30 seconds to spare) it was running much better and on all 4 cylinders, but was still a bit woolly right at the bottom.

Long story short...and the good bit......the bike flew through the test, the tester loved it when he saw it and wanted to buy it when he'd finished the test. The ride home was a bit better too, with the bike running a bit sweeter, but still not back to normal right at the bottom end and on small throttle opening (maybe a bit of detritus that was in the carbs has been dislodged, or something has been upset by lying on its side) - so it looks like the carbs will be coming off during next week for another check over. Won't do it over the weekend as I've got a couple of things planned and want to get some miles in on it.

Just a couple more things that add to the "patina of use" !!

[red]

Millietant,

I would try some fuel injector/carb cleaner in the gas tank for a tank or two, before tearing into the carbs, but that's just me.
.

[Millietant]

Thanks Red - any specific brand/type ?

I've always just torn into the carbs in the past when I wasn't happy about anything, but I'm happy to try something else - I know people have mentioned Sea Foam on forums, but I can't seem to get that here in the UK.

[vitorino]

Millietant: ooof! my feelings are with you

I know in these situations the ego gets hurt the most - I've done the same 2 or 3 times with the Katana + GN 125, when trying to enter my house through a narrow gate while being on the bike (engine off) - missed my footing and the bike slided to the side, scratching itself on the gate as it gently fell - sacrebleu!

congrats on passing the test with flying colors & hope you get it in top notch shape real soon!  

regards

[Waiex191]

Bummer - but the best thing about minor damage is then you don't worry about it once it happened.


Those scratches on my cover happened years ago when I stopped to look at a motorcycle for sale.  It was in a gravel driveway that had a decent hill.  As I got close I decided not to bother stopping, so I did a u-turn on the driveway.  Halfway I got to slow and needed to put my foot down, but because of the hill the ground wasn't there.  The extra momentum meant my fit 20-something self was unable to stop the fall so it went down on gravel.  If there are any helicopter guys here (ha) it was a dynamic rollover event.

I also got the other side once.  Last year I was teaching my son how to move a heavy bike and he failed the lesson.  The bike did a nice Judo throw and he was flung over the bike on its way to land on the right side again.

I'll restore the bike to its former glory when I'm too old to ride.  Maybe.

[Pat Conlon]

I suspect we have all done this....

The most important point: You did not injure yourself

It is easy to blow a knee out or dislocate a hip....that would be absolutely terrible.

FJ's are easy to fix....perhaps you can sand down and polish up that Fairing protector, if not, no worries, RPM has you covered..
http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M%2FC%3A89-93L%2FSProtector

At least you dropped your bike in the privacy of your own driveway and not in the middle of a Chevron station with a group of sport bike riders watching you....don't ask...

Count your blessings, it's all good....cheers!   Pat

[Millietant]

Thanks for the kind words guys - it's mainly my pride that was hurt - Liz and Ryan heard the crunch and then me swearing and came running out of the house to see what had happened. Neither of them laughed.......likely just in case they do the same with either of their bikes when I'm around  .

I've got a severely damaged left hip from a childhood bone disease and accident, and my right hips not much better. I'm on the waiting list for hip replacement surgery and should have had it done by now, if it weren't for Covid 19 meaning the cessation of all but immediate life retaining surgery. I'm sure that was already the main factor in the bike falling away in the first instance.

I've also got a bit more pain now from my hips than usual, probably just tweaked everything trying to catch and then lifting up the FJ...they're  bloody heavy when they're lying on their sides, so I think the painkillers might need some assistance from JD to help me sleep tonight 

I'd love to buy the bits from RPM Pat, but the cost of shipping, import duty, processing fees and 20% extra VAT on top make it just not viable here. I've already trimmed the protector and sanded it a bit, I have some satin black paint I'll probably go over it with (if it looks good I'll do both so they match).  I also have a can of paint left from when I painted my front FZR fender; it's supposed to be a match to original, using the Yamaha paint codes, but it's not, it's very close, but it's a bit too light and golden to sit next to the rest of the fairing- I may just touch the scratches in.....it's not like there aren't a few chips and scratches on it anyway and as Jan (2big) said, it'll add a touch more character.

I'll have a ride out tomorrow and see how things are, and then I'm off for the impromptu "Lickey Hills Shed Morning" (following the theme of our Aussie brothers) on Sunday with 2big.

[Pat Conlon]

If you need me to buy it and send it (as a private party) to you Dean, I will.... no problem... just say the word.

[red]

Thanks Red - any specific brand/type ?  I've always just torn into the carbs in the past when I wasn't happy about anything, but I'm happy to try something else - I know people have mentioned Sea Foam on forums, but I can't seem to get that here in the UK.

Millietant,

I only looked on
www.amazon.co.uk
but they had Seafoam.  Seemed to be somewhat high priced, but stock up your garage shelf if you need to order it.  You might ask the local bikers or auto parts/bike shops to recommend other fuel injector/carb cleaners for local purchase.

Sorry about the minor disaster.  You might want to check with eBay.UK or the local breaker yards for FJ fall bars.  I have seen sets that were castings, not tubing, but if they protect the bike, that would be sufficient.  Somebody here may have some set of fall bars which they will sell to you, also.  It never hurts to ask the accessory sellers/manufacturers, either.  They may have a NOS set to sell, which they really can't sell to anybody but you.
.

[Millietant]

If you need me to buy it and send it (as a private party) to you Dean, I will.... no problem... just say the word.

Thanks Pat, I'll message you if my repair doesn't work out well, or if I can't get one from my mate Steve who bought my 3CV race bike from me - he just wanted the engine for his FJ 1100 racer, so he might have my old fairing and scoops etc up in his garage loft.

[Millietant]

Thanks Red - any specific brand/type ?  I've always just torn into the carbs in the past when I wasn't happy about anything, but I'm happy to try something else - I know people have mentioned Sea Foam on forums, but I can't seem to get that here in the UK.

Millietant,

I only looked on
www.amazon.co.uk
but they had Seafoam.  Seemed to be somewhat high priced, but stock up your garage shelf if you need to order it.  You might ask the local bikers or auto parts/bike shops to recommend other fuel injector/carb cleaners for local purchase.

Sorry about the minor disaster.  You might want to check with eBay.UK or the local breaker yards for FJ fall bars.  I have seen sets that were castings, not tubing, but if they protect the bike, that would be sufficient.  Somebody here may have some set of fall bars which they will sell to you, also.  It never hurts to ask the accessory sellers/manufacturers, either.  They may have a NOS set to sell, which they really can't sell to anybody but you.
.

Thanks Red, I'll have look at the Seafoam on Amazon and check out some local shops/mechanics for other cleaners they might recommend.

It's funny, but I put R & G sliders/mushrooms on my Aprilia RSV, FZ1 and FZS 600 and the other FJ 12, and engine bars/crash bars on nearly every one of my other bikes over the last 44 years of road riding.....but I've never put anything on this FJ. As sad as it seems, I'm happy to take the risk on this one and have to repair it if/when I drop it.

Seems stupid I know, but sense seems to have gone out the window with this one (which is my favourite bike I've ever owned).

[giantkiller]

I just did a slow. Lowering of the 89. Because I  couldn't hold it  up. 2 days ago. Doing a right hand turn, in the  yield lane. 35mph both directions. No one  there. Then a guy in a f350 came flying through at about 65mph. Throw the bike  sideways. So I  wouldn't  slide  straight out in front of him. But  bald back  tire(waiting for the cords to show before I  stop riding it) slid a little farther than I had anticipated.
Put her down as slow as I  could. The  forward peg on the right side. Kept it  from getting a scratch.

Only picture I have of the  forward/highway pegs

[ribbert]

There's nothing sadder than a damaged bike and not even a tale of great speed and derring-do to go with it.

I knocked the BMW off the lift table (fully lowered) with an electric garage tilt door a while back, clipped the top of the screen and rolled it off the centre stand, $9500 damage from a stationary fall in the garage! If it had fallen the other way it would have landed on two other bikes.

Noel

[ribbert]

....I've done the same 2 or 3 times .....

regards

Vertigo?

Noel

[Millietant]

If you need me to buy it and send it (as a private party) to you Dean, I will.... no problem... just say the word.

Thanks Pat, I'll message you if my repair doesn't work out well, or if I can't get one from my mate Steve who bought my 3CV race bike from me - he just wanted the engine for his FJ 1100 racer, so he might have my old fairing and scoops etc up in his garage loft.

Hi Pat, I shaved off the "fluff"/"plastic swarf" carefully with a Stanley knife blade and after rubbing down with 2000 grade wet & dry, polishing with black shoe polish and then going over with a wax car polish, the little protector looks fine.....

You have to really look to notice the damage, so it's sort-of in keeping with the rest of my bike, which I think has a well-cared-for, used-but-not "restored" honesty about it. Apart from my FZR front fender, I haven't repainted any of the bodywork, so there are little signs of use that tell the tale of its life (tiny stone chips, little scratches) all over the place.

Other people have told me the bike is in "mint condition", but they must have very low standards......it's nowhere near that in my book