Yes, Virginia, an FJ will fly, but not very far...

[rktmanfj]

Part received.

Nothing to see here, move along...     

Thanks Doug!

Randy T
Indy

Now Randy, why would you be needing another inner fender,,, Bored and curious in Va,,,

Eric M

Because of a serious pilot error I made on Sunday afternoon at ECFR...

Carey, Henry, Iron Butt Mike and I left out of Tellico Plains to take in a lap of the Devil's Triangle and Watts Bar Lake.

Clear, mid-90s, a beautiful day, but quite hot.

While riding near the end of the Triangle, I had a moment entering a corner where I touched the rear brakes and had no pedal at all.  Thinking that the rears had failed completely, I rode with caution and looked when we stopped a few corners later.  There was nothing wrong visually, and a firm pedal had returned.  After a break and gas at a nearby store, we continued on, and I tested the rear brakes repeatedly with no further problems.

We rode down the west side of Watts Bar Lake and past the nuke plant, then south, thru Athens and Englewood.  We took TN39, a nice, moderately windy little road, keeping a respectable but not especially fast pace.  A couple of minutes out of town, we came upon a not terribly difficult right hander, and for reasons that I am still not entirely sure, I completely blew the corner entry at about 50 mph.  I do not remember if I did or not, but I often lightly apply the rear brakes right before corner entry.  I do remember not wanting to run wide for very long, because I could not see very far through the corner.  I also remember not wanting to run down the small ditch lining the other side of the road.  The lesser of three evils was to run straight off toward a smooth flat lawn of about two acres.  The only problem was there was the ditch to cross to get there.  Still carrying about 40 mph, I knew that if the front wheel dropped in, it was all over. so I bunny-hopped the thing over the ditch, like I used to do on my trials bike  The FJ landed nice, straight and smooth, and I thought for a second that I might be able to ride it back to the road.  It was then that I realized that the ground was a whole lo closer than it should have been...

As I dismounted, I found the rear suspension fully collapsed, and since I could not put it on either stand, had to wait for the group to return, which only took a few minutes.  We lifted the bike onto the center stand, and Carey pulled the rear wheel down, revealing that the dogbones had failed completely, with one end ripped completely out of each, and the holes on the other end were significantly elongated.  These were dogbones that I had made after doing the YZF600 rear wheel mod, and were made of mild steel strap, from the hardware store.

The guys left me with all the drinks on hand (did I mention it was very hot), and headed to pick up Carey's trailer, and by their return, had worked out a plan to get my bike on the trailer.  They had pirated one of the dogbones from Mike's FJ, and we bolted on and loaded up, while Henry explained the (previously unknown to me) FJ Rally tradition of 'he who gets trailered back to camp has to buy those who came back for him a steak dinner'.

Upon returning to camp, Carey set about removing Mike's dogbone and fashioning a new one from my old ones, flipping one of them end for end, then drilling and bolting them together.  Genius.

When I got home and started to unload the bikes, I noticed that the FJ had a small amount of oil under it, and a rapid drip while running  Further inspection revealed that instead of the broken case that I feared, the (spin-on) oil filter was holed on the sharp corner of the sidestand bracket.  I also found the left side Givi (E140) bracket was fractured completely through.  The rear inner fender was broken at the back, where it engages the subframe.  It could probably been repaired, but two very generous FJers offered up a replacement for the cost of postage. 

That's all I have found as far as damage goes, but I have a long way to go to clean all the dust out of everything back there, as it picked up a HUGE amount.  The Givi part has been welded up (pending location of a replacement), and I will be using the smaller diameter Purolator filter in place of the Bosch I had on there.  Oh, and I can't find a damned thing wrong with the brakes...  I also pumped them immediately after the mishap and found a firm pedal.   FJ caliper, very new EBC HH pads, SS line, YZF OEM rotor.  I've been beating myself up for weeks now, but I can't find anything to indicate it was anything but gross pilot error.

Randy T
Indy

[the fan]

Randy, I wouldn't sweat it too much. It happens, we all go down at some point usually when running at a slower than normal pace or when our attention wanders. You all rode a lot of miles down there and with the hot weather it was hard to stay hydrated and focused. Of course your leathers may have shrunk as well locking you in place....They have appeared to shrink over the last few years.

I don't think I have been to a single track day where at least one control rider has taken a "nature hike" due to the constantly varying pace, and I seem to have far more "Oh shit" moments cruising backroads with friends who prefer to actually see the scenery while they ride. Just glad to here the only damage was to the bike.

[Yamifj1200]

Thanks for the details Randy and I'm happy for you the bike damage was as minor as it was. One of the things I really appreciate is the way this group pulls together when someone needs help. Just make some good quality dog bones and you should be good to go. The rest of the damage sounds easily repaired to near new condition.. Pick up a camelback for hot weather riding, they really make a big difference on how you feel when riding in the summer. Glad you didn't get hurt on your ditch hop....

Eric M

[Arnie]

Randy,

Do you think the dogbones failed before or after your bunny hop?
How thick was the mild steel strap you used to make them?
Sounds like you escaped pretty well for what could have been a very scairy moment.

Arnie

[rktmanfj]

Thanks for the details Randy and I'm happy for you the bike damage was as minor as it was. One of the things I really appreciate is the way this group pulls together when someone needs help. Just make some good quality dog bones and you should be good to go. The rest of the damage sounds easily repaired to near new condition.. Pick up a camelback for hot weather riding, they really make a big difference on how you feel when riding in the summer. Glad you didn't get hurt on your ditch hop....

Eric M

A Penske shock was slated for the bike this fall, but the vet got a big portion of the $$ I had set aside for it just yesterday.  If I can get it done, of course I will go back to the stockers.  If not, I have arranged to have some made from some nice stainless...  

I've considered the Camelback, but never did pull the trigger on one.  Maybe I will put one on my Christmas list.

Randy T
Indy

[rktmanfj]

Randy,

Do you think the dogbones failed before or after your bunny hop?
How thick was the mild steel strap you used to make them?
Sounds like you escaped pretty well for what could have been a very scairy moment.

Arnie

Arnie, after looking them over closely, I think they were stretching prior to the jump, and then failed upon landing it.

There was no skid mark, so there was no panic braking, and the tire was pretty tightly wedged up in the subframe, so if they had failed and caused the accident there definitely would have been.  Also, I would not have been able to compress the rear for the bunny-hop.  I do distinctly remember telling myself DO NOT let the front drop in there.

I just failed to hit my mark for the turn-in, and once I got over the surprise a split-second later, there were only a couple of choices from which to (very quickly) pick, and I think I made the correct one.  It didn't even last long enough to get a good shot of adrenalin.

The material I used was the same thickness as the OEM parts, and was definitely not up to the task.  I strongly advise anyone who has made this mod from similar material to at least remove and inspect them, or better yet just make/buy some of something stronger.  I'm convinced they would have eventually failed, especially considering some of the goat paths we frequent at the ECSR.

Randy T
Indy

[Yamifj1200]

Randy, I made my shorter dog bones out of 316 stainless steel 1/4'' flatbar. I did mill it down to .200 thick and used the stock bolts. 55,000 miles later they are still just fine.

Eric M

[rktmanfj]

Randy, I made my shorter dog bones out of 316 stainless steel 1/4'' flatbar. I did mill it down to .200 thick and used the stock bolts. 55,000 miles later they are still just fine.

Eric M

That's about what a new millwright friend of mine suggested... apparently, his employer (US taxpayers) throws a lot SS away.       

Randy T
Indy

[rktmanfj]

One of the things I really appreciate is the way this group pulls together when someone needs help.
Eric M

Well, you just know Henry is coming back if there's a steak dinner on the line... just hope there's someone with him to hook the trailer up.     

Randy T
Indy

[rlucas]

Randy,

Camelbacks are great. If you don't like the backpack thing (I don't...), you can get the bladder, drinking tube and bite valve separately; then just fill the bladder half-and-half with ice and water and put in your tankbag with the tube sticking out.

I managed to find a fanny-pack style Camelback a few years ago, which fits perfectly strapped *around* the tankbag, and its got a small zippered pouch on the outside that's just right for small items like change, granola bars, condoms, and extra ammo.

-Rossi-

[the fan]

Randy,

Camelbacks are great. If you don't like the backpack thing (I don't...), you can get the bladder, drinking tube and bite valve separately; then just fill the bladder half-and-half with ice and water and put in your tankbag with the tube sticking out.

I managed to find a fanny-pack style Camelback a few years ago, which fits perfectly strapped *around* the tankbag, and its got a small zippered pouch on the outside that's just right for small items like change, granola bars, condoms, and extra ammo.

-Rossi-

interesting combination. Just what do you have planned for the dirt hippy fest in Damascus?

[rlucas]

Randy,

Camelbacks are great. If you don't like the backpack thing (I don't...), you can get the bladder, drinking tube and bite valve separately; then just fill the bladder half-and-half with ice and water and put in your tankbag with the tube sticking out.

I managed to find a fanny-pack style Camelback a few years ago, which fits perfectly strapped *around* the tankbag, and its got a small zippered pouch on the outside that's just right for small items like change, granola bars, condoms, and extra ammo.

-Rossi-

interesting combination. Just what do you have planned for the dirt hippy fest in Damascus?

Change, granola bars, condoms, extra ammo, HackySacks, and a pack of ZigZags.

-Rossi-

[Yamifj1200]

"Change, granola bars, condoms, extra ammo, HackySacks, and a pack of ZigZags.''

-Rossi-


How about some soap and water and a new razor for the ladies pits....

Eric M

[FJmonkey]

Randy, I made my shorter dog bones out of 316 stainless steel 1/4'' flatbar. I did mill it down to .200 thick and used the stock bolts. 55,000 miles later they are still just fine.

Eric M

I am not sure about 316 SST but do not use the common 304 sheet/bar stock, it is not much stronger than mild steel. We use both where I work and they have similar bending and tensile (Puling) properties. It is stronger in shear so punching a hole in it is harder than mild steel. I guess if you have homemade bones then inspect them every so often for elongation and cracks to be safe.

[rlucas]

"Change, granola bars, condoms, extra ammo, HackySacks, and a pack of ZigZags.''

-Rossi-


How about some soap and water and a new razor for the ladies pits....

Eric M

Eric, when it comes to a Rally, I don't even bring that stuff along for *me*. 

Besides, it would spoil the unique ambiance that is Damascus at that time of year. The sandals, the dreadlocks, the proliferation of Tully hats...the delicate aroma of hundreds of unwashed would-be environmentalist hikers and assorted freakazoids packed into a small town.

Actually, when Buff Bill asked what I had planned for Damascus, I should have said, "I plan to give it a wide berth."

-Rossi-