Prospect purchase

[Tiger]

  Kyle, Kyle...are you in there buddy   

[pdxfj]

Kyle came by last night to have a few things looked at on his bike.

All in all it's in good shape and runs well.  The PO had drained the carbs before storage which has helped Kyle and the carbs quite a bit.  He is aware that a tear down and cleaning is in order but likely won't have any issues getting home.  The fuel gauge needle is on the wrong side of the pin and if I had more time I could have fixed that as well.

Speedo cable and drive were dry as a bone, the rear brake had some air in it.  Left rear turn signal had some corrosion in it but is working fine now.  Bike needs the cam cover gasket and grommets.   

Something is/was funky with the starter button.  The PO had taken it apart to troubleshoot the no starting problem.  The internal spring was bent and Kyle did an excellent job of getting it back into proper order.  Cleaned and lubed the switch and now it drags for some unknown reason.. but.. the bike starts with the button.  Seems like the spring no longer has the pull to return the switch when you go to start the bike.  The spring loaded copper contacts do not smoothly move (up and down) inside the switch.  Bit of a pain to deal with but much less of a pain than removing the seat to start the bike each time.

So I don't know if the new starter switch issues are something I did or   I do feel that I owe him a new switch.  Anyone have a spare I could purchase?  Wasn't too great of a host since I totally forget about dinner..

Was good to meet him and I'm sure we will see him at rallies in the future.

[FeralRdr]

Kudos to helping him out Garth.  Unfortunately, I don't have a spare switch, but is there any chance some dielectric grease might help the sticky switch?

[fintip]

Sorry for being sparse on the updates lately; tiring typing on a touch screen. I just got access to a friend's laptop for the day, so I'm getting a bunch of typing out all at once.

Woke up Monday and went to visit on last friend in Seattle that I hadn't made it out to see yet. Packed the night before, so after breakfast with my host and then an early lunch visit with my friend, I made it back to the apartment to load up the bike.

And then I left.

I had intended to do a route that went east of Mt. Rainier through a park, but for some reason when I transferred the route from google maps to google navigation on my gps-tablet (Nexus 7 taped to the dash, for those interested), I got directed on a straight route down I-5 and didn't realize it until I had well passed where I would need to turn off to get to that route. So I improvised another route south of Rainier, but around the east side of Mt. Saint Helen instead. Nothing spectacular, but still pretty, and certainly better than superslab riding.

My route took a long time though! It was cold, and I tell you what, I am glad I picked up this heated jacket liner off craigslist for $75... Ski gloves I brought with me are doing the job on the hands. Balaclava carefully positioned is doing a decent job on the face/neck situation. Legs were cold, but I didn't layer up like I intended to, and it wasn't that bad.

Anyways, 6 hours later (I-5 makes it a less-than-three hour route) I arrived at my friend's place. Finally parked the bike in the garage...

...and of course, it hasn't rained since I got here. Just my luck.

Not that I'm complaining, haha. I've had plenty of rain for my taste in Seattle. Blech. xP Tell you what, I'm missing Texas weather after this.

Next stop, I realized that aside from my friend that lives in Redding that I was already going to visit, I got a random update from friends from Israel, a mass email to friends, saying they were also in Redding. Complete coincidence. I email them back and ask if they're still there, since that's my next stop. Sure enough, they want to host me when I get there.

Oh, life.

Like Mr. Bean said above, stopped by last night, get lots of little details tuned up. I didn't get to try it out until I was leaving, but while the speedo is definitely much better it is still definitely shakey (just not absurdly so). RPM gauge, I forgot to mention while I was there, developed an occasional intermittend mild jitter as well, and that comes and goes. Bike is definitely burning oil on the front from a leak, almost certainly from the valve/cam cover.

So funny thing is, after repeatedly testing the starter button with the two safety switches, one by one and together shorted, and not working.... I pull up and the first thing he checks is the starter button. Works like there was never a problem!

??

So later we take it apart and try and see if there's something to clean or check. Clean the contacts, that's all that really presents itself. Then putting it together, it doesn't seem to work quite right. It maybe felt a little soft compared to his starter button before, but now it just isn't quite sitting right. We noticed the spring seemed to likely have been bent by the PO and I spent some time trying to reshape the spring so it would sit correctly, and that seemed to help quite a bit, but now it pops out too far occasionally and sits in such a way that the contacts are lining up in either of its two positions, and so the starter will stop turning over when released, but the headlight/dash lights won't come on unless you play with it for a second, push it in a tad. Seems to drag, as well, and so will stay in unless you 'flick' the button to get the spring to launch past the friction it is making. Still, one way or the other, I was getting sick of unloading the bike and removing the seat and then reloading the bike every time I wanted to take a piss on the way down here, and having a now-funky start button definitely beats not having one at all.

Maybe Randy will be around and be able to look at it and have an idea? Neither of us saw any part go missing during disassembly, but it looks like there may be a piece missing. Just not quite sure.

(And yes, we lubed the thing and tried dielectric grease, used sand paper on the contacts, etc.)

Definitely a super helpful guy who knows his stuff, though, I was grateful that he had me over.

And wow, his FJ is one fine example! Especially considering where his started, it puts mine to shame. That 17" front sure does look pretty!

I have to say though, riding down... I've only been riding pre-'83 jap bikes (and a friend's '83 BMW R100RS), and no bike I've ever ridden even compared to the handling on this bike, even stock as mine is. Just, wow. I can't imagine needing a 17", as even with the 16" I've never ridden on something that felt this way. This was obviously just such a jump in technology, as if this bike marks a line between the old school and the new school in handling tech. Certainly a generation jump. Makes me wonder what a new bike feels like, or a modded FJ feels like. For now, though, my ignorance is bliss! (Or maybe I'll be bizarre and end up agreeing with Alf that the 16" is more nimble, haha. He's the only one I've seen advocate a preference for the 16" wheel.)

I could not believe the power of the bike, though. All the weight--two fully loaded givi bags, an accordioned out tank bag I brought with me another tank bag (both full to the brim), and the stock seat strapped onto the rear, and the bike just pulls like nothing in 5th past whoever I want to pass. Definitely starting to understanding the obsession with these bikes...

And yes, hope to make it out to some rallies in the future, we'll see. It's a long ride out here, but with a Corbin seat, anything is possible.

Got a couple pics yesterday, will get them up later tonight hopefully.

Heading to Redding tomorrow! Wish me luck! Should see the first really beautiful parts of the ride then.

Kyle

[fj11.5]

Riding. In the rain is great if your dressed for it, don't get too cold mate, nasty things happen ,, as for your switch, if nobody else has switch parts I should be able to send any bits you may need with the seat lever ,, I changed my switch blocks to xjr ones, not much work but much better switches , and not 20+ years old  ,, glad your safe and well mate ,, hope you make it too Austin before the snow and black ice hit

[Arnie]

Kyle,

Just a hint for warming knees and hands -
If you are on a superslab or some crusie road, put your feet on the pillon pegs.  The heat exiting from the sidecovers vents will warm your knees.  This is also a good place to thaw your hands (one by one) if necessary.
Note: you'll need some kind of throttle hold to use this for your right hand :-)

Arnie

[movenon]

Glad to hear you are doing good and making progress. Take it easy if the roads are wet. Yes, the power is great. I am not a aggressive rider but enjoy having the power there to pass and to do what it takes to maintain auto/bike separation. If you have good self control its one of the best bikes on the market for the money if not the best.
Stay safe and enjoy.

[fintip]

Thanks for the tips!

Some pics to keep you guys up:





Random bike I saw in Seattle, right outside the Tesla Dealership:

It's an old KZ1000 I think? Don't remember right now. Guy used to work at a bike shop, some wrecked Tesla Motors bike came in and he salvaged the tank decal for his. Pretty sweet. Kickstart bike, wiring harness from scratch, pods. Did it all himself. Fun stuff.

[fintip]

By the way... Anyone interested in reading up on the full backstory of this trip:

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=828805

Next chapter in that thread is to start writing about selling the XJ in Austin 3 weeks ago and then making it out to the North West.

[ribbert]

Kyle,

Just a hint for warming knees and hands -
If you are on a superslab or some crusie road, put your feet on the pillon pegs.  The heat exiting from the sidecovers vents will warm your knees.  This is also a good place to thaw your hands (one by one) if necessary.
Note: you'll need some kind of throttle hold to use this for your right hand :-)

Arnie

When I stop for coffee, lunch or whatever, I shove my gloves in the cavity behind the barrels and under the carbs.
If damp they will dry and either way they are very warm when putting back on.
Noel

[fintip]

So, made it safely 425+ miles down to Redding. Unfortunately, I didn't realize the slightly-scenic route going east of I-5 was a high altitude route... Passed a functioning ski lift and several passes with signs "Tire Chains Required" and such. I don't think I've ever been so cold in my life, haha.

Here's me just before leaving seattle, all loaded up:




On the way down to Portland:


Starting the bike up after stopping for a piss... Was a pain unloading and reloading to remove the seat everytime I wanted to start the bike. Much nicer having a starter button. Never properly appreciated that convenience before...


A picture of me with the bike in Portland:

A picture of me starting to get into the overpass at 4500 or so feet....





I thought I was in the clear after some downhill for a while and coming out into the high desert:


But I wasn't. It stayed freezing, and I passed a lot of snow that day. It wasn't until the California border that the elevation starter going down a bit, I think, and I hit it right after sunset... Which meant it didn't warm up any. I put on almost all the clothes I owned at some point, and my fingers and toes were still going numb through ski gloves and three pairs of socks. Like, painfully numb.

The bike itself was remarkably comfortable, though. Sure wish I had a grip wind blocker, honestly. Just simple pieces of plastic to keep the wind from getting into the gloves.

At one point some guys I was talking to scared me. They thought I was crazy to be riding a motorcycle through there at this time of year (I didn't see another bike on the road all day), and told me that I wouldn't be able to make it far enough south to escape black ice at sunset. I started speeding for the first time after that, and sure enough, without 20 minutes, I passed one of the only cops of the day... Who basically threw the book at me. Said I was going 78 in a 55 (Oregon has crazy low speed limits, they all went up immediately after crossing the border into Cali). Also ticketed me for no insurance; I said that Washington was a no-insurance state for motorcycles, and he got really rude and told me I just needed to use common sense and that that was a load of BS. (Are cops allowed to talk like that?). I really hate cops. I do. There are a few good ones out there, and I exclude them from this, but I constantly have terrible interactions with them. I am extremely polite, and they are always exceedingly rude, and I have never been given a warning. I had never gotten a speeding ticket (or even been pulled over for speeding) until three months ago. Now I've gotten 4 in the last three months. Some kind of curse...

And not one ticket in Mexico, and there I sped the whole way.

I had some other bad luck, though the bike has been nothing but reliable the whole way. Nice to finally be out of the rain, even if it is still cold here in Redding. (Just started being cold 2 days ago, everyone keeps telling me.) Next stop is Sacramento.

[fj11.5]

When hands and feet get cold enough to hurt, its getting bad for your health, once you feel no pain your in trouble ,, id send you some heated grips but think you would be back in Austin before they reached your next big stop ,, seat lever is on its way,, the cop probably wasn't a biker , no sence of humor some of them 

[fintip]

Fixed pictures.

Also, yes. I was afraid of getting frostbite or hypothermia, so I did stop two or three times, one time started shaking almost uncontrollably. That's when I changed and put on 5 layers for pants and shirt+heated jacket+rain coat+rain shell for the top. On the highest heat setting, I was kept just stable... and only in my torso. That's how cold it was. Also was wearing both balaclava and scarf, and my face was cold, but not painfully so.

[fj11.5]

Yeah that's getting rather cold mate,, worst  thing about lots of layers is it make it harder to move ,, your going great mate , especially when ppl you just met start stressing out, , maybe because they wouldn't attempt the trip, , did you mount your tablet ,, if so does it show wind chill at speed, bet its way into the minus,, stay safe buddy , and have fun 

[movenon]

Glad you are in Redding. Weather will get warmer now as you go South. Still give some thought to not going East until you get down to the LA area.. The Sierras are not warm..
The no motorcycle insurance requirement in Washington State is hard to believe when confronted buy LEO's in other states. Some LEO's will not site for no insurance with Washington plates with proper registration if passing through, and some will... Idaho and Oregon being co joined they most likely will issue a ticket. A number of Washington residents that live on the border and work in Oregon or Idaho often think they don't have to have insurance. I would guess that most of them if stopped are cited. And I am told it holds up in court.
Junk in junk out. I would say its best if you would get at least the minimum insurance just because. I think mine runs under 100.00 a year. FJ's have kind of fallen off there "bad bike" list. Another good thing about owning an FJ. I don't know what to tell you about the speeding. It is what it is. I agree 55 is to slow. You read the sign and make your own decision. It's like double yellow lines, there no exceptions or special rules for motorcycles. It is frustrating when you are in a different performance envelope. Every speeding ticket I got, I was speeding... Stay alert in Calif. also. They are not turning any "revenue" away. When I was in San Diego, one of the locals referred to there city as "Enron Buy The Sea". I would also remark that Washington State is in a very active "revenue gathering" mode also.
I am NOT giving advice or recommending it but if I was never going back to Oregon again I would just shine the tickets on. I am not a LEO or in any related field. I guess if it got really bad I would send them a death certificate... How much do one of those cost?    Just kidding. Do some research when you get back home. Tickets in Oregon are expensive. An attorney or yourself might be able to send them a respectful letter and get the tickets dismissed or reduced.
The FJ's are comfortable for a bike even with the stock seat. You sit in them not on top of them like a lump. It's a good riding position. I like your luggage. Wish I had had hard bags on mine. Nice photo's also. Stay safe Kyle and head South....