FJRiders.com

We are two days in and having fun. 600 miles yesterday and only about 200 today. Camping in Suches Georgia and hoping the cooler weather predicted is coming.

Beats the shit out of working. Stay thirsty, my friends.

Installed a new to me Cee Bailey windscreen, wired up my FZ1 fuse block then ran the wiring for my Zumo 660 and lead for my heated jacket liner.

Bought some turpentine to wash the tar spray off the entire front of my bike.

bungie4 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 05, 2019 8:30 am Bought some turpentine to wash the tar spray off the entire front of my bike.

I don't envy that job. Good luck, wear safety glasses and be careful.

Hppants wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2019 8:45 pm We are two days in and having fun. 600 miles yesterday and only about 200 today. Camping in Suches Georgia and hoping the cooler weather predicted is coming.

Beats the shit out of working. Stay thirsty, my friends.

Cooler weather down south means snow in the north. Enjoy your trip and looking forward to the ride report.

I am taking the FJR on a search for fall colors ride tomorrow. Hope to see a few Quaking Aspens. It is going be about 36 degrees here in Spokane tonight.

What is this work thing you speaketh of?

Last weekend, let a guy from work ride it. He has since ordered a 14 from out of state. Today, let my friend that I work with directly ride it while I rode his MT and checked to see if there was anything funny going on with his suspension. I figured out what was up with his bike fairly quickly. But I dragged the ride out to seduce him with the fjr.

Oil and filter. Probably the last time before spring.

Evenings are too short to get a ride in after work. Can still ride to work most days but won't if it is below freezing. Don't care for frozen surprises in corners or under fallen leaves! Still ok for weekends but no major trips at this point so unlikely to do more than a couple thousand miles between now and when they start with the road salt. That generally signals the end of my riding season unless there is a good rain to wash it away. (Any time between late October until mid December - usually 2nd or 3rd week of November.)

Some people are adamant about putting the bike to bed with fresh oil. Never understood the logic - you are leaving 20% of the old "dirty" oil in the crankcase when you change it anyway. What's the difference between having somewhat used oil in the engine while the bike is idle during the winter vs between rides during the season? I just make sure I give it a good hard run to blow any moisture out of the oil and exhaust system. Cover the pipes with plastic bags to keep moisture out and throw a cover over it to keep the dust off. ( Don't have rodent trouble where I am or would do something to keep them from nesting in the air filter or under the seat.)

I don't use a battery tender but will do a top off slow charge two or maybe three times between beginning of hibernation and late March when the next season starts. Doesn't get started at all until it is ready to go.

Hard to believe ya'll discussing winterizing already. Summer seems ready to finally leave tomorrow here in the south, but it's still pushing close to 100F here today. I'll be on the plane in the morning to the northern states to see what this "Fall Weather" is all about.

Techmount GPS mount for my Garmin arrived Saturday so I got that installed and took a ride to test my work. Garmin is charging fine and heated liner working great. Frame sliders, replacement lights, and more goodies due in this week.

gixxerjasen wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 6:30 pm Hard to believe ya'll discussing winterizing already. Summer seems ready to finally leave tomorrow here in the south, but it's still pushing close to 100F here today. I'll be on the plane in the morning to the northern states to see what this "Fall Weather" is all about.

We could be OK for another month or more where I am but riding days will become fewer and shorter. A few years ago, I managed to get a ride in as late as Christmas day. I TRY to get the bike back out for at least a short ride on St. Patrick's Day but it hasn't been possible the last couple of years.

On the other hand, I have never had to turn down an opportunity to go for a ride in the summer because it was just too hot!

FJRoss wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 6:38 pm On the other hand, I have never had to turn down an opportunity to go for a ride in the summer because it was just too hot!

I've never HAD to, I just sometimes choose not to.

It's just crazy to hear folks talking winterizing when we are just now getting excited about the upcoming nice riding weather.

Replaced my O2 sensor.

I'd let the exhaust breathe... as for oil, back in the old days, a fresh change was to ensure no acidic action going on, but modern oils take care of that and cling much longer to surfaces like cylinder walls... if it's oil change time I'll do it, otherwise, no biggie these days.

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:01 pm I'd let the exhaust breathe...

Unheated garage and temperature fluctuates. Relatively humid as well. Always figured that keeping water vapor out means that you wouldn't get condensation in the pipes and subsequent corrosion. Don't know if it really an issue or not with SS exhaust. Don't think I have ever seen an FJR with a rotted muffler.

Only about 150 miles today, but holy cow, were they good miles!! 60 degrees. Perfect blacktop twisties with little gravel in the turns. 209, 212, 19W, 80, 226, 143, 194, etc, etc.

Good hike this afternoon. Great local beer this evening.

Life is pretty darn good!!

FJRoss wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:25 pm

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:01 pm I'd let the exhaust breathe...

Unheated garage and temperature fluctuates. Relatively humid as well. Always figured that keeping water vapor out means that you wouldn't get condensation in the pipes and subsequent corrosion. Don't know if it really an issue or not with SS exhaust. Don't think I have ever seen an FJR with a rotted muffler.

You do know there is a drain hole at the front bottom of the muffler? No, I've never seen a rusty FJR muffler...

FJRoss wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:25 pm

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:01 pmI'd let the exhaust breathe...

Unheated garage and temperature fluctuates. Relatively humid as well. Always figured that keeping water vapor out means that you wouldn't get condensation in the pipes and subsequent corrosion. Don't know if it really an issue or not with SS exhaust. Don't think I have ever seen an FJR with a rotted muffler.

FJRoss,

The best way to keep out moisture is with desiccant crystal packs. Silica Gel comes dry (blue), and as it absorbs water, it turns white, then pink. Once the crystals change colors, that crystal pack is saturated, so replace them with new blue packs. Bake the pink saturated packs in an oven as per directions, to make them new and blue again. Re-use them endlessly, similar to using rechargeable batteries.

For mufflers, I'd cover each muffler with a clear plastic bag. Start with maybe fifteen or twenty desiccant packs in the bag for each muffler, and monitor the desiccant packs for color changes. Change out the white/pink desiccant packs as needed. Once they do not change color and stay bright blue, the air inside the bag is certainly dry enough to prevent corrosion. That is why they make this stuff.


https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Premium-Indi ... 65&sr=8-16
.

FJRoss wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:25 pm

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:01 pm I'd let the exhaust breathe...

Unheated garage and temperature fluctuates. Relatively humid as well. Always figured that keeping water vapor out means that you wouldn't get condensation in the pipes and subsequent corrosion. Don't know if it really an issue or not with SS exhaust. Don't think I have ever seen an FJR with a rotted muffler.

A ceiling fan in an unheated garage does wanders for helping keep everything dry. Set it on low and forget about it.

Full House wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 6:38 am

FJRoss wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:25 pm

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:01 pm I'd let the exhaust breathe...

Unheated garage and temperature fluctuates. Relatively humid as well. Always figured that keeping water vapor out means that you wouldn't get condensation in the pipes and subsequent corrosion. Don't know if it really an issue or not with SS exhaust. Don't think I have ever seen an FJR with a rotted muffler.

A ceiling fan in an unheated garage does wanders for helping keep everything dry. Set it on low and forget about it.

Wonder if that works in a garage where two (often wet, icy or slushy) cars are parked... Not installing a fan this year in any case but will file it for future consideration.

Re: Corrosion and condensation prevention.
Another thing I have heard people doing is to use a floor-length cover and place a medium-low wattage (40W?) incandescent light bulb below the bike. the cover reduces the amount of humid air making its way to the bike and the bulb supplies enough heat to keep the temperature of the bike a degree or two above ambient temperature. Supposed to be enough to prevent condensation on the bike. Never tried it...