Routine maintenance and oddities.

[bill lumberg]

I had to fix or pay to fix stuff all the time on my RT. I lost so much riding time and money to problems, and it scarred me.

I do not want a primary bike that is less than bulletproof. I don’t mind having one to tinker with. But it won’t be the one I count on and do long distance on.

There is just something unique about working on a machine - knowing what makes it 'tick' and knowing it well enough to know when something is off, knowing that everything is right; and (in a case specific to our motorcycles) leaving the garage with the confidence that the time invested previously will mean a (mechanically) uneventful ride. That time in the garage has become, for me, just as therapeutic as each ride.

Exactly!

Now this is something I admire. I want to get to this point in life.

Right now I want a bullet proof bike. Put your gear on walk out to the bike an hit the starter. It fires up and everything works just like the last ride and the one before that.

That is why I have Yamahas.

Once I retire I will have more time than money. Then maybe I will become a decent mechanic.

Looking forward to that day.

[HotRodZilla]

Just came home after 4k miles over the last two weeks. Not one small issue. NOTHING! Simple standard maintenance and these bikes run like Hell. I don't understand why people think they should not be as reliable as any other vehicle. For some reason, running about 7k in 3rd gear through sweepers makes me think of that. Haha! Do simple stuff, make sure what needs grease gets grease and ride.

[Hppants]

Quite frankly, this is as much reason why I choose the FJR. The damm thing is just bulletproof. Throw a leg over, hit the button, and ride. And for what "needs grease", as AJ puts it, I know how to grease (figuratively writing). The idea of starting over reading for weeks on the forum for another bike just doesn't seem worth it to me.

The FJR is for riders, not posers.....