Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Let's Talk FJR

A lot has happened since the end of the Spank. Most important thing is: I bought an FJR! At the end of my Spank ride report I wrote this about my BMW: "I probably won’t ride it in the IBR. After this failure, and the other weird failure it had last year, my confidence in it is fading. I still like that bike a lot, but I need something that is bulletproof. My old red Beemer isn’t." And that's why I bought this beauty:


It is a 2005 non-ABS California model that I purchased from someone on the FJR Forum. The reason I chose this particular bike is that it had just the right set of farkles to be a starting platform for the IBR. It had PHID lights, Ohlins rear shock and RaceTech front shock, and a fork brace. It also included an aftermarket stator to power any additional farkles, as well as other items that were all useful to me. The owner had taken very good care of it. The odometer turned over 16,000 miles during my test ride.

Since buying the bike in early September I've completed the following changes (or at least have them significantly in the pipeline.)

  • Fuzeblock auxiliary fuse panel for additional farkles
  • N/Line dash shelf to mount said farkles
  • Wild Bill highway pegs
  • Electrified and otherwise customized the tank bag
  • Disconnected the PowerCommander ignition timing module.
  • Moved my BLM-Accessories fuel cell from the BMW to the FJR
  • Replaced OEM mirrors with mirrors from a Yamaha FZ1.
  • Heat Troller dual circuit controller for my heated gear.
  • Russell seat
  • Garauld luggage rack to mount my Pelican case
I've also begun a ride conditioning program. My goal is to go on a long distance ride once per month between now and next August. I'll start out with SaddleSore 1000's while I'm farkling the FJR and getting used to the new platform. I'll move up to Bun Burner Golds in the spring and early summer. I might even try a back to back BBG, which would be new territory for me. I'll also do some off road riding with my pal Ken. Most likely we'll visit the Ancient Bristlecone Pine forest that was a bonus in the 07 IBR, and we'll probably take a ride on Jungo Road too.

My ride conditioning program has an official name: The SJC10K. SJC stands for Sally, Jerry, and Claire. 10K stands for the 10,000 miles I want to ride before the IBR.



The first "leg" of this long term rally was executed in October. Here's the report. The second leg will be on November 22, and will be coterminous with the Bite The Weenie RTE at Pink's in Hollywood.