Farewell to FJR; Welcome to XT

The somewhat dreaded day has come and gone: The FJR has left the stable. The day after my lovely wife and newborn daughter returned from the hospital, I took the sport-touring hooligan machine to the dealership where I (essentially) traded it in for a new 2008 Yamaha XT 250.

Both machines are dual-purpose in their own way.
The FJR (above) is a capable sport machine and tourer.
The XT (below) is a capable on and off road machine.

For most people, this would make absolutely no sense. Experienced riders tend to trade upwards – to bigger and faster or more capable bikes. Many people consider the XT a beginner’s bike. In car terms, I traded in a Corvette for a Geo Metro.Using the car analogy, why would a person give up a sports car for one of “lesser” performance? Many reasons, all practical:

• lower value means less depreciation for resale,
• higher mileage,
• lower maintenance costs,
• lower insurance costs,
• greater utility for practical matters.

All the above considerations came to mind when I considered the switch.

• The XT will likely never drop below a value of $1500 to $2000 (35-50% of original cost). The FJR is currently worth about 40% of its original value with its “high” mileage (60,000 miles young) and nearly six years old.
• The XT gets incredible mileage as it is a small displacement, lightweight bike. The first ride showed over 70 mpg and the bike isn’t even broken in yet! To the contrary, I averaged 40 mpg on the FJR, which varied with use of throttle and luggage.
• There isn’t a single maintenance task I cannot perform at home with my existing tools, and the maintenance parts (and chemicals) are few and inexpensive. A single major maintenance for the FJR puts me back between $400 and $600 every 25,000 miles, not including oil changes and tires. The XT won’t require replacing $400-$500 in tires every 10,000 miles either. I won’t need a special machine to mount the tires, either!
• I now pay one fourth the insurance – full coverage – as compared to the FJR. It’s cheap enough to be a no-brainer. Why not have it? I know people that pay two or three times a much each month for their car or motorcycle!

I had to make compromises for utility:

The FJR is great on the highway and makes an excellent commuter for longer distances. The hard luggage serves as an excellent place to store a helmet and riding jacket. It has a nice luggage rack and back seat for all kinds of additional luggage capacity. The adjustable wind screen reduces rider fatigue by limiting wind blast on the rider. But the FJR has several disadvantages: It gets hot in the summer time and even hotter in summer highway traffic. Having a radiator blast heat onto your legs and a fuel tank simmer in your crotch does not strike me as a good time. It’s top-heavy, making it a handful at slow speeds. I did manage to become very confident handling the bike, but that didn’t make it any more fun on slow back roads. The FJR wanted to be out in front – always, inspiring aggressive riding.

The FJR (above) is a blast two-up on fast roads.
The XT (below) is a blast on trails and unpaved roads.

The XT doesn’t have lockable luggage or the ability to eat up miles easily at 70+ mph. But it can carry luggage on the tank and luggage rack. The seat is narrower, though not necessarily more comfortable. The XT is air cooled but won’t cook the rider even in slower traffic. Its light weight makes handling easy at any speed and can travel on any road, paved or not. Both bikes are “buzzy” in the handlebar, though the FJR offers more comfort and protection from the elements.

The FJR lockable luggage (above) comes standard on all US models.
The XT (below) has excellent grab rails and other spaces excellent for attaching soft luggage.

For an experienced rider to move to a much, much smaller bike requires a certain fortitude of character that says it doesn’t matter how big or flashy the bike is, a rider is a person out on two wheels. For me, I’m moving towards a simpler riding lifestyle. I want to commute more. I want to appreciate the world around me instead of flying by it. I want the freedom to travel down a dirt road without fear. I’m ready for the lower costs of low-tech transportation.

The FJR dash (above) has all the instrimentation you'd expect on a sport-tourer.
The lightweight digital dash on the XT (below) provides the bare necessities.

The FJR and I have parted ways. It was a good run with its share of spills and thrills. I did a lot of things that could not have been done with any other bike. I’m grateful for the experiences I never would have otherwise received. I’m a better rider for all of it. Now I’m heading off to a new chapter in my riding life. The lifestyle which has tested me so much has not gone away, but instead morphed into a new expression. I look forward to the street and dirt roads in my future!

---

Thanks and apologies to:
FJR Info
Yamaha Motor Corp

Quick thoughts on riding

It's been a while since I've posted. Considering that I'm selling my bike and my riding career has an uncertain future, you may understand why I've been a bit quiet lately.

That said, I've had a few quick thoughts I wanted to share:

I just had lunch for less than one gallon of gas. The dollar menu at Wendy's is awesome, but I don't ever remember having to pay less than $1 for a whole meal back in the day!

I'm precariously close that that $20 fillup. I used to get mad when I had to pay more than $10 at the pump to fill up - on premium. A $20 weekend went a long, long way just a few years ago. Now, motor sports has become much more expensive and I'm less likely to "blow away" so much money to go for a ride.

Road rage lives on. I rarely get so upset at another driver for driving recklessly that I feel something needs to be done. When I saw a Jeep Wrangler consistently endanger another rider, I knew I had to take action. I got a good look at the driver and memorized the license plate. I reported the @#$% to the local police department and filed a complaint. One of the people (read: the driver) in the vehicle was using a cell phone and didn't seem to notice that he was driving 20+ mph over the speed limit and tailgating everyone.

Having to sell the FJR got me riding this week. I've enjoyed every moment of it (even though I got very upset at the aforementioned incident). Riding for the sake of commuting really is fun, even if the temperature isn't regulated. It's nice to just be "out there." And getting more miles for the money is a good feeling, too.

Not that'd I'd be opposed to a smaller bike with even better mileage!

Sentiments

As I've been preparing the FJR for selling, my neighbor has dropped by occasionally to check on my progress.

He told me recently that if he won the lottery, he'd buy my FJR. He'd even keep it in my garage. He just didn't want to loose his riding partner.

That was very nice of him to say.

But I replied with, "If you were a true friend, you'd buy me a new KTM Adventure."


Good thing we're friends since I was just kidding! What a great guy!

Getting Ready: The first step

So I've decided to sell the FJR. Yes, it's come to this, but I know that it's the right thing to do and for once I feel good about it. In the best case scenario, I get to keep the bike, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

But before I sell, I need to accomplish a number of tasks that all boil down to one simple concept: bring the bike back to as close to stock as possible.

So all the blue fairings have to go. The glove box has to go. I get to keep the PIAA 4000's! (Yay!) The handguards and bar ends have to go. The heated grips will probably have to stay. The custom wiring with the battery monitor, cigarette lighter and controls for accessory lighting will probably have to stay (because it will be very difficult and time consuming to remove). The car horns have to go. (Now, that was a blast!)

The FJR has no clothes!

It wasn't easy, but I managed to leave the radiator
on and still have access to the headers.

I had recently acquired a replacement exhaust, so I'm adding that to the bike. The old set is dented, scratched and worn. This new set will make this six year old bike with 60,000 miles look much newer. (I brought the old gal home in October of 2002!)

Aren't those new pipes pretty?

I removed most of the plastic last weekend. I couldn't stay in bed this morning, so I decided to "get productive." I removed the old exhaust and replaced the headers. I had to drain the coolant (I'll have to replace it; It was old anyway. Besides, recommended replacement is every two years!) My father taught me that if something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. So I replaced the exhaust gaskets, too. But I did manage to save myself some work by leaving the radiator on the bike.

With the new exhaust on the bike (okay, it's actually "low mileage") and a solid cleaning, the FJR will look her best since a long, long time. Only one more thing to make her perfect: the right saddlebag needs to be "touched up." A bit of road rash has taken its toll cosmetically. Next paycheck may get this painted.

I wrapped the headers a few years ago, which really
cut down on the heat cooking my legs.

Yeah, there's some discoloration there.
Riding in the rain has worn some of that wrap, too.

Soon she can stroll onto Craigslist and I'll finally get my asking price.

A Monday Ride

One of the nice things about working at a motorcycle shop is having Mondays off. You get a weekend day and a week day to do... well, those things that need to be done.

For me, Sundays are still Sundays. But Monday is my Saturday. This Monday, I took my first real ride in over a month. So much for the chronic rider, eh?

I started off taking Loop 1604 to Bandera Road. (After seeing the terrible traffic there, I'm a bit surprised that I took that same path to school for 3 1/2 years...) Bandera West dead ends into Scenic Loop Road. A left onto Toutant Beauregard drops you off at Tx 46 and I-10, next to Starbucks.

Taking 46 west to 16 north, I took a quick break Bandera. A little farther north, I caught 470 west, which I don't take very often. It's a pretty ride with a semi-technical turn or two, but it has a few straightaways that are good for... stretching my legs.

View Larger Map

I passed Tarpley and turned south on 187 and dropped into Lost Maples Cafe for lunch. The place was full of locals. They all stopped talking to turn and stare. Though it was somewhat awkward, I went and found a table and relaxed a bit for lunch.

Once I was ready for the ride home, I headed back up 187 to catch 337 east. My brother and I caught this road once and spent some time taking pictures. Even with the greyness of winter upon the hill country, this road was scenic as ever.

I caught 16 south, passing through Medina and the apple orchard. Pretty soon an apple festival will be under way. It seems in Texas, all kinds of festivals are held for all kinds of food. (We just had the rodeo in San Antonio. The strawberry festival is coming up, too.)

I detoured and took 2828 east and 173 back into Bandera. 173 really is highway, even though it goes to two lanes near Bandera. Taking 16 back to loop 1604, it alternated between two and three lanes until it finally settled upon four. Naturally, I caught 1604 to return home.



I had the odd feeling that there was a certain lack of "special" in the ride itself. It was nice to get out and get some sunshine (which is a rarity in and of itself). But, the roads we so very familiar. It struck me how I used to be filled with awe every time I rode highway 16 into the Hill Country and see the hills unfold before me. I used to marvel at the sweepers and tight turns of those back roads. I appreciated how lightly traveled those roads are during the week.

I did appreciate the light traffic this time. But the ride itself fell a little flat. I didn't really enjoy the scenery so much this time. There was a spot or two that felt really good to concentrate on the technical parts. But for the whole, it was lacking something.

Perhaps the wonder of the ride is gone. The mystery of unexplored places left. My favorite stops no longer had familiar faces. The $15 in gas seemed a little less worth it. The best part of the ride was feeling my lower back straighten itself out; it felt better after the ride than before it.

I've determined to sell the FJR. It will cover expenses when my beautiful wife is unable to work when she has our baby girl. I will miss the sportiness of this ride, but not the expense.

I'll probably pick up another bike - a small dual-sport - when time and money permits. The economy and fun factor of those bikes still amazes me. I am NOT giving up riding... just putting a little time aside for more important things.


The past month or two has shown me that I can live without riding all the time. In some ways it's even better. (Air conditioning is a good start!) The motorcycle has been a way of life for me for... at least seven years. I will still support organizations like the AMA, even when I'm not riding. I think perhaps it's time for me to grow up a little and reorganize my priorities.

Has the bike become an idol for me? Perhaps. Has it allowed an emotional escape for me? Surely. Are there other, healthier pastimes I can take up? Yes.

I'm thinking I should get into better shape so I can do more hiking. And on a side note, it's a lot easier to transport backpacks, hiking boots and walking sticks in a car than a motorcycle!

Pleasant Returns

I'm back from my little voyage. It was wonderful in many ways, and I intend to share pictures, experiences, rides, my thoughts about motorcycle travel and personal insight over this week and the next.

In general, I went to West Texas and toured the area around and north of Big Bend. I stayed in Davis Mountains State Park (which I heartily recommend to anyone) for two nights, using it as a base camp for visiting the surrounding areas.

I traveled down the infamous (and remarkable) River Road, the scenic loop around the Davis Mountains, did a "star party" at McDonald Observatory and hiked in Guadalupe National Park. I did swing through New Mexico, but for the most part I found it dissatisfying and probably will not take the same path again.


View Larger Map

My accessory lights paid for themselves on the way back home. A deer and been hit and then hit again as it was split in two on the highway. (I saw an immense amount of roadkill throughout the trip.) Thanks to the lights, I was able to see the obstacle and make evasive maneuvers to avoid a disastrous impact.

I squeezed in a little reading - something I rarely accomplish at home nowadays. But the major idea I brought home from the reading and camping (and even the riding) occurred to me on the way home: when you take care of life first, you will enjoy it more. It seems bizzare that it needs mention, but I needed to vocalize it. I've been in the process of rearranging my priorities (especially since I'm going to be a new father) and this simple idea helped clarify and focus that process.

This is also the first trip where I greatly missed my wife. Usually I enjoy getting away so I can recharge and "refresh my batteries" but this time I really wanted her to be with me to share my experiences. So I'm working up in the back of my mind a plan for such a voyage...

I'd like to thank the many friendly and largely anonymous people that I met along the way for making this trip so enjoyable: The guys who rode in from SA, Rex on his R80, the biker from Houston, the friendly staff at the Davis Mountains State Park and the older couple hiking in the Guadalupe National Park. I'd also like to thank my wife for letting me go (see I came back - no leash necessary!) who I love very, very much. I thank God for a safe trip.

Later!

Fully Loaded

I'm pleased to announce that the dealership finally got its share of recall kits for the 03-05 FJR trunks. The mount is very secure and just what I needed to get it back on and useable again. It's weird to have a full set of hard luggage back on the bike in such a short period of time. I've been without so long... it's an odd but wonderful feeling.

So the bike went from this...

September 2007

To this...

October 2007

And the only thing I don't like about it now is the bluish headlights. I'm going to have to go back to the Yamaha bulbs which put out a much whiter light, even though these are advertised as appearing blue, but cast white. *Sigh* However, the PIAA 4000's are excellent and were worth the great deal I got on e-bay. The heated grips work nicely, too. The voltage indicator lamp is better in some respects than a digital voltmeter in that it only takes a glance to read voltage use as opposed to reading and then discerning an actual voltage readout. It's not too bright at night, either. I still need to remove the Rifle tuning block from the windshield which I believe will perfect the airflow around my helmet at the full-up position. Overall, I'm very well pleased with the clean appearance of the bike and the quality of the wiring, too. (The first picture shows that the vast majority of the wiring runs under the windshield motor.)

Now, if I can only get a few days off to really go riding and put all this great gear to test...

Trial Run

Sunday got the benefit of a trial run with most of my gear on the bike, fully loaded as if I were to take her out for a longer ride. (Yes, I called the bike a "her." Get over it Lani, don't want to hurt her feelings!)

The Vstream windshield was fantastic. I could really feel the added resistance from both the additional weight in the saddlebags and the windshield, but the handling remained true. It also did just fine in crosswinds.

I finally mounted the vista cruise only to discover that it blocks access to the starter button. However, it was a nice convenience and worked reasonably well when I needed to move my right hand about.

The Garmin iQue 3600 mount worked very well, though I did manage to shake loose the power cord on one occasion. I believe this was due to the proximity of the holder to the master cylinder. After a quick adjustment of the RAM mount, all was well for the duration of the ride.

The video camera did it's job. However, at speeds over 15 mph the video upon replay shook drastically from wind blast that got around the vstream and hit the handlebar. I'm not sure what I can do about this other than try to get it more centralized in respect to the windshield and away from the wind blast.

The glove box was handy, though it requires glove removal to take items out. It was nice not having to carry essentials in my pockets, though isn't that what a tankbag is for?

I had a little extra room in the tail bag and right saddlebag. This is where my clothes and spare food will go. If I leave the bike, the electronics will find its way into the right saddlebag. I won't carry much in the way of food, so that will help. I did pack a collapsible cooler which can be bungeed onto the FJR's small luggage rack so I can pick up food at the end of the day as I head to my final resting spot for the day.

I'm going to remove the Rifle tuning block from the windshield and see if that improves what little buffeting remains when it's all the way up. I'm most impressed with this shield - moreso than the Rifle or tall Yamaha.

The headlights have finally been adjusted properly. The heated grips work fine, too.

I think a trial run next weekend is now in order!

Deer in the Headlights (graphic)

It's not every day you get to see the infamous "deer in the headlights" look.

But this post on the FJR forum takes the cake.

http://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=26561

In all, this stupid road rodent caused about $7500 of damage and spooked the rider. However, like my other incidents, he was able to ride home after the hit. He did pretty good for hitting it head on.

It's still around that time of year when deer are very present on the roads, so no matter the vehicle, it's a good idea to keep you eyes peeled for this very dangerous road pest.

dcarver's FJR which he rode home after the hit.
His dogs loved the deer smell.

A deer in the headlights. Classic.

The Good, the Bad, and the Aesthetically Challenged

First the good news: The Ol' gal has a full set of saddlebags for the first time in over 3 years! I've also got the vast majority of the parts I was waiting for this week in. Now it's time I get the bike put back together so I can test ride and enjoy the fruits of my labor.

The bad news? It may be a while before I'm riding again. My left hand has been in a splint for a week now and it's not healing quickly. The doctor wants me to have an MRI done to see what the problem is. (Yeah, this makes my typing painfully slow... compared to what I'm used to!) The doctor also threatened to put me in a traditional cast if I couldn't keep this splint on... Oh, the huge manatee!

Now the aesthetically challenged:

Getting Ready Lists

In order to prepare for a ride that should take five to eight days, I must draw upon the experiences of all my previous rides and take into consideration the time of year I’ll head out.

Most notably, my learning experiences with other multi-day rides include:

• Packing too much food and clothing,
• Bringing along unused camping supplies,
• Not having adequate protection from the elements,
• Following GPS through horrible traffic (depending on the GPS for routing),
• Leaving with untested equipment,
• Not wanting to leave the bike with unsecured luggage,
• Riding without breaks or adequate hydration for too long, and
• Not taking advantage of technologies I brought along (including cell phone, music players, cameras, binoculars, camping equipment etc…)

With that in mind, the rules of the game:

• Travel light,
• Buy most food along the way,
• Be sure all of my equipment will survive the “torture test,”
• Use the most versatile (and secure) riding gear and luggage, and
• Do lots of riding with plenty of down time for my other hobbies: hiking and photography.

Riding has a few interesting caveats that I can relate to hiking (which makes the two hobbies complementary!). Size and weight matter a lot. More so with hiking, but size and weight can really be a burden that takes away from the enjoyment of getting away. Motorcycles have very limited packing space, so when bringing along something that goes unused (essentially, not needed) then the entire experience would have been more enjoyable if it had been left at home.

So, things I’ve hauled before but will leave at home:

• Camping cot (I have better ways to keep from getting a good night’s sleep),
• Camp chair (I can lie down or sit on a picnic table),
• Thermarest (I have a better alternative – these just didn’t provide enough padding from rocks and other irregularities),
• Canned and bottled food,
• The silverware “Swiss army knife,”
• The giant square sleeping bag,
• Lots of clothes,
• Soft saddlebags,
• CD player, in-helmet headphones,
• The “neck pillow,”
• Contact lenses,
• Every tool I own (well, almost).
• Alcoholic beverages,
• Herbal tea (just doesn’t taste the same out there…),
• Steel cup (finally gave up and started to rust),

Things I’ll continue to bring:

• Water pouches / hydration systems,
• Seasonally appropriate sleeping bag (that folds small!),
• Teton 2 tent (upgraded from hiking),
• DSLR camera, GPS,
• Plenty of cash,
• Change of riding gloves,
• Latex gloves in the first aid kit (helps cold resistance),
• Stove and fuel (upgraded the Coleman multi-fuel to a Pocket Rocket – awesome upgrade!)
• MSR Hiking mess kit,
• Basic hand tools,
• Travel cover for motorcycle,
• Rain cover for any soft luggage,
• Paper maps,
• Small notebook,
• Basic hand tools, tire pressure gage, knife, Swiss Army-style knife, flashlight,
• Cigarette lighter power splitter,
• Cell phone,
• Upgraded tent stakes,
• Full riding gear,
• Ear plugs,
• Glasses,
• Insurance papers and ID

New things I’ll bring with me this time:

• Sleeping bag liner,
• Inflatable camping mattress (which I acquired for hiking),
• A few instant meals,
• A smaller whisk broom (for keeping the tent clean),
• Tire pump and repair kit,
• A genuine inflatable pillow,
• A camcorder (for recording while riding),
• A book (for down-times and when I can’t sleep),
• Spare light bulbs,
• Certain hiking apparel (depending on the expected temperature range),
• Aluminum or stainless cup,

Things I’m not so sure about:

• Music player, stereo, headphones,
• Collapsible sink, cutting board,
• Binoculars (rarely used and bulky),
• Touring trunk vs. tailbag vs. backpack,
• Hiking boots or shoes,
• Swim trunks (rarely used),
• Sandals (rarely used),
• Shaving kit,
• Passport (who knows if I’ll hit Mexico or Canada? Ha ha!),
• Rain Gear (depends on the riding gear I take),
• Thermometer (to say, “It was THIS cold!”

And of course, the farkles:

• Accessory lights,
• Driving lights and bracket,
  
• Glove box modification,
• Integrated turn signal modification,
• Heated grips,
• V-Strom hand guards,
• Gel grips,
• Vista cruise (if I can get it to work properly),
• Manic Salamander bar end weights,
• SAE outlet,
• Cigarette lighter,
  
• RAM mounts for camera, GPS,
• Tank bag pass through wiring kit,
• Upgraded headlight bulbs,
• LED taillight bulbs,
• Voltmeter,
• Sliders, Clutch basket cover, Handlebar Risers (all once part of the fabled Avanti Kit),
• Radiator guard,
  
• Custom wiring for powered accessories,
• Aftermarket windshield (still waiting to test),

That’s about it for the lists… for today. As the ride draws closer, I’ll add even more thoughts about the upcoming motorcycle trip.

More parts coming

I got word earlier this week that my "new" headers are on their way and should arrive mid week. So, in one week, I should have a completely new exhaust system.

I mentioned this at work and got a name of a company in Houston that can ceramic-coat the headers for a not-too-high fee. This would nicely cut down on the heat coming off the bike onto me (which still manages to be an issue as it has been for all this generation FJR). I used a heat shield tape before which worked very well, but wore out with use and abuse. Rain, dragging over curbs, rocks and the like damaged the tape. Also, trapped moisture caused surface rust on the pipes. So, the coating will enhance the performance of the pipes, last longer and possibly even look better.

Time to address the skirts

Okay, I'm not talking about the guy in a kilt at the Brittish pub we went to Monday to celebrate my birthday - nor the plaid skirts the waitresses wore. The used plastic I bought with the integrated turn signals did not come with the inner plastic that helps hide wiring and direct air to the radiator. It finally came in and I'm going to install it by the weekend.

We were served by the delightful
staff at the 410 location.
And no stupid "happy birthday" song!

Our mechanic Brad and I mocked it up yesterday and determined that it did not clear the monstrous car horns I acquired from Pep Boys, so they'll need to be cut down first. It appears that they won't interfere with the installation of the glove box when the time comes.

A new direction

I began to write this two weeks ago. My, where has the time gone?

With all this time I supposedly will have on my hands now (part of Sunday and Monday) - I'm starting to enjoy entire weekends, now. - I had to choose a path for the FJR. Would I sell it and reinvest the proceeds into another bike? Or would I "farkle" it until I can ride it no longer?

I decided to keep it. That was the original plan. Might as well stick with it. Cheaper and somewhat more rewarding in the end.

First step: acquire new body parts to replaced the many damaged ones on the bike. Easiest to accomplish: exhaust. A member of the FJR forum will send me a set.

Update: I did get a set of exhaust for the bike from an FJR forum member shipped to me from Seattle. I need to make a separate post about what I discovered about him and his connection to the motorcycle industry.

I've not installed the exhaust yet. I pulled the headlight and front bodywork off last weekend to inspect the damage from the deer incident. The headlight was trashed with only two tabs remaining that hadn't been cracked or broken off. I'm sure it didn't help that I had been riding like that after the impact.

The new headlight has arrived, but I'm also awaiting parts to convert the lower fairings into the newer style with the integrated turn signals.

You can see five tabs are missing from the
headlight in front. One of those remaining
is cracked and another has no structural
significance - it merely attaches to a piece
of plastic.

In the meantime, I'm working on a wiring harness to install some accessory LED lights into the headlight. I've also ordered some driving light mounts from a forum member that will mount underneath the mirrors. I've been trying to figure out how to get that to work well. I have places to mount relays for these things except the relay sockets are not readily available at the handful of stores (from electronic to automotive) that I visited. I did finally find a place online that might be able to help (Eastern Beaver Company) but I will have to wait for shipping.

A Rough Week

I haven't felt well all week. I disassembled the major parts of the front of the FJR last weekend to inspect the damage from the deer and haven't been able to ride - which turns out to be a good thing. I've had a nasty sore throat, earache and headache all week that is only exacerbated by a cold draft from the service window at work.

This is the first day all week I've managed to get up around a normal time in the morning, so I must be feeling better.

As for the FJR: most of the mounting tabs were either broken off or cracked on the headlight; the replacement arrived yesterday. I have other little hardware arriving next week, so I'm looking forward to putting the bike back together then.

In the meantime, I've managed to scavenge a few things off the FJR forum: some clean but used mufflers and a fuel tank insulation kit. So, this has been sort of an opportunity to collect my thoughts on the future of this bike - and get my lists going.

After-work ride

The weather over the past few days has included plenty of rain, but I've ridden to work anyways. (It hasn't really rained on me to or from work, so I count myself fortunate). However, the rain really brought the temperatures down, making the ride home from work last night feel soooo good. I knew I would only spend a few minutes at home to eat and to get into some warmer (and waterproof - just in case) riding gear and I would head out to the hill country.

I was gone for hours and did about 200 miles. The going was slower since I rode in twilight and deer were out in force. However, the clouds broke right after sunset and I stopped a couple times to just stare at the thousands of stars in a nearly-black sky. A little glow from the East (was it San Antonio or Bandera?) and a crescent moon in the west lit up two corners of the sky, but right above me the stars shimmered like glitter. I've probably not seen that many stars since I rode the XT home - or longer. (A full moon during the Grand Canyon trip didn't help in my case). On the way back, clouds filled the sky and only a slight haze where the moon was setting remained.

I can tell I'm out of riding shape. My arms are a little sore this morning and I had to stop a couple times yesterday to rest/regather my wits. (I was also tired from a long day). I'm also panning about the airflow over my helmet and thinking how the VStrom 1000 was much more protected and the seating was more neutral with less pressure on my back and wrists. And yes, that's with handlebar risers. I guess I'm just getting old, too.

Now I gotta get cleaned up and ride to work. I'm not taking the truck since I have to park it in the muddy parking lot. (I don't want to track mud into my "office.") How's that for motivation to ride?

Electric Blue+

This is another one of those posts I started a couple weeks ago and finally got around to finishing...

Okay, so this isn't a post about the new color of my FJR... exactly. It's Galaxy Blue, though only in part. The bodywork part of this project will involve parts from a 2005 Galaxy Blue FJR: the lower fairings with integrated turn signals and the upper left fairing which houses the glove box. The lower fairings turn signals require a wiring harness adapter which is on its way. I will splice it into the existing wiring to correctly make the transition. Once I'm satisfied that works well, I'll begin to order parts for the glove box and add that to the bike as well.


My 2003 FJR in Liquid Silver trim. Posing in nature, ha ha! Notice the stalked front turn signals, the ridges on the lower, front fairing and the smooth surface on top of the upper left fairing (no glovebox).

This is what a 2005 US model FJR looks like. Notice the front integrated turn signals, the deep blue color and if you look carefully, you can see the outline of the glove box on the upper fairing.

This is just a random picture I found off Google. I like the two tone scheme, though I like some of the other Yamaha blues better. This is either a 2003 US FJR with custom paint or an international 2001-2003 FJR.

This is a dark picture and you can't really appreciate the color of this bike in my opinion. The European FJR apparently has the two tone color scheme as an option (I'm not entirely certain if it's standard). I think it looks awesome. You can tell the 2006+ FJR (second generation) from the earlier models by the front fairing: earlier models have two (or three - depending how you look at it) ridges coming across the gap between the front part of the lower fairing to the back. The second generation models also have a mounting tab visible in the same space. (This was done in part so owners wouldn't have to cut up their expensive plastic to install sliders).

Musings from the Toy Store (Part 1)

We had our first successful day of business Saturday, but we closed for Monday and Tuesday to work on inventory.

Why, you ask, would we do such a thing? I cannot share such a thing publicly, except to say that I've been having to work very hard, very well, and largely without much assistance until recently. I've done my job well and as specified, but some things are just out of my domain of influence, no matter how well (or poorly) I do them. It seems that my job should have only one result; it's only a question of how long it takes. I've done my part right, but there are other technical issues which continue to haunt us.

Now, my poor managers (I'm breaking out the violin) have been incredibly stressed out. I was stressed out until I realized that I wasn't a manager. I'll do as much as I can in my role - and I'm fulfilling my responsibility. But I can't help anyone beyond that role - and my help isn't desired. So, contrary to my instinctual desire to contribute to a working solution, I've detached myself from trying to solve the problems (though there's nothing I can do about it now except what I've been doing all along) and let those responsible for them deal with it. That makes all the overtime and just plain old work so much easier! I can't say that the attitude is right, per se, but it helps me cope.

I've finally brought the FJR to the shop twice since I started working at the new place. I park it outside the window right in front of a brand new 2007 silver FJR AE. She doesn't like it and is upset that I'm taunting her with the possibility of trading her in for a younger model. (First the XT, then the FJR, right? The garage has gotten a lot more empty lately...) Regardless, it's just plain good to ride to work again. I've had to dodge a lot of rain lately, but that's okay, too.

Now if I could just get the grass mowed...

Progress takes time... and overtime!

I've heard about 80 hour work weeks. I never thought I'd work one.

I worked about 75 hours last week, typically 14 hours per day, with less time on Sunday and Monday. I managed to get off a short ride, a trip to church with my wife and a nice dinner (with the same wonderful person) Sunday. That's probably the most we've done together since I got back from Wisconsin. (To clarify, I rode alone and met her for the other activities later).

In fact, it was the only riding I've done since I've been back. The FJR was a little tickled when I sold the XT (she had been jealous for a long time) but the long absence from riding has changed her mind. I think she suspects that she will be sold next, replaced by a younger model.

But I can't do that yet. I still need to fix the damage from "Bambi" and hit the forums and see if I can pick up some clean saddlebags and used exhaust. If I do manage to do that, I wonder if I'll still want to sell her?

It's nice to have the space in the garage. I wonder what will happen next? Regardless, it won't happen for a while; I can't do anything 'till the store opens and I probably won't have time to do any work at home for another couple weeks.

Dentures for Bambi

In August of 1942, Walt Disney released the monumental animated film, Bambi. Audiences were drawn to tears and heartstrings tugged as they vicariously lived the tragic and difficult life of an adorable baby deer. If Bambi were indeed "born" in 1942, he would be 65 years old this August.

But, let's back up a moment. After a long, stressful week of dealing with people (and I still laugh at the joke about how half of them are "below average" - and the people that ask, "why is that!?"), I was looking forward to a quiet getaway with my wife. I even hoped we could leave Saturday night. However, two factors changed those plans: 1) the wife wanted to watch the Spurs trounce the Suns (i.e. she wanted to catch "the game") and 2) our neighbors behind us - the one who had been caught breaking into a local high school and repeatedly stabbing an FFA sheep - decided to throw a party. Sure, they lined both sides of the road with cars, threw up extra lights and a disco ball. Okay, so the stench of beer in our back yard was so thick you could cut it with a knife. That didn't bother me. It was the fact that they played the kind of music found in cheezy Mexican restaurants so loudly that you had to speak up to talk to one another... across our back yard, through the house and on the other side of the street.

Did I mention that this started at 7 PM and was going strong well past 2 AM? No? How about this: I get very, very irritable from loud music (to put it politely). Combine that with a lack of rest, and... you get the picture, right? I could be heading to jail while the taxpayers put our local sheep-stabbing hero (see also: here and here) in the hospital for the best of care.

So do the most rational thing: call the police. Then leave. People playing music that loudly obviously don't care about anyone but themselves, and confronting them is only an opportunity for me to get into trouble or worse.

I called the police. I went for a ride. I rode and rode.

I went down backroads I've never seen before. I was playing all over the place. I then decided that maybe I could come home. As I headed towards S.A. on US 281 - a divided highway with 2+ lanes headed in each direction - I crested a small hill and discovered what the "deer in the headlight" look was all about. (Ah, yes! Here comes the Bambi tie-in!) Despite crossing all kinds of road-rodent infested back roads, this is the first deer I've seen all night and it's literally standing in the middle of the road, facing the median (so I'm approaching it perpendicularly). It begins to move off to the left so I swerve to the right when all of a sudden it changes its mind and tries to dart out in front of me.

As some of you may recall, I hit a deer with the same bike a couple years ago when a small doe decided to change directions and run in front of my bike. I grazed it on the right side and ran over its legs but left no damage to the bike. I rode on, feeling a little unnerved by the experience.

Obviously this doe, which was much larger and probably three to four feet at the shoulder, did not kill me. For taking out deer, this one has to be the weirdest. As it began to dart out in front of me, I clipped it in the head with the upper left fairing of the bike. It left a very small chunk of hair on the mirror stalk and tore a hole through my fairing. My garage door opener - held on by velcro - disappeared with a significant amount of plastic.

And I was still upright, still riding. The FJR took it on the chin, but yet again, I dodged the Bambi bullet, who through no regards to age will probably need a full set of dentures when it's all said and done (if a car behind me didn't finish the job).

So I came home and had a restful evening, right? I was tired and ready to sleep, but the cha-cha party was still on. Naturally, I was enraged. Why hadn't the police fixed this problem yet? If I were to go over and explain to them that they were blatantly disrespectful to all their neighbors and they needed to STFU, who knows what would have happened? I called the police several times and explained that I was more than just a little agitated and that these "people" were more than just a little loud. At 2 AM - only six hours after the initial complaint - the SAPD arrived and told them, in the officer's words, to "shut the hell up." He had to yell at the top of his lungs just to be heard over the music. He apologized profusely to me stating that this night in particular they were understaffed and overly busy.

I can hear those drunks saying the next day, "Vato, that was a great party. We drank and partied so much that by the time we were ready to go home, la policia came and sent us away. Dude, that was sweet!" What a bunch of pendejos. As Carlos Mencia might say, they're those kind of Mexicans - that normal people of any descent - particularly of Hispanic descent - would distance themselves from. By the observation of my neighbor's behavior - now and in the past - I can firmly say that these are not the kind of people I'd ever choose to live near. (I understand they've been driving off neighbors for years now and have contributed to the rental house next to us turning over occupants on a regular basis. *Sigh* it was so quiet when he was in jail!)

Just to make my position clear on this - it is not part of Hispanic culture to be disrespectful of ones neighbors or become a criminal. This particular individual, however does contribute to the perpetuation of such myths. It doesn't help that I have to get into a bloody rage (and not get any support from ANY of my neighbors) to get police assistance. This individual is just another dirtbag whose weapon of scumminess derives from the uglier side of south of the border.

The wife and I left later that morning, and found it very sweet indeed to have a quiet, uninterrupted night of sleep.

But not before taking out a bird with the truck!

Gosh, what is it with these animals and the vehicles I'm driving?

You can see cracks and the hole in the upper fairing
and a small smattering of blood on the front fairing.

The doe ripped a lot of plastic apart when she
went kamikaze on me. The road rash to the
right was from a prior incident; this was an
old plastic piece I was using temporarily.