Of break-in's and oil changes: ramblings of a newbie

[TangiMan]

This is my first post after the mandatory intro. Thanks for all the good info on this site, which helped me make my decision to get my FJR. I picked 'er up this morning from a dealership about 60 miles away. I’ll save the dealership experience for another topic; but suffice it say it was quite interesting!

The bike is everything I thought it would be. Since it had virtually no miles on it, I did a modified MotoMan break in; ran it pretty hard on the Interstate home, and varied the RPM a lot. Didn't go over redline, and didn't sustain anything over about 4500 more than 5-10 seconds. I did become pretty familiar with that 3rd gear 70-100… the great rush! Good thing traffic was moving at about 85 mph the whole way; I didn’t stand out that much and it was actually pretty safe. I just hope I did more good than harm to the bike with all those shenanigans; sure, it was fun; but I’m not used to running a new machine like that. I agree with Moto when he said it felt "against the grain."

Questions/Comments:

• Should I wait until 600 miles to do the first motor & diff. oil change? I imagine I have quite a few metallic specks floating around the crankcase after that ride home.

• I have a “jingling” noise coming from the front end or fork over bumps at lower speeds. It ain’t the ignition key, and it’s not horrible; but it sounds like something’s loose. Anybody else have any rattles or “jingles” from up there over bumps? There's not a bit of wiggle I can detect in the suspension or ride, so I wasn't too concerned.

• After searching the forum and finding info on operating temperature, I think mine was OK. I did find it strange, though, that it took 35 or 40 miles for the bike to eventually get to its peak temperature, which was 4 or 5 bars (I can’t remember which). Outside temp was about 75. (Glamorous day for riding!)

• It was pretty stinky (burning odor, maybe with just a hint of antifreeze?) when I stopped once after about 8 miles to call my wife, whom I had managed to lose at the traffic light back at the onramp. I’m assuming this is normal, too, as it didn’t seem quite as bad when I got home about 50 miles later; and the coolant level was fine.

• I did find the throttle spring as stiff as I've read about. Is there a fix or dealer campaign to remedy this?

Thanks in advance….

TangiMan

 

[RsvlFeej]

Hey TangiMan,

First off, congrats on the new bike and welcome to the forum. I run an '05 that I've been incredibly happy with for the last 3 years. Your first bit of reading should be: Accumulated Specifications, Details, and Tips for the Yamaha FJR 1300 '06-'07 (Generation II) located here:

https://docs.google.com/View?docid=df3z7t3r_20grtc5j

which should include what to look for on a new bike - big stuff like thredlocking your saddlebag bolts so the bags don't fly off after 1K miles, clipping a cable tie that tightens your ignition wires so much that they fail and WILL leave you stranded, plus other stuff the dealers are notorious for missing during set-up.

Questions/Comments:• Should I wait until 600 miles to do the first motor & diff. oil change? I imagine I have quite a few metallic specks floating around the crankcase after that ride home.

Haven't had to consider this except for entertainment purposes for the last 3 years. Short answer is, "Everybody has an opinion" - several of which are located here: https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...&hl=motoman

BTW, anything having to do with oil - JESTAL is considered omniscient, ignore his advice at your motor's peril.

• I have a “jingling” noise coming from the front end or fork over bumps at lower speeds. It ain’t the ignition key, and it’s not horrible; but it sounds like something’s loose. Anybody else have any rattles or “jingles” from up there over bumps? There's not a bit of wiggle I can detect in the suspension or ride, so I wasn't too concerned.

Couple of people have reported loose front brakes (calipers?, can't recall) from the factory on the Gen 2s - definitely worth a look. If that isn't it, I seem to recall the front fenders weren't tightened on some as well. Hopefully the first link (AKA the bin-o-facts) can clarify.

• After searching the forum and finding info on operating temperature, I think mine was OK. I did find it strange, though, that it took 35 or 40 miles for the bike to eventually get to its peak temperature, which was 4 or 5 bars (I can’t remember which). Outside temp was about 75. (Glamorous day for riding!)

Huh. At those ambient temps, my bike is up to operating temps within 3-5 minutes. Then, depending on traffic conditions, I may or may not add another bar within another 5-10 minutes.

• It was pretty stinky (burning odor, maybe with just a hint of antifreeze?) when I stopped once after about 8 miles to call my wife, whom I had managed to lose at the traffic light back at the onramp. I’m assuming this is normal, too, as it didn’t seem quite as bad when I got home about 50 miles later; and the coolant level was fine.

No clue on this one. The forum search function is your friend.

• I did find the throttle spring as stiff as I've read about. Is there a fix or dealer campaign to remedy this?

Discussed here: https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=27993

Hope that helps. Have fun,

RsvlFeej

 

[Vstar2FJR]

Can't address all your questions, but here's my input on the few I can help you with.

Oil Change - general concensus is to change the oil and filter within the first 200 miles tops. Not an absolute requirement, but more a piece of mind thing.

The smell is most likely some of the anti corrosion coating that they put on the engine externals. Same as what you get on a new car. Should not be an issue and will not be noticed after a couple hundred miles.

Yes, there is a fix for the throttle spring. You can go about it 2 ways from what I understand. 1) unwind the spring one turn, 2) get a modified throttle tube.

Check out this link for information and feedback. https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=27993

 

[Knifemaker]

I stopped once after about 8 miles to call my wife, whom I had managed to lose at the traffic light back at the onramp. I’m assuming this is normal, too, ..........

Yep, I lose my wife all the time.

KM

 

[yamaholic]

Congrats on the new bike!!

The jingling is pretty common. Mine has done this since 2002!!

The consensus seems to be the fork springs are rubbing against the fork tubes. I would not worry about it...however just to be safe...check the bolts on the front end anyway. Maybe something is loose, such as the calipers.

I would vote YES on the oil change right away. Then don't worry about it until 600-800 miles. Also, order the rear diff bottom drain plug from the dealer and install this as your engine oil drain plug. It has a strong magnet built in to catch all the gunk. I use this AND the Scotts' oil filter which has an internal magnet. They both are always covered in metallic funk at oil changes.

Again congrats and welcome!

 

[TangiMan]

There's one in every crowd. Touche, KM --> I left myself wide open for that one. I was just testing you!

And thanks to all for the timely and helpful info. I'll be digging deeper into the board each day.

Happy motoring!

TM

 

[bramfrank]

I did mine both at 50 miles, then again at 150 - did the normal 600 miles service and after that, crankcase oil every 3000 miles or so and everything else by the book. I still get sparklies after 20000 miles

 

[UHOH]

welcome to the FJR

• I have a “jingling” noise coming from the front end or fork over bumps at lower speeds. It ain’t the ignition key, and it’s not horrible; but it sounds like something’s loose. Anybody else have any rattles or “jingles” from up there over bumps? There's not a bit of wiggle I can detect in the suspension or ride, so I wasn't too concerned.
• I did find the throttle spring as stiff as I've read about. Is there a fix or dealer campaign to remedy this?

Thanks in advance….

Jingling noise. Be sure you document it to the dealer.

I had something like this also from the start. For me it was only noticeable at slow speeds and especially over gravel, say in a parking lot. It very slowly got worse; took it to the dealer, said it was 'defective floating rivets connecting the brake rotor to the wheel' on one side; replaced under warranty.

I had ridden mine for umpteen thousands of miles with no adverse handling impact, but be prepped that when you take it in and the shop diagnoses it as a defective brake related problem the dealer wouldn't let it out of the shop until repaired (defective brake / road safety / liability issue).

Throttle spring. $12 buys you a "Cramp Buster," plastic paddle slips over the throttle grip. Sounds strange maybe, but it works for me.

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

I stopped once after about 8 miles to call my wife, whom I had managed to lose at the traffic light back at the onramp. I’m assuming this is normal, too, ..........

Yep, I lose my wife all the time.

KM

I was thinking the same thing ...

Congtrats on the new ride

 

[TangiMan]

Thanks again for the kudos, folks.

Anybody squirt diesel or solvent down the diff. to flush it out before adding the new fluid? Sounds like a good idea to me to get rid of the speckies before refilling it (I'm going to have to get that magnet.)

TM

 

[Ordrock]

I had the same jingling noise on mine as well. I took it into the dealer , complained of the moisture weepage in the left turn signal lense, and a jingling noise in the front end. They found one of the turn signal lenses loose. They had to order a new one. After install the noise was a whole lot less. Unfortunately I haven’t had a lot of time to ride due to the lousy weather.

Took the bike in for the ECU factory swap out and took the bike the bike for a short ride. To cold and all bundled up, couldn’t hear a thing at high speeds though.

Good luck with the jingle noise.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Come on guys! tis the season. Its probably St Nick stuck somewhere on his bike

Slackers.

Congrats on the new ride tangi and, welcome aboard

:jester: