betoney

I rode this morning in about the same temps as you were, the engine held steady at 70C (158-159F). This afternoon the temperature rose to close to15C and the coolant temp stayed the same. This was while moving at highway speeds.

Sigh... I know the feeling. Bring on Spring with some sunny blue skies! 🌞

@olddawg - Good job on reaching these milestones on the FJ... but you are making the rest of us look bad. 😎 Stay safe and keep on racking up the miles!

5 solid selling points. I need no further convincing... 🤣

Yes, the X-Arc signals are not only built well but they are VERY bright. A little pricey but well worth it.

Um... OK... Good times. 😄

Stay home and watch Netflix... 😉 Seriously, riding in the rain is miserable. Occasionally I will get stuck in an unexpected shower, but to ride in the rain on purpose would never happen for me. I ride for leisure and to have fun. My winter riding gear is Tourmaster Transition Jacket and Caliber pants with Alpinestars Goretex gloves.

I also have a '15 FJ09, -every single thing on your "to-do" list was accomplished in the first 6 months of ownership on my bike, so except for the colored TFT display and reshaped bodywork, I technically already have a GT. If I was buying new today there is no question that I would buy the GT, it has every option I would want on a bike (though I would still tweak and personalize it a bit, but thats just me) and I think that the fit and finish is just a bit more thought out and refined over the previous FJ. I suppose the questions you have to ask yourself is 1) Do you want to drop that much money on upgrading a 4 year old bike? and 2) Do you want to go through the time and effort of doing all of the upgrades to your older bike? (disassembling the bike, ordering parts, installing and adjusting everything) or simply buy one thats ready to roll right off the showroom floor? Personally, I enjoy modifying my bikes and dont mind wrenching on them, but like I said, the GT is a fantastic starting point.

@estell - That looks good, I ordered the same design in a black short sleeve. I got an initial email saying my shirt was supposed to ship out yesterday, yet when I check the order status on their website it says the order has been received and it is now printing... but its had the same status since February. How long did yours take to receive?

Is there any appreciable difference from going 525 to 520 pitch chain and sprockets? I switched to a 15T sprocket soon after buying the bike and liked it a lot, a whole lot. When it came time for new chain and sprockets I instead went with a 47T rear sprocket and +2 link chain. - almost the same final drive ratio. The quicker acceleration is worth the slightly higher cruising rpm. In the tighter twisties it feels like the gearing is more properly spaced and can still pull long enough in each gear without constant shifting to keep the motor in the sweet-spot.

Yes, I like that a lot. And those bronze colored wheels kind of match some of the engine bits on the FJ... Hmmm

The tail tidy looks good! I agree with you on some of the manufacturers outrageous pricing, the Yoshimura tail tidy comes to mind at $120! I bought a Generic Tail Tidy for $32 shipped.

I always buy my sprockets and chains from Sprocket Center as well, I use the RS7 Superlite with a DID VX chain. The "Silent Drive" is interesting, I have never seen that before. Their marketing statement is interesting as well, " The rubber profile applied on both sides guarantees noise reduction, which is at least 2 db more than conventional kits, thereby extending transmission and chain life." A 2db noise reduction that extends the life of your transmission... maybe I interpreted their statement wrong or maybe they have some new advanced alien technology? 😎 Either way, their sprockets are bulletproof- when the chain is getting loose and sloppy the sprockets still look new with little perceptible wear.

I guess it’s all a matter of how fast you can work. When I take the swingarm off I always remove the wheel and brake, the last time I did it to grease the bearings, the entire procedure from putting the bike up on the center stand to reassembled, ready to ride was just over 40 minutes.

When I originally checked shipping status it looked like DHL from the U.K.?? but then they sent me a tracking number for USPS from Kentucky?? Confusing indeed.

Denali Fork Tube Mount

@texscottyd At some point its easier to just list the few items that are left stock. 😎

@motopumps Looks well designed and solid. Good job. Question on the .5" cross bar, - what type of connection/adapter connects to a GPS with that dimension? I have been using a RAM mount on my handlebar for many years but am always looking for options.

@Explorer - If you want something smaller, strong and BRIGHT, check out the X-Arc Signals You can get them in either "turn and running" light or "turn, running and brake" light configurations. They are machined from aluminum and VERY bright.

@captainscarlet Thank You for the informative write-up. When I first installed my Penske shock, I was cursing the Yamaha engineers due to limited access of both top and bottom mount bolts. I recently removed my suspension for its 2-year servicing. At the same time I removed the swingarm and linkage for annual cleaning/ greasing. With the swingarm out of the way the shock removal and replacement is infinitely simpler. Removing the swingarm only takes a few minutes. Just a tech tip for anyone considering a shock swap in the future.

Ya' beat me to it. You and the other moderators are pretty good about the repeat and redundant topics, I have been on some forums where they weren't so nice, at all! On many occasions you got the G.I.Y.F. or LMGTFY reply. 😈

Regardless of looks, how much lower is it when measured side by side on a workbench with the oem seat?

I always liked the Triumph Tiger Sport - Just wish it was available stateside.

How are you getting your shirts so quickly? I ordered mine 11 days ago (the day that @Cruizin listed them) and I checked the status and it says they haven't been printed yet?

I couldnt agree more, with all of the new bikes coming out recently I have let my eyes wander and have definitely been tempted to stray from my FJ, -new and improved, latest and greatest and all of that. Every time I go out to rip up some twisties though, I have a grin on my face and occasionally find myself laughing in my helmet as the rpm's climb and I am aggressively flowing from one corner to the next. The FJ still holds its own very nicely. I have let my brother and friends swap bikes while on road trips many times and everyone comes away VERY impressed with the motor. I remember my brother telling me after a ride, "I was over 100mph through those sweepers, still in 3rd gear and it just kept pulling..." 😎