Quote from: STLanduyt on Today at 05:43:23 PMThe current snag ... the starter is stuck and I cannot pull it out, although it does rotate in place a very small amount.  I followed the Yamaha manual, which simply said unbolt the unit and remove it.  Unbolting was straight forward.  Removing it hasn't happened yet.  Is there a secret technique to removing the unit that Yamaha is keeping to itself?

Steve

I think the starter has an O-Ring seal. This might need just a little more pull. Try gently prying straight out.

The FJ1100 is currently suspended from the rafters in the garage, wheels, front fork, fairing etc. are off and I am cleaning, de-rusting and repainting components of the engine and frame with the bike in that posture, as I mentioned before, and the transmission is in neutral ...

The current snag ... the starter is stuck and I cannot pull it out, although it does rotate in place a very small amount.  I followed the Yamaha manual, which simply said unbolt the unit and remove it.  Unbolting was straight forward.  Removing it hasn't happened yet.  Is there a secret technique to removing the unit that Yamaha is keeping to itself?

Steve

Weather got hotter over the last few days!

I took 221 south to I-40 and got off after about 9 miles, in Black Mountain, to go south on Route 9. This was a gorgeous road, but it's under repair so it's down to one lane in a couple places.

64 from there to highlands was fine, a little traffic-y, and so was 106 and 23 to Clayton GA. I took 76 west and then ducked south on the very pretty Charlie Mountain Road just east of Lake Burton. Highly recommended. Back roads to Cleveland GA, and then south on 400 to home.

Great to see you guys! I hope your weather holds for a couple more days; I got a couple drops as an evening storm builds for later this evening.

Cheers!

Dan, that looks to be a hoot to ride. Once you get the light weight 17's on and scrubbed it, let us know your riding impressions.
 What's the range on your tank?

Have fun amigo and no, you're not insane. Your priorities are spot on.

Pat

Quote from: 86FJNJ on May 05, 2026, 02:39:46 PM

Quote from: giantkiller on May 01, 2026, 12:07:28 AMI was helping a friend of mine. He's going to have back surgery. He was going to adjust the chain on a friend's Indian. The guy left the key. But he couldn't ride it to his garage. So he asked me to help.
Expecting a big bagger...
It's an FTR 1200.
I never knew they made such a thing. Awesome vtwin torque....
Now I'm obsessed with them.....
I'm trying not to buy one.

FTR's are really cool, you can find them for decent price because they're discontinued but I've seen they are harder to find for the same reason. A similar look/feel would be a Harley Pan America ST, the ST version is the rather new road focused version to the Pan American line up but you may see those used in the near future, 150hp vtwin, stay away from the 2021 and 2022 Pan Americas but I've hear good things about the 2023's and newer.

Checked out the Pan American. Many videos on them. Only Hardly Dangerous could make it look so ugly. That being said they are amazing how many features they have. All the things they incorporated into it kinda freaks me. So many things that it has.  That you never would have come up with. But when they show them to you. You go wow that's really cool. But it weighs 580lbs wet. Ftr is 518-522lbs wet. And the cheapest price is $20,000 all the way upto $30,000. My ftr being the most limited with more carbon fiber than the carbon versions. Was $20,000. I got mine with 517mi for $10,000 off.

I have been hoping for a miracle to make the rally, but I cannot attend. Caretaker is a full time job. I will enjoy the stories and pictures, and miss the campfire moments. Ride safe, smiles up, rubber side down. Kookalooo

I've used one of these top yokes > https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/287333153199?_skw=2010+xj-6+top+yoke&itmmeta=01KRV930RYY7X9AVRWBVV83ZK7&hash=item42e663f9af:g:MqQAAeSwi69qBxJV&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xCrYciABctoufTmNCRZAABgDNMh%2FZhPjtKx5t43B0jQ3DtthQc7QWLCYLIaQvGYdpw6ogo9GIgqUYWglPmVmDKM4zIVjtFK8mwLPg9ggMl9%2FVg6u1NBU6P9M82vZWLKd136Mxp%2FvXwhMY7D96%2FohWMqw4%2BWuxRIvh%2BsIxuyKuLUWEjTcU9aZ2wWm0cWyAs15iivyieuuJWM%2Bi9zfH1Zwf%2FH3Eym6MVZbKTYaVQijTHbK6RgIk8mSm6pETAP56e4ezU1EGWBDoxyIJFPb959b%2FjiyoLqdARM7pjXdmOwBNCbwQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR96MjOnGZw
Same 41mm leg diameter and spacing. Obviously this one is in Poland and others can be found cheaper.
I then used some Renthal flat handlebars. On my latest FJ i've turned the handlebars round so they don't hit the inside of the fairing.
Oh yeah, and don't be fooled into buying early Diversion top yoke because that will not fit, it needs to be the model from round about 2010. HTH.

Any recommendations for a top triple clamp to convert to regular bars on an Fj1100? Any other bike with the same measurements or a good aftermarket option.

This thing would completely flip over if you throttle a little too aggressively in first just comming on the power. I  almost used the racoon scraper the first time I gave it the gas in 1st. If you turn off the abs/traction control it will come up as far as you want in 3rd gear as it hits the power. Woohoo. It's insanity.

I test rode a 2024 Carbon R. With 17s. It handles like there's no weight there. It had 700 miles. While I was riding it. I was like I'm gonna buy this. But the dealer would not budge at all. Wouldn't take off the bogus $300 service charge on a 700mi bike. Wouldn't even sell me a carbon seat cowel at dealer cost. Wouldn't cost them anything.  So I walked out. The dealership with the Champions edition was 20mi from my house but I didn't want the bigger tires. It handles like my fj1350r with inverted gixxer front end Honda shock and gixxer wheels. Instead of how awesome the FTR with 17s handles. But when I found out that the 17 inch wheels were $805 for both. And they come with bearings and seals even have 90° stems already installed. You could just transfer everything else from the big wheels. But I ordered everything else. Then I could put the big wheels back on. Add a belly pan and go adventure bike riding.