FJR Rider

Here's the finish date, time, and location: Finish - Firday, September 4, 9 AM (Note: the finish time is 9 AM - an hour earlier than past rallies) Red Lion Inn at the Park, 303 W North River Drive, Spokane WA http://www.ironbutt.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3064&PN=1

Steve, Since this an IBR year, the volunteer's focus this summer has been on rally prep....I'm sure Ed's and my certificates and plate frames will show up eventually. Ours was 1042 in just a tick over 16 hours (14 hours rolling, 2 hours fuel, lunch, and break stops). Curt

A side note here...Pete is riding his 05 FJR. On the way to the "starting" point in SC, he rolled over 100,000 miles on it. So, he's doing his 11,000 miles in 11 days on a bike that already had 100,000 miles on it.

Dave, Thanks for posting the link. To answer the question "why?" Yes, because they can For those who know Pete, it's nothing for him to hop on either his RSV or FJR and do a 1,000 ride just because. I'm pretty sure this is his first IBR and do be in the top 20 is quite an accomplishment. Still waiting on my plate frame and ceritificate from my SS1000 earlier this summer. Curt

Pete Behm (Stillwater MN), fellow Venture owner is currently sitting in 17th after 8 days of the 2009 Iron Butt Rally. Onward to Spokane! Good luck Pete.

Bill, Let Lowell know I'll see him at Eagleyes' on the 10th...will be good to see him again. Curt

First owned/licensed bike .. 1973 Suzuki 185 Enduro

I know quite a few the GW trike riders have their tires mounted backwards (arrow pointing to back of bike when the arrow is on the top of the tire rotation). I'd be happy to check with a couple of them and let you know what brand tire they're using as well...Lumpy (Bill Kahley) has over 20k miles on his front tire.

Actually...not hacked...two problems, one with Google and one with Firefox. No more details to share.

You need to schedule a visit to Decorah for the Friday and Saturday after Labor Day .. then you could come over to New Hampton and visit the Davis Rally. The folks set up by the pool might even give you a beverage (Not_Ed, probably not, but I would).

Rick, The only reason I mentioned the painting of the pinstripes .. this is as you mentioned the "dividing" pinstriping .. for HDs is I've toured their facility in Tomahawk several times. The robot for the pinstriping is KUKA rebot, it paints, it doesn't apply a roll of ready made pinstriping. All the dividing (which is all they do there) pinstriping is painted .. this is for the fairing, bags, tanks, and sidepanels for the soft-tail and touring model HDs. Maybe what comes on Sportser and other HDs without fairings and bags is ready-made pinstriping, but what they do at Tomahawk is all painted. What the folks said at Tomahawk is they do all this paintwork there, so only going with what I was told and what I saw. They do custom colors there as well, but I don't believe they do custom paint jobs/pinstriping there. I'll be back up there for the Fall Colors ride in about a month, I'll check again. Curt

Steve...you have to wave at those crazy guys in the Cadillacs in front you ... might be some bikers that you know Didn't ride Saturday, but managed a nice 300 mile day on the FJR yesterday .. Suamico (GB) over to WR, then (charity ride) backroads down to Princeton, and then I meandered back home to Suamico. Beautiful weather .. including the frog strangler between Redgranite and Poy Sippe, and then another quick one by Greenville.

Okay, we have someone who owned an FJR, didn't like it, now owns an RSV, and really likes it. I have both, and ride both regularly...maybe just maybe I can offer a fair opinion...we'll see Let's get THE question out of the way first .. which do I like better? Let's see I have close to 100,000 miles on RSVs and 6,500 on a FJR (but over 35,000 on a Concours too) .. I like both bikes as they serve different purposes. But if I (without Cathy's input) could have only one, it would be the FJR! However, Cathy WOULD have input and that means the RSV would stay in the garage and the FJR would go. Contrary (but what would you all expect out of me anyway????) to other's opinions who've ridden an FJR, I find it more comfortable than the RSV. I can usually do 125 miles or so the first run of the day on the RSV, but after that I need to get off right around 80 miles as the tailbone gives up the ghost by then. The FJR on the other hand is something I can do 200 miles on, get off, fuel up, and do another 200 miles. Just need to "click" the knees a couple of times, but no backside pain like on the RSV. As far as wind noise goes, I wear decent earplugs and really don't notice the windnoise. I have several different helmets I use when riding the FJR and I have one in particular which much quieter than the others, and I usually wear it most times I ride the FJR. As far as wind buffetting, I leave the windscreen all the way down (which I actually like best) or put it slightly up to sweet spot I've found. The only time I put it all the way up is when it's really cold...keeps the air off my chest which helps keep me warm, but increases the buffetting significantly. As far as creature comforts, you would have to add a lot to an FJR to match the RSV ... but lots of FJR owners have done just that...risers, cruise control, radios, differrent saddles, etc. Personally I like the bars right where there at and have even considered lowering them! I might consider a Russell saddle at some point but the OEM saddle isn't half bad; my only complaint is it's two-piece and the step up for the rear portion should be a little more contoured than it is. I've got both bikes set up so I can transfer my Zumo back and forth. Cathy has a choice..her choice is to ride the RSV so I'm not concerned about whether she'd be comfortable or not on the FJR. She's never going to do a long (or for that matter short) trip on the FJR, so why worry about the rear seat? For my older granddaughter and grandsons I did add a passenger backrest and luggage rack, and I rarely get any complaints out them . Some riders have complained about the buzz in the bars...huh? My FJR has no more buzz than our RSV, and compared to my old Concours is down-right silky smooth. However I did swap out the rock hard OEM grips for Pro-One Gel superbike grips, and the Thottlemeister bar ends are heavier than the OEM bar end weights. If Cathy and I are going anywhere two-up it will always be the RSV, but when it's just me, if will be the FJR. Kind of like the old HD saying, "if you have to ask why, you just wouldn't understand!" Past the above comments it would be out of place for me to attempt to tell people which is better or worse. Each one is purpose built and each one does their job well. I'm just happy that I can have both of them in my garage and ride both of them regularly. Curt

Hmmm, should I comment?

Almost new (2 weeks) Dunlop E3 rear, 500 miles, ran over something on freeway, quick deflation, almost lost bike and trailer two up at 65 mph. Plugged tire on side of freeway (trimmed excess plug off at first stop) and continued trip. 12,000 miles later, same tire, same plug. New Dunlop E3 rear in garage ready to go on when this one wears out.

This summer I've experienced a nice change in MPG on both the RSV and the FJR. On the 06 RSV running 71 MPH (65 GPS) two-up, no trailer, consistently staying in the mid 40s; get on the two-lanes and backroads running 55 MPH and it's in the upper 40s, with a 50 MPG or better every so often. But the really good news is when we're pulling the Bunkhouse camper. On the freeway running 65 MPH (GPS), the bike is getting 37 to 39 MPG; used be down at 32 to 34 MPG. Get on the two-lanes running 5 over at 60 MPH and the bike will get over 40 MPG pulling the camper. This is fully loaded, camper and bike, and two up. The FJR is the interesting one...go a little faster, get a little better gas mileage . (My car does the same thing though). On a recent SS1000 when running 5 over (75 MPH GPS) it consistently got 44-45 MPG. The stretch from Fargo ND to Sioux Falls SD where the speed limit was 75 and we ran 5 over (80 MPH GPS) the bike got 48 MPG. When the speed limit came back down so did the gas mileage..not much, most of us would be happy between 44 and 48 anyway . And, the friend's RSV on the ride, he only got 32 MPG on the 80 MPH stretch...when the speed limit came down, his MPG went back up . Curt

I pull the leaf blower off the wall, fire it up, and use it.

Best suspension in the group...if it had a couple of tweaks (e.g., FI and no tape deck) it likely would have beat the Harley

RR, Not sure I'll get the small group over there or not...still don't know what the ride route is for tomorrow. If Tim (Stealth1) says we're going to be close, I'll give you a call....otherwise, you all have fun :happy65:tomorrow. Curt

RR...I was hoping to make the same offer you made for my get together (a lift, tools, etc)....but just back from 10 days vacation in the PdC WI/McGregor IA area with the bike and camper, and next weekend is already booked for another riding get together in Ripon. You all have a good time! Curt

I suspect it might have something to do with the part of the country you're in, and possibly how the station's card readers are set up. What I posted above is what one company principle says his company does and what he knows regarding other stations in the area. Up until three weeks I never had a problem with using Debit Card either...then we went camping in small town in southern WI. All three of the stations in the town won't take Debit Cards at the pump...none had PIN readers, but when you inserted your debit card (which should recognized as the credit as well) the pumps would not take the cards. Put in the regular credit card and no problem. On my 1000 miler last Saturday, no problem with the Debit Card at the first four stops (Holiday, independent, Flying J, and a Shell) in three different states; fourth stop would not process the Debit Card, even when telling the pump it was credit; next stop the same, but would take the card inside; and the next stop was a Kwik Trip with a truck stop...sign clearly posted that Debit Cards would have a $400 hold applied. Same sign on the pumps at the final stop, another Kwik Trip. So maybe it doesn't hold water, I'm only repeating what the company principle told me (because I asked a question) and what my son-in-law the banker told me as well. Take it for what it's worth..I'm only sharing.

I know this thread has been dead for a couple of days, but I wanted to share a little research I did yesterday and today. First I contacted the company that owns the gas stations (RENEW) that I use for local fillups. The stations are "unattended" and accept only cash, debit cards, or credit cards at the pump. I figured if anyone knew about how debit and credit transactions are handled at gas stations they would because 99% of the business is via card transactions. I talked with one of the principles of the company (based here in Wisconsin)...he was very helpful and he provided the following information...I apologize as some of what he told me contradicts what some of you have said above...I'm only repeating what he said. Regarding debit or credit transactions at the pump, it doesn't make a difference, both types have holds put on them. His pumps don't use a PIN pad, so their system (triple encrypted) looks to the account number. When the card is swiped the data passes to a third party clearing house who in turn passes the data to the bank or credit card company...the data then passes back through the third party clearing house and back to the pump. All of this takes typically takes 1 to 5 seconds. These gas stations are looking for $75 to the good and if there's at least $75 there it "pre-authorizes" the sale at $75 (i.e., the hold). If it doesn't see $75 to the good, the authorization fails and no sale is allowed. What he told me though is for his stations the $75 hold IS NOT in addition to what's purchased, it's the max. The customer won't typically know it as when the transfer of funds is authorized in the middle of the night by the FED, the $75 hold comes off and the actual amount is transferred from the bank via the FED to the company. We went on to talk about how some other stations are doing things, and again he was very knowledgeable. Again though he repeated, at the pump it doesn't make a difference between debit or credit, if the station is doing a hold it will apply to either. Where he said some customers are really complaining (not his, but others) is some stations are doing the pre-authorization "hold" AND charging the amount of the sale. So if the hold is $75.00 and the actual sale is $25, then $100 goes on the account until it passes in the night...also some stations have a 24-48 hour delay for their debit/credit transactions which ties up the customers funds. He said this is typical of small chains or independent owners (who might have a national chain storefront) who don't want to or can't pay certain fees or upgrade to certain equipment. We talked about PIN at the pump and his company does not plan on offering this, however he was knowledgeable regarding other company practices. He said that PIN at the pump for debit transactions should work as they do inside and typically when the PIN is used no hold would be applied. However I know this to not be true as my wife used PIN at the pump at another chain this weekend and a $100 hold was put on our debit card in addition to the $25 or so sale...NOT HAPPY!. He said PIN transactions are supposed to process right through as it's a direct line to your account, however as I noted this is not always true. Before I forget...in the pre-authorization process, the card is recognized as a DEBIT or CREDIT via the account number. He said while some stations allow you run a debit card as a "credit" transaction, the end result is the same...a hold for the pre-authorization. The reason I mentioned this is this also explains why some pumps will simply reject a debit card when swiped. The next topic we discussed was why some stations are no longer accepting debit cards at the pump. This is primarily due to security concerns and the fact the stations can't afford to install another level of encryption and/or security. By not accepting the pump they can get the customer to come inside to do the transaction...most will still take the debit card inside. On this topic he went on to say that he'd be very surprised if any station and/or chain is refusing to take debit cards. Whereas most pay fees for credit card transactions, most in fact make money (up to 1%) on debit transactions...in other words they want your debit card business. The last item....my son-in-law is a banker; he's a branch manager for one of the nation's largest banks. He did some research for me as well and it's not the banks doing the holds, it's the stations/national chains doing it. Other than complaining on the customers' behalf, it's not in the banking industry's control. Sorry to disappoint some, but the problem is on the station/national chain side. The gentleman from the company I contacted made the following recommendation. He said almost all, if not all the national chains, and for sure the independent dealers are putting holds on your debit and/or credit transactions, some even when using their PIN with debit transactions. His company does do a $75 hold, but again the sale is within this amount...but some are doing the pre-authorization hold plus the sale amount. He said most of us don't see this even when we check our on-line balances because of the timing of the processing. While he would prefer the debit transactions (see reason above) he said if customers are concerned about the impact on their checking accounts they should definitely use their credit card as the LOC is usually significantly more than most people carry as their balance, but be advised the stations are still putting holds on your account. Next best solution is good ol' cash. Curt

Glad you guys are okay! RR, seagull and geese? Cats too? Over the years (no deer, yet...close) I've hit a couple of birds (feathers and crap everywhere); "winged" a wild turkey; had big ol' dog run into me which about knocked me over; I've hit at least one coon with the bike; even had a snake drop out of the sky and almost land in my lap; but squirrels....I kill off five or six of them every year with the bike!

Jeff, Congratulations! I'm glad you got a chance to meet Pete and Paula as well! Also, I was talking to Yooper (Fred Saari) who lives in Ispheming MI and he said he passed both you and Pete and Paula on the road up his way. Curt