My Yamaha FJ09 had a weird jealousy crisis about my 1979 GS850!!!

[maisf]

Yes well, I admit it, I've been mostly riding the GS for almost 2 months now, sorting all bugs and annoyances coming with this old lady...

So a few nights ago, I got ready for a full shake down of the GS, with a friend of mine who haven't had a motorbike for quite some time but who's interested in vintages bikes.

So my friend is coming in, I warmed up the old GS, we're laughing at how I need a wisegrip to hold the choke from closing.

I get my helmets and as we're ready to go out... My 2016 FJ-09 refuses to start!!!!! WTF...

This bike has always started right away, but now it's just cranking and doing no good. Then the battery dies...

I rolled the bike back in the garage and get Wifey's V-Star 1300 out and so we were good to get out, at last.
It's a shame because comparing both the FJ-09 and the GS back to back is quite a thing.
I mean it's about the exact same motor size, both are design with some touring in mind but it tells you how technology has been moving in the last 40 years.

FJ-09 has almost 40 hp more, around a 100 pounds less, moderns brakes, TC, engine mode, digital display and all...
So it's quite a shock going from one to the other...

But GS is such a nice lady. Silky, smooth, buttery back to basics.

Ok, just to wrap up my story, I guess you guys wanna know what happen to the FJ-09?

Dead battery and bads contacts on the kill switch was all there was to it. I dismantled the switch, cleaned up the contacts, lube up everything, and it just sprung back to life...

God damn drama queen.



Frank

[Rob S.]

That's why I always tried not to play favorites. When my Sporty was brand new, and parked right next to my 11E, I did everything in my power to avoid jealousies. I may have been lusting after a Sportster for almost half a century, but I always made sure I let Suzi know I hadn't forgotten about her big bore, inline four 7k rush.

[Jedz123]

My FJ-09 lost it's battery on a very cold morning. New Battery was needed... It's amazing how good the bikes are these days. I installed cruise control and heated grips and it will just run for days. 200 miles per tank, 45mpg, it's as quick as my FZ1 but more capable for long tors.

Got home from my long ride this past weekend (2200 miles) and the chain is smoked , stock chain with 15K miles on it. Luckily I keep a spare 525 chain in inventory for the T120. Hopefully my drama queen is set to go by the weekend!

Hope the border opens up, I would love to come up to Montreal for a weekend getaway, been too long.

Best,

[bwringer]

Man, there's really been a rash of FJ-09s invading GSR garages lately.

But seriously, every time I ride my GS850G, I always have the thought "Dang, this thing is nice. I should ride it more often."

Yeah, modern bikes are awfully nice, but a nicely sorted out GS really is something special. It's amazing how well a 40-ish year old bike can work.


And yeah, the stock chain on the FJ-09 is pretty crappy. I bought mine with 22,000 miles on it and the original chain was roached. From what I understand, that's pretty exceptional mileage from the original chain.

Here's a close-up comparison of the low-rent stock o-ring chain from my FJ-09 with the MUCH higher-quality replacement, an EK ZVX3 x-ring. Yes, these are both 525 chains:

THICC!



BEEFY!

[Jedz123]

New Chains are soooo nice! Did the tires too...

[Carter Turk]

No sprockets?

[Jedz123]

I swapped the front. Rear looks really good still.