2016 Is Official 6-spd, Slipper, LEDs, Analog Tach, Price

The overdrive concept is simple enough, but was probably of greater interest in days gone by.

In my view, the more important descriptor today is the relationship between the engine rpm and the road speed. And the coupling between the engine's torque and power curves to the thrust and power road load curves for the trip.

The more gears you have, the better shot you have at getting the coupling you want.

Brake specific fuel consumption, engine torque, and volumetric efficiency are all pretty closely tied together. Modern cars will look for the sweet spot where BSFC is near its lowest level. More speeds in the transmission means that you will have a better shot at staying in the sweet spot for more road load conditions.

I'm not going to get stuck in this quagmire too though (the ethanol quagmire was sufficienty sobering - pun intended - to teach an old guy .... me).

Suffice it to say that, for those who do not want 6 speeds, it should be very easy for you to keep your Gen III, or to find a deal on a Gen III as new people migrate to the Gen IV. The idea that this is not legitimately Gen IV in the hearts and minds of anyone who does not own a Gen III is ludicrous.

xcsp said:

art miller said:

Why do so many members insist on revving the **** out of this powerful bike? Even if they had kept the 5sp trans, why not make 5th an overdrive? This could have been done by changing the final drive ratios?

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Who's "revving the s%#t out" of an FJR at highway speeds? 4000-4500 rpm isn't even close to fitting that description, maybe I'm missing something.

Now, if you were hitting the 9k redline all the time, that's another story.

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I think n00bies who come from twins think anythang over 3K iz "revving the ****" outta it!

TPMS - Been doing a little research on the C14 system, and essentially, one should be careful what we wish for. An OEM system is likely to be similar to automotive systems, large internal sensors which must be replaced. So, here's a bit of info on C14..... sensors last about 5 years, then you buy new sensors (~$180+ each per Partzilla), and have them programmed to the bike at your friendly dealer (not DIY). There apparently is an older version of the C14 sensors where you could replace the batteries as a DIY project, but the new ones are potted. Seems to me $360+labour is a tad much and aftermarket systems would seem more appropriate. For those who might happen to have a newer Garmin GPS with TPMS in it, you're good to go. Those sensors have user-replaceable batteries (as do a couple of other aftermarket options).

RaYzerman19 said:

TPMS - Been doing a little research on the C14 system, and essentially, one should be careful what we wish for.

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+1

I have a valve stem sensor arrangement (Tire Gard) mounted on a T stem. It works good, and I made a custom mount for the display. I'm happy with the results.

Revving the **** out of their FJRs.?? That's pretty funny stuff right there. No way can you compare the RPM of a most motorcycle engines to that of cars or for that matter to even cruiser type motorcycles. The stroke length of car engines and cruiser engines are so much longer that it makes it quite difficult for them to equal the RPM of most motorcycle engines. Hence they would meet an early demise.

Besides I've known of a few FJRs that can maintain in excess of 8K+ RPM all day long and still run well afterwards as though it were nothing.

I'm not sure if the 6th gear was needed, but Mama Yama has done pretty well so far with the FJR that I trust she knew what she was doing by bringing about this change.

TripperMike said:

...I'm not sure if the 6th gear was needed, but Mama Yama has done pretty well so far with the FJR that I trust she knew what she was doing by bringing about this change.

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Since 2003 people have been saying that they want a 6th gear. Since day one of this Forum there has been a group that continuously has said they want/need a 6 speed. Beginning in the fall of every year when we begin guessing speculating about the next year's model FJR there is always a demand for a 6 speed. Well, it's here and met with the sound of one hand clapping. Whazup wit dat?

Ignacio said:

kieefjr said:

Just curious, did you guys have this much discussion about what Generation the 2014 model was, the major change there was ES, same bike as the 2013 otherwise?

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Look for yourself. Simply use the search gear icon (to the right of the box) and search on thread titles only for "2014" and see how many and depth of threads. 2014, for example, has about three pages of threads and lengthy discussion about ES. 2016 hasn't come close yet.

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A simple yes or no would be fine.

Im sure the 5speed vs 6speed discussion has several pages of opinions too.

Now I remember why I seldom enjoy posting on here.

ionbeam said:

...Since 2003 people have been saying that they want a 6th gear. Since day one of this Forum there has been a group that continuously has said they want/need a 6 speed. ... Well, it's here and met with the sound of one hand clapping. Whazup wit dat?

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Because the other hand belongs to the group who can't see the need for a 6th gear.
As for the definition of an overdrive, this is just a matter of semantics.

The term has been applied to a gearbox where the output shaft is turning faster than the input. Goes back to an early design of a box that had 3 ratios, the highest was a straight-through, no drive through gears, so quiet and lowest wear.

Another use for the term is an additional gearbox placed after the normal gearbox. Normal running was straight through, then an electrical switch would operate a band-brake mechanism to gear up. This would probaly be restricted in its use to the upper two ratios of the normal box where the gearbox output torque was relatively low. This sort of overdrive was applicable for use with manual or automatic gearboxes, often availabe as an optional extra.

For many years, the standard manual gearbox in the UK was four ratios. Usually this meant that all four gears put the drive through the layshaft, no straight-through direct drive. Now manufacturors could choose any ratio that suited, there was no engineering advantage in a 1:1 ratio for top gear. The addition of a 5th or 6th gear ratio evolved more because the same box was used for diesel engined cars as well as petrol (gas); diesel engines have a smaller torque band than petrol.

The term "overdrive" veered to meaning a high top gear. In this context, overdrive generally means a gear where the highest speed you could reach was significantly below the engine's peak power rpm. Usually the vehicle's top speed was higher in the gear below top, nothing to do with the precise ratios of the gearbox.

With this last definition, the Gen 1 FJR's top gear was not an overdrive. Even the Gen 2 & 3 was barely an overdrive. Maybe the 2016 is, that's certainly the implication of the blurb.

Personally, I wouldn't mind a high 6th gear, but I'd also rather they lowered first gear to make the bike more trickleable in slow traffic.

ionbeam said:

TripperMike said:

...I'm not sure if the 6th gear was needed, but Mama Yama has done pretty well so far with the FJR that I trust she knew what she was doing by bringing about this change.

Click to expand...

Since 2003 people have been saying that they want a 6th gear. Since day one of this Forum there has been a group that continuously has said they want/need a 6 speed. Beginning in the fall of every year when we begin guessing speculating about the next year's model FJR there is always a demand for a 6 speed. Well, it's here and met with the sound of one hand clapping. Whazup wit dat?

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As good as the FJR engine is I thought 3 or 4 gears would have been fine. Somebody will be along after the 16 hits the street to whine about what the FJR really has to have to be the perfect ride. There will always be a carrot in front of the consumer donkey to keep him/her looking for the latest and greatest.

[blockquote class=ipsBlockquote'data-author="BanjoBoy" data-cid="1274855" data-time="1449324386][p]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="xcsp" data-cid="1274815" data-time="1449287070"><p>

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="art miller" data-cid="1274803"><p>

Why do so many members insist on revving the **** out of this powerful bike? Even if they had kept the 5sp trans, why not make 5th an overdrive? This could have been done by changing the final drive ratios?</p></blockquote>

Who's "revving the s%#t out" of an FJR at highway speeds? 4000-4500 rpm isn't even close to fitting that description, maybe I'm missing something. Now, if you were hitting the 9k redline all the time, that's another story.</p></blockquote>

I think n00bies who come from twins think anythang over 3K iz "revving the ****" outta it![/p][/blockquote]

They need to be introduced to a Ninja 250 as part of their transition to modern technology. If they cant get used high engine revs from one of those, then they aren't going anywhere but back to their antiques.

Anyone who "Revv's the ****" out of an FJR in 5th gear is going to be dead or in jail rather quickly. Even 4th gear is about 130, as the **** revving goes. Haha...

For those that complain about all that extra shifting......I wonder if there has ever been a study done to determine (for example) how much time is added to a 1000 mile trip as a result of "All That Extra Shifting".......

What Yamaha is not saying is the introduction of this Gen IV bike marks the 20th anniversary for the FJR. Originally introduced in Europe in 2001, and in the U.S. in 2003, this marks 20 years of design excellence and progressive improvement.

Happy Anniversary...Today marks 5 years since I bought my 2005 FJR and brought it back to Sacramento from Reno with only 5874 miles on the clock. I rode it 2200 miles in one month so I could register it in CA in January with the requisite 7500 miles (it was closer to 8000). What a fantastic bike that has been, and it's better today than 5-years ago.

The 2016 looks to be an amazing motorcycle, and has become so refined, and yet all the models back to the beginning, 20 years ago, look, perform and feel like a Thoroughbred; fast off the line and good for the distance. It's a great family no matter which year you own.

csi said:

For those that complain about all that extra shifting......I wonder if there has ever been a study done to determine (for example) how much time is added to a 1000 mile trip as a result of "All That Extra Shifting".......

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I believe we have a member up in Oregon who either has or might be willing to offer some insight on that.

BigOgre said:

csi said:

For those that complain about all that extra shifting......I wonder if there has ever been a study done to determine (for example) how much time is added to a 1000 mile trip as a result of "All That Extra Shifting".......

Click to expand...

I believe we have a member up in Oregon who either has or might be willing to offer some insight on that.

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I thought the same thing.

I know he counts shifts. If we can determine time involved per shift, it should be easy to figger... lol

It's not just about extra shifting. My "other" bike has a 6 speed.

More specifically, it has a close-ratio 5 speed with a 6th gear

overdrive. In use, you have 5 closely spaced gears that are

all too low for anything but getting underway and 6th which is

good for anything over about 35 mph. This contrasts sharply

with my Gen II FJR which has a "pick a gear and go" wide-

ratio 4 speed with a 5th gear overdrive.

Here on the east coast I can ride all day on secondary roads

without ever using 5th gear. In fact, with a 190 rear tire,

my bike is struggling to pull 5th below about 55 mph.

Having a six-speed was never on my radar.

Oh, and Tom: you suck at math. Lol

HotRodZilla said:

Anyone who "Revv's the ****" out of an FJR in 5th gear is going to be dead or in jail rather quickly. Even 4th gear is about 130, as the **** revving goes. Haha...

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Perhaps you should amend to 'Anyone' to 'Any idiot'. Cause there are several of us around here who have done all that **** revving in 5th gear for quite a long time and managed to avoid any donut chasers. JSNS!

TomInCA said:

What Yamaha is not saying is the introduction of this Gen IV bike marks the 20th anniversary for the FJR. Originally introduced in Europe in 2001, and in the U.S. in 2003, this marks 20 years of design excellence and progressive improvement.
Happy Anniversary...Today marks 5 years since I bought my 2005 FJR and brought it back to Sacramento from Reno with only 5874 miles on the clock. I rode it 2200 miles in one month so I could register it in CA in January with the requisite 7500 miles (it was closer to 8000). What a fantastic bike that has been, and it's better today than 5-years ago.

The 2016 looks to be an amazing motorcycle, and has become so refined, and yet all the models back to the beginning, 20 years ago, look, perform and feel like a Thoroughbred; fast off the line and good for the distance. It's a great family no matter which year you own.

Click to expand...

Only an idiot that figures it's the 20th anniversary of the FJR would call it a Gen IV.............

^^^Yeah, I forgot about that. Haha...But that was a closed track with a professional idiot...opps...Rider.

SkooterG said:

HotRodZilla said:

Anyonit's o "Revv's the ****" out of an FJR in 5th gear is going to be . dead or in jail rather quickly. Even 4th gear is about 130, as the **** revving goes. Haha...

Click to expand...

Perhaps you should amend to 'Anyone' to 'Any idiot'. Cause there are several of us around here who have done all that **** revving in 5th gear for quite a long time and managed to avoid any donut chasers. JSNS!

TomInCA said:

What Yamaha is not saying is the introduction of this Gen IV bike marks the 20th anniversary for the FJR. Originally introduced in Europe in 2001, and in the U.S. in 2003, this marks 20 years of design excellence and progressive improvement.
Happy Anniversary...Today marks 5 years since I bought my 2005 FJR and brought it back to Sacramento from Reno with only 5874 miles on the clock. I rode it 2200 miles in one month so I could register it in CA in January with the requisite 7500 miles (it was closer to 8000). What a fantastic bike that has been, and it's better today than 5-years ago.

The 2016 looks to be an amazing motorcycle, and has become so refined, and yet all the models back to the beginning, 20 years ago, look, perform and feel like a Thoroughbred; fast off the line and good for the distance. It's a great family no matter which year you own.

Click to expand...

Only an idiot that figures it's the 20th anniversary of the FJR would call it a Gen IV.............

Click to expand...

Yeah, let's go with 15th anniversary. Maybe the Gen 4 will be released on the 20th anniversary.

Took me damn near an hour, to read this thread.

Did you guys discuss the upcomming birth of your child to this extent?

5 fingers, or is 6 better?