Bluegrass FJR
Well-known member
I've now owned my 07 for a week and these are my initial observations:
Ground Rules - 05 ABS - 4500 miles, tires in fair shape (some cupping), heat-proofing mods, power commander, Heli clip-on risers, K&N air filter
07 - 300 miles, throttle tension release, G2 throttle tube
1. The ride is very similar. Running the same suspension settings and same tire pressures, the 07 feels firmer in the rear. It also soaks up bumps a bit better. I keep a couple extra clicks of rebound dialed in on the 05. This may sound odd, but it feels like there's more bike behind me on the 07. I guess it's because of the longer swingarm. Suspension action on the 05 feels closer to my butt than on the 07.
2. The 07 heats up my left foot/ankle/shin quite a bit and my right foot/ankle/shin somewhat. Before heat-proofing my 05 it was brutal on my left foot/ankle/shin and it's still hotter than the 07. I haven't ridden the 07 on a really hot day, but I'm pretty sure it's a lot better about heating up the tank. If I let the 05 get below 1/2 tank, it's a real toaster, even after heat-proofing it.
3. Both have a lot of low rpm surge, around 2500-3000 rpm. Power commander pretty much eliminated it on the 05. I expect I'll be doing the same to the 07.
4. The bar/seat/peg relationship is a little more comfortable on the 07. The reach to the clip-ons is practically identical and I have risers on the 05. The 07's seat gets to feeling hard quicker, though.
5. I like the way the 07's bags are tucked in tighter. It cleans up the back end noticeably. Also, since the bags don't stick out as far, they seem to get less bugged up than the 05's.
6. Before mods, the 07 had the nastiest throttle I've ever experienced on any bike. The clutch is also a lot stiffer.
7. I don't prefer the 07's mirrors - they're buzzier. They look good, but don't work any better.
8. I like the 05's blue a lot, but the 07's dark cherry is growing on me.
9. The longer wheelbase and resultant increased stability make holding a line in a corner easier for an average rider like me. Both flick about the same.
10. Brakes are pretty much a tie. I haven't felt any difference between the linked and non-linked systems.
11. The 07 really got hot in city, stop-and-go riding Friday. It didn't impart much of that heat to me, but it was indicating way up the temp gauge. Once again, power commander will help with that. In similar riding Saturday, the 05 didn't get as hot, but it still got me hotter.
12. I never had much problem with the 05's windshield, but I think the 07's functions better. Noise is about the same, but turbulence is improved.
That's about it for my initial observations. I don't want to make this too long and drawn out.
Ground Rules - 05 ABS - 4500 miles, tires in fair shape (some cupping), heat-proofing mods, power commander, Heli clip-on risers, K&N air filter
07 - 300 miles, throttle tension release, G2 throttle tube
1. The ride is very similar. Running the same suspension settings and same tire pressures, the 07 feels firmer in the rear. It also soaks up bumps a bit better. I keep a couple extra clicks of rebound dialed in on the 05. This may sound odd, but it feels like there's more bike behind me on the 07. I guess it's because of the longer swingarm. Suspension action on the 05 feels closer to my butt than on the 07.
2. The 07 heats up my left foot/ankle/shin quite a bit and my right foot/ankle/shin somewhat. Before heat-proofing my 05 it was brutal on my left foot/ankle/shin and it's still hotter than the 07. I haven't ridden the 07 on a really hot day, but I'm pretty sure it's a lot better about heating up the tank. If I let the 05 get below 1/2 tank, it's a real toaster, even after heat-proofing it.
3. Both have a lot of low rpm surge, around 2500-3000 rpm. Power commander pretty much eliminated it on the 05. I expect I'll be doing the same to the 07.
4. The bar/seat/peg relationship is a little more comfortable on the 07. The reach to the clip-ons is practically identical and I have risers on the 05. The 07's seat gets to feeling hard quicker, though.
5. I like the way the 07's bags are tucked in tighter. It cleans up the back end noticeably. Also, since the bags don't stick out as far, they seem to get less bugged up than the 05's.
6. Before mods, the 07 had the nastiest throttle I've ever experienced on any bike. The clutch is also a lot stiffer.
7. I don't prefer the 07's mirrors - they're buzzier. They look good, but don't work any better.
8. I like the 05's blue a lot, but the 07's dark cherry is growing on me.
9. The longer wheelbase and resultant increased stability make holding a line in a corner easier for an average rider like me. Both flick about the same.
10. Brakes are pretty much a tie. I haven't felt any difference between the linked and non-linked systems.
11. The 07 really got hot in city, stop-and-go riding Friday. It didn't impart much of that heat to me, but it was indicating way up the temp gauge. Once again, power commander will help with that. In similar riding Saturday, the 05 didn't get as hot, but it still got me hotter.
12. I never had much problem with the 05's windshield, but I think the 07's functions better. Noise is about the same, but turbulence is improved.
That's about it for my initial observations. I don't want to make this too long and drawn out.
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