05 and 06 side by side

[OrangevaleFJR]

Well I saw the 06 up close today and I'm impressed with many things. I think it is obvious that they tried to make it look more expensive. Frankly, I think they succeeded, while at the same time keeping a sporting look and feel. I like the thinner appearance aft of the tank. It reminds me of the FJ1200 a little in that area.

I like don't like the new sharper looking headlight outlines and the vents next to the lights much. Looks like something difficult to clean. I like the curved radiator and radiator guard, and the different color silver on the swingarm and final drive is kinda nice too. The longer swingarm I'm indifferent about. What surprised me the most was the incredible number of changes! When you get these two bikes next to each other, there is a LOT different. Some changes are so small as to be only a nuance, others are significant. I really like the new way they handled around and below the back of the tank with the silver pieces. The overall appearance is cleaner with the side panel extended lower.

The texture on the black plastic is nice. I like it better than the flat plastic, although it will be more difficult to clean, it just looks good.

The adjustable handlebars only swing forward and back with no height adjustment. I'm not sure that would do me much good, and they aren't adjustable without some significant effort. You gotta unscrew stuff and things hard like that!

Overall: I like it very much and knowing some of the improvements I would take it over my 05 if given a free choice, but I don't like it so much more that I just have to have it. I feel good about my 05, even better seeing it's new sibling side by side. We have awesome bikes!

Roseville Yamaha had 4 in their shop today. One got picked up, I'm bringing my camera to snap the other three tomorrow.

 

[designeraccd]

So far my new '06 continues to impress me despite being bike #77; yea...maybe I'm a wee bit jaded?!

Only negatives so far: for me bar risers and probably a Corbin are needed to get the ergos right. One other came up last night while sitting at a light. Some young gee-knee-ass came alongside in his SilleeeUgleeVeehickull with an over sized amp blarinn out cRAP "music". Even at 2K revz I couldn't quite drown that garbage out; guess my 1200R Sportster does have a few advantages after all!

OTOH the bike's handling continues to impress me while my '03 FJR didn't, it was adequate only to me. Power, like the '03, is more than sufficient. No heat felt so far and last night the ambient temps, per the bike, were from 77F to 71F. On my '03 heat was evident at those temps while runninn backroads, in town...whew!

Visually I prefer this deep, dark blue with silver wheels to the achromatic (no color) look of the '03 with the silver paint and blACK wheels. Do prefer the BS 020s tho; the Metzlers on the new one are ok, but don't seem to warm up as fast...don't know how they are in the rain. The BS020s were gr8 wet or dry, warm or cool. All in all a very nicely improved motorcycle from my '03 FJR. Worth the extra $$$ compared to the earlier one. DFO

 

[afterburn]

The adjustable handlebars only swing forward and back with no height adjustment. I'm not sure that would do me much good, and they aren't adjustable without some significant effort. You gotta unscrew stuff and things hard like that!

They slide back and up, or forward and down about half an inch.