'06 FJR #44 made it HOME today

[chickey191]

My blue beauty made it home today, sans side bags which didn't come in (next week). Not quite a frog strangler rain on the way home along with new bike, new tires and new brakes, kept the ride sedate -

but - wow - I was impressed.

first ride impression under these conditions probably doesn't count for much but -

rain protection aint near what it was on my LT

neither is the any other part of the weather protection

felt no heat - and some would have been appreciated

heard a distinctive whistle around 50 mph which adjusting the wind screen didn't seem to help (or hurt)

SMOOOOOTH. Doesn't shift quite as well as my LT - seems like the throw between shifts is farther, but could be my imagination.

Nice subtle growl to the exhaust

Needs aux lights Bad

Mirrors work pretty well - will play with them a bit.

Why in the world isn't there a handle bar selector for the various trip computer/temp guage and such??? that is just wrong.

seat wasn't as bad as I thought

handle bars were mounted in the full height position and I don't think I will need risers, but a different seat might change this opinion.

Nice blue color - but the paint is pretty soft.

YOU CALL THAT A TOOL KIT?????

cheesy key

linear power, but I really didn't get to test much.

brakes seem AWESOME - tried to lock the rear end up in the wet and never really felt the ABS kick in, but slowed down.... REAAAL GOOD.

Very easy to put on center stand

didn't check to see which tires came with it - but they were round and got me home with no drama.

wiped down after rain and applied the first coat of Carnuba - - lookin' good

Made sure I got all three locks for bags

checked mirrors for tightness

wiped SEG off face, but it keeps coming back.

Wish it would stop raining.

Are all FJR pilots sissies? They kept asking me if I was really going to ride home in "this weather"?

bought oil and filter - should hopefully get the first oil change this weekend - if rain slows down a little.

HAPPY IN SAN DIEGO -

 

[Rogue]

CONGRATS!

 

[chickey191]

and how appropriate - my announcement of having a bike - got me promoted from FNG to Training Pilot -

my day is now perfect.

 

[zzkenoman]

Congrads, looking to ride with you californian!

 

[Ari Rankum]

Hey, good job!

I'm glad your saga with that other dealer is over.

Please keep us posted on your opinons of the bike.

 

[Luke]

Congrats on the bike and promotion.

 

[kaitsdad]

Congrats, Mr. Hickey !!

So - will we see this machine in the 07 IBR ?

 

[FlyingLow]

Are all FJR pilots sissies? Uhhh, noooo.

I think the suggestion here is that picking your new ride and then taking that first ride, home, in a downpour will wash off all the new and the factory cleanness.

Last week I got caught in a SoCal downpour, but didn't mind; the "new" is long gone from my '05.

Enjoy!

 

[Ignacio]

Are all FJR pilots sissies? They kept asking me if I was really going to ride home in "this weather"?

Kind of like the general public confusing BMW riders with European sissies they think FJR riders are poser crotch rocket sissies. Different breeds of sissies.

Same deal though. A BBG license plate cover, a couple of LD farkles, and scrubbed down chicken stripe will fix that right up.

Interesting to hear the fair observations compared to the Bimmer--especially about the rain protection <_<

Wait until the 600+ mile mark and you twist that right grip in earnest. That's when a comparison won't be so close

 

[SkooterG]

Hey! Congrats Chuck!

Really glad to hear you got your FJR.

So what is up with this rain in San Diego? It seems like it always rains when I am here. Yuck! And its not like I am bringing it from Phoenix, either.

Comparing to a Bimmer LT? A land yacht? Completely different vehicles as you are finding out. Wait till you get some nice weather and are past break-in, and get a chance to get to know the FJR.

I don't think you will be disspointed.

What are you doing over the next couple days? Perhaps we can meet up so I can see what these 06 contraptions look like in the flesh. Where are you at in the San Diego area?

Enjoy the new toy!

 

[chickey191]

Sure - we can meet -

As long as it is on the road - as I hope to be out riding this weekend. I'm on the edge of San Diego and Poway -

Sabre Springs. right off of Scripps Poway Parkway and I-15. about 1/2 way between i-15 and 67.

As for "Bimmer" -

Bimmer is for CARS

Beemer is for Motorcycles.

Feejer is what they called the Voyager space craft in Star Trek - the Movie isn't it??? ;-)

Hopefully the weather will be a little better tomorrow - don't really care about the rain - just being able to ride it a little harder. I kind of like riding in the rain, but not with a strange bike and new tires. I'll probably spend some time in a parking lot tomorrow - and then take her out and wind her up a bit.

As for the '07 IBR...

I don't think so. I don't much rally ride any more as my night vision has gone south on me. Just too much of a liability. While I was never a contender in any multi-day rally - I'm not even competitive any more because I just can't ride hard enough in the dark. Or - I WONT ride hard enough in the dark.

some folks would say that I didn't ride hard enough in the day, either.

goofed around with the bike a little in the garage tonight. From what I can see - it is MUCH easier to get to the battery on the '06 - four fasteners (maybe it was 3). I put a trickle charger on the new battery for th evening (kind of like leaving a night light on for a new baby). I'll start looking a locations for installing stuff over the weekend. Having trouble finding a Magnum Blaster man-horns - and I had to order the Vista Cruise. Now I have to try to figure out what is the best way to mount an autocom system, gps, radar and satellite radio. After that - I'm gold.

 

[Bike Effects]

Congratulations on your new bike. Since I have R1 #44, does that make us some kind of brothers. Probably not, but congratulations anyway!

 

[designeraccd]

Congrats on getting a bike from a dealer who didn't give you a free lube job, too! Enjoy that big bike on those neat roads out there. I will have to be content, for now, with zooming over our way to straight, but not smooth, local "goat trails"...uh....backroads. Nonetheless these FJRs are gr8 FTR (FunToRide), excepting trying to reset things on that IP...that suxx. Obviously I'm NOT of the video game generation. My 1200R Sportster has got the FJR beat for simple, easy to use and easy to read IP....hhmmmm, sounds better, too! OTOH the deep gutteral , but low, growl from the FJR is pretty nice. Ride safe and enjoy that new FJR!

Did try for 3 miles a new Suzook M109 "power cruiser" last night: made my 1200R feel like a nimble 600 crotch rocket by comparison, wotta lump. When I got back on my FJR I appreciated her even more: power, brakes and gr8 HANDLING! Wottah bike.....DFO :clap: :clap: