John_Dumke
Well-known member
I would like to thank everybody on the forum. :fan_1: While I maybe a "newbie", I have been reading this forum and the previous forum for about 3-5 years, planning on getting this bike and finally pulling the trigger last month, but waiting for the weather to warm up before picking my bike up in Alabama and driving it back to Long Beach. My wife and I, logged 3,333 miles on the trip back over 7 days.
The forum has provided tons valuable information, accessories and tech support, as well as a great lead on the bike in Alabama. Certainly this community greatly enhances the ownership experience of the bike.
Background - Certainly every opinion is colored by somebody's background, so a brief history. I have only owned sport bikes, and ridden continuously since 19. In college, I drove year round in Boston. That was hard core, but when you are young, broke and crazy, what the hell. Briefly after college I had some road racing experience and was quite good, so I feel my street skills are very good. My last bike was a 97 YZF1000, which I didn't ride that much, only 17k when I just sold it. Most of my riding has been motocross for the last 5 years. Took it up at age 38, so I am only a solid intermediate, not much else. I consider moto much more technical than street. Just my opinion, maybe because I have not mastered the latter.
The ride back was two up, bags loaded and a tank bag, I weigh 155, my wife 135. Mostly interstate and secondary roads with finally some twisties coming out of Priscott, AZ, but always with two and loaded.
Overall feel - The FJR1300 is not a sport bike (ie - race bike). I certainly would not enthusiastically throw this bike deep into a corner, expecting to late brake and scrub off speed. I think I will be more capable in the twisties without a passenger and bags. Corner entrance speed is where this bike might be a little dangerous for a newbie rider, since the bike can carry more speed in a straight line than it is capable of handling in the corners. Fortunately the brakes are very strong and slow the bike down quickly. Most sport bikes that I have ridden, just want to be wound out, creating a problem with the law. Not that the FJR can't go fast, but it's wide power band with no real horsepower hit, makes me content to go any speed. While the bike can obviously go silly fast, it doesn't beg me to. I like this since I have a tendency to drive well in excess of the speed limit, and don't need a bike encouraging me. Overall, I think the worse part of the bike is the suspension & jetting and the best part is the balance of the entire package. I say entire package because the bike has so many strengths. Looks, wind protection, engine, brakes, ergonomics, fit and finish, bags, handling. It is so good in so many areas and only weak in a few that can be fixed.
Seating Position - It works for me. I think this is highly contingent upon how you like to sit and your level of flexibility at your hips. If you like to rotate your hips forward and arch your back then the forward position is good. Even for my height challenged size 5'8", I found the high seat position better. The low position had me reaching up too much to the bars. I remember somewhere in the forum hearing about the weird bend in the bars. While the position felt like it was fine, my left shoulder would beg to differ. It hurt every now and then at the top leading edge. Maybe the bars should be angled down more? The seat is a very good, but after 7 days, my *** hurt. An aftermarket one would be nice, if I was doing the iron butt.
Windscreen – I love being able to raise it. Admittedly, I feel like a little bit of a “dork” riding with it in the up position, kind of feels like a scooter, but when it is raining, cold, or lots of wind buffeting, it is a life saver. If anybody catches me riding with the screen in the up position, I will deny it.
Clutch - It seems like the clutch engagement period is very long and does not provide a very positive feel. Is this normal, or do I have to bleed the system?
Brakes – The feel is not outstanding, with all of the ABS plumbing there is a lot of fluid, but the power and the ABS are outstanding. Maybe steel braided lines will improve this. I finally noticed the ABS kick in on the rear, great system. Not intrusive at all. But overall power, balance, feel and ABS are excellent.
Handling – Riding two up I don’t really feel knowledgeable enough to comment yet. With the stock wimpy shock and two up I would touch down way to quickly. If the YZF1000 could go through a turn at 10/10ths, then two up the FJR (two up) can only do 7/10th riding. I would like this to be 8.5/10ths and I think it could be with the right suspension (Penske and GP front).
Suspension – What a piece of crap. Yeh, yeh, yeh….. Alright for my own weight (155), going down the interstate, it is fine. But it is like a marshmallowy pogo stick two up, and not much better by myself through corners. I know the reason why is because of price, to keep the cost down. Penske here I come – My guess is that this will be the 2nd best money spent after the PCIII.
Throttle stiff – Thanks for the tip here. Didn’t notice it really until the 7th day. But then it started to get progressively worse. Took the recommendation and released the inner spring one revolution. Problem solved.
Jetting – Absolutely horrible. You really notice the bad jetting when the weather is colder or when you are at sea level, then the lean condition becomes very obvious. I installed the PCIII, last night. If the throttle control was a surgeons cutting tool, the throttle went from being a machete, to a fine scalpel. It really was difficult to shift smoothly, and really made you aware that you were driving a shaft drive bike. Clunk, lerch, clunk, like riding a bucking bronco. Now it feels like butter, and I am able to match revs perfectly for downshifting with complete control. Even the slight buzz at 4,000rpm, is almost imperceptible. I went from admiring the bike, to being in love with it, with this change. :yahoo:
Gear – I love Tourmaster. The stuff is very good quality and dirt cheap. I got the Sabre jacket at Chaparrel. It was only $90. That is cheap. And their gloves fit very well. Widder electric vests – the difference between being happy or miserable.
Overall, I feel like I have given up a little bit of pure performance and gained a whole lot of comfort and range. My wife, riding on the back, was never bothered by the length of the trip. One day was 660 miles. The YZF would have put her in the chiropractic office. Thanks for all of the help.
The forum has provided tons valuable information, accessories and tech support, as well as a great lead on the bike in Alabama. Certainly this community greatly enhances the ownership experience of the bike.
Background - Certainly every opinion is colored by somebody's background, so a brief history. I have only owned sport bikes, and ridden continuously since 19. In college, I drove year round in Boston. That was hard core, but when you are young, broke and crazy, what the hell. Briefly after college I had some road racing experience and was quite good, so I feel my street skills are very good. My last bike was a 97 YZF1000, which I didn't ride that much, only 17k when I just sold it. Most of my riding has been motocross for the last 5 years. Took it up at age 38, so I am only a solid intermediate, not much else. I consider moto much more technical than street. Just my opinion, maybe because I have not mastered the latter.
The ride back was two up, bags loaded and a tank bag, I weigh 155, my wife 135. Mostly interstate and secondary roads with finally some twisties coming out of Priscott, AZ, but always with two and loaded.
Overall feel - The FJR1300 is not a sport bike (ie - race bike). I certainly would not enthusiastically throw this bike deep into a corner, expecting to late brake and scrub off speed. I think I will be more capable in the twisties without a passenger and bags. Corner entrance speed is where this bike might be a little dangerous for a newbie rider, since the bike can carry more speed in a straight line than it is capable of handling in the corners. Fortunately the brakes are very strong and slow the bike down quickly. Most sport bikes that I have ridden, just want to be wound out, creating a problem with the law. Not that the FJR can't go fast, but it's wide power band with no real horsepower hit, makes me content to go any speed. While the bike can obviously go silly fast, it doesn't beg me to. I like this since I have a tendency to drive well in excess of the speed limit, and don't need a bike encouraging me. Overall, I think the worse part of the bike is the suspension & jetting and the best part is the balance of the entire package. I say entire package because the bike has so many strengths. Looks, wind protection, engine, brakes, ergonomics, fit and finish, bags, handling. It is so good in so many areas and only weak in a few that can be fixed.
Seating Position - It works for me. I think this is highly contingent upon how you like to sit and your level of flexibility at your hips. If you like to rotate your hips forward and arch your back then the forward position is good. Even for my height challenged size 5'8", I found the high seat position better. The low position had me reaching up too much to the bars. I remember somewhere in the forum hearing about the weird bend in the bars. While the position felt like it was fine, my left shoulder would beg to differ. It hurt every now and then at the top leading edge. Maybe the bars should be angled down more? The seat is a very good, but after 7 days, my *** hurt. An aftermarket one would be nice, if I was doing the iron butt.
Windscreen – I love being able to raise it. Admittedly, I feel like a little bit of a “dork” riding with it in the up position, kind of feels like a scooter, but when it is raining, cold, or lots of wind buffeting, it is a life saver. If anybody catches me riding with the screen in the up position, I will deny it.
Clutch - It seems like the clutch engagement period is very long and does not provide a very positive feel. Is this normal, or do I have to bleed the system?
Brakes – The feel is not outstanding, with all of the ABS plumbing there is a lot of fluid, but the power and the ABS are outstanding. Maybe steel braided lines will improve this. I finally noticed the ABS kick in on the rear, great system. Not intrusive at all. But overall power, balance, feel and ABS are excellent.
Handling – Riding two up I don’t really feel knowledgeable enough to comment yet. With the stock wimpy shock and two up I would touch down way to quickly. If the YZF1000 could go through a turn at 10/10ths, then two up the FJR (two up) can only do 7/10th riding. I would like this to be 8.5/10ths and I think it could be with the right suspension (Penske and GP front).
Suspension – What a piece of crap. Yeh, yeh, yeh….. Alright for my own weight (155), going down the interstate, it is fine. But it is like a marshmallowy pogo stick two up, and not much better by myself through corners. I know the reason why is because of price, to keep the cost down. Penske here I come – My guess is that this will be the 2nd best money spent after the PCIII.
Throttle stiff – Thanks for the tip here. Didn’t notice it really until the 7th day. But then it started to get progressively worse. Took the recommendation and released the inner spring one revolution. Problem solved.
Jetting – Absolutely horrible. You really notice the bad jetting when the weather is colder or when you are at sea level, then the lean condition becomes very obvious. I installed the PCIII, last night. If the throttle control was a surgeons cutting tool, the throttle went from being a machete, to a fine scalpel. It really was difficult to shift smoothly, and really made you aware that you were driving a shaft drive bike. Clunk, lerch, clunk, like riding a bucking bronco. Now it feels like butter, and I am able to match revs perfectly for downshifting with complete control. Even the slight buzz at 4,000rpm, is almost imperceptible. I went from admiring the bike, to being in love with it, with this change. :yahoo:
Gear – I love Tourmaster. The stuff is very good quality and dirt cheap. I got the Sabre jacket at Chaparrel. It was only $90. That is cheap. And their gloves fit very well. Widder electric vests – the difference between being happy or miserable.
Overall, I feel like I have given up a little bit of pure performance and gained a whole lot of comfort and range. My wife, riding on the back, was never bothered by the length of the trip. One day was 660 miles. The YZF would have put her in the chiropractic office. Thanks for all of the help.
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