As much as I love my '05 FJR, I'm tempted by all the improvements in the '06 model. . . except for one thing: performance. When I compare the "A" models, my '05 is about 45 lbs. lighter than the new model with ABS. Also, the new model has taller overall gearing to lower the RPMs. It's not rocket science, but I think taller gearing and more weight mean this new model is going to be slower. How much is the question?
'06 performance
- Thread starter Wildcat48
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TheRepairMan
Well-known member
Oh! ...and you forgot to add the extra length of the new swingarm. That will make it harder for us wheelie impaired dudes to "get it up" ...but I bet I'll have to change that back tire before you do. :aggressive:
All in all I bet it will still out run "my" Honda ST1300.
RB
All in all I bet it will still out run "my" Honda ST1300.
RB
From what I have heard the gearing difference between the 05 and 06 is so slight it's insignificant although I have yet to see anyone actually show what the final drive ratio was 05 compared to 06.
I know the 05 I test drove had enough power to pull the front end off the ground with me all but sitting on the tank in 1st gear approx 35 mph. I think the best way to sum up the FJR's power is to say power isn't much a concern on the thing.
JS
I know the 05 I test drove had enough power to pull the front end off the ground with me all but sitting on the tank in 1st gear approx 35 mph. I think the best way to sum up the FJR's power is to say power isn't much a concern on the thing.
JS
Yeah, no question the '05 has tons of power. I'm just wondering if the '06 will be noticeably slower with the taller gearing and extra weight. I guess we will have to wait for some actual comparisons but it does make me think twice about trading in my '05 for an '06.
Knifemaker
Not me
I'm just wondering if the '06 will be noticeably slower ......
The "noticeably" will likely be the point. Can you tell if a bike is 2/10ths of a second slower in the 1/4 mile without a stopwatch? Can you "feel" the diffrence?
If you have been riding a 05 for awhile, you likely can. But in all things, speed is relative. I doubt the 06 will be much slower, and most that ride it will not be getting off the thing and saying it's a slow bike. It is marketed as a Sport/Tourer..so the gearing will make the latter crowd happy I bet, with better gas mileage. The "extra weight" of the ABS and the swing arm will have an effect on overall performance..but will make the bike stop safer and ride smoother...If your concern is speed, there are faster bikes than the FJR.
I understand you question is not generated by your lust for speed, but simple curiousity..my answer to "is the 06 going to be slower?"...after taking in the improvements and what they will do for us in the real world is..
" Who cares?"
KM :tease:
The "noticeably" will likely be the point. Can you tell if a bike is 2/10ths of a second slower in the 1/4 mile without a stopwatch? Can you "feel" the diffrence?
If you have been riding a 05 for awhile, you likely can. But in all things, speed is relative. I doubt the 06 will be much slower, and most that ride it will not be getting off the thing and saying it's a slow bike. It is marketed as a Sport/Tourer..so the gearing will make the latter crowd happy I bet, with better gas mileage. The "extra weight" of the ABS and the swing arm will have an effect on overall performance..but will make the bike stop safer and ride smoother...If your concern is speed, there are faster bikes than the FJR.
I understand you question is not generated by your lust for speed, but simple curiousity..my answer to "is the 06 going to be slower?"...after taking in the improvements and what they will do for us in the real world is..
" Who cares?"
KM :tease:
Rogue
Well-known member
Well all other FJR's are slower than the 04's! :blink:
C
Centerline
Guest
I cannot feel the difference in acceleration on my '05 on a full tank of fuel versus a nearly empty tank and that would be just over 45 lb weight difference, even take off 28 more lbs of empty bags and still cannot feel the difference in acceleration. I can feel the difference cornering however.
designeraccd
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After the Kaw ZX12R (F-16 without wings....)I had my '03 FJR didn't feel particularly fast. OTOH I never felt it lacked in the power dept either, for my riding "needs", and it sure will eat a ST1300 or GL1800. So, if by a stop watch it's a bit slower, big deal...as long as the '06 doesn't cook me like my long gone '03 did I think I'll be quite satisfied!
DFO
DFO
I thought the gearing difference was in the mid-gears and not the top end - taller gearing in the midrange if I recall the quote from Yammy correctly. Also the weight issue is supposedly tied into the fact the older models were listed without the optional bags (the states the bags were standard but the weight was listed as the same). Now that the bags are standard the listed weight probably includes them - at least that was the consensus a few months ago. I'm assuming that since the new color is darker and therefore closer to black the 06's will be the fastes yet.
charismaticmegafauna
Well-known member
I think a little 'splainin may be in order? Gearing is a mechanical thing that is linear so that if, say, you have 10 teeth on one gear meshing with 20 teeth on another for every revolution of the smaller gear the bigger gear (in this case) will only turn 1/2 a revolution -- and it'll be the same at idle, mid-range, and top-end. I think the confusion stems from Yamaha's announcing a gearing change in the middle transmission (one tooth on one gear, iirc?, for for noise reduction). On the FJR the gearing can be changed with the primary drive gears, the main transmission gears (1st thru 5th), the middle transmission, and the final drive (ring & pinion). As for weight: factory stated weights are all well and good -- but, like several magazines have found; if you really want to know the true weight you need a scale. Hard to believe I know -- but, manufacturers lie.....(well, may not tell the whole truth, especially about weight)
madmike2
Shtirrenuppenmeister
Aaaannndddd, the '06s will be noticeably slower if they slip in the French de-tuned engines with he restrictor plates and the different computer chip.
Geezer
Parsimonious Curmudgeon
+1 Well, I can't tell the difference in acceleration between a full tank and a near empty tank, but I can tell the difference in the twisties. The bike feels lighter when making quick changes in direction when the tank is lighter on fuel. So, I guess if the '06 is actually heavier (that has been debated on earlier threads) then the importance of that weight difference would depend on the distribution of those extra pounds. Hmmm, kind of like a woman in that respect.
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On the gearing, Yamaha says: "Taller overall secondary gearing reduces engine rpm . . ." As for the weight, all things being equal, a non ABS '05 bike is going to be pounds lighter than an '06 ABS bike. Throw in such goodies as a longer swing arm, redesigned rear frame and passenger peg mounts, extra cooling fan, yada, yada and maybe you've got some more weight.
So I'm back to this: Taller Gearing + More Weight = Slower FJR.
Sure, it will still be a fast ride, but I'm just wondering if second time buyers will be feel the difference.
To put it another way, the thing I like best about my '05 is the engine. It pulls like a freight train in any gear and at any RPM. Will I have any regrets if I 86 the '05 for a '06? This is my dilemma. Thanks fellow riders.
So I'm back to this: Taller Gearing + More Weight = Slower FJR.
Sure, it will still be a fast ride, but I'm just wondering if second time buyers will be feel the difference.
To put it another way, the thing I like best about my '05 is the engine. It pulls like a freight train in any gear and at any RPM. Will I have any regrets if I 86 the '05 for a '06? This is my dilemma. Thanks fellow riders.
TheRepairMan
Well-known member
You are really beginning to scare me now! :dribble:Aaaannndddd, the '06s will be noticeably slower if they slip in the French de-tuned engines with he restrictor plates and the different computer chip.
I don't want french nothin' but toast and fries! :assasin:
RB
petey
Well-known member
What's your weight???? :haha: I weigh 165 lb's and don't think the extra weight and the taller gearing of the '06 FJRA will slow me down.
I weigh 165 lb's and don't think the extra weight and the taller gearing of the '06 FJRA will slow me down. Cyclenut
Active member
Geez dude, it's gonna be a fraction of a second slower. It's also going to be a more refined machine. Don't be so worried about losing a nanosecond. Get an R1. I'll take the trade off.
I'm probably not going to take the hit on my '05 however. Something will surely come along fairly soon that will sweep me away.
I'm probably not going to take the hit on my '05 however. Something will surely come along fairly soon that will sweep me away.
Windjammer
Well-known member
I think you'll notice the extra weight, lower gearing and longer swingarm more during cornering than anything else. Longer swingarm generally means longer wheelbase, which means slower turn in and more difficulty in hairpin turns. Extra weight makes the bike slower to transition and demands more bar pressure to turn. Taller gearing reduces acceleration off corners for any given gear selection. On straight roads, I doubt you'd really notice much of anything, but time and testing will prove what's true.
Next to the engine, I love the handling on the '05. I haven't figured out what Yamaha has done with the 'o6 swingarm. They list it as being 1.3" longer but the wheelbase remains unchanged at 60.6". How did they accomplish that?
Maybe I'm talking myself out of an '06, but face it, anybody who is waiting to get their hands on a brandy-new '06 FJR doesn't want to hear that it's slower than last year's model. Other than that, it seems Yamaha has made efforts to refine this machine in so many ways. That's the mark of a really good company - take a successful product and make it even better, (albeit slower!)
Maybe I'm talking myself out of an '06, but face it, anybody who is waiting to get their hands on a brandy-new '06 FJR doesn't want to hear that it's slower than last year's model. Other than that, it seems Yamaha has made efforts to refine this machine in so many ways. That's the mark of a really good company - take a successful product and make it even better, (albeit slower!)
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