1150RT to 06FJR ?

[OU71]

I've recently sold my RT, and the itch in my pocket is killing me. Anyone of you switched? I hear a lot about two things. The wind screen and pain in the right hand. How satisfied have you been with aftermarket screens? I changed to a Cee Bailey for my RT and it worked very well. What's the cause of the hand pain? Is it vibration? The boxer vibrates, and when I really thrashed it, I would get a severe tingling in my right wrist. I had a Bandit 1200S prior to the RT, so I don't think the slight forward lean would bother me, unless that is the cause of the hand problem. I'm looking forward to getting back to some real power, and the FJR is the best looking bike in its class. But at 57, I'm to the point that I'd like to keep a bike for long time, and would like some opinions as to the pluses and minuses.

Thanks,

Marty

 

[STL FJR]

I switched and I just bought a GS to replace the RT, because I love the FJR as my SPORT tourer.

Now the GS is my ADVENTURE tourer.

Now I just gotta get out and do some TOURING. period!

 

[Aristoi]

I can only speak for the 05. Here was my purchase process. My first bike was a Honda Magna sport cruiser. I had it for 9 years. Sold it during a move, and switched to an Aprilia Futura sport touring bike. I absolutely love it riding solo, and made the mistake of buying it without test riding 2up. We do a lot of 2up riding and it was not well received by my wife. It was stressfull for the both of us riding 2up for anything over an hour. Too much sport, not enough touring comfort. Sold it within 8 months. I was considering going back to a sport cruiser like the Yamaha RS Warrior, or to a more touring than sport bike like the RT. I test rode both well before considering an FJR. We liked the Warrior, and the RT equally but for different reasons. The Warrior for looks and cruising comfort, the RT for all around comfort/convenience with longer distance and day trips. We were sold on an RT, and it was just a matter of time until we found the right one to buy. I have heard lot about the FJR but never seriously considered it because they are hard to come by and the waiting game is rediculous and one i do not want to play in. A used 05 popped up locally and out of curiousity i went to see it to see what the hype was all about.

All i could say is WOW! It is very similar to an RT, but much better. 2-up is very comfortable, and I barely notice a difference riding 2-up vs solo. My pillion was grinning just as much as i was when we finished our test ride. After test riding an RT we both were sold on this was going to be our next bike. We were pleasantly surprised (shocked actually) that the FJR was that much better than the RT. In my opinion, Yamaha has all the good things of the RT, and took the very few nuisances RT's have and perfected them. The motor is silky smooth with gobs of power throughout the RPM range, and it is even throughout. I did not notice any weak spots. The Futura and the RT tend to be twitchy at lower RPMs. The nature of 2 vs. 4 cylinders I guess. The tranny well designed and shifts are seamless. You almost can't tell when you shift except that you moved your hand and foot to do it. To sum it up it is a refined performance sport tourer. I consider it a GEM of a bike, it truly has it all. I think the reviews do not do it justice (even though it wins practically all of them), and I think they have to say some nice things about the other bikes. Other manufacturers should be very afraid. Yamaha hit a grand slam with this one. Try to find one to test ride. If you are lucky to find one, i am sure you will buy it on the spot like i did. Good luck!

BTW my first purchases to get the ergos closer to the RT: Heli bars risers, corbin seat w/passenger backrest, and swapped my Cee bailey +4+2 for a Cal Sci Tall. Plan on removing 1 of 3 throttle springs to lighten the tension and grip from the throttle hand, adding a Vista cruise, grip heaters, and BMW grips. I am in heaven on 2 wheels. This one is a keeper. I just hope they are still making FJRs when i wear this one out.

 

[vic ray]

Marty,

my situation was very similar to yours. I owned an 02 BMW r1150 rt that I loved and sold it to buy an 05 FJR 1300.

First let me say this. Comparing the two bikes is a little bit hard because they are so different. If comfort is your main concern, I think the BMW is probably going to win if you are comparing stock bikes. I have done several modifications to my FJR to get it to where I think it should be comfort wise. I tried a couple of seats before I found one that I liked. The first seat was a sargent, with a return guarentee if you didn't like it. I didn't like it so I returned it and had Rick Mayer build me a seat that I love.(the 06 FJR has an adjustable seat.) I found that the bars were a little to low so I got a pair of Indian Larry bar risers which took care of that.(The 06 FJR has adjustable bars.) I never remember the BMW having an excessive heat problem but the FJR was so bad I had to do the heat modifications recomended by some members on this forum. I insulated the bottom of the fuel tank and did the cromit heat fix. That eliminated the heat problem. (Some people say heat wasn't a problem but the 06 FJR has been completly reworked to address this issue.) I remember having to get a cee baileys screen to keep the BMW from buffeting your head and the screen on the Yamaha is also an issue. It was a little cheaper for me to fix on the FJR I bought the California Science edging and cut a couple of slots in the lower portion of the stock screen.(The FJR for 06 the screen has had some changes with a couple of vents added.)

Here is where the two bikes really are different. First, appearence. The BMW'S are nice but I think from a styling point the BMW dosen't hold a candle to the FJR. The RT'S have kind of a dated look to them even the new RT'S are kind of boxy looking. A lot of people talk very highly of the fit and finish on the BMW'S but I don't see what they are talking about. If you look at any BMW you can see orange peel in most of their paint and their panels don't fit that well either. I think the fit and finish on the FJR blow the BMW away.(taking the panels off the FJR is a breeze compared to the BMW.)

Second, POWER. I remember the day I picked up my BMW asking the salesman about the surge at around 4000 rpm. ( according to BMW , this dosen't exist.) I never did get it to stop surging. From day one, the FJR has been as smooth as silk. The power is unbelievable at times. My wife and I were riding the twisties the other day and I had a smile on my face from ear to ear. The RT can't hold a candle to the power and smoothness that the FJR has. Don't get me wrong the FJR also has finess. You can creep around a grocery store parking lot with manners but the beast is down there if you need it.

I hope I have helped just a bit. I was a little dissapointed at first when I got the FJR about all of the things I needed to do to it to get it to where I thought it should be for comfort. But after that I couldn't have picked a better machine and I have owned over 40 bikes. I also know farkling or modifying is a big part of owning a motorcycle. I wouldn't want to trade my 05 FJR now but if I knew then what I know now I might have waited on the 06 FJR. I think that is one of the advantages you have. This years FJR is probably one of the best bikes on the market and if you campare the price of a BMW to the FJR, it really dosen't make sense to pay 5 or 6 thousand more dollars for a little BMW emblem.

 

[Velvet Sledgehammer]

I've been a BMW rider for many years. I put 20,000 miles on my '04 RT. I had an 1100 GS before that, and put 40,000 miles on it. I just switched from the '04 1150 RT to an '06 FJR. The FJR is without a doubt, fabulous. I test rode the new BMW R1200 RT, and it is far superior to the 1150 RT. I considered trading in my '04 for a new RT, but the FJR won. The BMW pops on deceleration, and pings when it's hot. It uses oil. I had to carry a quart in my saddle bag all the time. It requires premium fule. It's hard to start and runs rough until it warms up.

The FJR is smooth as silk, starts right up, runs like a top. The FJR is much better at really slow speeds, like walking speed.

Obviously, the FJR has much more power. After riding the FJR, when I get back on my RT, it feels anemic, and I feel like I really have to wring out the engine to get any power from it.

I think the BMW wins at comfort. I love the BMW suspension. You can be leaned way over on a twisty bumpy road, and no matter how rough the road, the BMW holds its line and really insulates the rider from the bumps. On the FJR, I have to squeeze the tank with my knees, and I feel the road a lot more. But it does hold its line and never wanders.

The FJR is a somewhat rougher ride. Maybe part of that is due to the fact that it has a lower profile rear tire.

The BMW RT wind and weather protection is superior to the FJR. I was happy with the stock BMW screen, and I'll likely be purchasing an aftermarket screen for the FJR.

The brakes are comparable on both bikes. That says a lot for the FJR brakes, because I love the BMW brakes. You just have to squeeze a bit harder on the FJR.

I experienced some wrist tingling on the FJR on my first ride. But now I don't notice it at all. I think it has to do with the relative tightness of the throttle spring, not with forward lean or weight on the wrists. I find if I squeeze the tank with my knees, and relax my arms, it's really comfortable. I've got long arms so I don't lean forward too much, but the FJR does have more of a sporty forward-riding position than the BMW. For me, I like the FJR riding position, and it's very comfortable on my back.

I've never ridden sport bikes, so for me the FJR is my first sport bike. For now, I'm loving it. The BMW was just a little too boring. The FJR is a little bit naughty, and naughty is nice! :lol:

 

[worldbound4now]

OOOHhhhhhhhhhh spank me now. I'm naughty too.

 

[Unixguy]

I've recently sold my RT, and the itch in my pocket is killing me. Anyone of you switched? I hear a lot about two things. The wind screen and pain in the right hand. How satisfied have you been with aftermarket screens? I changed to a Cee Bailey for my RT and it worked very well. What's the cause of the hand pain? Is it vibration? The boxer vibrates, and when I really thrashed it, I would get a severe tingling in my right wrist. I had a Bandit 1200S prior to the RT, so I don't think the slight forward lean would bother me, unless that is the cause of the hand problem. I'm looking forward to getting back to some real power, and the FJR is the best looking bike in its class. But at 57, I'm to the point that I'd like to keep a bike for long time, and would like some opinions as to the pluses and minuses.

I have over 120,000 recent miles on oilheads (RT and GS) and 50,000 miles on a K1200RS before that. The FJR is everything that the K12RS was and a lot more/better/faster. For me it also beats the R1100RT/R1150RT hands down with the exception of the RT being a much more agile bike at very slow speeds.

The hand pain is simply the result of overly strong throttle return springs. Easily solved. I'm going to be removing one of the three springs today, as a matter of fact.

Cheers.

Rob

 

[shep]

I won't repeat what the others have already said, but I have owned 2 RTs and one GS as well. I loved them all but I have to say that the FJR has really grown on me and becomes better with every ride. I would have a hard time giving up the power now. As for comfort, I came from the GS to the FJR so wind protection was actually an improvement for me with the FJR. Yes, you will probably need a new screen, however, I run with no bar risers and am currently still enduring the stock seat. I just completed an 1,150 mile ride in 17 hours...the bike is a serious mile-eater. It is also very easy to ride.

Shep