2k worth of performance/handling mods?

[03HiYoSilver]

Brancusi,

You will find the FJR a Great Deal Easier to work on with much longer Maintenance schedules. I find just like Vista Windows, Newer Tech is not necessarily better!

With its stock suspension, unless you desire to drag the pegs, the suspension works fine.

Should you desire to purchase the FJR, Yamaha will throw in an Extra Gallon Tank for you!

Good Luck with your decision....

 

[Karl]

Well, this is a really subjective topic. People who spend time at WOT (I do), tend to want more power. If you rarely hit the throttle that hard, probably no need to chase extra power. No problem -- just a different riding style. My track bike had razor-sharp handling and it kind of spoiled me. If you don't get a gut rush dropping into corners with a smooth, sharp counter steer, hitting your planned line down to the millimeter, and then rolling on the throttle to accelerate out, making mid-corner adjustments without needing a diaper, then suspension upgrades are probably a waste of money.
I've ridden with acquaintances who love to tour for a day, seeing the sights, smelling the smells, enjoying the feeling of being on a bike on the road. I can relate -- it makes for a really nice day. My personal riding buddies, the people I call and whisper "ride, ride, ride" to on Saturday morning, like to rip it up....and so do I. In some ways, I guess this thread is more for them. I have a 15k to spend. My wife likes to ride with me and found the FZ1 too uncomfortable for any kind of touring. I want either a new sport-touring bike capable of providing my adrenaline fix, or two used bikes, one for 2-up and one for me. I can probably get a '10 C14 out the door for 15k. I can probably get a new FJR OTD for 13k, leaving me 2k to help with the adrenaline factor.

My personal opinion is that, at this point, the C14 is a technically better bike than the FJR. Traction control and sophisticated engine management systems are the inevitable future of motorcycles. C14 has them, FJR doesn't. If they were equally priced, I'd buy the C14. Probably inviting wrath to say this on the FJR forum, but that's what I think. Nevertheless, if I could turn the FJR into a clearly superior handling bike at the same price, I'd buy it.

Might not make sense to everyone, but that's my logic.

If you are prepared to plunk down another $2K for the "adrenaline factor", might as well just go straight for the likes of a K1300S and put some factory sport or Givi T431 bags on it. Factory heated grips, ABS/traction/stability control, full throttle clutchless upshifts, electronic suspension adjust, full LCD trip computer etc. You want tech, its got it. Or not. Option it as you like.

I've test ridden one and it is a quantum leap beyond the FJR in performance, yet can still be comfortable enough as an all-day mount. A "Hyper" sport tourer if you like.

 

[madmike2]

My personal opinion is that, at this point, the C14 is a technically better bike than the FJR. Traction control and sophisticated engine management systems are the inevitable future of motorcycles. C14 has them, FJR doesn't. If they were equally priced, I'd buy the C14. Probably inviting wrath to say this on the FJR forum, but that's what I think. Nevertheless, if I could turn the FJR into a clearly superior handling bike at the same price, I'd buy it.
Might not make sense to everyone, but that's my logic.

Wellll, you're making the point some of us were trying to direct you toward, especially with our suggestions about upgrading the suspension.

No sports tourer is going to respond like your FZ-1 did, it's too heavy a platform so any help you can gain by upgrading the suspension will multiply itself throughout your riding experience. I am a rather large person, weighing in at a svelte 250+ lbs....roughly how both of you are going to tax the OEM suspension. That's why I think your money will be well spent on aftermarket suspension improvements. You'll know what we are saying the first time you get aggressive with the bike on a twisty road. This is not to suggest that it WON'T do what you ask but all sports touring bikes are larger and heavier than more sport oriented machines.

The engine will sing a nice song above 5,000 rpms, but if you like to live in that range, you will appreciate what a PC or Motty Tuner will do for smoothing out the engine and solving any "twitchy" throttle transitions (or so I've read from others). It sounds like this should be on your short list.

The OEM seat may be acceptable for you two. You'll know in short order. At my..er..uhm.."girth" I overwhelmed the seat padding and 200 miles was my personal limit. That's why I have an aftermarket seat as suggested by Rogue. When traveling I will ride long days in the saddle so that upgrade was a higher priority FOR ME.

It's going to be interesting to read your thoughts after your first week, or so, of ownership.

 

[Fred W]

I want either a new sport-touring bike capable of providing my adrenaline fix, or two used bikes, one for 2-up and one for me. I can probably get a '10 C14 out the door for 15k. I can probably get a new FJR OTD for 13k, leaving me 2k to help with the adrenaline factor.

Now you are getting to the crux of the biscuit. Can an adrenaline junkie such as yourself ever be completely happy with just a SuperSportTouring (SST) bike such as an FJR or C14?

I'd say no, probably not. No matter amount of money that you spend on upgrades, at the end of the day the bike is still going to weigh around 600 lbs or more. You can't fight physics. It will never handle like a sport bike.

So, with a limited budget of $15k I would say you'd be much happier with a used SST for 2-up days and pure sport bike for the hooligan days. A pretty nice FJR can be bought used (and well farkled up) for half of your budget. And sport bikes are generally cheaper still.

Consider that motorcycles are tools. It is very rare to find one tool that will work as good in multiple different applications as the tools that actually designed for the job.

 

[Steve Hunt]

Brancusi,
I find just like Vista Windows, Newer Tech is not necessarily better!

Isn't that the truth. While I enjoy the FJR as an addition to my other bikes from a purely good decision that gained me a lot in the sport touring catagory of my collection...it wasn't that good of a decision for me. I had a pristine 94 ZX-11 awhile back that I put higher bars on, the stock seat was good for 6-8 hours, changed the front springs and added a Penske. It was hellaciously faster than the FJR, silky smooth carbs, about the same on brakes as the FJR, similar wheelbase, handled better (with the suspension mods), my wife claims she was more comfortable on it. I used a tailbag and tankbag but side bags were available. I had maybe $5000 in it back in 99-2000? and sold it for $6000!! Today you could do the same bike for $2500 maybe less. 1994 till they dropped it were all the same. I think the ZX12 even overlaped a year on the zx-11

 

[Bustanut joker]

Consider that motorcycles are tools. It is very rare to find one tool that will work as good in multiple different applications as the tools that actually designed for the job.

Tools? Well ain't that just the *****!! :lol: Yer a bit of a tool yerself Fred

:jester:

 

[Fred W]

You been talkin' to my wife again, haven't you Bust.

 

[dcarver]

Another vote for suspension and seats.

 

[cpsfjr]

Suspension mods have made a substantial difference to me in terms of performance and touring comfort. And--at least initially--they were free. see clicky for some valuable info. :thumbsup:

I agree with some earlier comments: If you define performance as raw power, precision and short- to mid-duration canyon carving then you might want a sport bike along the lines of a K1300S, Hayabusa or ZX14. OTH, if you and the wife want an SST for some fast yet comfortable touring, it's hard to beat a [new or used] FJR for the price (including farkling).

 

[Brancusi]

I want either a new sport-touring bike capable of providing my adrenaline fix, or two used bikes, one for 2-up and one for me. I can probably get a '10 C14 out the door for 15k. I can probably get a new FJR OTD for 13k, leaving me 2k to help with the adrenaline factor.

Now you are getting to the crux of the biscuit. Can an adrenaline junkie such as yourself ever be completely happy with just a SuperSportTouring (SST) bike such as an FJR or C14?

I'd say no, probably not. No matter amount of money that you spend on upgrades, at the end of the day the bike is still going to weigh around 600 lbs or more. You can't fight physics. It will never handle like a sport bike.

So, with a limited budget of $15k I would say you'd be much happier with a used SST for 2-up days and pure sport bike for the hooligan days. A pretty nice FJR can be bought used (and well farkled up) for half of your budget. And sport bikes are generally cheaper still.

Consider that motorcycles are tools. It is very rare to find one tool that will work as good in multiple different applications as the tools that actually designed for the job.

Well I'm starting to think along these lines. Maybe a used FJR, see if the wife really takes to touring, and something with a higher adrenaline factor for me. At this point, keeping my options open.

 

[rogdeb]

Rear shockCustom seat for you and pillon

Any leftover coin can go in the piggybank to start saving for the front suspension

Short and to the point --- but I have to agree.

 

[Auburn]

suspension #1, seats #2, Tires - switch to PR2's #3

This is a great 2 up bike, as I do most of my riding that way. It can hustle pretty darn good through the twisties 2 up and leave plenty of room for safety factor. The first two upgrades will make it so you can ride all day and be very comfortable doing so. The suspension really makes the bike handle well and hides it's wieght.

If you have money left, then you could get the Starcom or similar system to you can communicate with the wife.

As others have said, there are lots of used FJR's available with less then 10K on them for very good prices. Sounds like you are good at doing your own maintenance, so you should be able to check out a used bike with confidence that you are getting a clean bike.

If you have money left, the PCIII is very nice to do, but if you have been riding sport bikes with fuel injection, then you know how to adapt to the surge when rolling on the throttle mid turn on the track. The PCIII cleans up the throttel issue, and lets you dial in more low end power where you usually will be in the throttle range which is very useful when two up.

Your wife will really like it. It is way more comfortable then a sport bike. One other thing to consider for her is a back rest or top box with a back rest. One more thing to make her smile.

Although the FJR is getting long in the tooth without major upgrades, it has proven to be a very good package as is with some mods that you would probably do anyway to any bike you purchase.

 

[oldryder]

+1 to multiple bikes. For the money you can get two not very used bikes.

 

[Wanderer]

I'm with Fred on this one...I'm not sure the FJR is capable of being all you want it to be. Owners often rave about how it carves, but what most are really saying is 'It carves more than a bike nearing 700lbs should' And it takes expensive suspension work to get that.

With all the talk about WOT and nailing track day lines, the FJR is gonna feel like a monster.

I've told people that the FJR's car equivalent is something like a Chrysler 300C. it's fast, its powerful, its super comfy, it carries a ton of stuff very well, but when you get to the bendy bits, it is NOT a Ferrari(track bike). it's not even a Porsche(liter repi-racer).

I gather that your pillion is not impressed with the accomodations on a FZ-1. How much touring are you planning on doing? The FJR shines more as the miles get longer. If touring is a 200 mile day for 2-3 days, you're not gonna see what makes the FJR so special. I appreciate mine most on day 3 or 4 days of 500 miles each. I appreciate it the least, but still love it, when I'm on my favorite road alone, no traffic...you know, 'that road'. Unless your buddies are riding similar bikes you are likely gonna feel like the fat guy of the group. No offense to fat guys.

A recent buzzword on the internet is seperating SPORTtouring, versus sportTOURING....it's sounding like you may be wanting the former, wheras the FJR is more the latter.

have you considered a Sprint ST? in the showroom my pillion thought she could be comfy on that for a long-ish day. it's definately the former in the above.

 

[CaptianBanana]

As others have said, there are lots of used FJR's available with less then 10K on them for very good prices.

Yep. Just bought mine with less than 10K for less than half of what a new one would cost. Lot of people out there selling their toys off.

 

[jjsC6]

I plan to do a more comprehensive write-up in the next few days, but for now let me give you some food for thought. I've got a 2006 FJR with 42,000 miles on it (for sale!) and a 2010 Concours with 700 miles on it. Please understand before I go any further - I absolutely love the FJR and am not looking forward to parting with it.

Now the short version of a comparison. Straight line speed wise the Concours does not feel any faster than my FJR. I suspect based upon all that I have read that it is slightly faster, but anyone who says one is faster than the other based upon feel is probably feeling what he wants to feel. There simply isn't much difference.

Handling - I think the Concours has a little nicer turn-in and feels lighter than it is to flick over - I'm very impressed with it's handling. But once again, I was always happy with the FJR handling and I think differences are very minor. I have not ridden the FJR since I got the Concours, but I plan to take it out in the next few days to see how if feels now that I have the feel for the Concours.

I bought the Concours because I think it has leapfrogged the FJR in features and smoothness. I would not have bought a 2008-09 Concours due to the heat issues (I rode one and it definitely has a heat problem). The 2010 has fixed it completely.

My advice to anyone is to buy the one that trips your trigger. They are too close in performance to choose based upon handling or straight line performance.

Oh, one last thing - the Concours sits higher than the FJR and the FJR has better ergos for me. I'm working on tweaking the Concours to fit me better - but my advice is that if you are short you will be a lot more comfortable on the FJR.

 

[sliick2]

Brancusi ,I've got a '06 FJR ABS & have done pretty much all the other things most people have done( Leo Vince Titanium slip-ons,PC3,K&N air filter ) as far as performance items.I've got about 11,500 miles on it.This summer & friend & I with the same bike are going to ride from Rochester,N.Y. to Atlanta Ga. to get our suspensions replaced @ Traxxion. I've / we have been putting it off for a couple years,due to cost & schedules.But I think that this is the bike I will stay with & to fix the suspension

would be the last thing to do.Then I will be content. I came from a GoldWing ,by the way. Good Luck. Sliick2

 

[Andyfjr]

I have carefully modified my bike since getting it 3 years ago. I have read various threads and the feedback before making a decision to fit after market parts. I can say that with each addition to my bike, it has improved the riding and enjoyment of owning an Fjr.

Andy

 

[Aasland]

What about the new VFR1200?

The performance mods for the FJR, for you, would prolly start with the suspension (especially since you're two-up) then follow up on the PC3 if the throttle isn't smooth enough. It's still a 690+ lbs bike, so maybe keep a sport bike on the side.

Another thing to consider with a pillion is upgrading the windshield to enhance the long-range comfort.

 

[Brancusi]

Thanks for all the thoughts. At this point, I think I'm looking at the 2 bike route. So, a nice used FJR for the wife and me...and something else for me alone. I've started poking around for used gen2 FJRs as I want ABS on the wife-bike. Not gonna go for a used C14, as the pre-2010 models don't appeal. I'll let you all know when I buy.