2up on a FJR, multi day trips

[Clovis]

I'm going to buy a 2nd bike next summer. I have been riding since the Spring of 2007 and I've racked up 30,000 miles between two sport bikes. I currently own a FZ6 which I use for canon carving and touring; I will be keeping this bike, it's just such a great general purpose sport bike. My wife wants to start touring with me and riding 2 up on a 600cc for extended periods just isn't practical. I guess I have no choice but to buy a FJR!

So here's my question for you guys.

1) How comfortable is an FJR for riding 2 up over long distances and multiple days? I usually do 500 miles a day on my FZ6 so I'd like to be able to do a comparable distance with the FJR 2 up.

Next summer is a big anniversary year for us (8 years) and I envision pointing the bike west and riding to the west coast from Colorado over a week.

Thoughts?

Thank you!

-Clovis

 

[2007 FJR]

You can't go wrong with the FJR for 2 up and when you are solo it's everything you can ask for. The only thing I changed for the comfort of my wife was the seat and foot pegs. She is "snug as a bug in a rug" with the Corbin and backrest. I made custom foot boards out of aluminum plate. The only thing that is annoying is our Nolan N102 helmets. They just suck after 100 miles or more. For my comfort I lowered the bike about an inch, added helibars and grip puppies. I have had the bike less than a year and I love it more every time I ride it and I have owed and ridden cruisers, small sport bikes, touring bikes and this is the best of everything. We live in Fresno, CA and are 45 mins from Yosemite and 2 hrs from the coast. So let me know when you are heading this way. My wife and I loved riding in Colorado. The heated hand grips will be nice.

Cheers

 

[someguy]

Can't go wrong...

maybe you can find someone in your area who is willing to let you spend a day 2-up on one to know for sure...

If you were here, i'd hand you the keys...

agree with 2007FJR above, seat upgrade and a quality helmet setup and you will likely never look back...

 

[Ken45]

Just don't let her see a Goldwing

When I first got back into cycling last year it was because of a used FJR I saw for sale. We went and looked at a dealer but my wife wanted the GW, it was so much more comfortable.

Bought a GW, bought a trike. Recently traded the GW for an FJR for solo.

My wife loves to ride pillion on the trike. She can even snooze.

Ken

 

[Willie]

Perfect bike for 2 up. We have completed multiple multi day tours on the FJR. Last one was a 15 or 16 day tour out west right around 5000 miles. We hit a bunch of National Parks in the Northwest corner from UT to WA to CA and back.

Don't over pack, we fit everything we need for the 17 days in the 2 side bags and a Givi trunk. This includes all the electronic crap one has to carry, camera charger, small laptop, phone charger, expresso machine, cords for the 2720, headphone charger, that charger. you get the picture. If you really need it you can buy it on the road.

The FJR will eat up the miles and then some.

Willie

 

[CAJW]

As far as comfort goes, pillion foot peg extenders and floorboards made a huge difference for my Mrs. And adding a new rear Rick Mayer seat earlier this year solidified the fact that she'll be riding with me more often. :yahoo: One thing to note is that many do not put on a back rest when running a top case as the reduction in room tends to push the pillion forward. My pillion and many others use the back pad in their riding jacket for cushioning which is sufficient and allows them room to move around a bit. Still looking for the ultimate Bluetooth intercom system, but other than that, our FJR is set up handsomely for LD touring.

 

[extrememarine]

The FJR, in stock trim (suspension wise) does an admirable job handling 2-up fully loaded touring. 500 miles days are easily within range, especially if you move to a upgraded seat (Sargent is my choice), and move the handlebars back via a Helibar top triple clamp.

I would venture to say that since you are coming from a sportbike background, that it will not take long for you to be looking to upgrade the suspension. An Ohlins and matching fork work up front will make the FJR handle / feel the same loaded as it does empty. This will all depend on what type of pace you run when loaded. Again, in stock trim, the FJR does very well.

Wayne

 

[midlifeuturn]

I originally bought a GSX650f for myself and soon after the wife enjoyed riding and as friends got bikes we started doing a few longer trips. Not near enough room, and the following year went with the FJR (son now rides the 650). The best money you can spend for the Mrs. is a Russel seat and a back rest, Givi top box is great. If we stay in hotels we can easily get everything on the bike for multi-day trips, if we camp we pull a trailer. After having the FJR and getting back on the 650 I really don't know how we both fit?

 

[Clovis]

Thank you for the feedback guys!

I've been keeping an eye on Craigslist all summer. This summer there were a few FJRs for sale that already had the upgrades I want. A Corbin seat, Givi trunk, heated handle bars and a manual transmission so hopefully that's the case next summer as well.

A local dealership has new 2010 FJR base model and I've sat on that. Sitting, the bike feels similar to my FZ6 (which has the same riding position and raised handle bars).

Here's a picture from my last touring trip on the FZ6 (3 weeks ago).

 

[majicmaker]

Perfect Bike for 2up Road Trips. Gobs of Power and Comfort. I've done Many Many 2up Week Long Rides. You will Love it and So will She!! :clapping:

 

[101stpathfinder]

+1 on the seat upgrade. Now go to wal mart and buy a seat cover (Wooden beads) for $10

This will cover BOTH seats. Add the rest as YOU feel the need. The bike is surprisingly roomy.

BTW I hope your wife packs better than mine, otherwise you will need a tractor/trailer to

tail you.

 

[fjr vfr]

If you have no trouble doing 500 mile days on an FZ6, you'll be just getting comfortable with an FJR. My wife and I have done several 8,000+ mile trips on my FJR and logged well over 100k miles total. There are so many little mods you can do to make it fit the two of you...one can't list them all here. Half the fun of owning this bike is personalizing it for your needs.

BTW, heed what Ken45 said. Don't let her ride on a wing. We did a trip to Alaska a few years ago. When she asked how long it would be? I said a least 12,000 miles. She then said, I can't do that on the FJR. I said, well I'll take a lot of pictures for you. She said, I think it's time for a Goldwing! :huh: So, she has her wing, I'm the driver and I have my FJR and that's the way it is. Last year we sent the FJR over to Europe and she did ride on it for 8,000+ miles over there, but here it's the wing whenever she comes along. I love my FJR much better than the wing, but for her I kind of understand. Best to keep her away and talk up the FJR. You'll be happier and she will be happy too. :coolsmiley02:

 

[Morecowbell]

My wife wants to start touring with me and riding 2 up on a 600cc for extended periods just isn't practical. I guess I have no choice but to buy a FJR!

I was recently faced with that same issue. I have a '97 YZF-600R with 114000 miles on it that the wife enjoys riding shotgun on. Two years ago we did a 6 day/1900 mile ride on it. When we got home she said, "That was fun! But never again...if we do any longer rides together, you need a bigger bike." So I started shopping for an FJR...a 2006 A model of course, because blue is faster and I wanted a Gen II. I know, I'm weird.

Here's what I ended up with:

I added the Givi V46 case for extra packing space and to give her a back-rest. After that pic was taken, I discovered that the stock seats sucked, so I opted for Sargents. They're really nice, allowing for many more comfortable miles per day. Hella FF50s, Yamaha heated grips, and an Autocom system were added to set the bike up for more serious touring.

We just got back from an 11 day/3700 mile ride up into Utah and Colorado to check out the leaves. With the Givi backrest and new seat, the wife is good for about 400 miles per day. If I were solo, I think I could easily do 600+ miles/day on this bike. It's a very capable two-up rig.

 

[madmike2]

Corbin seats for the FJR are commonly referred to as "planks"

There are other aftermarket seats that provide more comfort, especially for the specific parts of your life partner.

 

[TripperMike]

The FJR is great for two-up touring. Wife and I celebrated our 25th by touring CA this past summer. 2k miles over 5 days. My avatar is a pic of the rig just before we headed down into Donnors Pass. Zip along Monitor Pass south of Tahoe and that freakishly twisted road out of Seqouia down to Visalia. I guess my point is, I myself wouldn't have enjoyed trying to wrestle a large GW w/ a passenger down some of those tight curvey roads. And besides the Feejer is narrow enough to pull off confident lane splitting in LA to boot. For me anyways, the FJR is small enough to sport around on, and large enough for 2-up trippin'.

Mike

 

[Clovis]

Thanks for the input again!

So is the general consensus that Sergent seats are superior to Corbins?

 

[UHOH]

you're in Colorado Springs, so between there and Denver you've got all the brand dealers covered.

Need to take the wife to sit with you on all bike options.

That fit would be criteria one. Our comments are secondary, imo.

Thought here is that if you are normal size, weight, FJR would work.

If heavy people, FJR may be too small. But I ride 2-up seldom...

 

[FJRay]

Thanks for the input again!

So is the general consensus that Sergent seats are superior to Corbins?

May be better than Corbin but you will be money ahead if you go straight to a Russell.

 

[bbdig]

+ 1 on the Russel. The bride never did over 350 miles on the stock seat in a day. We sent the seats to Russell 2 years ago and the difference is unbelievable. She did 564 miles one day coming back from Nova Scotia this year. :yahoo: