Another FJR Review

[markjenn]

Everybody thinks their dog is the smartest, but a lot of you are cherry-picking data to prove your point and it just doesn't hold water.

For example, BMW's are discounted just like Yamaha's, so you can't make a price comparison using MSRP on the BMW and D&H price on the FJR. Further, base GT's are becoming quite available, probably more available thatn 06 standard clutch FJRs.

Reliablity-wise, both bikes are pretty good. I'd give the nod to the FJR, but if you go over to a BMW board they'll parrot the propaganda that all FJR's are tickers in the same way you're saying all BMW's have glass final drives. Neither view, of course, is correct.

As to the argument that the cheaper bike should win these comparison tests, this test did what most reputable publications do - they reported what bike was the best irrespective of price and let readers decide whether the better bike is worth the price difference. For some of us, $5500 is a huge amount, to others, it isn't very signfiicant. How in the hell is a publication supposed to make this sort of individual value judgment? They can't, and that's why they don't.

I like FJRs. I like BMWs. I own both. You can't go wrong with either of these bikes.

- Mark

 

[SkooterG]

As much as I hate to admit it................

Very well said, Mark.

Just think if the FJR was the ***undisputed*** king of sporttourers and EVERYONE had one. How boring and gay would that be?

"Variety is the spice of life."

 

[KrustyKola]

"Optional Equipment

Rear Trunk w/ Backrest $102.95"

The factory trunk and backrest is 102.95? part number anyone?

 

[sprint_st]

Is there something in the water in California??? All the bike mag comparo's don't add up. Let's throw out the cost. The bikes have realistically the same HP but the FJR has way more torque which just happens to be a lot more important to this type of vehical. Then read all the implications when it comes to handling. Yeh, they say the Beemer has the ability to tune the suspension, BUT when push comes to shove the FJR is more confident and more agile in the turns. Last but not least they say the FJR is more comfortable to ride. Their conclusion sort of says that one plus one doesn't equal two anymore. I wrote to two other mags when things like this happened. On the first, an Aprilla Tauno won over about five or six other bikes and never won a single event. The editor said it was the intangiables. Yeh, right. In both cases it really boiled down to bias and advertising bucks.

 

[S76]

Don't try to confuse us with well thought out and accurate facts. We made up our minds.

Everybody thinks their dog is the smartest, but a lot of you are cherry-picking data to prove your point and it just doesn't hold water.
For example, BMW's are discounted just like Yamaha's, so you can't make a price comparison using MSRP on the BMW and D&H price on the FJR. Further, base GT's are becoming quite available, probably more available thatn 06 standard clutch FJRs.

Reliablity-wise, both bikes are pretty good. I'd give the nod to the FJR, but if you go over to a BMW board they'll parrot the propaganda that all FJR's are tickers in the same way you're saying all BMW's have glass final drives. Neither view, of course, is correct.

As to the argument that the cheaper bike should win these comparison tests, this test did what most reputable publications do - they reported what bike was the best irrespective of price and let readers decide whether the better bike is worth the price difference. For some of us, $5500 is a huge amount, to others, it isn't very signfiicant. How in the hell is a publication supposed to make this sort of individual value judgment? They can't, and that's why they don't.

I like FJRs. I like BMWs. I own both. You can't go wrong with either of these bikes.

- Mark

 

[Fred W]

Here's one thing I didn't see addressed in the article, and I'm surprised nobody here has picked up on it. While the first generation BMW GT's looked OK, the newer ones are BUTT UGLY!!

It doesn't matter how much it costs, or how many gadgets come standard if you can't stand the way your ride looks...

--Fred W

PS - new on the board. h34r: Just browsing.

 

[donaldb]

I have not read this whole thread.........and someone may have already touched on this earlier......if so dog pile is warranted. I just got my Roadrunner issue this week. They had a very positive article on both the AE and the A. Like most there was some criticism on the AE about slow speeds and sharp cornering as such as in a parking lots and the sudden loss of power below 2k rpm. But aside from that everything else was very positive and IIRC there was nothing but parise for the A and the 06 changes. It ws a doublee delightful read since it was so positive combined with the fact that RR is my favorite bike mag.

 

[teerex51]

(...)The factory trunk and backrest is 102.95? part number anyone?

You wish, Krusty...

That's just the backrest pad (5JW-W0772-00-00)

The trunk ( 5JW-W0754-60-00 in 2006 Cobalt Blue) is another $589,00 on top of that :dribble:

Stef

PS: If you ever decide to spring for the trunk I can sell you a new OEM backrest pad. Please PM me if interested.

 

[donaldb]

Krusty, there is a forum member who might be willing to sell his 05 yamaha trunk.......I know he is thinking about it, send a pm to bristercl and inquire. He's has mentioned to me that he likes the Givi and is considering changing over. FWIW

 

[Flylooper]

Until then don't look for the FJR to be winning any more of these 'shootouts'. Advertisers won't continue to buy space in moto magazines just to read their product isn't a significant contender at any price.

Probably the most important thing to remember about these things. These guys make pay their lightbills with advertisers' money. Has anyone ever read a this-bike-is-a-piece-of-crao article in a magazine. I mean, really stomping the daylights out of the product? (Well, maybe whoever reviewed the Yugo a few years ago.)

 

[KrustyKola]

(...)

The factory trunk and backrest is 102.95? part number anyone?

You wish, Krusty...

That's just the backrest pad (5JW-W0772-00-00)

The trunk ( 5JW-W0754-60-00 in 2006 Cobalt Blue) is another $589,00 on top of that :dribble:

Stef

PS: If you ever decide to spring for the trunk I can sell you a new OEM backrest pad. Please PM me if interested.

Thanks Teerex51 for the info, I did know that it was a typo in the article. The idea of a factory part for under 500 bucks, now that would be something!