Between the FJR and R1 ???

[TheRepairMan]

Curious as to what any of you FJR and R1 riders think of the new FZ1.

My local dealer "THINKS" I would be happier on the 06 FZ1 than a V-Strom like I was contemplating as my interim bike until I transition into a new FJR someday.

I keep reading "The FJR ain't no R1" ...well duh!

No, the FJR is a really fast ride that hauls a lot of gear while going long distances comfortably two up, whereas the R1 is a super fast machine built with one purpose...to fly on...round and round as required to keep the heart rate high.

What exactly is the FZ1? More comfortable than the R1 but handles better in the technical stuff than the FJR? The FZ1 was rated highly in reviews even won the title as the "Worlds Best Street Bike" once and has continued to be improved upon as are all the new bikes, so they say.

Any and all input will be appreciated.

RogerB

aka, TheRepairMan

and MasterTechDude

 

[Bike Effects]

Curious as to what any of you FJR and R1 riders think of the new FZ1.
My local dealer "THINKS" I would be happier on the 06 FZ1 than a V-Strom like I was contemplating as my interim bike until I transition into a new FJR someday.

I keep reading "The FJR ain't no R1" ...well duh!

No, the FJR is a really fast ride that hauls a lot of gear while going long distances comfortably two up, whereas the R1 is a super fast machine built with one purpose...to fly on...round and round as required to keep the heart rate high.

What exactly is the FZ1? More comfortable than the R1 but handles better in the technical stuff than the FJR? The FZ1 was rated highly in reviews even won the title as the "Worlds Best Street Bike" once and has continued to be improved upon as are all the new bikes, so they say.

Any and all input will be appreciated.

RogerB

aka, TheRepairMan

and MasterTechDude

I own an R1 and an FJR, but have never ridden a FZ1. I am sure I would like it.

 

[XLR8]

I have a 03 FZ1 and it kicks ass. There is alot of overlap between my FJR and FZ1 but I haven't been able to motivate myself to sell the FZ1.

The new FZ1 is supposed to be more sport focused and I think it is going to be another winner for Yamaha. The only thing I am concerned about is I keep hearing reports about "cheapish build quality" so I'm wondering what's up with that.

I was thinking R1 a while back but I do like the ergos on the FZ1 so it could be the perfect blend.

-r

 

[designeraccd]

I test rode the FZ-1 when it first came out, OK....but I couldn't stand it's hacked up looks combined with blACK wheels (a personal pet peeve of mine...graphically they are blaaaa...). OTOH I have a riding buddy who is on his second-he literally threw away his first when the road we were on did a 90 degree right...and he didn't-at any rate he loves his. It does make a good riding "counterpoint" to his GL1800.

For my riding preferences I'd take a FJR, if it ever gets here, or a nice used ZX12R Kaw over an FZ-1. The new one does appear more pleasing to my jaded eyes altho still needs work with color on the wheels! DFO

 

[TheRepairMan]

The only thing I am concerned about is I keep hearing reports about "cheapish build quality" so I'm wondering what's up with that.
-r

I also heard something about that but then it was only something I saw on the net somewhere so I would tend not to put much weight into it.

Is it true that FORD owns the controlling interest in YAMAHA? I think I saw something to that effect published in the news earlier this year or late last year, but I understand that may only affect the investment market and not so much real production operations.

Yamaha still claims to be one of the, or the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world so hopefully they won't start doing stupid stuff that might knock them off the top of the dog pile.

RogerB

There's that damn "warning" again!

Must have followed me from another forum. :bleh:

 

[rdfrantz]

Roger, looking at specs, almost all factors of the FZ1 fall between those of the R1 and FJR, beit power/torque, geometry, or dimensions. Not that we should expect they wouldn't, but somethimes we loose focus on what that means.

Because of what it's made up of, the FZ1 is going to be more dynamic than the FJR and less so than the R1, and more comfortable than the R1 and less so than the FJR. Whether the "distance" in separation of the FZ1 is sufficient from one or the other bike to make it interesting to an R1 or FJR owner is going to be a highly subjective and personal matter.

But that misses what I consider and important point: "What is and FZ1 all by itself? What can it do for the Rider/Owner? Then how does that compare to other bikes that are like the FZ1?

I chose a Honda VFR as a companion to my FJR. Comparatively, the FZ1 was not as different for the kind of "short distance" sporty riding I enjoy most doing. The more upright posture avaialble (but not enforced), and the wide handle bars, along with pretty strong low rpm torque values would make riding on local tight mountain roads very much like riding the FJR. And such a consideration could obscure what's really cool about the FZ1.

It does cover really tight roads well. It does cover the 100 miles to get to those roads quite well. It does have a center stand to allow easy maintenance and loading. There's wonderful "R1-like" power, but at rpms that don't require the time and space to wind it up till screaming: You can "play" in smaller places that today's housing and traffic make more available. But, that becomes Yamaha comparative again.

Looking, just for one example, at the VFR, the FZ1 with its larger inline four-cycliinder is quicker. It's riding position makes the bike more easily responsive, and comfortable for many, at the expense of a more "connected" feeling in sporting settings.

The FZ1 (Is this the "build quality" issue?) seems to have a tacked on fairing, and doesn't come with the "lowers" that are part of the integrated VFR package. And thus, airflow control is much less refined - more tireing to the rider. Then too, the less powerful VFR engine is nearly vibration free at cruising.

So, it looks the VFR would be the more comfortable, easier bike to ride across moderate distances, there to play sporty games or not. And, I decided that was the case and bought one.

What added to that was the underseat exhausts making it very easy to add saddle bags (and top case), producing a much more integrated, put perhaps not more effective, package to extended its riding over multi-day trips. And for me, to be a full back-up to my FJR.

How you personally want to ride, what kind of riding you're interested in, and then how you want a bike to act while doing that, might have you choosing an FZ1 over a VFR, or Lawson Replica, of KZ1000, or Katana. Or VStrom. All of those bikes seem like great tools to me, and I'd enjoy riding each one. But as well, each one is oriented differently, has a different set of strengths, and thus would to the same task differently than the others. One of them would match up better or best to the mix of things you do, and how you want the bike to affect you when it's all done. That's the one to buy.

And if it turns out to not really please you as much as you'd hoped... you get to try again.

Best wishes.

 

[TheRepairMan]

Thanks to;

Bike Effects, XLR8, designeraccd, and rdfrantz for all your great replies. :clap:

RD, I really enjoyed your colorful observation of the bikes mentioned. Oddly enough I'm enticed by what would appear to be the least fierce of the bunch, the little V-Strom, 650. An economical but surprisingly potent mid-weight dual sport powered by a wonderful 90 degree injected twin.

It's a far cry from either the FJR or the FZ1 but a fun bike in the mountainous twisties and high passes as well as the secluded back roads here in eastern Tennessee and southwest Virginia. I never really sought a dual sport machine because most of my riding is just a day in the mountain routes or traveling the local highways from town to town, but to have the ability to venture out a bit and explore would surely open new horizons.

My greatest passion though is the super sport touring style itself and all about the rider being comfortable with the machine. The dilemma is monetary in nature in as much as the FZ1 with touring gear added will nearly equal the price of the far better sport touring equipped FJR. Whereas I might afford myself the much less expensive DL650 Suzuki with gear, minus the "super", then hide it aside in my stable next year to make room for a new FJR...

...but then I will surely miss the pure performance of a new naked FZ1 and forever wonder what it would have been like.

Ah, the troubles we have these days...needing no less than all three machines.

Ride safely & live long my friend!

RB