Warjacqui
New member
Im a geordie…. In the actual North, we like to believe we are subject matter experts, even if our experience runs to no more than an hour or two on google, so, here’s reflections from a brand new geordie FJR1300AS 2009 expert.
I’ve owned my second hand new FJR1300 AS 2009 exactly 24 hours. It is my first FJR. I traded a Suzuki SV1000S for it, and the garage was about as far away from my home as physically possible. I actually live in rural Northumberland, near Haydon bridge, near Hadrians Wall and Hexham, and the bike was at Davant Bikes, Torquay. 430 miles door to door. This is her
I loved the last ride on my V twin, from my village, along the "the Hartside Pass", voted by the ACDC bloke as his favourite road in the world on Top Gear. It's a stunning ride, from my village, an hour to junction 40 of the M6. It rained however, a lot, so the ride down on my v twin was remarkably unremarkable, she scared wildlife, set off car alarms, produced scornful looks just as she has done for the last 14 years, 25000 miles and 12 countries I've ridden her through.
I hit the motorway at Penrith, into heavy traffic from the Lake District all the way until past Bristol. It took 10 hours to get down to Torquay on Saturday. I set off at 5am, and reached Davant bikes at about 3pm Saturday afternoon. I picked up the FJR, drove to where I was staying an hour along the coast, had a cornish pasty and pint and went to bed.
Davant have the air of assurance that they are the real thing. I am a naive expert and know it. I had a load of questions about functionality, weird nuances (light only comes on when engine is running, not on ignition? etc) but it didnt take long to realise what a step up I have made on my 9 hour, 425 mile ride home in thunder storms on Sunday. I emailed them a few questions yesterday (Monday) morning, they called me within 30 minutes of my email and have called me to coach me through my naivity twice since. Excellent customer service and a lifetime guarantee if I get it serviced with them, which I wont, its too far away.
There are things you dont know that you dont know.....Since when did the world from a bike not look blurred? I cant ever remember being able to read another vehicles number plate without slowing right down!
First impressions? Im in love, however, there are two things which aren’t great, neither of which I could have had the foresight to mitigate before I bought the bike.
Good bits – the gear changing is a dream with the flappy paddle clutch set up, It really helps and aids safety significantly. Riding is a dream. I was stupid enough to think you look through, not over the screen, having never had a meaningful one. I worked out, when I was riding along the M5/M6 motorway looking like a meer cat on acid, that one looks slightly over the screen. I now understand the merits of a screen. I tucked in behind it, and apart from wondering if I was having a stroke when the heated grips kicked in (I didn’t know I had them switched on). It was a thing of great beauty. Thunderstorms, lightening, biblical rain, cars nose to tail driving completely blind at 90MPH past Birmingham and Manchester. I felt in control and aware of everything watching the world go by.
Two bad bits - I’m not used to back boxes and I have to get used to my new one, which is the size of a small caravan, and would be better suited employed as a submarine, taking rich people to the bottom of the sea. I kept getting glympses of it in the mirror and shocking myself – an alien space craft has chosen my pillion seat to land on! Phewf, its only the back box….
I am also an aspiring helmet musician (thats not meant to be a rude metaphor) – a very amateur band member who sings backing vocals behinds his piano. I had always thought I was practically Lady Gaga in my helmet, with piercing vibrato to rival the very best. I now realise that it was the shaking of a v twin that gave me the singing edge. I’m actually quite crap. I think I will soon have to be honest with myself if Im spending time riding the new love of my life.
Being an expert - I dont need any of course - but should you wish to share any advice or thoughts on things I need to check, things I can adjust (apart from making the screen go up and down, I haven't changed a thing) I would warmly welcome them.
Thanks for the add
Dan.
I’ve owned my second hand new FJR1300 AS 2009 exactly 24 hours. It is my first FJR. I traded a Suzuki SV1000S for it, and the garage was about as far away from my home as physically possible. I actually live in rural Northumberland, near Haydon bridge, near Hadrians Wall and Hexham, and the bike was at Davant Bikes, Torquay. 430 miles door to door. This is her
I loved the last ride on my V twin, from my village, along the "the Hartside Pass", voted by the ACDC bloke as his favourite road in the world on Top Gear. It's a stunning ride, from my village, an hour to junction 40 of the M6. It rained however, a lot, so the ride down on my v twin was remarkably unremarkable, she scared wildlife, set off car alarms, produced scornful looks just as she has done for the last 14 years, 25000 miles and 12 countries I've ridden her through.
I hit the motorway at Penrith, into heavy traffic from the Lake District all the way until past Bristol. It took 10 hours to get down to Torquay on Saturday. I set off at 5am, and reached Davant bikes at about 3pm Saturday afternoon. I picked up the FJR, drove to where I was staying an hour along the coast, had a cornish pasty and pint and went to bed.
Davant have the air of assurance that they are the real thing. I am a naive expert and know it. I had a load of questions about functionality, weird nuances (light only comes on when engine is running, not on ignition? etc) but it didnt take long to realise what a step up I have made on my 9 hour, 425 mile ride home in thunder storms on Sunday. I emailed them a few questions yesterday (Monday) morning, they called me within 30 minutes of my email and have called me to coach me through my naivity twice since. Excellent customer service and a lifetime guarantee if I get it serviced with them, which I wont, its too far away.
There are things you dont know that you dont know.....Since when did the world from a bike not look blurred? I cant ever remember being able to read another vehicles number plate without slowing right down!
First impressions? Im in love, however, there are two things which aren’t great, neither of which I could have had the foresight to mitigate before I bought the bike.
Good bits – the gear changing is a dream with the flappy paddle clutch set up, It really helps and aids safety significantly. Riding is a dream. I was stupid enough to think you look through, not over the screen, having never had a meaningful one. I worked out, when I was riding along the M5/M6 motorway looking like a meer cat on acid, that one looks slightly over the screen. I now understand the merits of a screen. I tucked in behind it, and apart from wondering if I was having a stroke when the heated grips kicked in (I didn’t know I had them switched on). It was a thing of great beauty. Thunderstorms, lightening, biblical rain, cars nose to tail driving completely blind at 90MPH past Birmingham and Manchester. I felt in control and aware of everything watching the world go by.
Two bad bits - I’m not used to back boxes and I have to get used to my new one, which is the size of a small caravan, and would be better suited employed as a submarine, taking rich people to the bottom of the sea. I kept getting glympses of it in the mirror and shocking myself – an alien space craft has chosen my pillion seat to land on! Phewf, its only the back box….
I am also an aspiring helmet musician (thats not meant to be a rude metaphor) – a very amateur band member who sings backing vocals behinds his piano. I had always thought I was practically Lady Gaga in my helmet, with piercing vibrato to rival the very best. I now realise that it was the shaking of a v twin that gave me the singing edge. I’m actually quite crap. I think I will soon have to be honest with myself if Im spending time riding the new love of my life.
Being an expert - I dont need any of course - but should you wish to share any advice or thoughts on things I need to check, things I can adjust (apart from making the screen go up and down, I haven't changed a thing) I would warmly welcome them.
Thanks for the add
Dan.
