Considering a 2005

[Bulldog9]

Found a 2005 with 14,000 miles, has aftermarket exhaust (two brothers I think) upsized windshield, Corbin Saddle, bag liners, genmars, tires look good.

Is a one owner bike, seems to be meticulously maintained & cared for. I am trying to get a freind to go over and look at/ride. Guy is asking $8600. The only thing wrong is I would prefer is silver, but think that is 2003 model year? I also like the Black CHerry, which is 2007.... But it looks to be all I want and if I can talk my bud into securing and holding till I get back may pull the trigger. What do you all think? Anythign specific to look/watch for on the 05?

 

[Murph]

Silver was the king in '03 & '04.

Some may say that the models before '06 tend to run hot but it doesn't bother many of us. The big issue is price. Is this '05 an ABS or a non-ABS version. Pay accordingly.

With that in mind, I think you can negotiate to $8k or less. IMHO, those farkles are nice but not enough to significantly jack up the price.

(By the way, I have an '05 and I love it. 14k miles is barely broken in! :thumbsup: )

 

[FJR-Voltron]

I picket up my '05 last month with 10,000 miles.

Owner was asking $8500 and I talked him down to $7800.

 

[FJRBluesman]

I personally wanted the 2005 color, and options, althought I really didn't care at the time for ABS, hindsight, I should have got one with ABS.

I got my 2005 over a year ago, with nearly double those miles, and options for not much less then that. It seems a little high but if you think it's a good deal etc, go for it.

The FJR's seem to hold there value well. Also all those farkles can run up big $$ if you were to buy them yourself. So weight the advantages and disadvantages and do what you feel is right.

Good luck!

 

[luvtoride]

'03 & '04 silvers are different.

 

[Ignacio]

The only thing wrong is I would prefer is silver, but think that is 2003 model year?

This and other things are covered in the FJR Model Comparison Matrix.

 

[FJR-Voltron]

One other thing to consider is how the market is for FJR's... Here in Vegas, I only found ONE FJR that was actually a private party sale. All of the rest were over-priced stealerships... I specifically wanted a private-party sale because I got a nice sale-tax break by doing it that way.

The next closest bike I found was in Phoenix, but I really didn't want to travel all that way just to find out the bike wasn't as advertised.

Inevitably, I'm happy with the bike I got. The price seemed right considering the guy was local and the bike was in pristine condition.

Good luck.

 

[cadman]

Found a 2005 with 14,000 miles, has aftermarket exhaust (two brothers I think) upsized windshield, Corbin Saddle, bag liners, genmars, tires look good.

Bulldog9...

i gave 8800 for my '05 bone stock with half the miles.

this owner looks to have about $1500 in farkles...14,000 miles are low for that year.

heck i just hit 17,000, pull the trigger sir!

cadman

 

[FJReady]

Be careful with the 05s. They're a bitch to break in. Got over 40K on mine now and it still feels new.

Maybe keep looking for one of those slower silver/gray ones. Maybe a gen two with the french style long swing arms. Tends to tone down the performance I've heard.

Just kidding. Buy it if it sings your song- life is short. Enjoy!

 

[madmike2]

14,000 miles on a bike that was likely delivered in '04.....

...Hmm, that'd be around 4K per year. Not bad!

Make the best deal you can, then ride it and SMILE!!!!

 

[bandit]

I bought my 2005 with 4700 miles for $8000. A few small farkles, but nothing significant. Owner had just had a full service doen on it. he even transfered the warranty to me after the sale. i rode a 2005 compared to a 2007 and didint notice any difference in heat, I live in Alabama and I ride them both in the summer within a few days of each other. I saves some coin and got the 2005. Only regreat is that is does have ABS and I hate ABS on a motorcycle. Even with that I can easily disable the ABS so its not a show stopper. I dont see myself getting rid of the FJR anytime soon.

 

[jerome burley]

hello bulldog. my advice, GO FOR IT! i just bought an 05 last month, 14,500 miles, super clean, well cared for, on and on. it did have a sargent seat, new tires, and a y.e.s. warranty, good for almost 3 more years. i paid 8k. (i also liked the silver, but i LOVE this color) it is a buyers market, and with this economy, people should be dealing. this is an incredible bike, in all facets, and from what i read on this forum, you can not go wrong with any year. these guys and girls love their bikes. so.... find one you feel good about, offer up your price, and squeeze that triger! no regrets for moi, cheers, jerome

 

[Bulldog9]

Yeah, I'm going to pull the trigger, buy it sight unseen, hoping to get my buddy over there to look at it. I would be adding or wanting to add the seat and exhaust anyway, so I figure Taking the price of those two off the purchase price, I am getting it for $6400...... Plus he has the stock seat & cans still. Heck, the guy uses golden spectro, the oilk that has kept my XS1100 running and shifting new (XS11's are notorious for shredding the dogs on teh 2nd gear) for 127K miles.... That alone told me I found my next bike. Thanks all!

 

[JamesH]

Found a 2005 with 14,000 miles, has aftermarket exhaust (two brothers I think) upsized windshield, Corbin Saddle, bag liners, genmars, tires look good.
Is a one owner bike, seems to be meticulously maintained & cared for. I am trying to get a freind to go over and look at/ride. Guy is asking $8600. The only thing wrong is I would prefer is silver, but think that is 2003 model year? I also like the Black CHerry, which is 2007.... But it looks to be all I want and if I can talk my bud into securing and holding till I get back may pull the trigger. What do you all think? Anythign specific to look/watch for on the 05?

I bought a 05 this past spring from a neighbor with 13,800 on the clock and it too was meticulously maintained and now I have 24,000 on the clock 6 months later. The only thing I have done to the bike is done the regularly scheduled maintenance and filled it with gas. It is an ABS model which I like and at first I thought it was too hot in the summer but I just go used to it and bought some mesh riding gear.

The dealer he was going to trade it in to was going to give him 7k for it as a trade-in for a C-14 so I offered him 7.5k and it has been worth every penny. I feel bad every time I see him because he always asks how the FJR is running. He has told me on several occasions that he wishes he never got rid of it because the C-14 runs hotter and is more top heavy than the FJR and is only marginally faster. He doesn't like the KiPass and says it's quite a bit higher than the FJR. The only other plus he can come up with is the fact that it seems to handle the twisties a little bit better and the engine is slightly smoother.

So it sounds like a pretty good deal if you put any value to the extras he put on the bike.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I personally wanted the 2005 color, and options, althought I really didn't care at the time for ABS, hindsight, I should have got one with ABS.
I got my 2005 over a year ago, with nearly double those miles, and options for not much less then that. It seems a little high but if you think it's a good deal etc, go for it.

The FJR's seem to hold there value well. Also all those farkles can run up big $$ if you were to buy them yourself. So weight the advantages and disadvantages and do what you feel is right.

Good luck!

I bought my 2005 with 4700 miles for $8000. A few small farkles, but nothing significant. Owner had just had a full service doen on it. he even transfered the warranty to me after the sale. i rode a 2005 compared to a 2007 and didint notice any difference in heat, I live in Alabama and I ride them both in the summer within a few days of each other. I saves some coin and got the 2005. Only regreat is that is does have ABS and I hate ABS on a motorcycle. Even with that I can easily disable the ABS so its not a show stopper. I dont see myself getting rid of the FJR anytime soon.

Goober...meet Gomer. Gomer ...meet Goober.

Hey mebbe you guys outta trade? Then you will get the bike equiped ABS /or not/ the way you like. :clapping:

No commission for me neccessary...This is a free one on me.

 

[Bulldog9]

This is a NON ABS bike, which is my preference. I just think long term that a NON abs bike will be better for me, and after 25+ years of riding non ABS, I like it like that The bike also has a Rifle Giant windshield, plus he has all the original seats & Cans & windscreen, so the bike is everything I wanted. What would make it PERFECT was if it was silver, but I like the Galaxy blue too. Pulled the trigger $8300, but the way I figure it, I would upgrade the seat and cans, and want a winter windscreen, those additions alone plus the throttle meister, bar end weights, heli-bar extenders and a bunch of other goodies make it worth my while, and saves me $$ from having to add things.

Anyone have a two brothers on their FJR? what is the sound, etc?

 

[cadman]

This is a NON ABS bike, which is my preference. I just think long term that a NON abs bike will be better for me, and after 25+ years of riding non ABS, I like it like that The bike also has a Rifle Giant windshield, plus he has all the original seats & Cans & windscreen, so the bike is everything I wanted. What would make it PERFECT was if it was silver, but I like the Galaxy blue too. Pulled the trigger $8300, but the way I figure it, I would upgrade the seat and cans, and want a winter windscreen, those additions alone plus the throttle meister, bar end weights, heli-bar extenders and a bunch of other goodies make it worth my while, and saves me $$ from having to add things.
Anyone have a two brothers on their FJR? what is the sound, etc?

congrats on your purchase..you wont be disapointed. isn't it great getting what you want!!!

bulldog, where is home, in the states? let us know when you get to ride the bike.

cadman

 

[bikerkash]

Having owned an 03,06,& 08 I would advise to not consider anything but an 06 and newer there is really that much difference.

 

[Bulldog9]

Having owned an 03,06,& 08 I would advise to not consider anything but an 06 and newer there is really that much difference.

Care to elaborate?