I read that report as well. I felt like it was a fairly accurate analysis.
Vibration
For example, take a ride on a K1600. That engine is so smooth you can't tell it's running. Well almost. No one can argue with that. But who cares? Is that worth 10000 dollars? You've got to be kidding me. I've owned bikes that had a vibration problem. The FJR does not. The little bit of vibrating it does is a non issue for me. Is one better than the other in this regard? Sure, to a journalist with a sharp pencil and a deadline to meet, but I really don't care. That's just one example.
That sound
What journalist wouldn't notice the amazing sound of a 6 cylinder? Who wouldn't? They're amazing. But consider this: I talked a lot about the SOUND of my FJR when I first got it. I wanted to hear more of it: can you spell, s-t-a-i-n-t-u-n-e-s? But now, 2 years later, I don't find myself thinking about it much any more. Ya get used to it after a couple years, and after awhile, ya don't particularly notice it. Any chance that this same thing would happen if I owned a 26,000 dollar 6 cylinder? Newness does indeed... wear off, does it not?
However, as I've said before on this forum, there's a lot more to buying, owning, and maintaining a motorcycle than just the two days of ride testing that our moto-rag friends provide. Most of us work for a living and struggle to pay the bills. Some of us have to cut out other things to be able to have a decent ride in the garage, and all of us have learned to appreciate the value of a dollar. When you add up the initial cost of buying and the continued cost of owning and maintaining mototcycle, that number ABSOLUTELY rules out a K1600. When it comes to value, you've got to consider factors like this forum. Show me where you can find the level of help and well written "how to-s" for a long-established platform like the FJR... Again: no contest. Thanks to this forum, even newbie backyard mechanics can handle most of the req'd maintenance on an FJR, and save a ton of $$ doing so.
But of course, no magazine would consider all of this.
When you look at the whole picture, the FJR has no equal.
Gary
darksider #44