Grand Prix in Santa Clara is short at least one as of yesterday. I picked mine up....
First impressions, compared to the 2003:
Dash is impressive. Particularly at night. The LCD display is much
brighter and easier to read.
The changed the center stand. It is much easier to get it on the stand, and it comes off much easier. Almost too easy.
Suspension is much better. On a short ride it seems to as good or better
than 03 with Works shock and 2005 fork springs.
When I picked it up, the seat was in the low setting. The pegs seemed much
closer, I felt like I was sitting lower. I changed it to the high setting.
Much better, but the vertically challenged might find it hard to reach the
ground with the seat in the high setting.
The bars seem closer to together. This may be my imagination. I will
measure them this weekend.
Everything is moved around. The coolant bottle is on the left, the fuse box
is on the right by the battery. There is a huge storage box under the
riders seat, and another smaller one under the passenger seat. They changed
all the inside panels in the fairing. They are now just one piece on each
side instead of two. Looks much easier to move.
The mirrors are much better. The windscreen is taller and wider, and has
better protection.
As far as heat.... The heat was never really a issue for me, I usually ride
in boots and riding pants. When I did ride in shoes and jeans, I could feel
some heat on my lower legs. This heat is gone on the 06. I mean it, gone.
I rode around in about 68 degree temps, in traffic, in jeans and shoes and I
never felt even a hint of warmth on either leg, or any where else.
The stock seats seems better than the stock seat on the 03. On my short
ride I never felt like I was sliding forward like on the 03 seat. We will
see how it works on a long ride. I suspect I will be talking to Rocky Mayer
about a new one.
All in all I am very pleased with what Yamaha has done to improve the FJR.
Tom
