Decision time.....08?

[fjrzrcool]

Greetings..

I haven't been on the site for a while, but was during the time I owned a 04. Loved the bike, but had to sell for various reasons.

Now, the 08 is coming out and I, personally, love the way it looks in black. I've been reading a lot about the issues with 07's and have seen many for sale.

If you had the choice to buy an 08, or were to "do it all over again", would you?? I'm torn between an 04 r1150rt or the 08 fjr.

I know this is all personal preference, but this site was always helpful back when I had an 04 and thought it would be good to hear from the people who have purchased the newer models after the 04. I ahve to make a deision by Friday. Will call D&H if I go with the fjr.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this subject..

 

[Falcon124]

...If you had the choice to buy an 08, or were to "do it all over again", would you??...

I have an '05 which I love the heck out of, and I would definitely do it again. I'll probably wait until '09 though to see what changes Yamaha engineers have in store for the Gen III.

 

[v65]

If the problems with '07 models is what is holding you back I would buy. The issues, although severe, are limited to a certain VIN range. Yamaha is taking a lot of heat over this, and apparently has a fix on the way. I would guess that the '08's will not have the fuel problems the '07's had.

 

[stormrider]

Personally, I left a 04 1150 RT for an 07 Fjr.

Never looked back

I like the Ymaha better for a variety of reasons

 

[Knifemaker]

Greetings..
I haven't been on the site for a while, but was during the time I owned a 04. Loved the bike, but had to sell for various reasons.

Now, the 08 is coming out and I, personally, love the way it looks in black.

Sounds like you answered your own question to me.

I have an 06 and if it got stolen , I'd replace it in a heatbeat with an 08. Those that have earlier models like your old 04 might nit-pic things about the GEN II bikes, but the bike is better in many ways. The 08 in black looks great, the 07 problems should not be an issue and as much as I like BMW's , the fun per dollar ratio is unbeatable on the FJR. If BMW had as many dealers in the US as Yamaha, (and priced their bikes lower) I'd be tempted..But a "new" bike over a used one always wins in my book.

I LOVE my 06 and really can't understand why everyone does not own one of these great machines...

KM

 

[EXPDSGT]

Get the black beauty --- it's a no brainer

 

[STL FJR]

If you had the choice to buy an 08, or were to "do it all over again", would you?? I'm torn between an 04 r1150rt or the 08 fjr.

I left an '04 RT for my '05 FJR and never looked back. You will be disappointed with the RT only in the engine. By '04 BMW had it running soooo lean, it literally would not run without vibrating your hands off the bars (high freq vibs). I finally gave up on it. The new R1200 engine is much better, that's why I bought my GS.

However, the FJR is an awesome bike and the '08 promises to be the best IMHO.

 

[UFO]

I would do it again, but not an '08. Black is great for showrooms, not so great as a daily rider. In fact, it's downright a PITA to keep looking remotely clean. I also don't like (it appears) that they got away with a lot of the silver accents on the '08.

I'll wait for a Gen III. k:

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Greetings..
I haven't been on the site for a while, but was during the time I owned a 04. Loved the bike, but had to sell for various reasons.

Now, the 08 is coming out and I, personally, love the way it looks in black. I've been reading a lot about the issues with 07's and have seen many for sale.

If you had the choice to buy an 08, or were to "do it all over again", would you?? I'm torn between an 04 r1150rt or the 08 fjr.

I know this is all personal preference, but this site was always helpful back when I had an 04 and thought it would be good to hear from the people who have purchased the newer models after the 04. I ahve to make a deision by Friday. Will call D&H if I go with the fjr.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this subject..

You're gonna love the D&H price for the '08. Compared to a 1150RT, this is a no brainer. The '08 has addressed the issues of the '07 and more. I know I am very tempted by the '08 even though the color doesn't do much for me.

 

[Wicked Webby]

Hmmmm.....

I have owned only one black bike. My 06 ZX10R... When all polished up, she is very easy on the eyes!! Though, I will never buy another black bike again! It is next to impossible to keep her looking pretty... No in-between, she is either very nasty looking like she needs a bath or spit shined to the hilt. The latter takes a lot more time and work than I prefer. Hence.. not a big fan of the work the black bikes bring.

Just my .02 cents.

WW

 

[Big Papa]

I'm also considering the 08. All loaded up (rider, pass., etc.) I will be weighing in at around 430 lbs. Am I going to be dissapointed in the suspension from day one?

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I'm also considering the 08. All loaded up (rider, pass., etc.) I will be weighing in at around 430 lbs. Am I going to be dissapointed in the suspension from day one?

What are you used to?

 

[Ignacio]

I'm also considering the 08. All loaded up (rider, pass., etc.) I will be weighing in at around 430 lbs. Am I going to be dissapointed in the suspension from day one?

Very likely....or you're going to wear out the stock suspension more quickly. That's in the range I run in rally mode and ended up with an 800 pound spring on a rear Wilbers to compensate. Then again, I doubt there's any other sport-tourer that's going to be fine out of the box....so you shouldn't be surprised. I foresee after-market suspenders in your future.

 

[Fencer]

I'm also considering the 08. All loaded up (rider, pass., etc.) I will be weighing in at around 430 lbs. Am I going to be dissapointed in the suspension from day one?

Is that 430 rider and pass or just rider?

If just rider. you prob will need an aftermarket shock real soon otherwise prob not, but a good aftermarket makes a big diff.

As far as the orig question. The RT even the new ones don't "do it" for me. I'ld pick up an 06 FJR or get the 08.

 

[SR-71]

Had an '05 and couldn't take the heat anymore. Traded it for an '07 and haven't had a single complaint. What fuel problems?

SR-71

 

[fjrzrcool]

thanks everyone.....,.looks like I'll be doing an order with D&H. I'm glad there were so many positive responses.(that's what I was hoping for...)

The FJR is a great looking bike...I can deal with the Black color and the cleanliness issues; I also remember how much fun the 04 was. The 08 seems like it will be even more fun.

Thanks again. appreciate it.

 

[RadioHowie]

My $.02...and being the proud owner of a toasty '04...

...if it were me, after reading about the problems with the '07s reported innumerably in this very forum, I'd let some early adopters "beta" test the '08s before I pulled the trigger. See if MamaYama has actually addressed the problems chronicled so completely here. But ONLY if Black (or Charcoal) was a "must have." For me, either color would be a "must walk."

Again, if it were me, I'd buy an '07 A, have the dealer swap out the colored bits with an AE model, and drive out with a Cerulean manual clutch model. I suspect Yamaha WILL take care of the altitude sickness problems, fix them, and save me a couple of grand in the bargain over the cost of an '08. More than enough to leave enough buckos to buy a full-term Y.E.S. and a butt-load of farkles.

I typically put 60-70 thousand miles on a bike, so being one year newer (if I chose the path outlined above) is NOT gonna give me that big a value bonus at trade-in time. Certainly NOT enough to equal what I'd save picking an 07 over an 08.

 

[Fore Stroke]

thanks everyone.....,.looks like I'll be doing an order with D&H. I'm glad there were so many positive responses.(that's what I was hoping for...)
The FJR is a great looking bike...I can deal with the Black color and the cleanliness issues; I also remember how much fun the 04 was. The 08 seems like it will be even more fun.

Thanks again. appreciate it.

Even tho it sounds like you're ready to pull the trigger, my $.02 is to go for it. Bought my 07 in July; love it and even though this can be a PITA, got caught in two rainstorms today and the scoot was not even ruffled.

...but myself I'd go looking for an unsold 07 because as we all know, the red (black cherry) ones are faster :lol: (a bad posting habit I picked up on the ST1300 board before I came over to the dark side)

Good Luck!

Don

 

[RadioHowie]

...but myself I'd go looking for an unsold 07 because as we all know, the red (black cherry) ones are faster :lol:

Can't argue with ya one single bit...The Black Cherry 07s ARE the fastest ones since Yamaha detuned the entire line starting with the 05s.

:****: