End of an ERA

[juniorfjr]

I had an opportunity to ride down to Prosser yesterday with a friend who was complaining about keeping up with FJR's on his Africa twin.  Well I escorted a 2018 es back up to Wenatchee and can't get the smile off of his face. After coming up Yakima river road, his only comment was"this could be a ticket getter". 

 

[Niehart]

I'm 68 and the day before yesterday bought my 2nd FJR. Yeah it's heavy, but so am I. I took a 100 mile love ride on it yesterday, and I'm in love again. Someday I'll have to hang it up but I'm not quite dead yet!

Rolavine, I'm 74 years old and still trying to keep up Panman and the Pacific Northwet boy's. JSNS Enjoy ...

 

[Bugnatr]

Rolavine, I'm 74 years old and still trying to let Panman and the Pacific Northwet boy's try to keep up. 

FIFY Mr. Pie man.

 

[Niehart]

Actually they run circles around me but that doesn't make a good story so ... 

 

[Rolavine]

When I was young I rode like a racer, my skin met the road like an eraser, now I'm old and don't have much give, so I drive like a pussy who wants to live! 

 

[kiwi]

Well.

Most hit a point in the aging process with the realization that it is time to move on. I have reached that point. I trade in the matte-blue FJR1300 today, and that will conclude my 20 year history with this bike.

Hard to come to grips with as it may seem, I am not the strapping young stud I was in my early 40's when I began my FJR time, and two reconstructed knees do not help the cause any.  Sure, the bike is still easy to ride once you have left the parking lot and have a pinch of speed up. But in parking lots, gas stations, etc, the FJR has always been a handful when fully laden, 2-up, full gas tank, etc. There have been multiple close calls in the last few years, including a 0-mph tip-over with Annie on the back. Not really a good idea to continue to temp fate with the bride as pillion.

So something lighter, smaller, a bit more manageable is indicated. The FJR is traded in for this quasi-miniature version of it:
 

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A TFT screen similar to my BMW S1000XR, though not as large. There is a ****-ton of info thru multiple scrolling menus:
 

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All LED headlights.
 

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Cornering ABS/TCS, Cruise Control, cross-plane crankshaft, and the sound of that triple motor... oh, yes!  

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Doesn't have the carrying capacity of the big bike, of course, but these FJR-ish hard bags are not too small, and we will manage by  more efficient packing and just carrying less stuff. Only a 4.8 gallon tank, but the triple can get astounding mileage (50+ mpg) until you hit 70mph.  
 

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It is taking a bit to get used to.... but this bike will more than do the job for the foreseeable future. 

Wish us luck - first big road trip together on it will be this June, when it carrys us the start of the Iron Butt Rally in Provo, Utah.

I was debating the same after parting with my FJR of 15 years...hoping for another 5years hopefully as a Gen 2 called me back to the big machine. Must admit one new knee, is calling for a lighter version, anymore issues I will be getting a tracer. Will watch your feedback re two up, etc 

 

[HuskyRider]

I'm going back to an FJR, Tracer is up for sale. Tracer is a great bike but need the weight and size

for 2 up rides with the wife. 

 

[Fzrcraig]

My FJ-09 is up for sale as I just bought a new, non-current 2019 FJR. I did this for many of the same reasons that you have mentioned. Even loaded without a passenger, the FJ had some handling issues.

 

[bagmanhd1]

I too have reached the same place. Been riding for 45 years, have had 3 HD's and am on my second FJR. It seems like after I crossed 60, the bike seemed to gain 10 pounds each year. It's getting a bit nerve wracking to take it off the center stand. If I dropped it I would freak out.

So...I'm taking delivery of a '21 Tracer 9GT this month. Can't wait.

 

[blchandl2]

I too have reached the same place. Been riding for 45 years, have had 3 HD's and am on my second FJR. It seems like after I crossed 60, the bike seemed to gain 10 pounds each year. It's getting a bit nerve wracking to take it off the center stand. If I dropped it I would freak out.

So...I'm taking delivery of a '21 Tracer 9GT this month. Can't wait.

I am right there with ya! I have been researching lighter bikes lately and the 9GT is in the mix. I am looking forward to your thoughts of the 9GT after riding a while. It seems to tick all of the boxes but many people have been disappointed after buying. Please post up a review after putting some miles on your new 9GT.

 

[Fred W]

It seems my original FJR love is going to a new owner finally.  When I bought my 2014 “lipstick” red version new, I just couldn’t let the old ‘05 go for what they offered me in trade.  Imagine, with all of the farkles and mods they only wanted to give me $3000 in trade.  C’mon man!

So I was going to sell it but my son thought he would like to have it.  That was in 2014.  Fast forward 7 years and the boy has never really got ‘round to using it much.  They have a new baby, and he’d rather ride dirt roads (can’t blame him there).  It appears it has been sold to a Fly ‘n Rider from Memphis.  And we got $3k.  Which I think is still a great price for a bike with “just” 100k miles and seems to run as good as it ever did.  
 

I ride the bike recently to make sure it was good to go, and I noticed it was quite a bit lighter, and just a tad peppier than my ‘14.  Fun ride on a cool day.  Not ready to go back on a nut roaster with no cruise, no ES suspension, etc.  But still a great value at $3k. 

 

[jeff_connors]

Happy I found this thread. I'm 64 and considering a FJR. Good health so should be able to get some years of riding on one. I'm a long time vstrom rider and love that bike but looking for a more capable tourer with more power. Cruise is a plus too. The strom has a 0 degree forward lean to it. Did anyone here have a hard time with the lean when first riding the FJR?

 

[RossKean]

Happy I found this thread. I'm 64 and considering a FJR. Good health so should be able to get some years of riding on one. I'm a long time vstrom rider and love that bike but looking for a more capable tourer with more power. Cruise is a plus too. The strom has a 0 degree forward lean to it. Did anyone here have a hard time with the lean when first riding the FJR?

I'm 66 and am looking at a 650 Vstrom as a second bike.  Lighter and more suited to rougher roads and kicking around town.  Not giving up on the FJR...

FJR does not have an especially pronounced forward lean riding position - at least not by sportbike standards.  I don't think you will have a big problem with it but it may depend upon your height, arm length and the seat position you use.  The angle of the bars can be adjusted and bar risers may help - a lot of people use them.  Some just raise the bars and others give some degree of "pull-back".  I use the simple Genmar bar risers.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Happy I found this thread. I'm 64 and considering a FJR. Good health so should be able to get some years of riding on one. I'm a long time vstrom rider and love that bike but looking for a more capable tourer with more power. Cruise is a plus too. The strom has a 0 degree forward lean to it. Did anyone here have a hard time with the lean when first riding the FJR?

How tall are you and what is  your inseam?

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

This is just to address Jeff Connors' concerns.  I came from a sportbike to the FJR 13 years ago.  I am about to turn 64, and am 6'3", and about 205 pounds.  I don't have bar risers, nor an aftermarket seat.  I have the handlebars in the forward position.  (If you're not very familiar with the FJR, it has an adjustment range of something like 3/4", front to back).  I find it very comfortable for most distances, but that's just me.  Just a guess;  if you can bum a ride on one, you will probably fall in love.

 

[jeff_connors]

How tall are you and what is  your inseam?

I'm 5-10, 200, think my inseam is 33. I'm not a fan of forward lean. I bought my son a SV650S and I made it a city block and turned around. Did not like it. The Vstrom is 0 degree lean along with the GW. I won't give up my Vstrom and the GW is a monster. Good bike but don't need the weight and cc. Of course my wife wants me to get the GW. She may not like the rear position of the FJR. Guess the goal is to ride one and make a decision. Yep, hate to ride new bikes. It always costs me money!! 

Thanks for the opinions folks.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

The FJR does have a  forward lean position. It is also top heavy. I would find one to test ride before buying one. 

 

[Fzrcraig]

I am also 5'10", but with a little shorter inseam and a few more lbs. I came to the FJR from an FJ-09. The FJ was more "open" than the FJR and more upright, but I could never get comfortable for long with the bars. I tried Helibars but it didn't help. The FJR has a slight forward lean that I find OK once at speed as the wind force presses against you (with the windshield low). The FJR seems to have less room from waist to pegs, so even though I am not tall, I have the seat in the upper position. In stock form, both are comfortable for 1-1/2 to 2 hrs. before I need a break.

 

[Steel_Gin]

Happy I found this thread. I'm 64 and considering a FJR. Good health so should be able to get some years of riding on one. I'm a long time vstrom rider and love that bike but looking for a more capable tourer with more power. Cruise is a plus too. The strom has a 0 degree forward lean to it. Did anyone here have a hard time with the lean when first riding the FJR?

I am 5'8", when the bike was stock I didn't have a problem with the forward lean.  But could not ride more than 90 minutes with the stock seat.  Got a Russell Day Long seat and I could tell right away the extra height of the seat leaned me forward more than I liked.  Bought a Helibar triple tree, it moved the handlebars back (I believe 1/2") and up (I believe up 3/4") and it made a huge difference.  I am sitting up a little more straight than when it was stock.  With this combo I have all day comfort, the weak point in this is my own endurance.  Someone who is a little taller and longer arms will probably feel like they are sitting up totally straight.

Unfortunately Helibar doesn't make that triple tree anymore, but they do come up for sale on this forum and the other sandbox once in a while.  But there are other handlebar risers out there that will get the job done.

So where I'm going with this, most likely you will get a custom seat and that will change your riding position then require a tweak of the handlebars.  Once you are happy with that you have the most dependable Sport Tourer on the market and money ahead than a BMW.

 

[2005 FJR Scott]

Best of luck to you. 
your new ride is a fine choice and I’m hoping to test one of those someday.

 

[slowdave]

Guess I'm a youngster at 56. But been knocked off of 3 FJRs in 14 years on the way to work and last one broke a bunch of stuff and wife is not happy. For now, compromise is to lay off the streetbike in trade for continuing roadracing. Wondering how long I can continue to endurance roadrace and last race talking to one of the "old heads" in the pit next to us who was hanging it up, at 69 years old! Said he wanted to still be racing at 70, but his endurance teammate quit and he didn't really want to break in someone new. Inspiring!

And... I really want another FJR. No more commuting honey, I promise! ;-)