A few moths ago I bought a 07 Screaming Eagle Dyna. I have a 05 FJR, 06 FZ6, aand a 97 Bandit 1200S. The first week I realized that the FJR is the only all weather, all road type bike I have. I never worry about what kind of road ar how the weather my be while riding on the FJR. That Harley is pretty and fun, but watch out if there is a bend in the road!!!! And hope you dont have to stop quick!!! The FJR is so amazingly different and better in every way. Like riding a F-15 compared to a WW1 bi-plane (my Harley). I hate to compare apples and oranges, but the FJR is still the best bike I have ridden in over 35 years of riding. My wife likes the Harley, because I ride slow and she can see the scenery better. It is very hard to switch to slow mode after riding my FJR. An to think I could have bought 2 new FJRs for the price of that Harley! Oh well, The Dyna is a sweet looking bike. May sell the the HD in the fall. Sometimes I think I can hear my FJR laughing at that Dyna in the garage.
FJR- A real Bike
- Thread starter maddawg46
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Wolfhound
Wildman
Knifemaker
Not me
I think that is the FJR's selling point-It just seems to do EVERYTHING well. The perfect comprimise bike. It's not the fastest or the lightest, but from using it for a quick run to the store- to a 600 trip it just feels at home.
I won't belittle your Harley, but yeah, completely diffrent motorcycles. I think Harleys are what most folks (that do not know much about motorcycles ) think a bike should look like...and the FJR does what most folks (that do know about motorcycles) think a bike should do.
I have owned and ridden alot of bikes in my life, and speaking just of the street bikes, none comes close to being as "complete" as the FJR. It makes me smile eveytime I get on it. The only time any bike ever came close to getting the same smile on my face was a brief moment after pulling into the pit after getting to take a friends TZ750 around the track for a couple laps.
Back in "05 I decided that I needed to find "the one" motorcycle that I could have that would keep me happy and not wanting. After two years with my 06A I am pretty sure I picked the right bike.
KM
I won't belittle your Harley, but yeah, completely diffrent motorcycles. I think Harleys are what most folks (that do not know much about motorcycles ) think a bike should look like...and the FJR does what most folks (that do know about motorcycles) think a bike should do.
I have owned and ridden alot of bikes in my life, and speaking just of the street bikes, none comes close to being as "complete" as the FJR. It makes me smile eveytime I get on it. The only time any bike ever came close to getting the same smile on my face was a brief moment after pulling into the pit after getting to take a friends TZ750 around the track for a couple laps.
Back in "05 I decided that I needed to find "the one" motorcycle that I could have that would keep me happy and not wanting. After two years with my 06A I am pretty sure I picked the right bike.
KM
ngarider
Ride More, Talk Less
OBFJR
Well-known member
It's funny but I had the same experience with another cruiser too. I had a Kawa Vulcan 1600 that was a wonderful bike, just loved it and took it everywhere. I had it farkled to my hearts content. Then one day the FJR caught my eye at the local Yamy shop and I said to myself, "Self, these bikes are both really nice and so different you need to have both of them." So I did. But what I found out was the Vulcan became the jilted girlfriend and I ended up selling her about 6 months later, I felt sorry for her cause I never took her out. Heck, I remember leaving the neighborhood one day on the Vulcan and hitting the rev limiter thinking, "What's wrong with my bike, it's not running right!". That Feejer is something else. Heck, even my 19 year old son who rides a sport bike prefers the FJR.
Bob
Bob
garywayne
Well-known member
While no expert I have been riding 40 years and 29 bikes (3 of which were Harleys). I like Harleys, especially the dyna line. I know a lot of people make fun of them but they really are nice bikes for what they are designed to do. Are they a fast or handle as well as a sport touring bike...no but for more relaxed riding they are great. they have great low end power, low seat, easy to handle at low speeds, better paint and chrome than anyone and just have a good feel to them. That said I'm more comfortable on a sport touring bike but if a cruiser is your thing then a Harley is great. They are really pretty low maintaience and almost all of it can be done by anyone, better after market than anyone and you can make one last forever..you can order a whole new motor from Harley for about 4K (try that with one of ours). the new ones don't leak oil and they run pretty good. Not the type of bike I want anymore but still a good bike it thats what you want.
Gary
Jagermeister
Well-known member
Well said. The Feejer WANTS to go fast, and makes you feel good doing it. Going back to a cruiser seems pointless, under most circumstances.
dfpextraordinaire
Well-known member
:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: i just got a 08 Ultra Classic, Pacific Blue and black and everything you would ever expect about an electri-glide. I have put 120 miles on her so far, due to the weather being uncooperative, but here's my first impression. The Ultra is a Cadillac and the FJR is a Lamborgini. I love my FJR and am heartbroken to even thinking about selling her to some other owner, but, Marti won't ride on the feejer and she will on the Ultra, so there ya be!!!!
The Harley is amazing and handles like a dream, smooth when running down the road, slick through the turns and she actually feels lighter on the highway than my feejer. BUT, this Harley is slow and like a drone when ya wanna make it happen!!! I love both scoots but i gotta tell ya, I think that the 06 FJR is going to stay in the garage for a while, She is not ready to leave me yet!!! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
The Harley is amazing and handles like a dream, smooth when running down the road, slick through the turns and she actually feels lighter on the highway than my feejer. BUT, this Harley is slow and like a drone when ya wanna make it happen!!! I love both scoots but i gotta tell ya, I think that the 06 FJR is going to stay in the garage for a while, She is not ready to leave me yet!!! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
I currently have a Street Glide and am 85 percent sure I am getting a FJR. My 15 percent doubt has to do with my wife and if she will like the FJR after riding on the Glide. May I ask why your significant other does not like the FJR? Thanks for any input.
Greb
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SomethingSomeoneBlahBlah
Active member
Not to threadjack here, but I own an Ultra Classic as well, and I'm wanting to add an FJR to the stable. My wife refuses to ride pillion on an FJR after our test ride (and I didn't hammer it, honest!).
What she said she didn't like on the FJR:
Less wind protection
Felt "up and exposed" compared to the Harley
Didn't feel as "stable"
No backrest (I have the huge Tourpak w/ the wrap-around arms for her)
No radio (heh)
FJR was more 'folded up' than the Ultra Classic
The thing she noted on the FJR was when she asked me "how long are you going have that sh_t-eating grin on your face??!"
I was 90% to selling the Ultra outright and getting an FJR instead, but if she wants to ride ... well, that changes things. Maybe I'll look for a nice used '06 to add to the stable!
7ap0ut
Member
+1 to the out of a Harley into an FJR crowd. Mine was an '07 RoadGlide with a ton of goodies. It was a bit of a crossover bike for me satisfying my daily, commute, LD, and custom duties. A tough set to compromise on, but it did it. I'm getting a new basketcase project in eliminating the custom duty from RoadGlide, and with that out of the equation the RoadGlide was no match for the FJR. I'm more of a sporty rider than cruiser, so add that to the mix.
As far as having the wife on the back, that's totally subjective. I'm not sure soliciting any opinions other than hers is going to do anything other brush up on your typing and reading. For most people it normally falls into what they were exposed to first unless they are really open to new things. Just part of the human experience. My wife has been on the back of everything with me from my sportbike crazed years, to muscle cruisers, to cruisers, and back. She's good with just about everything but having her first exposure on sportbikes, the lax feel of a full on cruiser however just was never home for her. But really we don't 2-up much in the grand scheme of things and rarely ride more than 150 miles one way together. I'm sure if it was more often and more miles things might be different, and in that my choice would be different too.
It's hard to find one tool that does everything. I'm working hard on getting a different tool for every need! Good luck--
As far as having the wife on the back, that's totally subjective. I'm not sure soliciting any opinions other than hers is going to do anything other brush up on your typing and reading. For most people it normally falls into what they were exposed to first unless they are really open to new things. Just part of the human experience. My wife has been on the back of everything with me from my sportbike crazed years, to muscle cruisers, to cruisers, and back. She's good with just about everything but having her first exposure on sportbikes, the lax feel of a full on cruiser however just was never home for her. But really we don't 2-up much in the grand scheme of things and rarely ride more than 150 miles one way together. I'm sure if it was more often and more miles things might be different, and in that my choice would be different too.
It's hard to find one tool that does everything. I'm working hard on getting a different tool for every need! Good luck--
I have a HD Road King Classic and the wife prefers it to the FJR and quite frankly for 2 up riding so do I. The FJR is "MY" bike and the Harley is "OUR" bike. Best of both worlds...got to love that.
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keithaba
Well-known member
While the obvious forum consensus is that the FJR rocks, the FJR just does not have the chick magnet appeal of a harley (or at least cruiser).... 
While the obvious forum consensus is that the FJR rocks, the FJR just does not have the chick magnet appeal of a harley (or at least cruiser)....
Yeah, didn't mean to hijack the thread. It is a well rounded machine, and should be fine for my wife. If not, I am still going to keep it!
JohnTC40
Well-known member
My wife actually prefers the FJR (I put a PCA backrest on it for her) to our Harley. She likes sitting up higher; says she can see more. As to the FJR itself, it's proving to be the most perfect all-around bike I've owned in over 35 years of riding.
camera56
Well-known member
Got a bunch of bikes down in my garage. Always wondered what they talked about. I'm secretly afraid my wife's red Vespa wins all arguments because after all the bragging about lean angles, top speed, and whatever it is sport bikes talk about, the Vespa just shrugs and says "Ciao".
I live in a rural area, by a very large lake. The bike of choice among the locals is definitely the Harley-Davidson. Many other cruisers are seen, but it is a novelty to see a sport bike here. Today it was sunny, and mid-40 degrees. I wanted to test the new Cee Bailey +2+6 "winter" shield. At 80 mph on a winding 2-lane, I settled in behind 2 Harley riders running about 65. They were without windshields or helmets, of course. But one did have a balaclava. I kinda felt sorry for them when I passed, as they were obviously freezing their butts off. On the FJR, with the side wings opened to cut the wind, w/s at full-up position, and full gear, I rode in complete comfort, even up to about 95. I think I can ride this thang at 30 degrees or less!
Knifemaker
Not me
Ditto to the wife thing..(and the perfect bike thing too of course)
My wife loves the Feejer. She thought my cruiser bike was fun, but after riding on the back of the FJR..she said its just more comfortable and that the FJR is "not as boring" (so yeah, she likes the thrill of speed too)
I do know that some gals just like that "rumble through the seat" a big V twin delivers, but I think most just preffer that lazy-pace of big crusier or Harley.
Luckily, my wife (although she won't come right out and say it) has a need for speed like me......
KM
Big-T
Member
I started riding last October. First bike was a Honda Sabre. Had it a month and didn't like the wind blowing me around so I got a heavier bike, a Honda VTX1300. In March I got an 07' Nomad. Because of some perceived problem with the Nomad I got a new Ultra Classic. At first I liked the Harley pretty well but then one day I had this religious experience and the Harley "thing" got me. I recently traded in the Ultra Classic for a 08' Road Glide because of all the great things I read about the Road Glide. I LOVE my Road Glide and it was my go to bike. Two weeks after I got the Road Glide a friend of mine was telling me about this used Yami sport touring bike at the local dealer. I went and made a deal to trade my 07' Nomad for it. Took a bath on the trade but do not regret it one bit.
The first religious experience was the Harley Ultra Classic, the second one was on this blue plastic covered scooter looking thing that some call a Feejer. I never dreamed I would be riding down the road on something that makes the rider look like a monkey fukcnig a football. It is a whole new experience in motorcycle riding for me. I am not a speed freak but the power of the FJR calls to me. My wife will not ride with me on this bike, my choice. She loves all the Harley crap and loves riding on the back of that beautiful piece of art.
I could go on for paragraphs but everybody on here already knows what I feel. If you own a Harley, you know what I feel there as well. My stable will always have a Harley in it and it will also always have some type of bike in the same class as the FJR. T.
The first religious experience was the Harley Ultra Classic, the second one was on this blue plastic covered scooter looking thing that some call a Feejer. I never dreamed I would be riding down the road on something that makes the rider look like a monkey fukcnig a football. It is a whole new experience in motorcycle riding for me. I am not a speed freak but the power of the FJR calls to me. My wife will not ride with me on this bike, my choice. She loves all the Harley crap and loves riding on the back of that beautiful piece of art.
I could go on for paragraphs but everybody on here already knows what I feel. If you own a Harley, you know what I feel there as well. My stable will always have a Harley in it and it will also always have some type of bike in the same class as the FJR. T.
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