FJR appreciation experiment

[Greb]

So as the weather slowly clears enough in Utah to rid me of PMS (parked motorcycle syndrome) I have been getting the new bike itch.

I get the itch every couple of years. Not sure why, I have always been a bike whore and love the smell of that engine break-in smell.

Scoured the earth to look at a 2010 C14 but never found one. Probably a good thing since that one has me thinking alot.

Went to the local BMW and rode a few machines to experience some new bike smell:

S1000RR, sweet ride but not for me, too track oriented. That thing has some serious getty-up though.

K1300S, very nice and definiteley could be a nice touring rig for those that prefer something a little more aggressive.

K1300GT felt heavier than the FJR, lots of bells and whistles but not worth the extra coin.

Triumph Speed Triple, Love this bike and the exhaust note is like a symphony on wheels. Had to decide between it and a KTM Super Duke. I brought the Super Duke home last week. It was a toss up really, just liked the KTM a little more.

Next I went to the Victory dealer and test rode the new Cross Country since prior to my FJR I had a H-D Street Glide and I wanted to see if victory had set the bar higher for touring cruisers. I found that they indeed had built a great touring machine that blasts anything H-D has (my opinion) and only the die hard H-D enthusiasts would say the contrary. Lots of torque and smooth suspension complimented by a very neutral, light handling chassis. Ride one and you'll enjoy it greatly if you are open minded about what cruisers have to offer.

In the end I found that for me nothing compared to the FJR and I was very happy to get back on and take her home. I did my research a couple years ago and it continues to pay off. Now I know I don't need a new touring bike and I can just keep racking up miles on my Feejer with complete satisfaction. :yahoo:

Anyone else ever just relieved to get back on the FJR after riding something else?

 

[racer]

The best bike I've ever had, was the best bike I've ever had, when I had it. But yeah, I know what you mean. The FJR is just a super motorcycle.

 

[Silver Penguin]

The best bike I've ever had, was the best bike I've ever had, when I had it. But yeah, I know what you mean. The FJR is just a super motorcycle.

Know what you mean. The best bike I ever had is always the one that I'm currently riding. But it doesn't hurt to go check out the competition now and again.

 

[oldryder]

I ride my FJR most of the time. did a X-country last summer and rode my GL1500 with younger daughter while older daughter rode the FJR.

I was waaaaaay glad to get my FJR back at the end of the trip. The GL1500 is like driving an RV; fine if you're "RV'ing" but no fun any other time.

 

[lnewlf]

"Best bike I've ever had." Just got off the big F after 200 miles in the Green's in Vermont [still snow up there] and said the above- again.

 

[topanga]

I sold my Speed Triple and have missed it ever since.

Given the FJR seems to have reached it's evolutionary end (IMHO), the k1300s may be my next bike, I really loved the test ride I did. I am waiting on real-world feedback on the new Ducati Multistrada before I decide next season which way I go when I retire the FJR.

 

[Motorad]

Here's my FJR appreciation story,

I Returned to motorcycling in 2004.

Bought a new 2004 Moto Guzzi V11 Lemans (Cool bike...I still miss it some)

Sold it and bought 2001 HD Roadking Classic (kept it for 2 months, sold it and made money)

Bought another Guzzi (2007 Norge, hated several things about it, sold it and lost all the money I made on the Harley)

Bought a leftover 2007 FJR1300A (liked it once I did all the throttle mod stuff, got another cruiser bug up my ass and sold it)

Bought a 2007 Yamaha Roadliner (much better cruiser than the harley, had lots of poop, put 12k on it, sold it cause I wanted to get my feet back underneath me and my back was killing me)

Bought another Guzzi. This time I went naked and got the Griso. (Got tired of getting pounded by the wind and the terrible front suspension)

I came full circle and returned to the FJR. This time I got an 08. Much better throttling than the 07, great wind protection, great speed and handling, decent suspension, and my feet are where they belong...underneath me. When I had the Griso I realized that the best bike I ever had was the FJR. After I put Michelin Pilot Road 2's on it I'm in love again. I think it will last this time. Yes I appreciate my FJR.

 

[Go Far]

After 4 BMWs I'm enjoying the FJR.

Tho, going down to the BMW dealer for some test rides is a great idea!

 

[cwa]

Always been a 4cylinder guy way back with the KZ & GS, got hooked up on the V4 vmax and still own one, but I bought a VTwin Yamaha Raider (sold) and now have more miles on my 08 FJR in 3 winter months than I had on the Raider in 1.5 yrs, bottom line is the FJR is my cup of BRANDY?

 

[ugar-6]

I've ridden a ton of bikes but always have been a sports bike guy primarily. Well my wife told me that I was "way too aggressive" on sportbikes after an "incident" last year so she would prefer me not to have them. We agreed on a sports tourer and after trying many of them and adventure tourers, we chose the FJR. I absolutely love this bike so far. The suspension is way soft compared to what I'm used to and she doesn't stop as quickly. Both of these issues I can do things for. Overall, she is a great bike an fun to ride. Plus, I'm not dragging knee in every corner so she keeps me out of some trouble. However, she's got tons of torque and your perception of speed on it is very misleading. I have to watch out for tickets. The wife it much happier pillioning on this than a sportsbike though.

 

[not2shabby]

I've ridden a ton of bikes but always have been a sports bike guy primarily. Well my wife told me that I was "way too aggressive" on sportbikes after an "incident" last year so she would prefer me not to have them. We agreed on a sports tourer and after trying many of them and adventure tourers, we chose the FJR. I absolutely love this bike so far. The suspension is way soft compared to what I'm used to and she doesn't stop as quickly. Both of these issues I can do things for. Overall, she is a great bike an fun to ride. Plus, I'm not dragging knee in every corner so she keeps me out of some trouble. However, she's got tons of torque and your perception of speed on it is very misleading. I have to watch out for tickets. The wife it much happier pillioning on this than a sportsbike though.

+1. The first thing I noticed coming from an 01 FZ1, is the way the FJR hides how fast you're going. 90 mph on the feej felt like 70 on the FZ. Sneaky fast. That, and it doesn't wheely as easy!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

<snip>...I get the itch every couple of years. Not sure why, I have always been a bike whore... In the end I found that for me nothing compared to the FJR and I was very happy to get back on and take her home.

Agreed, I think it's a good idea to ride your FJR to a 'test ride' of another bike -- when you leave you'll probably say to yourself: "What was I thinking...?"

Always been a 4cylinder guy ... bottom line is the FJR is my cup of BRANDY?

Me too... -- and, probably? -- at least V.S. (maybe even V.S.O.P....?).

 

[Greb]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I wasn't trying to start a "my bike is the best" thread. I truly found for me over the last two years that the FJR is a very complete all around machine. I still can't believe it makes the power it does on 87 octane, routinely achieving 50 MPG and 270 miles to a tank while touring.

Really the only things I can complain about is mild buffeting/noise and the bar buzz above 70 mph. I think the concours would rid the bar buzz, but it would sacrifice other things such as ease of maintenance, fuel efficiency, aesthetics, low end grunt, list goes on.

 

[Fingerflicker]

I also looked into other bikes recently, mostly the new Concours. I was getting leary of my FJR because I have never put so many miles on a bike and was getting worried about the dependabilty since it is my main commuter. I decided to just keep fixing it and not worry until it finally goes on me, which may be a while! The bike continues to run so good and I just really enjoy riding it! I would have gotten rid of it last year if it wasn't for this forum (grounding problem).

 

[El Toro]

Really the only things I can complain about is mild buffeting/noise and the bar buzz above 70 mph. I think the concours would rid the bar buzz, but it would sacrifice other things such as ease of maintenance, fuel efficiency, aesthetics, low end grunt, list goes on.

My FJR cockpit seems noisy to me, but I ride with the shield down. When I put it up, its fairly quiet, so that's a solvable problem. On the bar buzz issue, once I had my tires dynamically balanced and my throttle bodies correctly synched, that stuff went away completely. I was surprised at how smooth the FJR was once these two issues were sorted out.

As for which bike is the best bike, for me its always been "The best bike is the next bike." I guess I'm fickle. The FJR is a really nice bike though, and I like it better than any of its direct competitors (K1300GT, ST1300, Norge (choke choke)).

 

[fljab]

So as the weather slowly clears enough in Utah to rid me of PMS (parked motorcycle syndrome) I have been getting the nNext I went to the Victory dealer and test rode the new Cross Country since prior to my FJR I had a H-D Street Glide and I wanted to see if victory had set the bar higher for touring cruisers. <snip>

I rode/have ridden HD's for 30 yrs and still have my bought-new-by-me '99 Ultraclassic that I've made into a sorta Street Glide. I have to admit, it just sits these days. Buying the FJR has "set me free" if you know what I mean.

Why did I take so long to do this???

 

[dc1300]

I'm also kind of fickle about my motorcycles, and I have always been a V twin or single kind of guy. The FJR is my first 4. So after 40K and two seasons I was kind of looking for the next best bike for me. I found it too, it's way better than the old FJR, I put new tires and an Ohlins rear shock on my '05. and I now have the best motorcycle on the road. It's like, or maybe even better than a new bike without spending 15, 16 grand or more. You've gotta love the FEEJ!

DC

 

[Shinden]

Anyone else ever just relieved to get back on the FJR after riding something else?

Oh Yeah, me, BIG TIME

I used to be a cruiser guy, then it late 2003, I took an FJR out at a demo ride; it made my own bike feel "strange" when I got on it to go home, never had that happen before at a demo ride.

My wife was shopping for a replacement for her 2004 GL1800A and in the process, I took a number of larger cruisers out that she was looking at, none worked for me, and I did not have "Wing envy" with her GL1800A.

She wound up with a Victory Vision, it is absolutely the right bike for her and I like it but not enough to change out.

With some of the newer sport tourers out there, the FJR is not the fastest BUT it is fast enough for me and more important, the ergonomics and handling, at all speeds are like they made it just for me. As for the stuff thats newer/faster, they ergonomics don't suit me. The FJR does everything I want, the way I want it. I don't think I will be changing any time soon.

 

[mr.paul]

Were you at Big Boys Toys on 89?

A while back I was in Utah for work and was going up 89 from Ogden back to Tremonton when I saw a cycle dealer. Well, I had to stop in you know...

Turned out to be a Victory dealer as well as Kawi and Suzi I think. I was looking at the Victory's and they did look nice. In walked a young guy also looking at the Victory. He had recently bought a Harley to be like his friends. But he was pretty dissatisfied. He seemed hot for the Minnesota iron there and was at near a fever pitch by the time I got done with him. I think he was coming back to buy a Vision or a Hammer. When he asked what I had (I was driving a rental car. There for work you know) I politely said a Yamaha FJR 1300. He said "a what?" I just told him it was my favorite bike of all time. I left with a smile on my face.

Beautiful country along that Wasatch range. Hope to go back there on the Feej. Can't imagine anything else. If it was a v-twin though, a Victory it might be..

mr.paul, from Minnesota