FJR or RT, Used Bike Prices

[BwanaDik]

have you ridden both bikes that you are considering??

if not, that's may bring clarity...

Admittedly, no. I pretty much know what to expect out of the R1200RT (a pronouced improvement over my R1100RT). I checked the ergos of the FJR at a local dealer. But I have not ridden one. If anyone on the West side of Houston wants to swap bikes for a few miles, I'd love to ride your GenII FJR.

Keep an eye on the "Texas and South" section of the Forum. We occationally have rides up to Liberty Tavern in Carlos. Maybe we can work something out

 

[Spud]

Check out this used bike. A 2005 with 241 miles. Apparently, this owner was not what you'd call a die-hard rider, averaging about 35 miles a year on it.... :blink:

https://eastidaho.craigslist.org/mcy/2681045926.html

 

[frito1]

I'm still on the fence between a used GenII FJR

I'd definitely go with a used Gen II, especially one with cruise control. Texas ain't that far from Arkansas.

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=140804&st=0&p=897068&fromsearch=1entry897068

 

[Fred W]

Check out this used bike. A 2005 with 241 miles. Apparently, this owner was not what you'd call a die-hard rider, averaging about 35 miles a year on it.... :blink:

https://eastidaho.cra...2681045926.html

Yeah, but that guy's on crack if he thinks an '05 RT is worth 14 large.

 

[creekstone]

FWIW, my buddy had a RT1200. It was a really nice bike, and I think more comfortable than my FJR. The FJR is more visceral...

As far as worrying about reliability, I never have. Every time I take the bike out of the garage, whether its a trip to the store or across the country, I fully believe she will bring me home. She hasn't failed me yet.

I like comfortable. But I like visceral too. You ain't helping.

Once I make a choice, I'm riding it with no worries. Like you, once I throw a leg over the saddle, I believe I'm coming home.

 

[creekstone]

Keep an eye on the "Texas and South" section of the Forum. We occationally have rides up to Liberty Tavern in Carlos. Maybe we can work something out

Will do. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[creekstone]

... that guy's on crack if he thinks an '05 RT is worth 14 large.

Absolutely. And I'd be afraid of a motorcycle that has sat that long regardless of the mileage.

FWIW, I'm looking at 2007 and newer bikes (in both the FJR and RT).

Just lately I've found two extremely low-mileage (less than 3K miles) 2010 FJRs south of $11K. I think that's a pretty good deal. Both sold quickly. But I can't seem to justify the extra $ just because it's a newer year model; the FJR hasn't changed that much since 2008. The ONLY advantage (and one not previously mentioned) is the availability of an extended YES warranty.

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.bmwmoa.org/flea/detail.php?siteid=34086&catid=1 creekstone, here is what an '04 or '05 BMW R1150RT should be going for; equipped exactly the same as my beloved "Ingrid"!

This one is in Odessa, TX.

 

[rfespinosa]

I think you need to ride an FJR before you make a final decision. Have you owned a 1000+ cc four cylinder bike, of any make? If the answer is no, then absolutely have to ride the FJR. There is no farkle you can add that will make a twin feel like a four nor make a four feel like a twin. And they are different.

If you continue to stay on the fence, then there is only one thing left to say. Stop analyzing finances and mechanical properties and go with the one that puts the biggest smile on your face.

 

[stioc]

I found this discussion interesting and perhaps I can offer a slightly different perspective than most. While I never rode either the ST, FJR, Kawi or RT I was considering them all- in that order. The FJR popped up, it's super clean, low miles etc so I jumped on it because the consensus seems to be they're excellent bikes that handle very well and have a lot of power.

Needless to say I had high hopes when I picked up my pristine condition '05 FJR with only 10k miles on it. However, unfortunately, right off the bat I noticed things that were disappointing. Keep in mind that my only frame of reference is my 09 Ninja 650R (parallel twin engine) that I was hoping to replace with the FJR. I noticed the FJR vibrates way more especially when the RPMs are 3k plus, the throttle acts funny not precise, the ride feels as if you're on a galloping horse- and overall just not very refined for a $15k bike. None of which I ever noticed on my $9k Ninja and as a result I took all those things for granted- until I rode the FJR. Perhaps I got a bad one or perhaps the Gen2s are better and more refined but I haven't been very impressed with mine. As much as I want to like the FJR and as I continue to play with the CO settings, suspension settings, tire pressures etc I'm turned off by having that bad first impression and I'm often finding myself thinking about selling it. Whenever I read people raving about their FJR I can't help but think I got a Fri afternoon special...afterall it only has 10k miles.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I found this discussion interesting and perhaps I can offer a slightly different perspective than most. While I never rode either the ST, FJR, Kawi or RT I was considering them all- in that order. The FJR popped up, it's super clean, low miles etc so I jumped on it because the consensus seems to be they're excellent bikes that handle very well and have a lot of power.

Needless to say I had high hopes when I picked up my pristine condition '05 FJR with only 10k miles on it. However, unfortunately, right off the bat I noticed things that were disappointing. Keep in mind that my only frame of reference is my 09 Ninja 650R (parallel twin engine) that I was hoping to replace with the FJR. I noticed the FJR vibrates way more especially when the RPMs are 3k plus, the throttle acts funny not precise, the ride feels as if you're on a galloping horse- and overall just not very refined for a $15k bike. None of which I ever noticed on my $9k Ninja and as a result I took all those things for granted- until I rode the FJR. Perhaps I got a bad one or perhaps the Gen2s are better and more refined but I haven't been very impressed with mine. As much as I want to like the FJR and as I continue to play with the CO settings, suspension settings, tire pressures etc I'm turned off by having that bad first impression and I'm often finding myself thinking about selling it. Whenever I read people raving about their FJR I can't help but think I got a Fri afternoon special...afterall it only has 10k miles.

My '07 doesn't do any of those things. It's 2 years younger and has 4x the mileage. I would bet your 6 year old bike was probably not as well taken care of as you think. I'm betting the PO knew about these issues and unloaded his bane on you.

You are a perfect example of why I like buying new bikes. People can't be trusted.

 

[Fred W]

I found this discussion interesting and perhaps I can offer a slightly different perspective than most. While I never rode either the ST, FJR, Kawi or RT I was considering them all- in that order. The FJR popped up, it's super clean, low miles etc so I jumped on it because the consensus seems to be they're excellent bikes that handle very well and have a lot of power.

Needless to say I had high hopes when I picked up my pristine condition '05 FJR with only 10k miles on it. However, unfortunately, right off the bat I noticed things that were disappointing. Keep in mind that my only frame of reference is my 09 Ninja 650R (parallel twin engine) that I was hoping to replace with the FJR. I noticed the FJR vibrates way more especially when the RPMs are 3k plus, the throttle acts funny not precise, the ride feels as if you're on a galloping horse- and overall just not very refined for a $15k bike. None of which I ever noticed on my $9k Ninja and as a result I took all those things for granted- until I rode the FJR. Perhaps I got a bad one or perhaps the Gen2s are better and more refined but I haven't been very impressed with mine. As much as I want to like the FJR and as I continue to play with the CO settings, suspension settings, tire pressures etc I'm turned off by having that bad first impression and I'm often finding myself thinking about selling it. Whenever I read people raving about their FJR I can't help but think I got a Fri afternoon special...afterall it only has 10k miles.

Dude. We've been discussing this with you on other threads.

Your FJR is far from normal if your descriptions are accurate. Get it fixed (or better yet fix it yourself) and you'll be an admirer as well.

It's not a Friday afternoon special. It's a test ride that you should probably have walked away from.

PS - For what it's worth... I could **** up a bike really good in less than 10 k miles.

 

[stioc]

Well that's entirely possible but he gave me all the service records (three oil changes, a TPS recall and a battery replacement) and dealership contact where it was serviced. It's an older gentleman who bought a BMW K1200R and couldn't keep both bikes.

We do have a lot of people on here that have had to go to PCIII or PCV etc to smooth out the throttle/vibration, we have people that complain about the heat/windshield issues etc too. I think the message I'm trying to convey is don't decide on paper which bike you should get, ride them all and then see for yourself. One person's perception of vibration or smoothness isn't the same as the other person's.

 

[Candyman]

Tough call. The RT is the only bike beside the 1600 GTL that I would consider getting if my FJR was stolen. Both great machines. I chose the FJR initially because it fit me better. No other reason.

 

[BrettB]

I thought for sure I wanted an RT but a friend convinced me to try an FJR before pulling the trigger. Take the advice already offered and ride one. Totally will cement your thinking one way or another. I ride year round, and I think the RT would still be the better winter bike and maybe better touring bike. More coverage from the fairing, better visibility from stock mirrors, includes cruise control. These are things you can improve on the FJR with aftermarket pieces. But you can't make the RT's twin generate the raw power and wide torque band that the FJR's four provides. For me, who came to sport touring bikes from sports cars, the FJR was the clear choice after riding both. But like I said, there are things that the BMW has an advantage on, but it really depends on what you want.

 

[Bounce]

Dude. We've been discussing this with you on other threads.
Your FJR is far from normal if your descriptions are accurate. Get it fixed (or better yet fix it yourself) and you'll be an admirer as well.

It's not a Friday afternoon special. It's a test ride that you should probably have walked away from.

PS - For what it's worth... I could **** up a bike really good in less than 10 k miles.

i'm with fred on this one. something's wrong with your bike. you need to fix it or unload it. in either case, don't use it to denigrate the entire line.

 

[YooperDick]

I would use the same analytical process employed when selecting a bride; close your eyes, raise your head, and command your future to the Almighty.

 

[Road_Runner]

I considered the RT along with the other usual considerations before purchasing an FJR. One thing that I would mention that I don't believe has been mentioned above is that a relatively low mile RT is a rare find. I had a lot of trouble finding one, anyway.

 

[creekstone]

I considered the RT along with the other usual considerations before purchasing an FJR. One thing that I would mention that I don't believe has been mentioned above is that a relatively low mile RT is a rare find. I had a lot of trouble finding one, anyway.

They are out there. But "low mileage" is a relative term for the RT (or the FJR). Anything less than 20K miles for the years I'm looking at (2007+) is low mileage in my book.

I'm still on the damn fence. I like the RT (a known entity... the good, the bad and the ugly) if it's cheap enough. Looking hard (and I know how to look), I'm not finding any steals.

On the other hand, I'm finding some good deals on new, left-over 2010 and 2011 FJRs. And it should get better over the winter.

 

[Graham Downunder]

BMW 1200 twins have a reputation of needing new clutches and are exspensive to replace. BMW guys who love BMW generally stick with them ,so actually ride other bikes and find they enjoy them even more so they change . So people who have never riden BMW do not know what they are missings . I am sure a ride on an FJR will show you what it has to offer and as you have a BMW you will have a good idea ,start with a ride . Take into consideration you have better suspension on your bike .

Anybike you choose should not just transport you, it should touch your heart to ride it just for enjoyment .