FJR overview

[radman]

Double posted for some reason...

Cuz yer hands were numb and burnt?

 

[keithaba]

Double posted for some reason...

Cuz yer hands were numb and burnt?

FJR tech doesn't say that you should move your hand after you take out the drain plug!!!! Sheesh... the nerve.

QuietGuy: If you get an FJR, you will not be unhappy with the bike, unless your looking for something in a different class (sport, true tourer, cruiser). As far as sport tourers go, the FJR is excellent, and a bargain when compared to the beemers.

The biggest drawback is if your short or small, it is a big and heavy bike. But once moving, big and heavy turns into smooth and stable.

 

[Warchild]

FJR tech doesn't say that you should move your hand after you take out the drain plug!!!!

:lol:

That's 'cuz most FJRTech articles ASSume the reader has some minimum amount of common sense.....

 

[painman]

QuietGuy, the bike handles as the others say. As you I came of a SoftTail as well and these bikes are like day and night apart. While I still have my SoftTail the FJR gets the most ridding time now. After riding the FJR the HD starts to feel like a John Deere but I still love the old girl and it has its place. I bought the FJR last year when they had the PDP, (pre-delivery program) which is you had to put down 500 bills deposit and had to wait 6 months to get the bike and the only time I got to test the Yamaha was just sitting on one at the local CycleWorld bike show. If possible it would be nice to test ride one but I must say I never regreted the purchase. The bike has a smooth powerband and is reliable and as others said, power! It will feel very strange if you never rode this type of bike but I myself found that it took a few hundred miles to adjust to the bike and I've never looked back. You shouldn't be disappointed as it does many things well. The Yamaha truck if in your area does give test rides on the FJR at certain events. Good luck and keep us updated. PM. <><

 

[daddysbike]

I've gotten some input from one forum member and would like to get additional opinions on the FJR.
I'm in the process now of finding an FJR to demo ride... (this may be difficult, lotta dealers don't have them and those that do hesitate to demo them.)

Thanks in advance for your details on the following:

Vibration issues?

Buzzy bars. Improved with G2 throttle cam, new grips and grip puppies. Others also loosen the middle throttle spring under the gas tank.

Gearing (tall, short, too high revving at cruise, etc)?

Gearing is perfect for me. Some complain that they think they need a 6th gear. I think that's becuase the FJR like the Goldwing pulls hard from the get-go and some may feel that torque/acceleration as the need for a 6th gear so it can lug, I don't.

Handling?

Tighten the fully adjustable suspension a bit and your good to carve the twisties, top box and all.

Ride?

Add a Sargent seat and good for mult back to back days

Braking?

Standard ABS and very good.

Build quality?

The factory seems to have forgotten to soak the clutch plates on my '07 and many other 06-07s. Very easy for the dealer to do under warranty and that's my only complaint. I think this bike is built as good as any and should last a long time.

Overview/summary?

Get a '06 or '07 for the improved air flow, valve tick fix. If buying new get from D&H Cycles in AL $2000 under MSRP and no fees! They'll pick you up at the airport so you can ride home.

I also love the smooth airflow riding with the windscreen down all the way, and prefer the looks of the bike that way as well.

Very nice standard, locking, removeable saddlebags that come with bag liners. Unlike the ST1300, the FJR looks great with bags removed.

I like the gear indicator, adjustable seat & handlebars, power outlet in the locking fairing pocket, 40 mpg every tank.

I've put 9000 miles on mine in 4 months and have more long weekend trips planned soon.

If I didn't have a fulltime job, wife, 3&5 yr old kids I'd ride it more!

Steve

 

[Larry Lyday]

Quietguy,

I came from a Kawasaki Mean Streak and a Suzuki DL1000.

I have no problems with vibrations or anything like that. This bike is the smooth powerful bike I was looking for. I get 50mpg on long trips and that makes good range with the 6.6 gallon tank. I wish it had self cancelling turn signals.

Hands down better ride than the Mean Streak but not because the Mean Streak is a bad bike, but I just did not fit the cruizer ride and style very well. I could not find a seat that I could sit on for over 200 miles and I like to take the long trips so I moved on.

Jury is still out on whether this is that much better than the VStrom. The FJR is better quality but the VStrom fit me perfectly. I am 6'4'' so the tall VStrom was great for me. However the VStrom was light and tall and got blown in the wind pretty bad. I got the crap scared out of me a couple of times from passing trucks and dealing with the crosswinds on the Highway. So I moved on with it also.

I think some risers are all I need to make the FJR my perfect bike.

Good luck with your decison.

Larry

 

[quietguy]

Being the lazy fellow I am, I'll combine my thank yous along the path of this thread ... nonetheless, thanks again to ALL contributors.

The more I read/hear, the more inclined I am to just jump and buy the FJR site-unridden.

Keep the stories & comments coming, truly appreciated here!

Lennie

 

[madmike2]

It's a Nike moment: JUST DO IT!

Y'know, some of us who bought the GenI bikes via the PDP didn't have opportunity to see one or even sit on one. We ordered our bikes "blind" then had the priviledge of waiting months (6 months, in my case, to get my '04) to receive our bikes...without the sidecases. And we were HAPPY!!! Well, we were happy once the bikes arrived, until then there was all of that "Waiter Whining" :glare: and "Waiter Baiting"!

Once I got mine, I never looked back and never regretted it. I still look in my garage and smile because my '05 FJR is sitting there...then I ride it and grin!

YMMV...but this bike really works for me.

Have you seen This Link?

 

[Gary D]

I've gotten some input from one forum member and would like to get additional opinions on the FJR.
I'm in the process now of finding an FJR to demo ride... (this may be difficult, lotta dealers don't have them and those that do hesitate to demo them.)

Thanks in advance for your details on the following:

Vibration issues? None, I rode a BMW R1150RT for two years now THAT motorcycle vibrated!

Gearing (tall, short, too high revving at cruise, etc)? Once and a while I look for 6th gear.

Handling? Had an FZ1 so the FJR seems a little sluggish in comparison but it does very well in the twisties. Not as much ground clearance. It's limits are beyond my ability.

Ride? Smooooth, planted, rock solid.

Braking? Great brakes, I have a 2007 with ABS and it will stop on a dime. Easy to modulate on a twisty road as well.

Build quality? No complaints yet. Everything is still functioning as designed.

Overview/summary? Love the bike, It's a bit long for a short guy like me had to get the Heli tripple clamp and risers. Stock seat sucked got a Sargent much better. Bags are well designed very similar to the BMWs. The bike looks good with the bags on or off. Good gas mileage = about 250 or so miles between fill-ups.

 

[tinpusher]

Before I bought mine, I rented one for the weekend. I'm a big guy and wanted to see how I fit on it. It might be an hour drive for ya, but the business is in Southlake, TX.

Clicky

It's not cheap, but it's an option.

J

Edit - He pictures an '07 on the front page, but I rode an '04 (maybe) non-abs. Also it looks like he has the C14 for rent (in August), for any of you locals who want to do a good comparison to prove the dominance of the FJR!

 

[RayW]

I bought a very slightly used 2003 just over a year ago. I absolutly love this bike. A co-worker who rides a Harley swapped bikes with me for the ride home after work one day. By the time we made the 25 mile trip to his house he was thinking about keeping an eye out for an FJR of his own. :yahoo:

Ray