FJR Sport Bike Power

[mikeg]

I am looking for some guidance. I have been riding a HD for a long time and decided to try something else, so I went 180 deg and bought a Concours. I really like the bike and it is a terrific commuter. The other night a buddy and I switched for the ride home from work, he rode my Connie and I rode his CBR 929. Holy crap is all I can say, a modern sport bike is amazing, pulls hard and fast. Now my question is, how much like a modern sport bike would you all say the FJR is? Any comparison to the CBR? Since I won't be able to test ride at a dealer you folks can clue me in. Or would you consider them in a different class, aside from ergos. The reason I ask is because if the FJR comes close to what the CBR is capable of I'm getting one, I can work two jobs. Thanks

 

[Toecutter]

I'd say the FJR compares more to the CBR than it does to the Connie. Kinda like it is to the CBR as the Harley is to the Connie. Some say it's the evil spawn of a Goldwing and a Hyabusa. It pulls hard enough to make you work at keeping the front end down. "Super sport touring" says it all. If you buy the FJR you'll probably wind up neglecting the Connie.

JMHO, YMMV

p.s. this question smells funny

 

[skyway]

The FJR will not be as big a hit on acceleration as the CBR929, 2 completly different animals. The FJR is fast, but a big bore crotch rocket, it is not. I have never ridden a connie, but I would guess that the FJR's 145hp motor offers quite a bit more fun factor than you are currently experiencing. I have owned and ridden quite a few fast sport bikes and the FJR rarely leaves me wanting too much more.

There a quite a few ex connie owners around here who will give you a better comparison.

 

[madmike2]

What your Connie does from 5,000 rpms to 10,000 rps is what the FJR does from idle, then kicks in @ 5,000 rpms.

When I got my FJR, I'd ride the Connie every once in awhile and always thought, "Why isn't this thing accelerating?"

The FJR is the easier bike to ride. Skyway has it right: The H.D. to the Connie is the same as the Connie to the FJR. Where you have to "ride" your Connie into corners, the FJR responds to every input.

It is not a sportbike, but is a waaay fuuunnnnn 650 lb. sports-tourer.

 

[mikeg]

Thanks for the responses, they make sense. My original post was legit. I wasn't trying to start something. The fact is the Connie and the HD are on the same side of the power curve when it comes to updates. Great for their intended purpose but not new technology. HD EVO dates to 1985 and Connie 1000 1986.

 

[Windjammer]

I owned and rode a Concours for several years. It was a decent bike, but my FJR surpasses it in every respect. It's lighter, shorter, better handling, better looking, not so top heavy and has WAYYYY more power. If your Connie's too slow, sell it and get the FJR, you won't miss it after the first ride. You could also get a liter sportbike, but you wind up sacrificing a lot of comfort there. You're the only one who knows how that might affect you.

 

[catiadan]

I pretty much keep up with the liter sports bikes except in the really tight twisties...YMMV.

 

[afterburn]

Funny, I can keep up with the sportsbikes ESPECIALLY in the really tight twisties. In the really tight stuff, the upright seating position, smaller turn radius and low-end torque of the FJR really outperforms the sportsbikes. On the wider stuff when it is going pretty fast, the FJR suspension drops a few and makes you run wide. But it is going pretty silly fast for that road then.

Then again, it depends on your definition of tight I guess.

 

[RadioHowie]

I pretty much keep up with the liter sports bikes except in the really tight twisties...YMMV.

I concur with that.

Recently went on a ride with some of my ZRX buddies, a couple of CBXX Blackbirds and a 929 Fireblade.

I surprised the bunch of them by keeping up with them in the (not-so-twisted) twisties here in Cen. Fla., and pissed off a couple of them on the super slab.

A good rider on an FJR will spank a so-so rider on a sport bike, since it's 80% rider/20% bike in any case anyway.

The speed at which I travel on 2 wheels is directly proportional to the company I'm with and the length of time I figure it will take me to heal up. :bleh:

 

[Shane]

The last time I rode my Concours was to the buyer's house after I had owned the FJR for three weeks. I had not ridden the Concours for those three weeks.

The difference was/is (dare I say) shocking.

Shane

 

[SilveradoSlick]

I'd say the FJR is closer to the 929 on power but it's closer to the Connie in other respects. The FJR is a better bike than the Connie and it's a lot easier to ride well, but a good rider on a Connie would give up ground to the Feej grudgingly in the twisties. Of course a good rider on an FJR might embarass a 929. Although the FJR is down on power compared to a sport bike, it's got a lot of torque and isn't very picky about gear selection.

If you want the ultimate go-fast machine, get one of the liter bikes or one of their smaller brethren if you don't need absolute power. But if you'd like to add comfort, weather protection, and practicality to the mix, the FJR is a damn fine piece of equipment

 

[Toynut]

Mikeg,

One ride on an FJR will have you grinning like a fool, and drooling for more. I let my brother ride mine for the first time last week,(he has my V-Strom) and he practically begged me to sell him my '05 and buy myself an '06. I may buy a fresh machine as soon as I'm done farkling this one this winter( I was hoping for a factory cruise control option on an '06 or '07).

It would be worth your while to call a few dealers in and around your area. Mine does let qualified riders take test rides, so keep calling.

 

[catiadan]

I let my brother ride mine for the first time last week,(he has my V-Strom) and he practically begged me to sell him my '05 and buy myself an '06.

Guys I ride with have said the same to me...."Let me know when you are gonna get that new one and I will be interested in yours!" Of course I tell them whenever red is available we can talk

 

[Timbo2015]

I went from a Concours to an FJR. The difference is huge. The Concours was completely gutless below 3000 rpm, pulled hard from 4500-7000, then just felt like it ran our steam from 7000-10,500. The FJR has far more low rpm torque, a much stronger midrange, and a top-end rush that scared me the first time in 2nd gear. After over a year, and 13,000 miles, I still haven't pinned the throttle all the way through first gear.

One of the most impressive differences is the roll-on power at 60 mph in top gear. I would guess the Concours would need to be downshifted to 4th, maybe even 3rd gear to keep up with an FJR in top gear.

Plus, the FJR's suspension is far superior, as are the brakes. Oh, and the FJR gets a bit better gas mileage.

About the only thing I miss about the Concours was the huge saddlebags. Ugly, but huge.

 

[mikeg]

Thanks folks you have confirmed my suspicions. I like the sport touring mode of riding and did not realize how far bikes have come in power and handling till I tried the CBR. I understand the FJR because of weight is not quite a race ready liter bike but sounds as if it is close enough for me. Oh well let me tell the misses, 3 bikes in 1 year... schitzophrenic or what?

 

[Ghost Dog]

The Kawasaki salesguy himself told me I'd be really dissapointed with a Connie - dated technology, mediocre performance - but on the positive side, one of the least-expensive able light-touring bikes (he refrained from calling it a sport-touring bike). "don't let the fairing fool you, this is NOT a bike for leaning hard in the twisties", he warned me.

 

[designeraccd]

The FJR is totally unlike a H-D, any stock H-D: it goes quite rapidly and once you get the suspension adjusted to your preferences, handles quite well for a fairly heavy bike, strong brakes, too.

The difference in feel between any of my Sportsters or the Road King I had vs the '03 FJR I had...about night and day. While I have enjoyed all 5 of the hardleez I've owned, especially my '04 1200R, an FJR properly set up can give you say 60 miles of high speed fun...or 600 miles.

Overall, assuming the '06 really has addressed the heat problem, the FJR is one of the most capable all around street bikes availible today, IMhO. Is it March yet??? DFO

 

[chipset]

Well, having spent most of my time on sportbikes, a YZF600R and an R1, I must say that the FJR is about where I would want to be.

I think that there are a myriad of bike styles out there to fit each person and personality. I am not a fan of the cruiser style bikes. I am also not a fan of chrome (nor maintaining it). So, I sold my R1 for another fast toy and I am back into bikes again. However, I wanted something a little more comfortable and something I could ride for more than 2 hours without being worn out.

Enter the FJR. I looked at everything anew. Again, out with the cruisers. Sport bikes, depending on the ergos, touring bikes, sport touring bikes and dual sports. The only thing that I could look at turned to be sport bikes. Touring bikes, like the Goldwing and 1200LT, were just too big. I am sure they are fine for other people. Dual sports didn't have the performance.

That left sport touring and sport (super sport) bikes. I looked into the ST4s, the Futura (which I don't think they make anymore), the ST1300 and the Triumph Sprint ST. The Italian's make beautiful things (like Ferrari's, Lambrogini's and Ducati's). However, they are also Divas. High maintenance. So, that threw out the Ducks.

Then I looked at the sportbikes that I could afford (Read: Insurance costs, due to speeding tickets). At $1700+ a year, it meant I wasn't able to look at everything. Plus, I was looking for something I would want to ride for a while. I looked at the VFR and others. The VFR seemed to be the closest for me. But, I decided I wanted something bigger.

I saw that the ST1300 performance wouldn't be enough for me. And I only gave passing glances to that Sprint. Good looking bike, but the ergos seemed to be more aggressive.

Enter the FJR. It smacks right towards the middle. A bigger sport bike, better ergos, good performance.

Now, I must say, for what the FJR is, it does it well. I was able to ride my FJR over 200 miles yesterday. At the end, I was cold, a little butt-sore but I didn't get the hand numbness I would get on my R1. It's not extremely comfortable, but that's ok. I can work with it. Performance wise, it's no R!. It is not nearly as flickable, doesn't accelerate as fast and is a lot heavier. It's not nearly as confidence inspiring, either. It's a solid bike.

However, after reflecting on my ride yesterday, I must say that it is about the minimum of the sportbike performance I would want. I would be relatively unhappy with a slower bike. I am glad I bought it and I am going to enjoy the hell out of it.

 

[madmike2]

Chipset, wait until you replace the tires. My '04 had B020s, the '05 had Metz Z-4s. Avons and Pilot Roads both turn in differently (tire contour) and really make the bike handle differently. I also "upped" my suspension settings and that helped alot. BUT, as you said, @ 650 lbs, it ain't no sport-bike, but then I can carry multiple changes of clothing and don't have to get off every 45 minutes to stretch.