FJR Test Ride?

[Geezer]

Your best bet is to hook up with an FJR owner, throw a bunch of cash at him in hopes that he'll let you ride it.

Like most people here, I bought mine sight unseen after wanting one for a year or two.

If you are an experienced rider you may be able to convince someone to let you try one out without offering a bunch of cash. Where are you?

 

[ionbeam]

You may be able to find someone willing to offer at least a test sit.

My '04 has sort of been an ambassador bike because a fairly large number of potential FJR owners got a chance to sit on and ride my bike. Watching someone ride off on my FJR is sort of like watching your 14 year old daughter leave on her first date with an 18 year old guy in a camper van Actually, I swapped rides with the future FJR owners and we went on moderated rides. I would like to commend all the people that I trusted! They were all responsible and mature in the way they test rode a new to them bike :drinks: My FJR has a 100% success rate, everyone that test rode became a FJR owner. The only thing I would caution here is to be gosh darn sure that the newbies know to get their boot to clear the top of the side bag.

Alan

 

[paste007]

Thanks for the responses.

I'm traveling to Alice's on Saturday to check out the new FJR. I'll be on my trusty steed (dark red KZ1000 with a black windjammer fairing, black saddle, trunk and tank bage). Easy to spot me with no hair, 6', 265. Go by either Gary or Paste.

To those who offered a test ride on their personal bike, I'm located in Bakersfield, CA. (southern San Joaquin valley). If you're within a day's ride, please email me with your contact information. My email is [email protected].

Thanks again.

 

[zorkler]

lets see paste............... no hair ? could it be a bad rug that got you that name ?..............................no hard feelings

 

[Getsum]

Find some used bikes for sale and go check them out. I started looking at used myself but ended up buying new.

The dealer had a '05 FJR and the Honda ST sitting side by side and I was able to go back and forth between them. It was a close call, but the FJR just felt better to me.

 

[Tim05fjr]

Paste,

All I can say is That I believe you will be pleased as punch with any FJR you end up with. New '06 or used. If I lived in CA. I would let you test ride mine. I have been riding for 21 years and have owned all kinds of bikes. Suzuki trpples, Yamaha RZ's 350 and 500. Honda CB360, 400, 550. Kawi KZ's and a few Harleys trown in for good measure. In all those years, and never being without a bike, I was lucky if I logged on more than 12 to 15000 miles in a year. After purchasing my '05 in June ( not having test ridden it) I fell in love with motorcycling all over agian. I've logged on 11,800 miles so far and I can't get enough.

The FJR is a powerful, comfortable, and great handling machine. You will be looking for any reason at all to ride. A quick ride to the corner store for milk can easily turn into a two hour scoot to nowere.

Good luck

Tim

 

[designeraccd]

When I bought my '03 FJR I test rode it before buying...I simply won't buy a bike I haven't ridden to see how it fits me and how the bike feels underway. However, my '03 was an orphan that I bought in Nov...she came in so late the original purchaser simply walked away...sans his $500.

The bad part about riding her in Nov, Dec, Jan etc (here in northern IN) was that I had no idea of the outragous engine heat until well into Spring the following year. In 50-60F weather the bike was gr8, 70s got warm, 80s just plain HOT and above 90 I didn't bother to even start the bike. While I had a very enjoyable trip on her to the terrific mountain roads in se KY, the heat factor was just plain rediculous on a sport touring bike! Traded her (owch...) for a slightly used '02 BMW R1150GS. That bike ultimately went for a ST1300 which proved to be much more comfortable in a week of 90+ weather down in Al, Tenn, Ky....but the thing sounded like a teakettle about to boil over....picky, huh? So the ST is gone and I just sold my '05 GL1800 with a custom built Corbin saddle so I could fit, but with hip replacement surgery takinn me off bikes and my C4 Vette until March/April...hhmmmm/ Last week I ordered a new '06 FJR 1300A....hoping that it's as good as the first one, but with the heat problem fixed...I hope.

Izzit March yet??? Looking forward to getting her as my "biggest" running bike is now my beloved ol 1974 BMW R75/6 airhead. Heck of a neat ol bike but not quite an FJR! DFO