Gearing felt TALL on my first FJR Ride

[woodcycl]

I test rode my new 08' FJR yesterday before handing over the check. Compared to my 03' Honda VFR800, the FJR gearing felt very TALL. Of course, I was VERY cautious given I have no insurance on her yet and didn't want to drop her for any reason before I bought her. However, given my VFR has 100 HP and the FJR has 145 HP, I was expecting quite a big boost in torque/power and didn't seem to notice any. I'm sure I simply need to learn how the transmission/gearing on the FJR since I've never ridden one. But, I wanted to inquire here with folks in-the-know.

My VFR is geared 1-down in the front, has a K&N, and full Staintune pipes. So, I keep that in mind. But, again 100 vs. 145 HP ... was expecting it to rip my arms off comparably.

Any thoughts? I prefer get-up-and-go torque/power on the lower end vs. top-end. What options do I have to gain more of that kind of power? Can I gear 1 down in the front or up 3 in the rear?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[ScottyUSN]

The 145HP your looking seems to be on paper only, or after some mods. Only going off what I've read here, 120s to 130s is a more realistic rear wheel HP number.

What is the weight difference between the two as well?

 

[SaharaJp99]

The FJR starts to pull your arms off about 5,000 RPMS and above. Below that she is pretty tame.

As far as going 1 down up front and 3 up in the rear, you bought a FJR with a chain drive conversion?? And why the heck would anybody want to do that!!

 

[woodcycl]

The 145HP your looking seems to be on paper only, or after some mods. Only going off what I've read here, 120s to 130s is a more realistic rear wheel HP number.

What is the weight difference between the two as well?

The VFR is 470 dry -- not a lightweight for a 800.

The FJR appears to be 584 dry.

Really ... real world HP on the stock FJR is 120 to 130??

 

[woodcycl]

The FJR starts to pull your arms off about 5,000 RPMS and above. Below that she is pretty tame.

As far as going 1 down up front and 3 up in the rear, you bought a FJR with a chain drive conversion?? And why the heck would anybody want to do that!!

LOL .. that's right, the FJR is shaft-drive. Doh! HHHHhhhmmm ... what options are available for something similar? Any?

 

[wfooshee]

145 is the official crankshaft number, with a torque peak about 95 or 99. Both numbers are up in the RPM range, HP at about 8000 RPM, torque at about 7000.

Mostly, though, you're looking at a bit of a weight difference, maybe 200 pounds more bike. Your weight spec is old, I think. an '08 is 640 wet, still about 600 dry.

So 50% more power and torque, nearly 50% more weight.

"Why u no go faster?" has a fairly obvious answer.

And with shaft drive, there's no sprocket change to shorten the gearing. (I see someone got the drop on me in pointing that out.)

You said you were cautious. When you ride it like you stole it come back and report how it feels to you. Stop short-shifting and run the sucker up.

 

[lharrell79]

The FJR does not feel that fast, because it is a large, heavy, smooth bike. In reality, it should kill a stock VFR. Your VFR being 1 down in the front should be able to hang a little better, but the FJR should still be faster.

I think you're being a little cautious on the throttle, which is smart on your part. Always be cautious with every bike you've never been on. Once you get comfortable, take her rip to redline, and hold on. 1, 2, 3 will pull like a train.

Lucas

 

[Fred W]

Owning both of these bikes (VFR and FJR) I would agree with you that the VFR does give the rider more of a sensation of speed and acceleration. Whether it is actual or perceptual I cannot say for sure. It also handles the corners significantly better than the bigger / heavier Feejer.

OTOH, the FJR is so rock solid and stable that it just rockets you right on up over the ton in very short time and with no undue strain, and cruising at triple digit speeds feels relatively calm and collected. If you plan on carrying a passenger or much of a load, the VFR becomes sluggish and the FJR remains un-phased.

Different Sport-touring tools for different jobs, IMO. That's why you need to keep them both.

 

[Strayshot]

I had the same impression when I first rode an FJR. I have been riding a V65 Magna for a very long time and was used to the sensation of it pulling like a mule whenever I twisted the throttle. SO I concluded on that first ride that the FJR was simply underwhelming for a bike 20 years newer and 200cc's bigger. Fast forward a couple of years and I'm looking for a new bike - I gave the FJR another shot. I had a little more diverse ride this time and was paying a little closer attention to the performance of the FJR.

To sum up - I was wrong. The FJR is sneaky fast. It simply does not *feel* as quick as it is. I now have a 2007 FJR and it is every bit as quick (and quicker) than my old V65, but it just simply doesn't feel it. I'm not 100% sure of why this is, but there it is.

 

[roger dodger]

Re-gearing the VFR gives you more wheelie potential, but the higher geared FJR gives you more touring potential. Use each bike for it's intended purpose.

I like the fact that my '03 FJR is geared a little lower than later models, weighs less, and looks the best!

All the FJRs are really 2 bikes in 1.... Touring comfort and smoooothness under 5k.....then quick like a f---ing jet rocket about 6-9k :yahoo: I like to call it Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde. You get to pick which one you want to ride @ every given moment.

 

[not2shabby]

The wind protection and smoothness kind of hide the acceleration. When I picked up mine, it took just a few minutes to reach the interstate from the PO's house. I went through the gears to merge with traffic and when I felt like I was doing about 75, I looked down and saw 90...whoa! Time to recalibrate...

 

[Bigslim]

Interesting thread as I rode both of these bikes this weekend. My buddy just dropped of his 02 VFR to store it in my parking garage along with my FJR. I took the bike for a ride on Sat and man, the VFR is fun. But to echo what others have said, the personalities are so different. The VFR is a bad influence, you just want to go fast on the bike, I found myself riding faster than I do on my FJR. And yes there is that nice burst of power once the VFR kicks in the VTEC that makes you want to wind it out.

I rode the FJR all day yesterday and I am starting to get completley comfortable on the bike and I am now over 900 miles on it so I am starting to ride it in anger at times. The FJR by comparison is just smoother and more composed. The engine doesn't have the discernable power kick in the rev band like the the VFR, but instead there is creamy power everywhere that just rises through the rev range. And man, the bike is scary fast was well. Not wise to get into it when you're sitting upright.

I really don't know which one is faster, they just feel so different it's tough to compare. I will say this much, I think I'd get more tickets on the VFR.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I had the same impression when I first rode an FJR. It simply does not *feel* as quick as it is. I now have a 2007 FJR and it is every bit as quick (and quicker) than my old V65, but it just simply doesn't feel it. I'm not 100% sure of why this is, but there it is.

"Snap" -- the FJR lacks snap... :blink:

Americans tend to like 'snap'... :huh:

 

[Bustanut joker]

"Snap" -- the FJR lacks snap... :blink:

Americans tend to like 'snap'... :huh:

Yes we do.. One of my favorite snappers.

 

[lharrell79]

 

[wheatonFJR]

Yes we do.. One of my favorite snappers.

Yeah, I think she has also done a few snap takes in a coupla movies as well.

 

[Bigslim]

Oh man, I love that oh snap picture. Sucks to be that guy on multiple fronts. lol

 

[FJR Bill]

Ditto to most of the previous posts. I sold a modified B12 Bandit to get the 09 FJR. Initial impression was the B12 would kill it. That was until I learned where the power band was and now know the FJR while about 200 pounds heavier could equal or beat the B12 in straight line acceleration. The FJR is so stable,smooth and with great wind protection it hides its awesome power. It's not as snappy as the lighter performance bikes but for the long haul, comfort,and ability to carry groceries, it delivers what it was designed to do.

Bill

 

[wheatonFJR]

Oh man, I love that oh snap picture. Sucks to be that guy on multiple fronts. lol

I loved it the first time I saw it, when Warchild posted it up six years ago.

Still funny...

...in a schadenfreude kinda way.