If Yamaha/FJR listened to its customers..

[SkooterG]

The only thing the next FJR needs is to come with some included Happy Pills to give to the owner so that he's a smiling, happy fool and who wouldn't change a thing!

Why do I hate these threads so?

 

[Brodie]

I'm with Fred, I'd love to see an assortment of factory options - cruise control, heated seat, self canceling turn signals, A lot of these things can be marketed for several bikes in their line up. That would tend to keep the faithful from straying to some other brand. I'm sure Yamaha could stow some extra circuits within their wiring harness to accommodate the optionals.

On a more darker note, I see the same thing happening to the FJR as what happened to the Venture Royale back in the '90s. Yamaha had a killer all out touring machine in 1983. It blew the gold wing out of the water in handling, style and grunt. In 1986 it remade the bike - heavier, more accessories, bigger storage spaces, slower, but still a Gold wing killer. What did Yamaha do next? NOTHING !!! They let the bike die a slow death of neglect. 1993 was the final year for that great platform. Sure the mighty V4 lived on in the V-Max, it also was severely de-tuned and put in several mediocre cruisers. They brought the Venture name back in 1999 but it looked like a metric Harley ElectroGlide - It just wasn't my cup of tea, that's why I drive the FJR today. Contrast that with what Honda did with the Wing through the years - they kept improving it, and it has a very large and loyal ownership.

Lets hope Yamaha keeps the FJR as a Sport Touring platform, rather than a Royal Star Chopper with DOT approved ape hangers.

In the mean time...

Yamaha, bring back the AE.

 


 

Brodie

 

[FJRK]

The beauty of the FJR not having S&*t on it, is that they are LETTING you accessorize! Make it what you want, the way you want it, and if you have an extra 5-8k, when you want it... And wouldn't tech days suck if all you do is change oil and reg maint? If you want all that to come with it, go by the new BMW for 35k. Then change their seat, redo the suspension most likely etc. Right? Not that I won't be one of the first to go check that thing out, but for the price of a nice new car or more.... I would have a hard time dropping that cash in one burst for a bike... But I have been known to do more impulsive stuff than that. jus sayin

 

[Fred W]

Their IS a new FJR and is powered by a 1200 parallel twin, costs $5G's less then last years model and is some 75lb lighter, has a 6spd tranny and comes with traction control.

It's called the Super Tenere. Judging by the number of old farts... FJR Riders flocking to it, they have a winner on their hands.

That must be in them crazy, Canadian dollars. The S10 is only $1590 US dollars less than an FJR (msrp) and that is without any hard bags on the S10 (obviously standard on the FJR).

The beauty of the FJR not having S&*t on it, is that they are LETTING you accessorize! Make it what you want, the way you want it, and if you have an extra 5-8k, when you want it...

oster_stupid:

EXACTLY my point!!

Now if they also developed all those "factory" accessories they could sell them at a 100% premium to the aftermarket stuff. They'd still sell a lot of them because they are "OEM" (re: Yamaha Heated Grips) and they'd make a metric butt-load of $ (re: All Harley accessories)..

And if a person wanted to get in on that particular bike model but couldn't swing the extra 5-6k of "options", you wouldn't have to. You could just buy it and ride it stock.

PS - I do not see the S10 as a direct FJR replacement. It is clearly a different genre of bike that has some overlap in the sport touring area. Would I buy one to replace my FJR in the garage (after I wear it out)? Having spent some considerable seat time with my Man-strom this spring, I quite possibly would.

 

[beemerdons]

The only thing the next FJR needs is to come with some included Happy Pills to give to the owner so that he's a smiling, happy fool and who wouldn't change a thing!

Why do I hate these threads so?

+1, Gunny! SkootyG, as much as it pains me to have to agree with you, you are once again right! My 2003 Miss Lucy Liu will have been with me nine years this upcoming Labor Day and there is absolutely nothing I would want to have Yamaha change on her. If she was stolen, or you wrecked her, I would go right out and buy another 2003 immediately; I would not hesitate for a split second!

PS: Tu Papa Chuy Viejo doesn't have any Happy Pills, but I did bring back a bottle of Herradura Tequila Especial and a case of Bohemia back from my last Mexico trip!

 

[palerider]

Arrrrrgh!

DId I miss "Talk Like A Pirate" day?

 

[BkrK12]

Since we're all dreaming here, how about a 100 lb. Weight reduction? Would make me sleep better at night knowing when my Gen I dies, a new one wouldn't weigh as much as a full dresser!

....and a button that magically transforms the bike into a 200-300 dirt bike when you see those trails shooting off the road!

All right! People who know how to have fantasies. If it's my fantasy, it can be anything I want it to be.

 

[fjr mississippi]

How about a sidestand that doesn't sink into everything its put on

 

[Bigslim]

I also vote cruise control. My dad's 14 year old carbureted GW has it, how my much more modern and advanced sport touring bike doesn't is beyond me.

You guys really want a computer running your throttle...?

Is you right grip hard to turn/tiring?

What would you do with your right hand (on the right grip) otherwise?

I guess, I just don't get it...?

Maybe a little "splainin" will help...? :huh:

Well, my right foot works just fine too but I also use cruise control frequently in the car. Although maybe that's because I want to control the speed with my hands

If left to my own devices my speed wanders, and it bugs the crap out of me. With cruise control engaged keeping my speed steady, it is one less thing I have to actively concentrate on and I can focus on watching my surrounding and other drivers to keep myself safe. It also helps to keep me from speeding.

 

[oldgoat61]

upside down forks, if thats what their called. with all 3 adjustments.

Better rear shock.

radial brakes.

 

[mighty mouse]

Driving lights (I know, there's aftermarket...) that are already hardwired (maybe built in) - and supplementary turn signals/driving lights in the back of the saddlebags (led of course). Visibility is key.

 

[carlson_mn]

lights built into the saddle bags? As in the removable hard cases?

Seems like everybody wants a GoldWing here, or a $20,000 BMW.

 

[carlson_mn]

upside down forks, if thats what their called. with all 3 adjustments.

Better rear shock.

radial brakes.

From my first hand experience, the trouble with USD Forks is when a seal goes bad, it's a bad thing. the leak continuously, being upside down obviously, all over your brakes, wheel, and tire. That would be a bad thing on a long road trip. Traditional forks a leak is not too bad just a nuisance.

 

[SkooterG]

Seems like everybody wants a GoldWing here, or a $20,000 BMW.

Egg-zactly!

Or on the other end of the spectrum, a Ducati ST4S or Triumph Sprint ST.

 

[zenwhipper]

Freakin' cruise control baby! Hands down. :clapping:

 

[wheatonFJR]

More power...need more power!

 

[Bungie]

That must be in them crazy, Canadian dollars. The S10 is only $1590 US dollars less than an FJR (msrp) and that is without any hard bags on the S10 (obviously standard on the FJR).

Cdn Prices:

Super Ten = 16,499

FJR = 20,199

Diff of $3700 (Okay, not 5G's but still WAY cheaper)

 

[Fred W]

How much are those S10 hard bags in Loonies and Toonies?

3k?

 

[Strayshot]

More power...need more power! *insert Tim Taylor grunt*

There, fixed it for you!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

...Some of my long distance riding is to get to a specific place in a set amount of time. That usually requires Interstate cruising. In that event, cc not only can keep your speed from creeping, it also can let you move more freely about and get less fatigued. Touring bikes are supposed to provide that kind of capability. I think, if you call your bike a touring bike, it should have that function.

OTOH, if you do back road blasting exclusively, maybe not so much. But, in that case, maybe a touring bike, sport or otherwise, isn't the best first choice.

No one should be allowed to build and sell a motorcycle, using "Touring" anywhere in its description, that doesn't have factory installed Cruise Control.

I agree 100% !!! Some of Yamaha's dang gum Cruisers have cruise control! I'll bet many a sale was lost to BMW just because BMW has this one very low cost feature on their ST bikes!

2) Cruise control for when I ride with my Harley riding buds

I also vote cruise control. My dad's ...GW has it... my right foot works just fine too but I also use cruise control frequently in the car. With cruise control engaged keeping my speed steady, it is one less thing I have to actively concentrate on and I can focus on watching my surrounding and other drivers to keep myself safe.

Freakin' cruise control baby! Hands down

I'm with Fred, I'd love to see an assortment of factory options - cruise control,...That would tend to keep the faithful from straying to some other brand. I'm sure Yamaha could stow some extra circuits within their wiring harness to accommodate the optionals. In the mean time...Yamaha, bring back the AE

Well, thanks for your input -- I think I'm getting a little insight?

The FJR would be better if it were more like a touring bike, maybe? More like a Gold Wing (or, a BMW?)? And, in that context, a cruise control can be viewed as a safery enhancement.

One thing I've noticed, among all the cruise control proponents, is that only 'JimNtexas' and 'Brodie' ride 'AE's (automatics) -- I'd think that the convenience offered by cruise control would be enhanced, and in concert with, an 'AE'? (what's wrong about an 'AE' but right about C.C.?)

But, C.C. sure seems to be a popular want/need... :blink: