If you couldn't have an FJR what would be the next best thing?

[saread]

Probably a R1250RS. A little sportier than the RT with everything else.

 

[mikelikesit]

Have an FJR and a Triumph Trophy. Sure wish Triumph bring that back!! Love the raw primal aspects of the FJR but the Triumph is like butter and more comfortable on longer rides. Like the inline 3 over the BMW but basically the same bike but looks better IMO without that horizontal engine.

 

[Mcarver351]

Seriously, if every FJR on earth suddenly disappeared (clearly part of some evil alien plan to take over our planet). what bike would you choose and why?

It's not that far fetched. Alot of manufactures in Japan are already discontinuing certain models because they can't meet their air quality standards. If our government can eliminate gas mowers and leaf blowers, its only a matter of time before they come for our motorcycles.

 

[RTSinDallass]

Electric. The Lightning Strike, standard model. Fast enough, light enough, cheap enough, aerodynamic, modern, decent range, on-board charger, can use the regular car charging stations, quiet. It's just not easy to vanish, if the Popo can hear you a mile away. Needs no gasoline, no engine oil, no filters. It has no valves, no spark plugs, no clutch, no transmission, and no emissions. Just add tires to suit and power.
https://lightningmotorcycle.com/strike/
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Unfortunately electric vehicles are still more in the run about category than the touring. You’re not going to be doing in 500-1000 mile days. Real world test have shown their shortcomings in range and charge times. Everything will change with better battery chemistry, but they’re not quite there yet.
There's a good series that Ewan McGregor does touring on motorcycles called Long Way (Up, Down, Around). One season "UP" they ride through South America on Harleys electric bikes from the south tip to the US. It was a brutal test, even with Harley's factory support hovering. There were a few breakdowns, but the biggest issue was range and charge times. Hopefully they can solve these issues with the better battery tech and charging infrastructure on the horizon.

 

[tomslyk2002]

I love my 1st Gen FJR, and technically it superior in every way, but there are times I miss the old ST1100. It was comfortable, quiet, fast enough, and locomotive stable, even on the topend.

 

[Yowie]

Pretty good question.

A few of the MANY MANY bikes (starting with all manner of two-stroke rockets) I've owned a few really stand out as having been great bikes, for one reason or another.

The 650 Yam twins (all EXCEPT the Specials) were great! I've had every model they made, except the Special, which always seemed a silly idea to me. The best of them was the XS1b. That had a twin leading-shoe drum on the front (which worked well) but the bike ws nicknamed "The Hinge" due to its very 'flexible' frame. To ride that bike quickly (it was by far the most powerful of those Yam twins) one had to hang right off it. If you did that is actually handled pretty well for what it was. the 'Yam 650' was and possibly still is the longest running production series of ALL BIKES EVERYWHERE!!!

The original Honda 400 Four Super Sport (with cross-over headers) was another. That thing was indestructable and went anywhere. A bit small (very actually) but UNBELIEVABLY GOOD FUN. Definitely not a tourer, but you can make them tour if you are keep, just as you could with a pogo stick - if you are keen. Did some OUTRAGEOUS long runs on mine during the relatively short time I had it, and it never complained at all!!! Did a three day run with thirteen other 'BIG BIKES' once over 3,000 k's. Guess which one was home first. The 400x4! (notwithstanding a very good number of the other bikes had been impounded by police, smashed-up, waited outside 'till their owners got out of hospital etc. etc. etc. - all that usual shjit back in those days).

The XS750 Triple was another memorable bike. Very smooth power and pretty good handling. Mine went like a rocket after I hacked the bent part of the crank off (bent it in a pretty bad crash) and put a plug where it used to go through the side-case and hold the alternator. The lighter crank meant it spun-up really quickly and went like a showeer of shjt! Having no alternator meant I had to strap a truck battery to the back of the seat, but that powered the electrics on daytime runs of up to 700Kilometres and RETURN (if I didn't use the brake light too often).

Then there was the XZ550. I had a fully-faired one. For that bike Yam brought in engineers from both Porche and Cosworth to help. It was a big deal for Yam., but the motoring press just didn't get it. They bagged it and it went nowhere. But it was a an ABSOLUTE GEM!!! Kinda light, great monoshock suspension (a roadie first for the time, I think), liquid cooled, shaftie, good handling, good power too. Hd six people, two cases of beer and one 'Family Size' pizza on mine one night!

The VMax was another of my favourite bikes. Mine was from the 1980's, but can't remember which year, perhaps '83?. Fabulous torque and one hell of a lot of fun. I'm pretty sure Yam just thought "Hey, let's bolt two XZ550 motors together and see how it goes". Well it went REALLY REALLY well, but a bit on the heavy side of the gym. Picking one of those things up by yourself takes a while and challenges your gonadiddies!

But to address the question, I reckon it would have to be a V-Max - a late model one with injection and lighter (quantum-age) build. Of course they are a completely different style of bike and designed for a very different purpose (straight-line dragging was the very original concept - adulterated somewhat from there on), but they are just a whole lot of POWERFUL fun.

Other than the FJR I haven't really had many REAL tourers (the FJ's - one of which I had - don't really count as tourers to me) but I'm sure there are others that are great bikes. Some of the Kwakkas look great, but so do some of the Hondas. Some of the Suzies might be good too, but Suzie have a bit of a goofy habit of doing slightly 'Whacko' designs. Yam designs are usually just really really practical (if we ignore the XV's and their ilk).

If someone made a large-ish HUMONGOUSLY GARGANTUAN triple, with a 120 degree crank, missiles, a still, and a spa-bath attended 24/7 by several Christina Applegates well trained in synchronised braless arctic jiggling then, there's a bit of a chance I might perhaps be slightly interested, but for now I'm very very happy with the FJR and reckon I'll have her for some time to come.

(Thank heavens nobody asked which bikes we WOULDN"T want in place of an FJR!!!)

 

[JTH]

Guess I'd just have to bite the maintenance cost bullet and go with BMW R1250RT...

 

[Bounce]

Unfortunately electric vehicles are still more in the run about category than the touring. You’re not going to be doing in 500-1000 mile days. Real world test have shown their shortcomings in range and charge times. Everything will change with better battery chemistry, but they’re not quite there yet.
There's a good series that Ewan McGregor does touring on motorcycles called Long Way (Up, Down, Around). One season "UP" they ride through South America on Harleys electric bikes from the south tip to the US. It was a brutal test, even with Harley's factory support hovering. There were a few breakdowns, but the biggest issue was range and charge times. Hopefully they can solve these issues with the better battery tech and charging infrastructure on the horizon.

If we could all just call HD Corp and have them set up charging stations every 100 miles along our intended route... (like they did).

 

[RTSinDallass]

If we could all just call HD Corp and have them set up charging stations every 100 miles along our intended route... (like they did).

Yep, it was obvious how frustrated everyone got with the limitations of the EV bikes. They may make great commuter bikes, but I wouldn’t want to take one outside the city limits. ICE bikes for the win.

 

[ktidrick]

Does it have to be new? Hope not - haven't bought a new motorcycle yet...

Honda CTX1300 Deluxe.

(waiting quietly to be excommunicated from the board...)

 

[Atlas_Aus]

Seriously, if every FJR on earth suddenly disappeared (clearly part of some evil alien plan to take over our planet). what bike would you choose and why?

Kawasaki GTR1400.

No Brainer. I have both, it's a clone of the FJR

 

[chazglenn3]

I think I would go with the Honda Gold Wing without the tour pack on the back.

 

[Bounce]

I think I would go with the Honda Gold Wing without the tour pack on the back.

I came from a series of Wings to the Gen 1 PdP FJR. If I were to move to another bike and another FJR wasn't available, I'd consider purpose. IF that purpose was mainly LD riding, I'd go with the newest Wing (no air bags) and full set of hard luggage. It really is more comfortable (at the cost of weight).

 

[RBEmerson]

I really enjoyed the R1250RT that I rented in Europe for 10 days to ride the Alps. It had an Akropovich pipe and sounded great... going around every switchback it was torquey and throaty!

I would still miss the FJR above 6k rips, but the RT did a great imitation down low. It turns in quicker too.

BTW, the K1600GT rips good too ... and smoother down the highway. Still, they both require more 'wallet'.

I just love my nice, simple, easy to maintain, fun fun fun FJR !!!

Interesting... I wanted to take an FJR into the central Alps, but couldn't make it happen. I did a tour with Edelweiss on an RT. It was my first sample of Alpine roads on two wheels and something of a learning experience(!!). I did a similar trip, on my own, the next summer, on a K1600GT and... very bad choice. Stelvio, in particular, was a nightmare. Even in 1st, I just couldn't find the grunt I wanted to horse the darn bike through the turns. I got through it, but... bad mistake. With the RT, what worked was "ride it like you hate it", and wind its guts out in 1st or 2nd.

On the more open pass roads, particularly passes near Andermatt, Switzerland, the K1600 was OK. Sure would be nice to give the FJR a try, though...

My other option is the old BMW K1200RS - the bike before my FJR. They're different bikes, particularly in the ergos, but if the FJR evaporated, the K1200RS wouldn't be a bad alternative (ignoring the ABS modulator issue - a huge weak point in these bikes).

 

[Trapshooter341]

Already made the choice. I was struggling for years with back, bottom, and buffeting issues onboard my FJR. Tried risers, a different seat, adjusting my posture, but discovered that the best cure for me was changing the color. My beautiful blue 05 FJR was replaced by this. I miss Old Blue, but no more sore anything, and glad I didn't decide to give up riding all together. Never thought I'd say this, but enjoying the ride trumps what cha ride (at least for me).

 

[Trapshooter341]

Already made the choice. I was struggling for years with back, bottom, and buffeting issues onboard my FJR. Tried risers, a different seat, adjusting my posture, but discovered that the best cure for me was changing the color. My beautiful blue 05 FJR was replaced by this. I miss Old Blue, but no more sore anything, and glad I didn't decide to give up riding all together. Never thought I'd say this, but enjoying the ride trumps what cha ride (at least for me).

Oddly enough it reminds of one of the side roads on the way to Cherokee NC

 

[mshrout]

I do love my 14 ES, new to me anyway. but my 07 Suzuki Bandit 1250s is faster, quicker, handles better (less 80lbs than an FJR), but it does give up some creature comforts. Motor is butter smooth, smoother than or equal to the FJR, 6 speed tranny. if you lean more to the sport side of sport touring, then give them a try. Best bang for your buck in my opinion as this was the first year of the Bandit series redesign by suzuki, if only they had put a driveshaft on this thing..

 

[user 6393]

I STILL would like an old Radian, just for shtsNggls

 

[TheRepairMan]

For me, hands down, the Yamaha FZ1. I literally could not work an FJR into the family budget with two daughters in school at the time, so I brought home a new FZ1 in 06 and rode it for eleven years. I wish I had it back, now that the girls are through college. BTW, I still have a 78 XS650 Special that I bought new in 78. lol
-Roger

 

[sloppy]

For me, hands down, the Yamaha FZ1. I literally could not work an FJR into the family budget with two daughters in school at the time, so I brought home a new FZ1 in 06 and rode it for eleven years. I wish I had it back, now that the girls are through college. BTW, I still have a 78 XS650 Special that I bought new in 78. lol
-Roger

I did about the same thing. Bought a 2007 Fz-1 in 2010 and thought I would eventually move up to a FJR which I did in 2021, I sold the FZ-1 last December but really missed it. The guy I sold it too texted me in late July about the oil change interval and said he bought a Concourse and wanted to sell the FZ-1. I told him I would buy it back from him. Now it is back to home sweet home. I still like my FJR better but there are things I really love about my FZ.