Is a FJR a money thing?

[Old Guy]

I've not taken part in this thread, so far, but for me, it's pretty simple. I've been riding since Johnson was president and have had some 26 motorcycles -- 25 of them have been Japanese (the one Spanish bike is sort of an outlier). They have, to a bike, been of good build quality and not idiotically expensive or difficult to maintain. They're what I know. I've seen some BMWs and Triumphs that I think I would have enjoyed having, but when it comes down to making the decision, I'm just not willing to take the plunge.

 

[Bill Lumberg]

I have notice many saying they are drawn to the FJR because it's a deal..as BMWs have gotten way too expensive......

Is that the big draw........the cheapness? You don't have enough money for BMW or just too cheap to put out the bucks?

If money was no object........would you even in the slightest sense consider this bike over the BMWs new K1200GT priced around 19K?

I have notice many saying they are drawn to the FJR because it's a deal..as BMWs have gotten way too expensive......

Is that the big draw........the cheapness? You don't have enough money for BMW or just too cheap to put out the bucks?

If money was no object........would you even in the slightest sense consider this bike over the BMWs new K1200GT priced around 19K?

Quite the opposite. I ride quite bit. My BMW broke down often,and didn’t have the reliability, parts availability, or repair shop saturation I required.

If I were to go back to BMW, I’d have to have a second sport tourer as a backup, and know a guy on standby with a trailer.

If reliability and service availability had been the same, I’d have stayed with BMW. But I won’t lie- the price and coverage of Y.E.S. is excellent, but it’s the power and reliability of the FJR that puts it on top, for me.

 

[Bounce]

If money is not ALWAYS an issue in your daily life, it won't remain so for long.

"A fool and his money are soon parted." - Poor Richard

 

[art miller]

If money is not ALWAYS an issue in your daily life, it won't remain so for long.

"A fool and his money are soon parted." - Poor Richard

Amen!!

 

[Pretendertothecrown]

I wouldn't be. My FJR is an 2002, over 20 years old and rode so well (haven't ridden since summer last year due to ill health). The Beemers look nice but are severely overpriced. You always seem to get value for money with the Japanese bikes and they're so well built. The FJR never misses a beat and the only downside is she's a heavy bike otherwise I'd keep her forever

 

[user 90243]

Quite the opposite. I ride quite bit. My BMW broke down often,and didn’t have the reliability, parts availability, or repair shop saturation I required.

If I were to go back to BMW, I’d have to have a second sport tourer as a backup, and know a guy on standby with a trailer.

If reliability and service availability had been the same, I’d have stayed with BMW. But I won’t lie- the price and coverage of Y.E.S. is excellent, but it’s the power and reliability of the FJR that puts it on top, for me.

Power and reliability!

 

[JTH]

Yea, BMW, nice riding bikes... until they break and the nearest repair shop is 3-4 hours away. Must by willing to wait on parts, and give up a kidney for the repair. My '07 FJR, regular maintenance and can be repaired anywhere.

 

[RossKean]

Yea, BMW, nice riding bikes... until they break and the nearest repair shop is 3-4 hours away. Must by willing to wait on parts, and give up a kidney for the repair. My '07 FJR, regular maintenance and can be repaired anywhere.

I have never owned a piece of equipment with the reliability of my FJRs. My 2007 (sold at 295,000 km) was exceptional and my 2011 (currently at 160,000 km) has been even better (no electrical issues on this one, whereas I had a couple ground spider bites on the '07). On the 2011, I have replaced one set of brake pads, one set of front fork seals/bushings, two valve shims (during my second valve check), and a shifter rubber. Period. Even the OEM battery and headlight bulbs are still working (although both should be replaced soon). Never did anything to engine, clutch, transmission, drive, or brakes on either bike (beyond basic maintenance - plugs, coolant, brake pads, fluids, linkage lube etc.). Neither bike has ever consumed a measurable quantity of oil between changes.

One set of front wheel bearings on the '07 and a cam chain tensioner replacement as a preventative measure as there were some issues reported with the early ones. Gear indicator switch, a cracked coolant overflow tank and a pinhole leak in the radiator (fixed by a rad shop) on the '07 as well...

 

[mophead]

I don't recall any bike I have owned (43 so far) that is easier to maintain than the FJR. OIl change, easy. Air filter change, 20 minutes. My Goldwing air filter change is a weekend. Moly up the driveshaft during rear tire change, easy peasy. Spark plugs, tilt the tank and its done.
The FJR is a great bike for riding, maintaining, and it just looks good whatever Generation you have. I am spoiled by my cruise and electric windshield. Probably never own another one without those two features, save for the 1967 Honda Superhawk I just bought. That's back to basics.

 

[user 90243]

I wouldn't be. My FJR is an 2002, over 20 years old and rode so well (haven't ridden since summer last year due to ill health). The Beemers look nice but are severely overpriced. You always seem to get value for money with the Japanese bikes and they're so well built. The FJR never misses a beat and the only downside is she's a heavy bike otherwise I'd keep her forever

Don't we enjoy that weight touring at fun speed. Solid.

 

[Bounce]

While the FJR is certainly easier to maintain than my previous 3 bikes (variations of Gold Wings) they could only match each other in reliability (none exceeding the other).

 

[user 213]

People are still responding to a troll post from 2005? Dayam, nice cast for the OP, who is long gone, it would appear.

 

[wwmiv]

I have notice many saying they are drawn to the FJR because it's a deal..as BMWs have gotten way too expensive......

Is that the big draw........the cheapness? You don't have enough money for BMW or just too cheap to put out the bucks?

If money was no object........would you even in the slightest sense consider this bike over the BMWs new K1200GT priced around 19K?

I went to my 1st BMWMOA RALLY in 1998... on a 1983 V65 Magna. I was completely enamored with the scene and the BWM motorcycles. Wow, I wanted a BMW! As of now, I've been to 16 or 17 more MOA rallies, but never on a BMW. 1998 Superhawk, 1997 CRR1100XX Blackbird, and now on a 2110 FJR1300. Yes, the cost to buy is too much. Cost to maintain is too much. They are now too complicated and they still have too many quirks, quirks that are to be embraced by BMW owners. The people at the rallies are great! My FJR is fantastic! I do like a lot of the BMW bikes, but I still don't see myself getting one. I'm right where I belong.

 

[RedRiderMN]

I owned a '72 BMW R75/5 "Airhead" for 30 years and 200K miles. It was easy to work on and only left me stranded one time. I was able to walk to an Auto Parts store (a couple of miles away) and buy a wire connector crimper and ring terminal and make a roadside repair that got me going again. I rode that bike to 24 of the lower 48 United States (even to the top of Pike Peak when it was still a partially dirt road!) . I did all of the maintenance on it since it was such a simple design. I even swapped out the 4-speed transmission for a 5-speed with a kick start! It had Bias-ply tubed tires and was 50 HP. I attended multiple National BMW rallies on this one and was pretty happy with it until I found my next BMW...


I subsequently owned an '83 BMW R80RT (below, had about 80 HP), another "Airhead" for a few years (I had it re-painted and probably should have kept it, too bad I don't have the garage space for 2 motos) and sold it to buy a '97 BMW K1100LT (water cooled 4 cylinder with ABS and 100 HP).



Here's the '97 K-bike:



Once Yamaha came out with the 2014 FJR in the red color, I was hooked and made it my mission to own one some day. In November of 2020, I found one via CycleTrader and bought it sight unseen from a retired Moto Cop in Texas. I had it shipped north to me in MinneSNOWta and it arrived a few hours before the first Snow storm of the year (5 inches!).



This is my dream bike and it will last me until the day I can no longer swing my leg over it. YMMV

 

[Bounce]

BMW doesn't make them that way anymore. With CAN buss and more, it's harder for the shade tree mechanic.

Hey, wwmiv,

Have you been at those gatherings and stood amongst a group where someone talks about how a BMW dealer put them at the front of the break-fix line and scavenged parts off bikes on the floor to effect quick repairs when they got stranded? Did anyone then turn to you and confide in you that this only happens once that dealer calls back to YOUR dealer and confirms you bought it through them, service all things through them, and are a "good" customer. If you bought used and/or do your own service, that's less likely to happen.

So much for THAT brag.