Looking at High Mileage 2003 FJR. Tips?

[MidSSouth]

A private dealer near me has a 2003 FJR with around 65k miles. He is asking $3500 for it. When I go to check it out what should I look for in such a high mileage bike? I have read about "the tick" and figure if it's going to have it it will have had it by then.

I also need to convince the wife. I was talking to him about trading my 2006 Ninja 650R but unless I want to sleep on the FJR I need to be able to explain to her why it would be ok to "trade down." I pointed out the things like better passenger comfort, she pointed out she rode 3 times last year. I pointed out more driver comfort she point out I have a 10 mile commute.

Other than power and, I'm assuming, comfort what would be the big differences between the sport touring bike and my sport bike? Keep in mind the 650R is a twin cylinder standard, not a supersport.

What are the most common maintenance issues with the FJRs and what sort of cost would I be looking at?

Thanks!

 

[GalaxyBlue]

65k is nothing for an FJR. Our insane madman Admin SkooterG put 226,000 miles on his 2004 FJR before he totalled it. The Dirty Whore FJR would still be running otherwise!

$3500 sounds like a great deal! It's worth looking at closer!

 

[rockmurf]

85k on my 06 and it runs better than new.

 

[beemerdons]

85k on my 06 and it runs better than new.

+1, Gunny! MidSSouth, if you can pick up that 2003 FJR for $3.5K you'd literally be stealing it! If you pass on this smoking deal, please post it up here for your brothers!

 

[beemerdons]

65k is nothing for an FJR. Our insane aggressive

aloof

arrogant

belligerent

big-headed

bitchy

boastful

bone-idle

boring

bossy

callous

cantankerous

careless

changeable

clinging

compulsive

conservative

cowardly

cruel

cunning

cynical

deceitful

detached

dishonest

dogmatic

domineering

finicky

flirtatious

foolish

foolhardy

fussy

greedy

grumpy

gullible

harsh

impatient

impolite

impulsive

inconsiderate

inconsistent

indecisive

indiscreet

inflexible

interfering

intolerant

introverted

irresponsible

jealous

lazy

Machiavellian

materialistic

mean

miserly

moody

narrow-minded

nasty

naughty

nervous

obsessive

obstinate

overcritical

overemotional

parsimonious

patronizing

perverse

pessimistic

pompous

possessive

pusillanimous

quarrelsome

quick-tempered

resentful

rude

ruthless

sarcastic

secretive

selfish

self-centred

self-indulgent

silly

sneaky

stingy

stubborn

stupid

superficial

tactless

timid

touchy

thoughtless

truculent

unkind

unpredictable

unreliable

untidy

untrustworthy

vague

vain

vengeful

vulgar

weak-willed madman Admin SkooterG put 226,000 miles on his 2004 FJR before he totalled it. The Dirty Whore FJR would still be running otherwise!

$3500 sounds like a great deal! It's worth looking at closer!

Brother Adam, I know you've been very busy working on your FJR at Queen Richard's SoCal Tech Day; so, I went ahead and fixed your post up for you! You're Welcome!

 

[FJRay]

65K is just getting broken in. The other advantage is that the 03 is the quickest of the bunch.

 

[BikerGeek99]

What to look for. Hmmm.... Off the top of my head...

Cosmetics will tell you if it's been on its side.

Check for any maintenance records, including valve checks. At 65K miles, if they haven't been checked, you'd want to consider doing that soon.

See if the saddlebag liners are still with the bike.

As others have eluded to, $3500 is a smoking deal. Sell the wife on the fact that it's SUCH a GREAT deal that it's just too good of a deal to pass up. Besides, at only $3500, hopefully that'll leave lots of room in the budget for farkles! Seat, windshield, electronics, lights, fuel cell...

 

[FJReady]

65K and high mileage don't belong in the same description of an FJR. (but you already know that by now)

Buy the FJR. 3K is a great deal. It's way more comfortable than the Ninja. And faster. and more versatile. But the 650R is easier to wheelie.

The FJR is super easy to work on and it doesn't require alot of maintenance.

 

[beemerdons]

65K is just getting broken in. The other advantage is that the 03 is the VERY QUICKEST of the bunch.

+1, Gunny; fixed it for you Ray, you're welcome!

 

[huron52]

Why does your wife only ride three times a year with you. Is it you speed, the comfort,Or is she just humouring you?

The FJR with a backrest and a Russell seat will be a place that your wife would be so comfortable that she could easily fall sleep back there and you up front going woo hoo.

I'd take her out on the FJR for a test ride and see what she thinks.

As for dealing down... maybe in years but not in quality.

As for high mileage? I own a 2004 with 206,000kms and I don't think it's close to halfway through it's life.

 

[roger dodger]

'03 is the 'original' FJR in the US.

Tell her "It's for us to spend more time together" ...thanks to saddle bags and trunk and a new saddle you can take trips ANYWHERE SHE WANTS TO GO!!!!!

@ $3500 it wont depreciate much more, so you can aim for 65k more miles before you UPGRADE again.

 

[Big Sky]

My '03 has 72,000 miles and not one genuine mechanical problem. Mine also gets 40-45 mpg two-up and loaded. Soloing last week I hit 49 mpg on ethanol-free fuel. Best all-around bike I've ever owned. If it's clean and apparently well maintained, I'd grab it now!

 

[Big Sky]

My '03 has 72,000 miles and not one genuine mechanical problem. Mine also gets 40-45 mpg two-up and loaded. Soloing last week I hit 49 mpg on ethanol-free fuel. Best all-around bike I've ever owned. If it's clean and apparently well maintained, I'd grab it now!

 

[SkooterG]

65K is just getting broken in. The other advantage is that the 03 is the VERY QUICKEST of the bunch.

+1, Gunny; fixed it for you Ray, you're welcome!

NOT with your fat ass on it!

:****:

As for high mileage? I own a 2004 with 206,000kms and I don't think it's close to halfway through it's life.

WTF is a 'kms'?!?!? Speak inguish ya hoser!

 

[wfooshee]

Unless something's obviously bent, it doesn't even really matter if it's been down. Mine's been down twice since I've had it, plus a couple parking lot drops because I was stupid enough to stop in a lean. There's no telling how many times the original owner watched it slide away from him. I stole mine in 2007 for $5500 with 41000 miles on it. That was the lowest price for an FJR I saw for another couple of years.

If that bike goes straight, pulls strong, idles OK, and doesn't make blue smoke (which I've never seen an FJR do, by the way,) then 3500 bucks for it may get you arrested for grand theft, it's that good a steal.

If its tires are at the end of their life don't worry about weird wear patterns. Fronts do goofy things, especially if underinflated. Not indicative of bike problems.

There will be no comparison between this bike and the 650. It'll feel heavier walking it around in the lot, but once past idle speed on the road the weight disappears completely. It'll be taller, and some folks complain about the ground being out of reach when stopped. Hasn't been an issue for me. Comfortable riding position, space for the SO, carrying space with the sidebags that beats anything the Ninja could do, and adding a top case gives you even more. I can put a hunnert bucks worth of groceries on mine.

Just don't stop if you're leaned over any.

 

[DJB]

I have 81k on my 03, serial number 456 by the way. I could have bought a new one this year, but no thanks even if Silver is really the only good color on a FJR. I have had to replace my fuel injection last year and the CCT last year also. Did a new clutch and new springs all around in the last 5 years.

 

[SacramentoMike]

I pointed out the things like better passenger comfort, she pointed out she rode 3 times last year. I pointed out more driver comfort she point out I have a 10 mile commute.

I dunno. You might be screwed.

. . . carrying space with the sidebags that beats anything the Ninja could do, and adding a top case gives you even more. I can put a hunnert bucks worth of groceries on mine.

I can put a hundred bucks worth of groceries in my pocket. But it does hold a lot.

And I'm not sure how the price changed from $3,500 down to $3K during this thread, but you might try starting with that as your "top" price. As to your question, see what has been done on the bike, farkles-wise. Somebody might have put a few bucks into it on good things you might want. If not, it's not a deal killer, but if yes, it would help your sales pitch at home. Tires are expensive, so if they're pretty good, that takes another expense off the table for a while. Take somebody with you who knows bikes, if you can. Any Memphis-area guys reading this thread? (If you're not treading water, that is.)

I think the FJR would be a lot more comfortable for both of you--not just the passenger. And safer. Tell her it's a much safer bike. Hey, it might even BE. Good luck.

 

[MidSSouth]

Well, I moved to slow. I called the guy yesterday and he had already taken it to an auction in Atlanta.

Here's the pics:

https://www.warrenwholesale.com/2003%20Yamaha%20Fjr1300.htm

and here's the dealers site in case anyone in Atlanta wants to know where it was sold to:

https://www.warrenwholesale.com/motor%20invent.htm

I started searching craiglist and it seems like finding a FJ for under 8-10k is almost impossible. Oh well, maybe next time.

 

[huron52]

As for high mileage? I own a 2004 with 206,000kms and I don't think it's close to halfway through it's life.

WTF is a 'kms'?!?!? Speak inguish ya hoser!

Hi Greg! Thanks for noticing me :yahoo: :lol: