MCN Next Month

[M-RIDER]

Received MCN (Motorcycle Consumer News) June 2006 issue today.

They say:

Next Month 1st impression: Yamaha's '06 FJR1300AE Automatic

I hope they will discover at some point that it is not an automatic.

 

[FlyingLow]

I'm sure they will .

I don't plan on ever buying one but I'd still like to see how they hold up in a real world, real ride type of environment. Who knows, this may well be the wave of the future.

 

[GreyGoose]

I'm still waiting for someone (other than our trusted forum member) to do a review of the 06. Usually by now, they've got this covered. There were certainly enough enhancements made to the model this year to justify a review. Anyone heard a word from motorcyclist mag or street bike about a 06 review. I'd love to see a comparo of the 06 st13 against the 06 FJR.

MCN was the only mag that ever mentioned heat issues with both these bikes. You've got to give those guys a thumbs up. The other guys never even commented on it. Now that the heat issue has been supposable addressed, maybe they'll actually take it through the paces and give us a 'real world" overview.

GreyGoose

 

[Fred H.]

Tony was telling me that the shifting on the AE is really slick, and that after 5 minutes on the bike, you never want a bike with a clutch again. Apparantly the computer even lets you slip the clutch under low throttle settings at parking lot speed, and it all happens automatically, so all you have to do is twist the throttle to control the clutch. It does sound intriguing, but color me skeptical. I have way too many years of riding bikes with a clutch to try to relearn (old dog, new trick). I also suspect it would cause me some real difficulty in trying to swap back and forth from one bike to another if one had a clutch and the other didn't. I am having a hard enough time relearning how to cancel my turn signals on the FJR.

 

[twowheelnut]

MCN always does a thorough, if not dry, job of reporting. I'm sure it will be spot on.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

Didn't one of the moto mags do an AE on the R1? Guy who tested it was skeptical but after the 4 or 5 days of using it I think he bought it. Said he might not go back to a clutch lever.

 

[SkooterG]

I have way too many years of riding bikes with a clutch to try to relearn (old dog, new trick). I also suspect it would cause me some real difficulty in trying to swap back and forth from one bike to another if one had a clutch and the other didn't.

C'mon Fred, you're a sharp guy. Do you drive four wheeled vehicles with automatic transmissions? Do you also at least on occasion, drive four wheeled vehicles with manual transmissions? Is it a stretch for you to go between one and the other?

Don't think I could ever lose the inate ability to shift and clutch a standard transmission motorcycle no matter how long a period of non-use could pass.

 

[ARFJR]

Can't wait to get my AE and the June issue of MCN.

Waiting sucks!

 

[temp357]

Tony was telling me that the shifting on the AE is really slick, and that after 5 minutes on the bike, you never want a bike with a clutch again....

Who's Tony and why don't we have a review of the AE from him and where did he get to ride one? I have the AE on order, at this point i regret ordering it. I wish i was ridding my FJR now instead of waiting.

 

[gr8eyes]

Tony is a dealer in Texarkana who frequents the board with good advice and tips. He probably rode one at the dealer meeting.

Glenn

 

[SkooterG]

Who's Tony and why don't we have a review of the AE from him and where did he get to ride one? I have the AE on order, at this point i regret ordering it. I wish i was ridding my FJR now instead of waiting.

Ahh........patience grasshopper.

When your AE arrives, all will be well in the world, and I bet you will be gratefuly you waited for the one with the funny shifting. :lol:

 

[Rickster]

Will be interesting to read the article -- next month? does that mean the June issue?

Still waiting.... and waiting.... has anyone heard of an AE being in the US yet? Dealer showing June for mine (no day, just June...)

I have received so much crap for ordering an "automatic" (and we know it's not, it's just a YCCC), and I'm considering one of my farkles to be a lip-stick holder.

 

[temp357]

I think the whole idea behind the fjr AE was great. I already had my right hand freed up with the throttle lock. Now my left hand is freed up with the YCCC. Look Ma, no hands! :yahoo:

 

[Fallen Jim Rides again]

I think the whole idea behind the fjr AE was great. I already had my right hand freed up with the throttle lock. Now my left hand is freed up with the YCCC. Look Ma, no hands! :yahoo:

Yah, but then you will grab the right side and twist and I'd be willing to bet the left hand will find that other grip.

Yee haw!

 

[madmike2]

Didn't one of the moto mags do an AE on the R1? Guy who tested it was skeptical but after the 4 or 5 days of using it I think he bought it. Said he might not go back to a clutch lever.

That may have been a slipper clutch, not an AE type setup.

 

[temp357]

I think the whole idea behind the fjr AE was great. I already had my right hand freed up with the throttle lock. Now my left hand is freed up with the YCCC. Look Ma, no hands! :yahoo:

Yah, but then you will grab the right side and twist and I'd be willing to bet the left hand will find that other grip.

Yee haw!

I sat on the AE at the motorcycle show and it was definitely strange not having the clutch. I kept reaching for it and it wasn't there. Too bad they didn't let us ride it. They didn't have any FJR's at Laguna Seca a few week back either. I'm holding on to the R1100S until the FJR shows up. I hope its here in time for my summer trip.

 

[colin]

I have way too many years of riding bikes with a clutch to try to relearn (old dog, new trick). I also suspect it would cause me some real difficulty in trying to swap back and forth from one bike to another if one had a clutch and the other didn't.

C'mon Fred, you're a sharp guy. Do you drive four wheeled vehicles with automatic transmissions? Do you also at least on occasion, drive four wheeled vehicles with manual transmissions? Is it a stretch for you to go between one and the other?

Don't think I could ever lose the inate ability to shift and clutch a standard transmission motorcycle no matter how long a period of non-use could pass.

Yeah, manual/auto isn't such a big deal. even left side / right side drive you get used to when going from one to the other in cars.

But has anybody gone back and forth from a BMW to a normal turn signal?? Couple weekends of test riding and that was probably the hardest of all of them!

 

[temp357]

I think the question you meant to task is does anyone ever get used to the BMW turn signal and horn? After 40k on the R1100S i still can't use the turn signal without having to think about it. :assassin: