Me and my FJR got spanked today

[designeraccd]

An FJR versus a ZX9 in tight twisties?? No way....if the 9 rider knows his bike...goodbye. Our FJRs are excellent ALL AROUND street bikes and are very respectable in curves but they are not up to a well handled crotch rocket in tight stuff. OTOH, wanna go 500 miles??? My rikety ol body will stay on my FJR, heck I can't even ride my '05 VFR anymore...or it wouldn't be for sale...sniff. Ride SAFE, not dummmm! DFO

 

[chornbe]

I went for a ride on a well known tight twisty road, Mines road, those in the Bay area will know it well. My friends on a Tuono R and the other on a ZX9. They literally torched me. I felt embarrassed that I was so slow. Oh both of them are ex-track racers, not an excuse just a reason. But I am a little slow in the tight stuff. It almost felt like I was riding the special little yellow bus to school.

I mean seriously....? You're not *really* letting this bug you are you?

 

[Geezer]

I rode to Lake Tahoe today, then I took 89 up the West side of Tahoe and I ate in Tahoe City. I had a reuben. Then I rode home. 220 miles round trip and I remember the waterfalls on the smooth granite of the Sierra more than the reuben, but the reuben was pretty good.
The only sport bikes I saw were going the other way...I didn't care. The South side of Emerald Bay on 89 is a magical place on a bike...'

Sorry...what was this thread about?

Yeah, what he said. Except a different road on the other side of the continent. And no sandwich.

 

[sprint_st]

Last weekend I was down in the Suches, N.Ga area and turned on to US19 from Ga180. As I pulled out I had Porsche sitting in my 8 o'clock and a CBR1000 hot on his tail. The guy in the Porsche knew what he was doing and if it wasn't for traffic, he would have left the CBR or pretty much any bike for that matter. Did I say that I felt like the FJR was in slow motion trying to catch up to them? The Porshe was steadily, but relatively slowly walking away from the CBR and both were steadily walking away from me. It's nothing to be ashamed of to be outclassed, that's why they have classes, isn't it?

 

[chornbe]

Last weekend I was down in the Suches, N.Ga area and turned on to US19 from Ga180. As I pulled out I had Porsche sitting in my 8 o'clock and a CBR1000 hot on his tail. The guy in the Porsche knew what he was doing and if it wasn't for traffic, he would have left the CBR or pretty much any bike for that matter. Did I say that I felt like the FJR was in slow motion trying to catch up to them? The Porshe was steadily, but relatively slowly walking away from the CBR and both were steadily walking away from me. It's nothing to be ashamed of to be outclassed, that's why they have classes, isn't it?

Exactly. And even with the absolute best machine, very, very few people have what it takes to really move a machine fast and well. Training is some of the equation, a big part, but there are individual factors, too. There is natural talent, in-born reaction and reflex times, the mind's ability to process options and pick lines, etc.

There are reasons why Rossi is Rossi and Jeff Gordon is Jeff Gordon and T.O. is T.O. and... you get the point.

 

[Cdogman]

Dude, it is not just about the machine. I spanked a Duc a few weeks ago and if I had been on the Duc I would have spanked the FJR. I do not consider myself a stellar rider, Fair I beleive (or I have no senses) But the bike in capable hands means alot, but when capable hands have a capable bike it is indeed a tough combination to beat.

The thing I have to remember when riding with fast folks is to RIDE MY OWN BIKE. I used to chase sport bikes on my Wing and that got scary from time to time and I had to chant that mantra so I did not auger in........ Interesting, I have not had to chant that mantra on the FJR yet, but I am almost ALWAYS riding solo, or W/Pillion aboard and us solo.

HEY,, I do look forward to WFO tho............... Y'all are comin to my place to party...... (he like "Yay" and ****)

 

[BugR]

Lets see if I got the store straight?you rode an FJR on the twisty's

you made it home safe

sounds like a WINNER of a day to me!

I'm with you brother, far to many "road it into the ditch" reports this spring

Chris

 

[wheatonFJR]

Despite my ego's desire to try to keep up, I have "learned" to just ride as fast as is good for me. That "learning" cost money and I don't intend to repeat it if I can help it. I still have lots of fun and grins...it just makes no sense for me with my stock suspension and bags on to feel bad about not keeping up with someone with a sportier bike or an FJR with after market suspension and more lightly loaded. What's the fun in eating dirt or having a life flight to the hospital? Have fun yes...get track time if you want to test your limits.

Believe me, I have fun and I am a fairly middlin' rider...

 

[okmac]

Tell them the next little run is going to be for 3 days and 1800 miles and we will see who gets spanked or will opt to wuss out.

Mac

 

[E1Allen]

I don't think any of us with FJR's expect to get true sportbike handling or acceleration, especially in the twisties. Although as far as I am concerned it is pretty damn close. Not to mention it's a much more comfortable ride, among other things. If I wanted to get that 10% more performance out of a sportbike I would have got one.

 

[Barabus]

Me, I like being Spanked. Makes me a better rider. Ride for a couple months with faster ridrs and then go play with your old buddies.

 

[Cdogman]

Me, I like being Spanked. Makes me a better rider. Ride for a couple months with faster ridrs and then go play with your old buddies.

Yep, Now I just gotta find some faster riders........ (ok I am kidding, I am a midlin rider too)

 

[MartyA]

Hey I like getting spanked... Oh wait wrong forum...

Ride your ride dude, don't ride someone elses. Seen a few not so fortunate trying to keep up beyond their or their bike's ability. Just like you could run past an Electra-Glide on some twisty road, somebody out there on an R-1 will run past you. And vice-versa. Yellow Wolf DID do an iron butt on a little piece of road in TN...

Have fun, ride your ride, later you can talk about how much more fun you had than I did. At least you will be able to talk about it. These are great bikes, enjoy them.

And Tuonos can be challenging, and sometimes good with a little marinara....

 

[Lil Geezer from Texas]

Good friend of mine from Ohio rides an '03 FJR with 80,000 + on it and regularly stays with or spanks Aprillias, Ducati's and other such sporty rides and their tush-hog riders. It's ability and determination folks, not just the ride.

LGFT

 

[markjenn]

Don't make the mistake of assuming you got "spanked" becaust the other guy is on a superior bike. That's seldom the case. You probably spanked because they're better riders and simply are willing to run more risk than you find acceptable.

There's no shame in riding within one's limits or simply deciding you want to ride with more margin for error. But if you start assuming it's the bike, it can lead to bad things, because someday you'll be on the R1 and decide that there is absolutely no reason you shouldn't keep up. So you'll keep up until you crash.

If you want to go faster, look at better training first, not the bike. And have great medical, disability, and life insurance.

- Mark

 

[Cdogman]

Don't make the mistake of assuming you got "spanked" becaust the other guy is on a superior bike. That's seldom the case. You probably spanked because they're better riders and simply are willing to run more risk than you find acceptable.
There's no shame in riding within one's limits or simply deciding you want to ride with more margin for error. But if you start assuming it's the bike, it can lead to bad things, because someday you'll be on the R1 and decide that there is absolutely no reason you shouldn't keep up. So you'll keep up until you crash.

If you want to go faster, look at better training first, not the bike. And have great medical, disability, and life insurance.

- Mark

+1

 

[BrunDog]

Why not switch bikes and see what happens.

When they smoke you on the FJR, you will smile knowing that you have the best all around machine and that you ride safely within its limits!

-BD

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

All good responses. I knew going in these guys would outrun me, they are great riders. The FJR performed great, just had the suspension redone. If we switched bike they would have still spanked me. But neither have their IBA plate either. The FJR is a great all around bike and if you can ride you can out run those who can't no matter what they are riding. But with equal riding ability the ZX9 and Tuono R will win every time int he tight stuff. I jsut didn't know they were that much better than me. Just the law of physics.

 

[Toecutter]

But neither have their IBA plate either.

And I doubt they ever will, on those mounts.

[preaching to choir] Today at Costco, one of the hired hands, on seeing my jacket in my cart, asked if that was my FJR out in the parking lot. Assuming mine was the one he saw, I said "Why yes, that is my FJR" or something like that. He complimented it, and qualified his comment by explaining that he used to be a bike salesman at a local dealership. He went on to say that he owns a Gixxer1k, and that, well, he basically hates it. Big fun in the twisties, but that's about it. We both agreed that the FJR is the street bike to have, if you can only have one street bike. [/preaching to choir]

 

[Dan23]

I agree fully with the stated limitations of the FJR as a sportbike. I even said as much in a previous thread, causing a few angry replies of denial. But I've never said the FJR is anything except an excellent bike.

The FJR is excellent because it has no bad traits that I can think of. (Excepting the stock throttle tip in.) Most importantly, there are no handling foibles. The FJR never feels unsettled in curves or over bumps. The brakes work well, fit and finish is good, it has comfy features like the electric windshield, etc.

I've never once regretted buying mine, and would recommend it to others. The only caveat is to be aware of what it is you are buying: a heavier bike with a longer wheelbase with its sport-touring mix set toward the touring side. That doesn't mean it can't rock and roll when the time is right... it just means that sportier bikes will prevail in sportier riding situations. No surprises here that ought to upset anyone. I like my FJR more as the miles roll up.

But if you think "determination" will save the day when riding with other much sportier bikes, you're a hazard to yourself and the ones you're riding with... or at least a source of humor.