My first 500 mile report

[Bigbeavk]

My response as to why I traded my Harley is 1st section.

Ride report is in 2nd section.

Hi Keith, I noticed you said you traded your Harley for a FJR. I'm in the same boat: I own a 2007 FXD (Superglide) and am really interested in the FJR1300A. What made you want to leave Harley? Is the FJR everything everybody here is saying it is? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated as I'm going crazy trying to make up my mind as I can't have 2 bikes! Thanks, Forum Member

Hi Forum Member,

I had a few issues with my Wide Glide. First I had an 05 model that used a quart of oil every 1000 to 1500 miles. After checking into the issue I found out that Harley had issued a bulliten that identified a bad valve seal issue. The 2 dealers in my area Rockville HD and Frederick HD told me that my oil usage was normal and not to worry about it. They refused to replace the valve seals and said all Harleys use that much. Of course that is not true. Instead of continuing to do business with them that is my 1st reason. I'm 5'6" 200lb and could not get comfortable at 65 to 70 mph so I did not like taking any long trips that way. I enjoyed it for cruisin back roads but at 35 mpg that kinda sucked as well. It was a beautiful bike but with no dealer support I went to an indy once for maintenance and didn't like having loose things on the bike when I got it back. Believe me I put 30k miles on it in 2 years and for the most part we had lots of fun. However I couldn't get used to taking hard turns up in the mountains and the brakes really sucked. If I had gone with a Super Glide it probably would have been better for me but the dealers in my area definately did me wrong. Now for the good part.

The FJR is a whole new beginning. This thing is a beast that just flys thru the turns and eats up the highway. I'm still getting comfortable with the new riding position so more than likely the seat will get upgraded. This bike is top heavy so parking lot maneuvers are the biggest worry for me. This thing has more power than I could have ever imagined and braking omg is awesome. On this brand new 07 FJR I got 45 mpg and had a nice quiet trip back from Grand Canyon, PA. I took care of the tight throttle return spring when I got home thanks to Rick and his excellent instructions on this forum. I wish I had done the mod before I road the 230 miles home but then again I had to just hang in there and take some breaks, After 500 miles in 2 days of riding I will continue to do some mods especially getting some sliders. Yes that's right lol I laid her gently in the middle of the road not paying attention as I was pulling out from a tight parking space and lost my footing. My wife just stepped off and rolled her eyes at me and helped along with a fellow coffee drinker pick that baby back up. I'll try lowering it with a seat mod so I can touch a little more. Wind protection is awesome for me and my wife with the winshield up and gives us a nice breeze with lowering it. I'm still getting used to shifting and slow speed stuff but it sure was a great deal for us as we ride every night at least 60 to 100 miles thru the country roads. We ride 2 up 99.9% of the time and mama is lovin it as well. I hope this helps but most of all ride with something that handles right and is comfortable for you. As of today "day 4" I have almost 650 miles so it's time for a check up. :yahoo:

Take Care,

Keith

PS: I'll post this as well as my initial 500 mile mark. I can't wait to meet up with some of the great forum members. Reading these posts over the past year I've learned alot and hopefully can be a helper as well.

 

[Big Daddy]

I'm with you, i just trades my 06 road king in. im only up to 350 miles but i modded the hell out of the beast already. My only statement is what where we thinking riding HD's.

Bob

 

[JRO]

When I was younger, back in the 70's, I remember the regular 'meet' over at my Uncle Kenny's place. He was the local Harley expert, and all his pals would turn up on the weekend. These guys were regular riders - many had no car (like Kenny). It was maintanence & repair day. They had fun, but they sure spent a lot of money, and a lot of downtime, and most were the kind of folks who couldn't really afford either. I was a kid, and finally couldn't take it, myself.

They weren't really pissed when I switched to a Honda. "Them thangs ere disposable bikes - that's all. Jap junk."

Yep. I put 140-thousand miles on my 'disposable'. Rode it everyday. Never had to wait on a part, and never spent no time rebuilding, because it never did break down. Oil, filter, and spark plugs, and I changed the fork oil a couple of times.

The 'meets' are long gone, but Kenny still has his Harley. Today, it's put back together. He keeps it in the spare bedroom of his house. He put a lot of miles on it, over the years, but I still don't think it's seen as many miles as that old 4-cylinder Honda of mine did, when I retired it... A long, long time ago.

I don't really mean to curse them, because Harleys were fun, when I was growing up.

Then, I got a motorcycle.

 

[HartClimbs]

I've got a RoadKing and an FJR and I like 'em both. I've put almost 20K on the Harley in the last two years and just have about 5K on the new FJR.

Two very different rides. If I had to pick only one bike - it'd be a tough choice because there's things I really like (and really don't like) about each of 'em.

At this point - I'm really enjoying whipping around on the FJR, but the Roadking is a sweet ride too.

 

[Bigbeavk]

Yea I would have loved a Road King or a Street Glide but the Steelers made the error and for me that was a big issue. Anyway I just transfered my tags today and got an extra BONUS :yahoo: since the Yamaha dealer gave me an even trade I didn't have to pay the 6% sales tax. :yahoo: I guess it's farkle time lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :drinks: day 4 and I'm at 700 miles lol

I like it I luv it I want somemore of it :yahoo:

 

[Big Daddy]

ya tell me about it. I got the even trade also. So what do i do, in the 1st week drop another 1K on mods. Today i did the Pc III & Leo Vince pipes, just waiting for my K & N filter.

 

[canyonman]

I still have and ride my 01 deuce in fact it is now my commuter rain or shine. I like it for puttin around the hood on back roads when I'm just lobe'n.

My 07 fjr already has more miles (15k) on it and is the bike of choice when an adrenelin bump is needed or any distance needs to be covered. If I had to pick one it would probably be the yamme but I intend on never having to make that choice. the only choice I want to consider right now is a KTM or Bemmer. Gotta make room for one more.

well maybe two, really like those vstroms too.

 

[spinblue]

Put my name in the column of FJR as well. As of last fall my garage is HD-less when I got rid of the HD for a '07 Black Cherry FJR. For the first time since '91 in which I split 16 years between a '91 Heritage Classic and in '01 I got more for my '91 Heritage then what I paid for it. I then went and got a '99 ElectraGlide. I have great, vivid memories of rides and times on these two bikes.

However, the dark side was calling and in '01 I got a '94 CBR1000F that had come with a Corbin and Heli bars and was an absolutely perfect physical fit for me. I had taken the CBR to the Grand Canyon/UT/CO tour and an Olympic peninsula tour not to mention a number of other long trips and around Chicago for weekend rides. I had only added a Hawk oiler and Givi windscreen and wound up selling it this spring. I could sit on this bike all day and never had issues.

I cut my teeth on a '77 CB550F Supersport that I got in the early 80s. That seat was tough to sit on when I took it to Miami the first time. No bike is perfect but the HD was killing me with lack of desired suspension, brakes, quiet, and range. The CBR was heavy and got terrible mileage. I never had mechanical issues with any one of these four bikes. Change the oil, clean the air filter and put go juice in them and ride the snot out of them.

I'm really loving the ~48 mpg, incredible brakes, suspension that fills wonderful and the thrill of the 1300cc engine. I have done a few farkles but have been thinking of a seat(stock sucks for me, hate the feel) and maybe a Heli tree. After having a Corbin on the three previous bikes and having the perfect fit between butt and bike. I borrowed a Corbin and was so disappointed on the FJR. It didn't feel like I was sitting in the bike as opposed to on top of it. But given my history of keeping a bike for quite some time, it looks like I'll be on the FJ for years to come.