My Thoughts On The '06

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twowheelnut

R.I.P. Our Motorcycling Friend
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First of all, they are offering test rides on FJR's in Long Beach. It's just that they are on '05's...

Second of all, lots and lots of young wimminz runnin' 'round half nekkid and they even know something about the products they were hocking! Not that I was listening, mind you. (Hint: Stop by the Honda booth and have the cute girlie girl give you the low down on the Wing's new GPS. 'Coordinates? Yeah, I see two I'd like to, um, locate ...') :dribble: :blink:

I got there early and was the first in the Yamaha booth. Quickly there were 20 - 30 guys ogling both bikes and the poor reps were getting pummeled with questions. I laughed like hell! Most oft asked questions? #3 goes to, 'Are they really gonna be delivered in June?' #2 goes to, 'Did you fix the tick?' #1 goes to, 'Did you fix the heat?' I laughed my ass off even more!

Impressions?

First, keep in mind that I'm six foot tall with a 34" inseam... The ergos with the seat in the low position made me feel as if I were doing some strange yoga position. Too cramped. My feet, however, were firmly planted on Terra Firma and my knees were still bent. This bike sits wayyyy lower than the previous models.

Good news for the riser folks, this bike is still gonna need 'em. The adjustable bars they have on these ain't gonna cut it.

The seat did seem every bit as comfy as my custom Bill Mayer, with just the right amount of firmness/cush and the shape fit me well. Seemed to be narrower toward the front of the seat, too. Might make the custom seat makers a bit poorer next year.

The mirrors are the ****. Word. Don't know if they'll retro onto ours, though.

The AE without the clutch handle? Sorry, it's just not the way God intended things to be. Where would I rest my fingers without the handle? I could count to six, I suppose. The finger controls for the e-clutch are gonna give short fingered folks fits until the get used to cramming their hand against the grip stop. Not a natural feel at all.

All other controls - hand and foot - are pretty much the same and the IP is pretty cool.

Body and styling are pretty good. The blue is very nice and the silver is wayyyyy silver, but still great looking. The aero changes make a lot of sense in terms of exhausting heat and supplementing cooling. I think the dash vents are gonna make a world of difference for rider cooling and buffeting. Those little adjustable vents on the fairing that flank the tank... You need a screw driver to adjust them. Lame. So is the positioning of the power plug. The luggage rack is worthless. Note to garauld: Git busy, boy! You're gonna sell a lot of racks to the class of '06!

The new wind screen seems smaller and further away. It is re-contoured, but we'll have to wait and hear the comments as the bike start to get delivered in August. ;)

You light bulb junkies will have a field day. The head light nacelles have tons of room. I'm really looking forward to another 20 threads on light bulbs... No, really, I am. <_< Tail lamps look good. The new side markers are pretty cool, too.

Forget the fender extender for the front fender. Tain't no room between the tire and the fairing's bottom lip. Good room for a fork brace, though.

Overall, the bike's CoG seems to be lower than ours. The increase in weight is not noticeable from a static point of view. Tossing it from side to side it seemed to feel lighter.

For the most part, I like what they did to it and of all the bikes there built for the paved road, I'd have to say that the FJR is still in the top 3 or 4 bikes.

Oh, the new BMW GT? Woof. :dribble: Too bad it's a BWM. The new Kawi ZX-14? It's a copy of the 'Busa except for the front end. And it's F-U-G-L-Y, too!

Found my next bike, though... Buell Ulysses. Really. ;)

Your roving reporter,

TWN

Back to you in the studio...

 
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Thanks, I'll see them Sunday.

About the 06' feeling lighter... I think all bikes at these shows are 100% dry. They allways seem real light, I would figure add Oil +2 lbs, Battery + 5 lbs, Water + 15 lbs and fuel 25 lbs or so (All these weights are pure guesses pulled out of thin air, its up to some fact checker to figure out how much 4 qts of oil weigh ect.... and tell me I'm wrong :p ) which would add close to 50 lbs.

 
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Tanks for da mammaries TWN !!!! An excellent report and retort...ya gives good verbage. Sounds like us vertically challenged folk, I'm 5'7, will appreciate the ergos on the bottom and not so much up top...hmmmm, sounds like my ex. I think I'll hold on to my 05...tightly and lean hard in the corners.

One querstion though...Do ya think we could retrofit the dash vent thing somehow, I mean without a sawzall. Would prolly help with backpressure etc. I know the old Honda GW windshields benefited greatly. Whatya think ? Thanks.

Bobby

 
God bless ya TWN. Good write up. I talked to the Yamamama rep in San Diego on Thursday and he wasn't sure but scuddlebutt was there would be some FJR's to test in Long Beach. Too bad they were the 05's but still a good chance for those who haven't had the opportunity to throw a leg over the feejer as of yet. He said what would happen in Long Beach as far as the demo's would probablly go the same in San Jose next week. Keep up the good work TWN and back up to you Chet..... Painman. <>< :assasin:

 
Second of all, lots and lots of young wimminz runnin' 'round half nekkid and they even know something about the products they were hocking! Not that I was listening, mind you.
We need one of those 'this thread is worhtless without pics' emoticons :D

Anyways, thanks for the write-up. Sounds like you had a better time than me yesterday - I had to shovel 8 inches of snow from my driveway/sidewalk. Then, I went to have new tires put on my car and get back home only to find that the wind blew all of the snow right back on the driveway and sidewalk, so, I got to do it all over again. That's OK - I'm going riding today.

 
About the 06' feeling lighter... I think all bikes at these shows are 100% dry. They allways seem real light, I would figure add Oil +2 lbs, Battery + 5 lbs, Water + 15 lbs and fuel 25 lbs or so (All these weights are pure guesses pulled out of thin air, its up to some fact checker to figure out how much 4 qts of oil weigh ect.... and tell me I'm wrong  :p ) which would add close to 50 lbs.
I saw figures on several sport-touring bikes given dry and wet weights and at least one varied as much as 75lbs. I think is was the Honda ST1300ABS...

... but I'll bet the 06 FJR1300A is going to end up right between 50 and 75lbs. additional with most of that weight up over center given the tallness of the tank.

The further you ride away from the gas station the better it's going to handle! :clap:

Not being critical of the weight gain, I still think it's going to be the very best of the sport tourers.

bikes_02.jpg


RogerB

 
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TWN, great report.

Got curious about the GT you mentioned. Urrrp! Hey, they sorta stole the notched front fender and cans from the '04 FJR... Came up with quite a teutonic vision here:

BMW%20K1200GT%2006%201.jpg


 
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I'd love to post the Yamaha photos I took at the Seattle show, but can't seem to find a way to do it...anyone? :help:

 
Thanks,twowheelnut.When you say the mirrors are "****", what's that mean? I ordered a 06'. Am coming of Honda STs and am hoping the FJR's mirrors show something other than my hands,as the ST's do. Also, I've been wondering if that 1/2 inch adjustability on the bars is enough. I guess not. As to weight & feel, is the gas tank a bladder type that extends well down the engine area, or is it all up high?Thanks.

 
Thanks,twowheelnut.When you say the mirrors are "****", what's that mean? I ordered a 06'. Am coming of Honda STs and am hoping the FJR's mirrors show something other than my hands,as the ST's do. Also, I've been wondering if that 1/2 inch adjustability on the bars is enough. I guess not. As to weight & feel, is the gas tank a bladder type that extends well down the engine area, or is it all up high?Thanks.
He said they are [SIZE=14pt]"The ****"[/SIZE].

 
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I'd love to post the Yamaha photos I took at the Seattle show, but can't seem to find a way to do it...anyone? :help:
Try this thread from the FJRforum Home page under "Images" and check out the next link for a list of free image hosting web sites.

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=2270

https://www.free-webhosts.com/free-image-hosting.php

SkooterG"For a free photo hosting site, many of us use Photobucket.com. There are others out there, but this one seems to work well for many of us.

For practice, and to make sure you understand the concept of "linking" the urls of photos, I suggest going Yammie's website here: Yammie FJR photo

https://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products.../8/1/image.aspx

Now right click on the photo, then select "Properties". When the properties box comes up, highlight and copy the Address (URL).

Now,make a reply in this thread and while in the box where you write your message, click the "IMG" button that is above it. When the box pops up, right click and "paste" the address or URL in there that you copied earlier. Hit enter, and Voila!, you are done. When you hit "Add Reply" to post your message, the photo from Yammie's site should now up in your message"

[END QUOTE]

RogerB
 
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This bike sits wayyyy lower than the previous models.
UUUUUMMMM...

seat height 05 32.2 inches

seat height 06... low @ 31.5 " high @ 32.3"

.7 of an inch is " way low : :haha:

and where the babe pics ???? :beee:

 
Second of all, lots and lots of young wimminz runnin' 'round half nekkid and they even know something about the products they were hocking!
I'm not always sure how to interpret TWN's messages, And generally when someone is "hocking" something, it's not a pretty sight. :bad: (as in "hocking up a nasal oyster.") Would "hawking" have been a better description? :D

 
Hey - vistited the show in Long Beach this morning - got there about 10:30 AM, and ran right to the Yamaha display -

Here's all these bikes with folks walking around - and then there's this group of people, standing there. Looked like a bunch of folks standing around an accident victim - but it twarnt. It was the A. :D

I elbowed my way into the crowd (and I was gonna take some pictures, right !!) and there was A LINE of guys waiting for their turn to sit on it !! So being the really pushy guy that I am, I made may way to the end of the line and waited my turn.

I'm 5' 10", 32" inseam - and wearing my tennies, was able to flatfoot - very comfortable. Of course, the 90 seconds or so that I spent in the saddle didn't exactly qualify the seat for Iron Butt use.

The guy wouldn't give me the key, either. I thought a quick lap around the convention center would tell me lots about it. (I hope Santa brings him a lump of coal - or sumpthin else .....)

I had my father in law with me - (walks with a cane - really handy for crowd situations - whack someone on the ankle, say 'scuse me' and they move) and we proceeded to walk (kinda difficult - reallllyyy crowded by this time) around the place, there we are, I'm looking at gear, he's tappin me on the shoulder saying things like "check out the set in that booth ! " or "with that set, who needs airbags!!". Ya gotta love him. Served as a navigator on a B26.

Back to the show - we breezed by the Yammy display two more times - and there was ALWAYS A CROWD AROUND THE A - I actually watched a guy walk up to the crowd - and decide to go sit on the AE - as there wasn't anyone looking at it.

No crowd in the Honda display - pretty black ST1300 - but nobody loved it.

Compared to the FJR, the crowd at the Kawasaki ZX-1400 display was light.

And we walked around some more - and THERE WAS STILL A CROWD AROUND THE A!!!

So we headed out to the parking lot. A veritable SEA of bikes - just amazing. We walked up one row and down the other - lots of bikes - and I counted NINE, yes sir, NINE FJR's - 5 each 05's, and 4 each 03 or 04's. But we didn't cover the entire lot. All from CA, except one from Arizona.

And a ST1100 from Oregon - fuel cell, lights, every little farkle you could imagine, IBA license frame, 139,000 and change miles on it !! I thought - 'there's my 06 in another 5 years or so "

Damn good way to spend the morning.

 
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When you say the mirrors are "****",
As in, "****! I'd kill to have these on my bike!"

UUUUUMMMM... seat height 05 32.2 inches

seat height 06... low @ 31.5 " high @ 32.3"

.7 of an inch is " way low : 

and where the babe pics ????
Why am I hearing 'Short People' by Randy Newman, when I read your post? :D :****:

This bike sits way lower than mine. I didn't whip it out to measure, but it is a lot lower. ;)

As far as the pics... Is there Viagra for digital cameras? My battery **** the bed when I asked the first Umbrella Girl to say, "Slapnpop!"

I'm not always sure how to interpret TWN's messages, And generally when someone is "hocking" something, it's not a pretty sight. (as in "hocking up a nasal oyster.") Would "hawking" have been a better description?

hock3 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (hk) Slang

tr.v. hocked, hock·ing, hocks

To pawn: hock a diamond ring.

In general, to sell something.

n.

The state of being pawned: put the diamonds in hock.

The state of being in debt: thought we'd never get out of hock.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Probably from Dutch hok, prison.]

Of course, one can also hock a loogie... ;)

 
Thanks for the report, TWN. I was in the Yamaha area, didn't even see the FJR, and didn't think any furhter about it. That must mean my '05 has made me so happy I don't have a real interest in the '06 - even though I thought I did. At least curiosity.

As for the BMW... I was greatly impressed. I like the looks of the bike when seated on it. And, I suppose like many others, I'm... uh... astounded, yeah, that's it... astounded by that big flat fairing frontal side panel viewing it from a distance.

But... the panels are very well formed, and everything is assembled to a quality level that's a step above every bike I looked at in the show.

The seat is comfy to me, of an more than intermdiate firmness without being stout, and nicely shaped.

Bars do look cheesy, having a vertical adjustment (tools required) that looks like thing pot metal - but that's the only visual cheapness I can recall.

Hand and finger controls are nicely placed.

The windshiled seems terribly small, and just plain silly. I can't imagine even 10% of owners retaining it - wich is good news for Cee Bailey.

The BMW rep took 20 minites to discuss the bike with, after my opening, "I ride an FJR. How is this bike better?"

His responses were first, "The power to weight ratio is about the same." He then went on to point out quality issues - and very valid ones to me - about the suspension, the brakes (I question that), the six-speed verus 5-speed, the "maintenance-free shaft drive" (Really?), the larger bags (which in fact are VASTLY superior in many ways he neglected to mention), the larger (available) top case, the very good lighting, the cruise control, and some items I've forgotten.

He didn't have any kind of Pitch. And, he was highly respectful of all the competitors. He even said something very close to, "The FJR is an awsome motorcycle".

He suggested I test ride all the bikes in class. He did hand out a "possible winning key" that could be tried at any dealer to see if I'd won a new K1200GT. What a wonderful way to get folks onto the floor to take a test ride - when enough bikes become available for that. And, I'll take them up on it.

Overall, it was a very pleasant king of "sales experience". I came away from it highly informed, and well prepared to look over their offering in detail, details that are important to me.

What about the FJR?

Well, I don't want an '06, by which I mean it possess nothing that is an enhancement to my '05 that I desire.

On the other hand, the BMW does in some ways, and might in others. I'm very willing for it to prove superior, or at least better in some areas.

But, my past experience with BMW tells me owning another one would only distress me over gettting it serviced so often, more poor or below-fair service results, and paying so much money for aspects of it, like the non-superior suspension they use soley to differentiate themselves.

I doubt I'd be swayed back to BMW. And, no other manufacturer offers a bike that is as acceably good at the motocycle things I want as is the '05 FJR.

Best wishes.

PS: Most intersting bikes at the show to me? The Royal Star, and Victory's concept bike that is a fusion of Tour, Cruise, Sport, and blah, blah. It was way cool. And even doable.

RDF

 
interesting, rdfranz. What are the maintenence intervals on that beemer? I had an RT(once) and valve adustments were every 4000 mi, if I remember correctly. Not a cheap experience either. Maybe my RT was a lemmon, but I'd freguently need a part while on a long trip and they'd say,"we'll have it next week".That sucks. I had none of these problems with Honda & my ST1100s.As I recently began looking for a new bike, BMW was not even a consideration. I ordered an 06' FJR.

 
:agent: Just got back from the Long Beach show and my impressions on the 06 FJR. First impression was like TWN said seems to site a little lower. Im 6'3 and 245 lbs and the seat seamed like it was wider and had better support than my stock 05 seat. Over all seemed like the ergos was very similar to my 05 when I closed my eyes. I liked the

instrument layout better and the fairing and heat exhausting looked like it would

work. Luggage rack looked like it could be a problem. Hope they fixxed the tik. Overall I liked it. But not enough to trade in my 05.

Thanks, Dan

Also I liked the great show special deals saved some bucks $.

 
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