Need some perspective

[Bliz]

FJR is on short list of bikes I',m considering to buy in the next month. Don't like vibration. Some owners

complain of vibration, some don't. Vibrates compared to what? Need a comparison from owners that have

previously owned the same bikes I have. 1995 Concours (hand numbing bad vibration), 2001 VFR 800 (vibrated, but tolerable), 2003 V Strom 1000 (smooth very little vibration). Anyone owned any of these bikes, and how does vibration between FJR and these bikes compare. Thanks.

 

[Whip]

I never have understood the vibration complaint...I have 12k in 10 weeks on my 06 FJR.... 3 SS1000....and haven't noticed any vibration yet....I did add a Corbin seat and did the jumper mod and CO adjustment after the first SS1000 and the RT side mirror is now clear...maybe that's what they mean by vibration....I don't know...

Maybe it's because I own a Harley and a RT also...now they vibrate...

Whip

 

[zorkler]

Sorry i cant help went from a 1975 z1 900 and a 1977kz 1000 and then the fjr.

 

[Scab]

I don't have the other bikes, but the feej vibration is somewhat overblown. I did get BAD hand numbing when I first purchased the bike. However, I discovered that the stock setting on the throttle being a little stiff caused me to put a 'death-grip' on the throttle to hold my speed. I adjusted the center throttle return spring (free) and changed to a $6 foam grip and eliminated the issue. This is definately not a deal breaker on considering this bike. Also, by ensuring a good TBS, this thing is pretty dang smooth.

 

[chornbe]

FJR is on short list of bikes I',m considering to buy in the next month. Don't like vibration. Some owners complain of vibration, some don't. Vibrates compared to what? Need a comparison from owners that have

previously owned the same bikes I have. 1995 Concours (hand numbing bad vibration), 2001 VFR 800 (vibrated, but tolerable), 2003 V Strom 1000 (smooth very little vibration). Anyone owned any of these bikes, and how does vibration between FJR and these bikes compare. Thanks.

I ride a V-Twin as my other bike. The second smoothest v-twin I've ever been on, in fact, so maybe I'm desensitized a bit. I've also owned several other I-4 bikes including a Concours.

Calling the FJR 'buzzy' in comparison to the Connie is like saying a thimble full of water is "a lot" in comparison to the Atlantic Ocean.

Seriously, it's a smooth bike. The F4i I owned was a little smoother, I think but it's still smoother than all the old CB750 and Cb550 bikes I owned (which were also smoother than the Concours).

It's all relative. try to score a test ride somewhere.

 

[Shadowfax]

FJR is on short list of bikes I',m considering to buy in the next month. Don't like vibration.

It's buzzy compared to vtwins, but with mine I just do a throttle body sync every 2-4000miles and all is well (and gel grips, Throttlemeister, adjusted throttlebody spring and risers)

 

[ionbeam]

Where you be from Bliz? You may be able to hook up with a FJR owner that will let you check out the buzzing up close and personal

 

[Bliz]

I live in Southeastern Ohio. Little Hocking. About a tenth mile from the intersection of route 555 and Ohio route 7. Great roads around here to ride.

 

[3dogs]

Comming of a Moto Guzzi I found the FJR's engine is smooth to say the least. If vibration is a concern you should consider a Gold Wing -- I'm not being a smart-ass but the Wing, with its 6-cylinder engine, is almost vibration-free. The FJR has some inline "4-cylinder" buz just like all engines of this design. Another good choise is a BMW LT. Compaired to the other bikes you have owned the FJR is smoother and much of the vibration can be tuned out by syncing the throttle bodies and breaking in the engine (5000 miles worth or so).

 

[Bliz]

Comming of a Moto Guzzi I found the FJR's engine is smooth to say the least. If vibration is a concern you should consider a Gold Wing -- I'm not being a smart-ass but the Wing, with its 6-cylinder engine, is almost vibration-free. The FJR has some inline "4-cylinder" buz just like all engines of this design. Another good choise is a BMW LT. Compaired to the other bikes you have owned the FJR is smoother and much of the vibration can be tuned out by syncing the throttle bodies and breaking in the engine (5000 miles worth or so).

 

[TheAxeman]

I have a 2000 VFR and consider the FJR to be no worse or no better (however you want to look at it). My '06 FJR has some perceptable vibration around 5K rpm but nothing that I would consider to be annoying or even a reason not to buy the bike. Its one of the "problems" that I didn't even notice or think about until it started popping up on the forum....Kind of like the poorly engineered sidestand "problem".

 

[rontoride]

FJR is on short list of bikes I',m considering to buy in the next month. Don't like vibration. Some owners complain of vibration, some don't. Vibrates compared to what? Need a comparison from owners that have

previously owned the same bikes I have. 1995 Concours (hand numbing bad vibration), 2001 VFR 800 (vibrated, but tolerable), 2003 V Strom 1000 (smooth very little vibration). Anyone owned any of these bikes, and how does vibration between FJR and these bikes compare. Thanks.

I have an 03 and after installing the throttlemeister (long end) it took almost all vibs out of it. It did not have much to start with. Any heavy bar ends will help.

 

[Geezer]

"Perspective' is a good word for this. My first bike was a Kawi H1 and nothing after that ever seems to vibrate to me. The folks who have complained about vibration on the FJR have found modifications that help, like heavier bar ends, replacement grips or grip covers, and fine tuning the TBS.

We seem to do a lot of talking about very minor annoyances on the FJR. Nothing wrong with that because it is nice to know that there are 'fixes' for even the minor glitches. In fact it says a lot for the bike when we don't have many serious problems to worry about.

 

[Ari Rankum]

I don't have the other bikes, but the feej vibration is somewhat overblown. I did get BAD hand numbing when I first purchased the bike. However, I discovered that the stock setting on the throttle being a little stiff caused me to put a 'death-grip' on the throttle to hold my speed. I adjusted the center throttle return spring (free) and changed to a $6 foam grip and eliminated the issue. This is definately not a deal breaker on considering this bike. Also, by ensuring a good TBS, this thing is pretty dang smooth.

+1

I did all these things on my '06 and "buzz" is just not an issue. Neither is heat, btw, in case you're going there next.

 

[SkooterG]

FJR vibrates less than my Connie did. I am guessing not all FJRs are the same in terms of vibration. I will say that vibration was my #1 complaint about the FJR when I first got it. But there are several fixes you can do. Between those, and adjusting to the bike, vibration is a non-issue for me now.

 

[Scab]

While we are on the subject of vibes, it was once, long ago, in a far off distant galaxy, suggested that one could place high density foam or rubberized gasket material between the triple clamp and the bars-bars/risers to see if it would dapen vibrations.

I did it. I have risers so that makes two sheets between my grips and the bike. High density, 2mm foam, cut to fit like little gaskets.

Result: NO DISCERNIBLE EFFECT. NADA. NOTHING.

Again, I don't find the vibration of the bike a problem. But, I was removing the bars anyway to check and adjust my steering head bearing, so I thought: WTF? Why not try it.

 

[KYFJR]

I've owned two VFR's ('93 and '97) prior to the '03 and '06 FJR. The VFR's were smooth until you got up high in the rpm's. The FJR feels as smooth as both of those ever did, even better because of the extra weight.

Compared to my pops ST1100, there is more "buzz" (as he called as well) in the bars at 80mph, but it's not a bad thing, just different.

Also, there are so many folks that do 1000 plus mile days on FJR's that...well...that should tell you something about how bad the buzz is! I can also tell you that I've done a 1200 mile day on a Honda V4 and on the FJR and I was much more refreshed at the end with the FJR. Obviously there are a lot of variables in a statement like that but at the end of the day, the FJR is really that good.

Rich

 

[SWOhioFJR]

I'm in Cincinnati, if you'd like to check out the vibrations, drop me a line. I might be able to meet up with you somewhere. I'm an OU alum and have been thinking it's time for a visit to the ole' stomping grounds...

 

[Bliz]

A Goldwing is about the last bike I would ever own. Too unmanuverable. Don't need a bike that's sewing machine smooth but don't want another Concours that would leave you numb from the waist up after an hour. I also tried putting rubber between the handlebar mounts and top triple clamp on the Concours with 0 effect. Foam grips did help though. Still, overall I liked the Concours.