"New" 2019 FJR1300A, from St. Louis (to Texas)

[keithq]

Howdy from near DFW airport in north Texas. Just flew up to STL Last Saturday to pick up my 2019 from Donelson Cycles and ride it 710 miles back to the Dallas area. What a great ride, even if a little warm. Just as I remember, this being my 3rd FJR in many years.

As we age, sometimes the ability to heft around a big bike in the garage and even parking lots may seem limited. So I decided a couple of years ago to sell my 2017 and get a lighter bike. Purchased a new 2020 Yamaha Tracer 900GT. Turns out, wasn't overwhelmed with that model. Had barely even broken it in when I took a quick 250 miles circle trip out to east Texas for some BBQ and upon returning just went and posted it on Cycle Trader. Did not have the power, acceleration, coverage or protection of an FJR. Even the sound of a triple was not as pleasing as the in line 4 of an FJR. Sold it in 3 days and located my replacement at Donelson. Great dealership, BTW, in business now for 60 years. Met the whole family.

So, I'm back among the FJR owners for now, and adding 'stuff' to my shopping list.

1. Eastern Beaver fuse block and wiring harness
2. T-Rex lowering kit and sliders
3. Denali lights (once the fuse block is installed)
4. Heated jacket
5. GPS & Radar detector (wiring, already have the units)

Cheers,
Keith Quigley

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

Nitpicking here....It's an inline 4, not a V4. But, welcome home! Enjoy!

(Sorry, I didn't mean to be such an a-hole. Beautiful bike, by the way)

 

[keithq]

Whoops, was thinking of an ST1300... properly corrected.

 

[Eroc]

She's a beauty. What top box is that. I'm looking for one for my 2018.

 

[Azor50Ron]

Howdy from near DFW airport in north Texas. Just flew up to STL Last Saturday to pick up my 2019 from Donelson Cycles and ride it 710 miles back to the Dallas area. What a great ride, even if a little warm. Just as I remember, this being my 3rd FJR in many years.

As we age, sometimes the ability to heft around a big bike in the garage and even parking lots may seem limited. So I decided a couple of years ago to sell my 2017 and get a lighter bike. Purchased a new 2020 Yamaha Tracer 900GT. Turns out, wasn't overwhelmed with that model. Had barely even broken it in when I took a quick 250 miles circle trip out to east Texas for some BBQ and upon returning just went and posted it on Cycle Trader. Did not have the power, acceleration, coverage or protection of an FJR. Even the sound of a triple was not as pleasing as the in line 4 of an FJR. Sold it in 3 days and located my replacement at Donelson. Great dealership, BTW, in business now for 60 years. Met the whole family.

So, I'm back among the FJR owners for now, and adding 'stuff' to my shopping list.

1. Eastern Beaver fuse block and wiring harness
2. T-Rex lowering kit and sliders
3. Denali lights (once the fuse block is installed)
4. Heated jacket
5. GPS & Radar detector (wiring, already have the units)

Cheers,
Keith Quigley

You got that right...
In 2006 stopped in at Donelson (northside) to ride one but only the manager had one with nobody gonna ride his chariot.
Mgr. Larry @ southside talked me into a one while on my way to by a ST1300. He had to order it though. He said I could return if I didn't like it and added that I wouldn't look back---yep..still FJR for me
Later bought a 2012 Vstar 950 in 2015 from Larry and now have VStar1300--enjoy both types of riding styles but need to be on your toes when cruising.
Dan the mechanic did great work--trust him with my life-- basically warranty and recalls 'cause FJRs so low maintenance.

 

[Cycle]

Welcome. That's looking cool, congratulations.

 

[Trapshooter341]

A day late and a dollar short..... I called Donelson Looks like they sold it to you...

 

[keithq]

She's a beauty. What top box is that. I'm looking for one for my 2018.

It is one I had never heard of before, a Hepco & Becker, from Germany. Somewhat different from the Givi boxes I have used before. Givi actually replaces the tail on the FJR with their own custom 'rack' to which you lock in the top box. This one, when the trunk is removed functions more like an actual luggage rack. Only complaint really is that the top does not have a stop or limit so when you open it, it folds all the way back and rests on whatever you have on your passenger seat. I hit my helmet the first time I tried it.

 

[keithq]

A day late and a dollar short..... I called Donelson Looks like they sold it to you...

Yeah, they were quite nice about it too. Had to sell mine first and asked if they wanted a deposit. Nope, they held it for me until I could get mine sold and get a flight up there, just a couple of days but nice nonetheless.

 

[BigOgre]

It is one I had never heard of before, a Hepco & Becker, from Germany. Somewhat different from the Givi boxes I have used before. Givi actually replaces the tail on the FJR with their own custom 'rack' to which you lock in the top box. This one, when the trunk is removed functions more like an actual luggage rack.

That box caught my eye too, very nice looking on the bike. Being you brought it up, is their mounting plate installed on top of the FJR's stock rack? Just asking and you might have come across this in your research but one weakness the FJR sorta has is in the way the tail section is designed. There has been enough cracked subframes from either overloading or flexing (or both) that several 'fixes' have been developed over the years. One of these is to better support the rear's leverage which the Givi rack you mentioned accomplishes. Same goes for Yamaha's HD replacement rack used with their 50L box and yet another was use of a 'stiffy kit' (search that out). Not saying this is something you need to run out and address right away but maybe something to look into when you've got some time.

 

[keithq]

And thanks for reminding me, I meant to point out that it does connect directly to the original Yamaha rear plate. Hopefully the pix show that.

 

[Bobby Rose]

Donelson Cycles north is 1 mile from my house