Looking for as objective opinion as someone can provide for the FJR. It's hard to pick on a bike you own, but I'd like the good AND the bad.
I'm selling my 1yr old CBR 954RR and looking at the BMW 1200GS or the FJR 1300. I have a VTX 1800 which is very comfortable for two-up long hauls and cruising. Most of the riding on this bike will be solo and on twisty back roads, but feel free to offer opinions on passenger comfort.
I am considering the FJR b/c I am looking for a bike with a more relaxed riding position that is still sporty/connected to the road. My foolish days of pushing a sport-bike hard on the street are behind me and I prefer now to just ride quick and smooth.
Any input would be greatly appreciated, but I do have a few specific questions:
1) It seems I've missed the pre-order period for '05. Does anyone know what changes/colors will be available in '06?
2) The local dealer claims that the $500 deposit is just to get the bike. He says that the bike is still MSRP when it gets to the showroom. The $500 is not applied. That sounded absurd to me, and I've walked out on this guy's prices for my last 4 bikes, but is it true?
3) I am not looking to go "off-roading" on the FJR like I would on the GS, but would you feel like you were abusing the FJR if you took it on hard-packed gravel or dirt roads?
4) I've found a few bikes with extremely low miles (under 1,000) on the net. I've read about some of the problems (ticking, etc..) and am afraid of picking up a bike that someone is dumping for issues. Would you recommend picking up a used FJR? I can wait for a new one, but love the silver or blue colors.
Cheers!
Mike
I'm selling my 1yr old CBR 954RR and looking at the BMW 1200GS or the FJR 1300. I have a VTX 1800 which is very comfortable for two-up long hauls and cruising. Most of the riding on this bike will be solo and on twisty back roads, but feel free to offer opinions on passenger comfort.
I am considering the FJR b/c I am looking for a bike with a more relaxed riding position that is still sporty/connected to the road. My foolish days of pushing a sport-bike hard on the street are behind me and I prefer now to just ride quick and smooth.
Any input would be greatly appreciated, but I do have a few specific questions:
1) It seems I've missed the pre-order period for '05. Does anyone know what changes/colors will be available in '06?
2) The local dealer claims that the $500 deposit is just to get the bike. He says that the bike is still MSRP when it gets to the showroom. The $500 is not applied. That sounded absurd to me, and I've walked out on this guy's prices for my last 4 bikes, but is it true?
3) I am not looking to go "off-roading" on the FJR like I would on the GS, but would you feel like you were abusing the FJR if you took it on hard-packed gravel or dirt roads?
4) I've found a few bikes with extremely low miles (under 1,000) on the net. I've read about some of the problems (ticking, etc..) and am afraid of picking up a bike that someone is dumping for issues. Would you recommend picking up a used FJR? I can wait for a new one, but love the silver or blue colors.
Cheers!
Mike