Rider Magazine - December 2007 Sport-Touring Shootout

[bpoirier]

This month's issue featured the review of four sport-touring machines. Alphabetically, the BMW K1200GT, Honda ST1300, Kawasaki Concours 14, and Yahama FLR1300A. All four were thougroly rider tested. I am only going to talk about the FJR1300 however...because you all deserve it! The conclusion of the test riders was that the Honda was the winner. The number one reason was "is annoying stiff, overly sensitive throttle sourced the experience."

There was a note: "After we completed our test, Yamaha introucuced its 2008 models, and among the nine changes to the FJR1300 was the shape of the throttle pulley in the interest of a more "linear" action, reduced throttle effort and "smoother" response." What does this mean, truthfully for the '06 and '07 owners? Yes, I have received a bulletin that talks of some fix for high-altitude riding. Could this quirky throttle pulley have caused a crash for me during the ERC (Experiebce Rider Course) while practicing the U-turn in a box? I believe so.

Is/are there any other workarounds for these models? I believe the dealer should replace these pulleys to the new '08 spec. If anyone can help, I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

Bill Poirier

Thompson, CT.

 

[evil_henchman]

One of the first things I did on my 05 was disconnect one of the throttle return springs and it's made a world of difference. Rather than rehash all the many previous threads on the subject of stiff throttle I suggest doing a search. I know there is an aftermarket throttle assy with a different pully that's gotten good reviews too.

 

[bpoirier]

One of the first things I did on my 05 was disconnect one of the throttle return springs and it's made a world of difference. Rather than rehash all the many previous threads on the subject of stiff throttle I suggest doing a search. I know there is an aftermarket throttle assy with a different pully that's gotten good reviews too.

Thanks, although I am not interested in messing with this myself. It ought to be the dealer on a recall/TSB...if you get my drift.

Keep the rubber side down...

Bill

 

[Knifemaker]

Oddly, Motorcyclist magazine rated the Honda last...C14 first, then FJR, BMW , and then Honda ST.

So as always take what any magazine says with a grain of salt.

I have a 06 and have no problems with the throttle, other than my often displayed tendancy to break posted speed limits.

If you fell you can't blame the bike, it is something you did wrong. (If you noticed the throttle was a problem you should have learned to work around it or passed on doing manuvers that exaggerated the problem enough to risk crashing)

I am just going on the assumption that anytime you are on a 600+ pound motorcycle and doing figure 8"s at 1-5 mph , you need to be extremely carefull with your use of throttle , clutch and brake.

Unless I have one of the few FJR's they actualy made correctly, I am thinking the problem with the throttle is the wrist.

KM

 

[FJReady]

I tend to agree with KM on this. (Who can argue with those avitars?) When I first bought my '05 I knew that low speed parking lot maneauvers would be challenging. I practice often, doing my best to balance throttle, clutch and rear brake to modulate speed. After I took a wrap off the center throttle return spring it got slightly easier, not much. That change mostly affected right arm/wrist comfort on longer rides.

Having owned gen 1 Concours' for a long time I know about low speed handling on top heavy bikes. The Fjr is significantly easier that an old Connie, but still requires some respect for the physics involved.

Rider rated the ST1300 1st? Maybe Honda paid their advertising bill first. I'm glad I don't subscribe to Rider.

 

[bpoirier]

Oddly, Motorcyclist magazine rated the Honda last...C14 first, then FJR, BMW , and then Honda ST.
So as always take what any magazine says with a grain of salt.

I have a 06 and have no problems with the throttle, other than my often displayed tendancy to break posted speed limits.

If you fell you can't blame the bike, it is something you did wrong. (If you noticed the throttle was a problem you should have learned to work around it or passed on doing manuvers that exaggerated the problem enough to risk crashing)

I am just going on the assumption that anytime you are on a 600+ pound motorcycle and doing figure 8"s at 1-5 mph , you need to be extremely carefull with your use of throttle , clutch and brake.

Unless I have one of the few FJR's they actualy made correctly, I am thinking the problem with the throttle is the wrist.

KM

Agreed with all your points. I never truly blamed the bike to be honest. And I had to laugh when you wrote about the tendency to break to speed limits...I haven't obeyed the law yet...

Later

 

[snikr]

The thing that surprised me was that RIDER picked the BMW last? For the extra $5000 or so more it should be a world beater! And from what I read RIDER would have picked the FJR over the ST if the throttle was so "touchy" (which can be fixed from what I understand). And another surprise was the Connie was "bulky and hot". Makes you wonder. Plus I still like my FJR, even if it's a 2004.

Tom

 

[Old Michael]

Cancel your subscription. They're haters.

 

[madmike2]

........I read RIDER would have picked the FJR over the ST if the throttle was so "touchy" (which can be fixed from what I understand). And another surprise was the Connie was "bulky and hot". Makes you wonder. Plus I still like my FJR, even if it's a 2004.

Yeah, Tom, I liked my '04 and like my '05, too. You understand, we bought ours before the "touchy-throttle model" was introduced to the SportTouring market.

Thanks, although I am not interested in messing with this myself. It ought to be the dealer on a recall/TSB...if you get my drift.

Bill, that's not likely to happen. There are too many FJR owners who like their bikes just the way they came from the factory for their to be a "recall". However, there are some easy remedies found here (I found on Google; "stiff throttle site:fjrfourm.com")

 

[DaveT]

Is/are there any other workarounds for these models? I believe the dealer should replace these pulleys to the new '08 spec. If anyone can help, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,

Bill Poirier

Thompson, CT.

Doubtful that this will happen, but it would be nice. I think the bottom line is that most bikes hve some sort of issue. Unless it is proven (and not just because we think it is) to be a safety issue, it is unlikely that they will replace the old units, but will just work the improvements into future units, ie the improvements made to the 06's and now a few things to the 08's. You really have to learn the unique "quirks" of every bike and for the mostpart, just learn to deal with them I'm afraid.

If they changed the response of the throttle and took some slop out of the drivetrain I'm sure the FJR is much better riding now.

 

[Dan23]

This forum is truly amazing. FJR owners are also truly amazing.

 

[snap1945]

I too, read the article and believe the main reason for the Honda to be picked numero uno was that it is the most comfortable ride for three or four days of hard riding. However: if they put more emphasis on the sporty part of ST, like a track day or two I would bet on a different outcome.

 

[ELP_JC]

With the middle spring relaxed one turn and my trusty one-piece throttle rocker (other alternatives available), I have zero problem with the throttle the way it is. It used to be exactly the same way on my BMW (stiff and touchy), so I'm used to the touchy with the T/R, but on both bikes I fixed the stiff by relaxing the middle spring (both have 3).

I'm the least brand loyal person on earth, but picking the Honda as 1st is a blatant bias IMO. Any of the other 2 is entirely believable, however. But a 700+ lb quasi GoldWing, come on. Problem is Rider is too biased on touring, and the other magazines on sport. That's probably why the Honda ended up in first and last. But most of us are somewhere in the middle. We need a new magazine <lol>. Later gang.

JC

 

[Jazzzzz]

I'd be a lot more inclined to buy the #1 rating the ST1300 received if Honda had updated it significantly in the past few years, but they haven't. Given the number of complaints I've seen regarding the heat the ST1300 throws off, as well as complaints of high-speed instability, and I'm left scratching my head as to how it can win a multi-bike shootout on the criteria of either comfort OR hard riding. I'm obviously biased toward the FJR, but I'm surprised to see the ST1300 winning a multi-bike comparo when it's facing off against a brand new bike (Concours) and others that have been updated more recently.

Could this quirky throttle pulley have caused a crash for me during the ERC (Experiebce Rider Course) while practicing the U-turn in a box? I believe so.

I heartily disagree - the throttle on my '07 is touchy at low speeds, but not so much that it can't be made up for by judicious application of the clutch and rear brake. It took 5 minutes of parking lot drills to get just as proficient with the new bike as I was with the '04. It's not like it stalls if you look at it cross-eyed.

 

[bramfrank]

I said this in another thread - I'll repeat it here:

I have zero issues with throttle control at any speed with my '06. I would dearly love to try out someone's 'twitchy' second generation to determine once and for all whether it is a matter of expectations or reality.

If 'mine' is indeed 'smoother' and easier to control. then 'yours' can be too. The issue is to resolve what the differences are.

But the weather up here is deteriorating rapidly (last year we rode December 20 and January 7 - not sure we'll make it to December this year), there aren't many local (Montreal) members with gen-II bikes on this forum and long haul isn't gonna happen until spring I suspect.

 

[kawwikid]

I too, read the article and believe the main reason for the Honda to be picked numero uno was that it is the most comfortable ride for three or four days of hard riding. However: if they put more emphasis on the sporty part of ST, like a track day or two I would bet on a different outcome.

Id argue that the comfort factor for the Honda is based on rider to rider. Last year my wife and I rented a Honda ST1300 at Eagle Ridders near Pigon Forge. We had the bike for 3 days, and after 3 days of 200 to 250 miles a day, we hated the ST1300. The stock seat did not work for us at all. It was bad enough that after ridding out to breakfast on the 3rd day, my wife wanted to go back to the cabin, and she went out shopping, while I went for a ride. Even 1-up after 100 miles the stock seat was painful. Im 6' tall, and the wind protection on the ST1300 is no better or worse than my 2005 FJR. And talk about a jerky on/off throtal, Hondas fuel inject leaves much to be desired.

My wife and I can easily ride 250 miles on the stock FJR seat, with not a probiblem at all. We both find it very comfy (especially after comming off the seat from the FZ1 I had before it)....

Sean

 

[zzzzip]

Trust me on this... it wasn't the lack of comfort that got her off the ST1300. It was the SHOPPING.

Don't ask me how I know... all I will say is my wife considers it foreplay if I leave a trail of store coupons to the bedroom, rather than rose petals... :glare:

B)

 

[Dan23]

Could this quirky throttle pulley have caused a crash for me during the ERC (Experiebce Rider Course) while practicing the U-turn in a box? I believe so.

I heartily disagree - the throttle on my '07 is touchy at low speeds, but not so much that it can't be made up for by judicious application of the clutch and rear brake. It took 5 minutes of parking lot drills to get just as proficient with the new bike as I was with the '04

I agree with the first poster quoted above... and the second poster, too. But I think the second poster misses the point of the throttle issue.

It isn't that the throttle on my '06 could not be controlled prior to installing the G2 throttle cam, because I could control it by carefully concentrating 100% of the time on perfect throttle input, etc. I'm ok with that, but there arise circumstances when riding when there are just too many things going on at once to have to meet that criteria of 100% concentration on perfect throttle control.

An unseen bump mid-corner, say at in intersection when other traffic is the primary threat-- a bump sufficient to move one's wrist a bit and screw with the throttle. So, what's the harm? None if at the same time the rear tire doesn't happen to be traversing a traction-lowering pavement paint stripe. And it is situations such as that which have put many more than expected FJR owners on their asses.

And it is this "many more than expected" statistical evidence that clearly indicates something is wrong and ought to be addressed. What would the harm be?

The thing that floors me about this forum and FJR owners in general is the stubborn refusal to acknowledge that the FJR could be flawed in any way, much less improved. Sheesh.

Now, I'll wait for the contrary arguments.... (see above).

 

[Jazzzzz]

The thing that floors me about this forum and FJR owners in general is the stubborn refusal to acknowledge that the FJR could be flawed in any way, much less improved. Sheesh.
Now, I'll wait for the contrary arguments.... (see above).

I never said the throttle on the gen II bikes wasn't flawed - I said that it's not so bad that it will put you on your butt trying to pull a U-turn in a parking lot ^_^

If I nitpick I can come up with a ton of things about the bike that I'd like changed in one way or another, but the throttle issue doesn't intrude on my riding enough that it demands a fix - for me. Opinions, assholes, etc. (I still don't know how the ST1300 is winning shootouts in the bike rags )