Seeking advice on first FJR

[kingston]

New to the forum and thinking about getting a used sport-touring motorcycle in the spring. Hoping to tap into the wisdom of the forum to refine my search. Appreciate any advice you all have to offer.

A bit about me:

• 51 years old with 30+ years of exclusively off-road and dual-sport motorcycle experience; dirt bikes with license plates so I don't have to trailer my bike from the cabin to the trail
• I'm an ultra-endurance cyclist with a lot of long days in a bicycle saddle, so I think a long day on a touring motorcycle is something I might enjoy, also thinking of using the motorcycle to scout or pre-ride routes for my bicycle club
• My youngest of four kids graduates High School this year so I think I may have a little more free time next summer
• I don't see myself doing any multi-day tours, but I could imagine doing an overnight or day trip from my home in the Chicago suburbs to the driftless (southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois) a few times a years which would be max 800 miles in weekend
• My wife has no interest in sitting on the back of a motorcycle so it would be all one-up
• I've become an ok home mechanic after fixing broken dirt bikes for years, so I want something I can work on myself for routine maintenance and most minor repairs
• With a family and my other summer hobbies, I don't expect to ride the motorcycle more than a few thousand miles a year at the most, so I'd like to keep the cost down while still having a reliable bike

The FJR is at the top of my list, but I'm unsure about year and trim. I could afford a new bike if I wanted one, so budget isn't really an issue, but I want to keep the cost low for my first bike to see if I like it. I tend to keep bikes a long time, so I might not want to get one with the expectation of getting another one, which puts me at the option of getting something quite a bit older in the $4-5k range that I know will be a starter bike or going with something just a few years old that I expect to keep for a long time. I still have and ride a 2000 Honda XR400 that I bought new as my dad bike when my oldest kids (twins) were born, if that tells you anything about my tastes and how I maintain my equipment.

 

[infrared]

Kingston,
Below is a link that compares each year of the FJR to the others. In general, I think you would be happy with a five-speed, with cruise control. A change of windshields and a custom seat is kinda basic, around here. I would avoid the ES versions, due to the high cost of suspension work, if/when it wears out or fails. Click the link, and zoom in repeatedly. There is also text pages included, to help with your decision. As to bicycling, the FJR engine will make all roads seem to be downhill.
Happy hunting.
http://mattwatkins.org/blog1/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/fjrcomparox.pdf

 

[hppants]

It's Christmas Eve. I've got the house to myself 'cause I'm recovering from a sinus infection and prefer to suffer in silence. At least this offers some context to my lengthy reply. I've had 3 FJRs over 10 years - that doesn't make me an expert, but I can share some relevant thoughts.

1. Coming from the O/R or D/S market, this bike is gonna be heavy. To be clear, it's heavy for ALL of us, but for you, it will feel like a Peterbilt that is missing 8 wheels. I think you should give this considerable thought because in the Sport Touring genre, the bike's weight is a top 3 consideration. And for some people, no matter how good the rest is, they just can't get comfortable throwing a big 'ole pig around. For comparison, the Versys 1000 is almost 100 pounds lighter, and it is definitely noticable.

2. IMNSHO, the other two top considerations for a sport touring motorcycle are: wind/weather protection and reliability. For me, who leans more toward the touring side of the hobby, this is critical. For wind/weather protection, the FJR shines in spades, but the Gen 3 and newer bike ('13 and up) does it better, thanks to key refinements in the bike and the aftermarket.

3. For reliability, well.... it hardly gets any better. There is a reason that the Iron Butt Association's biennial rally is ALWAYS littered with FJRs, including top finishers. And it's not because of it's 0-60 time. When you need a bike to run 1000-1500 miles a day for 11 STRAIGHT DAYS, you need a reliable bike. You need one that is simple in design. You need one that has been overwhelmingly unchanged through its 20 year lifespan. And you need a bike that has HUGE support in the way of parts and expertise for the few (VERY few) inherent shortcomings. This forum is that support - the peeps here are LONG time FJR riders. Not POSERS, riders. We've been all over this country (and the world) on this bike - some with 200,000 miles and still running. We know what goes wrong with this bike and can coach you through shoring up your bike BEFORE you get snake bit. This GREATLY reduces the chance that you will get stuck, but if you do, trust me, help is still not that far away. The network on this forum is priceless.

4. As for maintenance, I have a decent set of tools, but to be CRYSTAL clear, I'm a parts changers, NOT a mechanic. I've done all of the routine maintenance on my FJRs myself. At times, I've stubbed my toe, but again, the help on this forum is stupendous. The mechanically inclined members here are patient, descriptive, and can walk you through anything. And I mean, ANYTHING. One member here bought an FJR with an abused 1-2 shift fork. With NO prior experience, this forum coached him through the repair. Now - that involves splitting the engine cases and taking the bike basically down to its last bolt. That was several years ago, and that bike is still running like a spotted ape today. (long live Jolene!!)

5. If you can stretch your budget just a bit (go to $6 to $7K-ish), I think you will get a lot more for your money by going with a Gen 3 ('13, 14, or 15). You get a lot of refinements from the Gen 1/2 bike, and creature comforts like cruise control, engine maps, LED lighting, etc. If you find a '14 or '15 with electronic suspension, don't shy away from it - these have proven as reliable as the rest of the bike. However, aftermarket options for the E/S bike are very limited. If you are tinkerer and like to play "how can I make it better", then choose a non-electronic suspension bike.

6. All other things being equal, don't be afraid of buying a higher mileage bike that was cared for by a mature rider for less money. Again, the bike is so reliable - my current one has 82,000 miles on it and with the exception of routine maintenance, I've done NOTHING to it. Some might consider replacing the foot peg scrapers and rubber "non-maintenance", but hey, I wore 'em out the fun way!!

7. Might as well get this one out of the way: the FJR EATS tires. It eats them like potato chips. It's a 6-700 pound pig that packs 145 hp. If you use your right wrist, you will burn through tires. 6,000 miles out of a back tire, give or take - a little more out of the front. Trust me - I've been through every tire on the market (except dark siding). The FJR is non-discriminate - it eats ALL of them. If you wanna play, ya gotta pay.

8. If you are inclined to moto-camp, the FJR is a terrific platform to do this. Load her up for bear on the trip to the mountains. Then unload her and go have some fun in the twisties.

Hope this information is useful, but if not, I'll gladly refund your money....

Stay thirsty, my friends....

 

[kingston]

Thanks, @hppants. Super helpful insights, and get well soon!

The Gen 3 sounds like a good way to go if I can find one in the $6-7k price rage. The ones I have seen near me recently are more like $10-11k, which seems like a pretty big step up from the Gen 1-2's I see all the time at $4-5. I don't mind a little suffering, so I'm not sure how important the creature comforts will be for me.

Do people change their own tires on the FJR or is that something I should expect to take to the shop? Dirt bike tires don't last long either, and I've gotten pretty good at changing those myself, but they're tubed so the beads are easy to break and I don't have to worry about balancing.

 

[RossKean]

Do people change their own tires on the FJR or is that something I should expect to take to the shop?

Lots of people change their own tires but you need to be able to balance them. Harder to do than a dirt bike...

 

[wftreg]

I am 70 years old and have been riding motorcycles since I was 12. I had been riding a 1978 CB 750 and had returned from a trip from Mpls to California when I decided to get a "modern" bike with no chain. I was going to get a BMW but was encouraged to look at the FJR. So, in 2005 I bought a 2005 FJR abs. I am 5'9 and weight around 150. It is a little on the heavy side but very manageable! It is great for road trips and tends to want to go a little fast.
I still have the FJR and annually I take it for at least one cross country trip. I put a custom Laam seat, oversized windshield, bar risers, additional foot pegs, magnum blaster horn, extra lights and a few other farkels. Since it is set up to fit me I see no reason to replace the bike. Although I live in Minnesota I had the bike out this December on one of the warmer days and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
I love the bike!

 

[Brad to the BONE]

I do my own FJR potato chips.
Use a Harbor Freight tire changer contraption and a Riderwearhouse balancer.
Balance is easy, just take your time. The tire guys at a road race balance them this way in about 3 minutes. I take quite a bit longer!!
It’s kind of hard on the rims but cheap!
A few extra tire irons help.
I have a Gen 1. Can’t complain about anything on this bike (‘04 90k miles) except the heat. It’s like riding a barbecue grill if it’s hot. Did most of the “tricks” not really a great improvement. Did the under tank heat blanket. Definitely an improvement. I’ve heard the Gen 2/3 is an upgrade so I’d go there.

 

[Dodger]

If this is the first foray into the sports/touring and weight is a consideration you might consider the Honda VFR (my first sport tourer - heavier on the sport side). Quite fast, handles almost like a sports bike, will certainly be found in your price range, can be found with bags, put on a better windscreen and for your weekend jaunts will perform up there with the best. And did I mention Honda reliability? (Yes it does have a chain but not a deal breaker). My other bike, which I still have, is a BMW K1200S, so fast it can be scary, has bags, smoother than the VFR, more comfortable, very agile and again with a proper windscreen will blow the doors off almost any sports tourer. it does lack some of the creature comforts of the FJR like cruise, electric adjustable wind screen. It does in some respects feel much like the VFR or the FJR when seated, not the usual whale that other BMWs portray. By the way I also am on my 2nd FJR (2006/2017) and it is a terrific bike, possibly the best of it's ilk out there BUT it will come in near 700 lbs. fueled and loaded for a trip, this makes it a bit of a handful in parking lots and any slow moving situation. It is terrific on the open highway, loves big sweepers and even gives a good accounting in the severe twisties. Sports bike? NO, Gold Wing comfort? Not quite, but perhaps the best of both worlds.

 

[BlakeCG]

I moved from cruisers to a sports touring bike and found the FJR on accident... I'm military and found one on the on post. I got a 07 with 14k miles in 2020 for $4,500 and can't believe how great it is. The weight and the aggressive front fork angle have surprised a couple of times in parking lots but the balance is amazing and it handles like a dream; I doubled the miles this year. I'm sort of a minimalist, but I did buy a larger wind screen and heated grips... great additions. I think I'd like a newer model for the cruise control but can't even think of parting with her. I get 50-55 mpg as is so I don't think I need a 6th gear... absolutely amazing motorcycle.

 

[Prosolar]

Love mine. If you get a gen 1 you'll probably want to do a few heat fixes but it's fine after that. Never thought it was top heavy, but I've ridden mostly older bikes... definitely doesn't feel heavy when moving!

 

[Bill FJR]

I love my Gen III and loved my previous Gen II. Everything good you’ve heard about the FJR is true. It is a wonderful motorcycle.

That said, I wouldn’t own one of I didn’t do a lot of long-distance two-up riding on secondary roads. In that role it is truly amazing - comfortable, powerful, fast, phenomenal handling, and as reliable as an anvil. But at nearly 700 pounds it’s a whole lot of motorcycle - overkill, in my opinion, for one-up riding. So much so that as long as I’ve had an FJR, I’ve had a second smaller street bike for my one-up riding.

Early ads for the FJR used the phrase “Transcontinental Supersport Touring.” Sounds about right. But less might be more if that kind of travel is not in your plans.

 

[bgross]

Welcome to the FJR world, there’s nothing like it!

Just a couple thoughts:

*Weight is relative. I came to the FJR from a Goldwing and found it a breeze. Like the Wingabago, the weight pretty much disappears once you’re moving. After a few days you’ll forget it’s there. (Unless you pick up your dual sport in between; I have the same issue after riding the Blackbird, but the readjustment is quick.)
*Maintenance is a breeze. No need to remove layers of Tupperware to change oil/filter.
*Comfort/weather protection is wonderful. Not quite Hondapotomus level, but actually that’s a good thing on all but the coldest/wettest rides. After riding Lucille for about a year I added a bit larger windscreen (door prize at an event) though I was fine with the OEM one.
*When shopping for a good deal, don’t be afraid to consider a “fly-and-ride”. My memories of the 425 mile “honeymoon ride” (other than wishing I’d had another layer of gear against the 40+ desert air in January revolve mostly around three things: 1) how she ate up the miles 2) how effortlessly she climbed & swept through the mountains and 3) the disappointment that it was over so soon.

You won’t be sorry! There isn’t a better sport-touring bike on this planet.

 

[bob431389]

I will be 80 in 2022 and have been riding my FJR's (06 sold at 65K ,another 06 also sold at 65K, and now a 2014 with 36K ) since 2006. Agree they are a bit heavy but that fades with more miles. I ride the twists in the Ga.,NC.,Tenn., and SC mountains almost ever week of the year. Best farkel for the winter is heated grips and a heated jacket . Stay safe out there

 

[MotoMike]

New to the forum and thinking about getting a used sport-touring motorcycle in the spring. Hoping to tap into the wisdom of the forum to refine my search. Appreciate any advice you all have to offer.

A bit about me:

• 51 years old with 30+ years of exclusively off-road and dual-sport motorcycle experience; dirt bikes with license plates so I don't have to trailer my bike from the cabin to the trail
• I'm an ultra-endurance cyclist with a lot of long days in a bicycle saddle, so I think a long day on a touring motorcycle is something I might enjoy, also thinking of using the motorcycle to scout or pre-ride routes for my bicycle club
• My youngest of four kids graduates High School this year so I think I may have a little more free time next summer
• I don't see myself doing any multi-day tours, but I could imagine doing an overnight or day trip from my home in the Chicago suburbs to the driftless (southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois) a few times a years which would be max 800 miles in weekend
• My wife has no interest in sitting on the back of a motorcycle so it would be all one-up
• I've become an ok home mechanic after fixing broken dirt bikes for years, so I want something I can work on myself for routine maintenance and most minor repairs
• With a family and my other summer hobbies, I don't expect to ride the motorcycle more than a few thousand miles a year at the most, so I'd like to keep the cost down while still having a reliable bike

The FJR is at the top of my list, but I'm unsure about year and trim. I could afford a new bike if I wanted one, so budget isn't really an issue, but I want to keep the cost low for my first bike to see if I like it. I tend to keep bikes a long time, so I might not want to get one with the expectation of getting another one, which puts me at the option of getting something quite a bit older in the $4-5k range that I know will be a starter bike or going with something just a few years old that I expect to keep for a long time. I still have and ride a 2000 Honda XR400 that I bought new as my dad bike when my oldest kids (twins) were born, if that tells you anything about my tastes and how I maintain my equipment.

HA! I have to laugh. When I was 51 y.o., I, too, used to enjoy long-distance cycling. Then I got a motorbike. It was a new-to-me Honda 2004 ST1300A. I figured, as you do, that I could scout routes for cycling. Well, after spending the summer scouting routes and not riding those routes on the bicycle, the bicycle got hung on the wall for the winter and has not been down since! It turns out that my wife, who did not share my enthusiasm for bicycling, did very much enjoy riding pillion and I enjoyed having a pastime that we both could share. That ST1300 was definitely on the touring side of the sport-touring spectrum. I now ride a new-to-me 2007 FJR1300A. Definitely on the sport side of the spectrum. I also do my own maintenance on the motorbikes. The FJR is much easier to work on than the ST1300. My pillion prefered riding the ST1300 over riding pillion on the FJR1300, but the difference is definitely not a deal-breaker for her.

 

[user 90243]

It's Christmas Eve. I've got the house to myself 'cause I'm recovering from a sinus infection and prefer to suffer in silence. At least this offers some context to my lengthy reply. I've had 3 FJRs over 10 years - that doesn't make me an expert, but I can share some relevant thoughts.

1. Coming from the O/R or D/S market, this bike is gonna be heavy. To be clear, it's heavy for ALL of us, but for you, it will feel like a Peterbilt that is missing 8 wheels. I think you should give this considerable thought because in the Sport Touring genre, the bike's weight is a top 3 consideration. And for some people, no matter how good the rest is, they just can't get comfortable throwing a big 'ole pig around. For comparison, the Versys 1000 is almost 100 pounds lighter, and it is definitely noticable.

2. IMNSHO, the other two top considerations for a sport touring motorcycle are: wind/weather protection and reliability. For me, who leans more toward the touring side of the hobby, this is critical. For wind/weather protection, the FJR shines in spades, but the Gen 3 and newer bike ('13 and up) does it better, thanks to key refinements in the bike and the aftermarket.

3. For reliability, well.... it hardly gets any better. There is a reason that the Iron Butt Association's biennial rally is ALWAYS littered with FJRs, including top finishers. And it's not because of it's 0-60 time. When you need a bike to run 1000-1500 miles a day for 11 STRAIGHT DAYS, you need a reliable bike. You need one that is simple in design. You need one that has been overwhelmingly unchanged through its 20 year lifespan. And you need a bike that has HUGE support in the way of parts and expertise for the few (VERY few) inherent shortcomings. This forum is that support - the peeps here are LONG time FJR riders. Not POSERS, riders. We've been all over this country (and the world) on this bike - some with 200,000 miles and still running. We know what goes wrong with this bike and can coach you through shoring up your bike BEFORE you get snake bit. This GREATLY reduces the chance that you will get stuck, but if you do, trust me, help is still not that far away. The network on this forum is priceless.

4. As for maintenance, I have a decent set of tools, but to be CRYSTAL clear, I'm a parts changers, NOT a mechanic. I've done all of the routine maintenance on my FJRs myself. At times, I've stubbed my toe, but again, the help on this forum is stupendous. The mechanically inclined members here are patient, descriptive, and can walk you through anything. And I mean, ANYTHING. One member here bought an FJR with an abused 1-2 shift fork. With NO prior experience, this forum coached him through the repair. Now - that involves splitting the engine cases and taking the bike basically down to its last bolt. That was several years ago, and that bike is still running like a spotted ape today. (long live Jolene!!)

5. If you can stretch your budget just a bit (go to $6 to $7K-ish), I think you will get a lot more for your money by going with a Gen 3 ('13, 14, or 15). You get a lot of refinements from the Gen 1/2 bike, and creature comforts like cruise control, engine maps, LED lighting, etc. If you find a '14 or '15 with electronic suspension, don't shy away from it - these have proven as reliable as the rest of the bike. However, aftermarket options for the E/S bike are very limited. If you are tinkerer and like to play "how can I make it better", then choose a non-electronic suspension bike.

6. All other things being equal, don't be afraid of buying a higher mileage bike that was cared for by a mature rider for less money. Again, the bike is so reliable - my current one has 82,000 miles on it and with the exception of routine maintenance, I've done NOTHING to it. Some might consider replacing the foot peg scrapers and rubber "non-maintenance", but hey, I wore 'em out the fun way!!

7. Might as well get this one out of the way: the FJR EATS tires. It eats them like potato chips. It's a 6-700 pound pig that packs 145 hp. If you use your right wrist, you will burn through tires. 6,000 miles out of a back tire, give or take - a little more out of the front. Trust me - I've been through every tire on the market (except dark siding). The FJR is non-discriminate - it eats ALL of them. If you wanna play, ya gotta pay.

8. If you are inclined to moto-camp, the FJR is a terrific platform to do this. Load her up for bear on the trip to the mountains. Then unload her and go have some fun in the twisties.

Hope this information is useful, but if not, I'll gladly refund your money....

Stay thirsty, my friends....

Well said! I bought my 2010 Gen2 used with 9k miles, nearly new, in 2014. It is 12 years old now, 36k. I rode 3 weeks/3700 miles through beautiful Texas in October. Stone reliable. Handles very good (says this ex-roadracer). A fun bike. Added cruise control. Good on gas, "eats tires like potato chips". Got 8800 from Mich4. I also dread the weight of this machine, but only under 5 mph. Have dropped it twice under 4 mph. Amazing how helpers appear so quickly. I also appreciate the absence of the overdone electronic gizmos. Old-school me. Fun, fast, solid as a rock. Fantastic brakes. Note cafe windshield.

 

[Wizard37]

Things i like about the FJR are: (no specific order)
- Handling -
- Power
- Electric adjustable windscreen
- Center stand
- Wind/rain/bug protection
- Very easy to work on
- High capacity generator
- Phenomenal lights Gen 2 &4
- Awesome brakes.
- Durability / low maintenance / easy maintenance
- Good hard cases - 4 shopping bags or 2 cases of beer
- Great converation starter
I change my own tires and run Dunlop Road smart, got 16000 out of the last set but no long trips mainly commuting.
You can't go wrong with an FJR of any flavor, but I might be biased.
Enjoy

 

[Prosolar]

I would say the gen 1 also has good lights, even better if you put in LED bulbs.

 

[Bruce Ente]

What a fabulous bike! Choose whatever generation your budget allows and you won't be disappointed. I bought my Gen 1 2005 with 50,000 miles and now have 183,000 trouble-free miles on the odometer. Minimal mods: Helibar risers to accommodate my 72 year old body; Russell DayLong saddle (my fourth one) which is absolutely the BEST aftermarket seat; Throttlemeister "cruise control." Just mounted my fifth set of Dunlop RoadSmart 3 tires and I always get 15,000+ miles front AND rear, not riding super-aggressively. It's a "heat monster" but tolerable with riding pants as insulation. Yes, it's heavy, but I'm only 5'7", 170 lbs, and I'm completely confident and comfortable on the FJR; with proper technique I have picked up the bike twice by myself. Adequate luggage capacity for two-up touring WITH camping gear with addition of a tank bag. For solo cross-country trips every summer, it's a dream bike and 50+ mpg all day, every day.

 

[sloppy]

I may be going against the grain but if you do not have a lot of time riding a street bike, getting an FJR1300 as your first true street bike may be a problem and cause you to not enjoy the bike. I love mine but I had an FZ-1 as a sport tourer before I got my FJR. The weight of the FJR combined with the seat height and seat width make it tough unless you have some experience on a street bike. Personally I would spend a riding season on a bike that weighs @ 500 lbs or less and then go to an FJR1300. I think when you get the FJR you will feel more at ease once you have some solid street time under your belt.

 

[art miller]

I will be 80 in 2022 and have been riding my FJR's (06 sold at 65K ,another 06 also sold at 65K, and now a 2014 with 36K ) since 2006. Agree they are a bit heavy but that fades with more miles. I ride the twists in the Ga.,NC.,Tenn., and SC mountains almost ever week of the year. Best farkel for the winter is heated grips and a heated jacket . Stay safe out there

I too will be 80 in 2022 and have been riding FJR's since 2008. My first FJR was a 2007 I bought with just 3000 miles on the ODO. I put 28K on it and sold it after buying a better equipped 2007 from a local with just 8K on the ODO. Sold that bike with 38K when I bought a 2014ES new in Dec. 2013. The bike now has 57K and has been hands down the best motorcycle I have ever owned. My motorized two wheel experience began when I was 14 with a Whizzer motorbike. My buddy and I had the engine block bored larger and head shaved to boost the power. We installed a three speed sprocket from another bicycle and had the fastest two wheel'd motorized bicycle in town. Next was a Zundapp 200cc motor scooter I bought when I turned 16. I rode that scooter all over the middle Atlantic states from northern VA to Newport . R.I. I gave that scooter to my life long friend in 1966 when I was inducted into the Army. That ended my two wheel ownership until 1996 when I bought a Yamaha XV100 Virago. I put 41K on that bike and sold it when I bought a new BMW 2004 R1200C Montauk. Loved that bike and after 46K miles I sold it for my first FJR. Never looked back yearning for anything else.