Should A Non-ABS '06 FJR Be An Option?

[Constant Mesh]

About half of the '05 FJRs sold by D&H Cycle were non-abs models. Yet, Yamaha has dropped the non-abs model from the '06 lineup. Why?

Some reasons for not wanting abs:

Additional cost

More mechanical/electrical complexity, something else to break or fail

More and longer brake hoses, spongier, less firm brake feel

Etc.

Yamaha seems to be pushing the MSRP level higher and higher without offering a lower cost, base standard option.

I'd bet that most dealers would have voted to keep a lower cost, non-abs model in the lineup.

 

[C&C]

I think since the '06 has linked braked, it was better to offer ABS as standard.

 

[SkooterG]

Yet, Yamaha has dropped the non-abs model from the '06 lineup. Why?

Well, here's one reason. Its a hell of a lot simpler and cheaper for them to produce only one model. Manufacturing 101.

I'd bet that most dealers would have voted to keep a lower cost, non-abs model in the lineup.

Pure speculation.

 

[markjenn]

Personally, I think Yamaha should have continued to offer the non-ABS model. While I think ABS is a good idea for a big all-weather road bike, there is a significant portion of the market that wants a simpler and cheaper bike.

While linked brakes are probably a safety advance for the "average rider" (when I teach MSF classes, I'd estimate that fully 80% of riders overbrake the rear in an emergency stop), they are not well-received with most riders. And the best application of linked brakes is to non-ABS bikes where rear-wheel lockup is a common issue; linked brakes have often been referred to as a "poor man's ABS." With standard ABS, you've already got a safety system covering rear wheel overbraking, so why do you need linked brakes? This is a puzzler to me.

So in both cases, I see Yamaha as pushing technology onto folks who didn't ask for it. I'm sure they have good reasons (simpler product line, reduced accidents and liability issues, better profit margins, etc.), but as a rider, I would prefer choice.

Probably Yamaha's biggest reason for making ABS standard is that with the auto-shift option, Yamaha didn't want to get into shipping too many variants. Between ABS, non-ABS, and AE and non-AE, that would be four different combinations, too many for bike that only sells a few thousand a year in the USA. So they had to simplify and they decided to simplify by making everybody ABS. They're priority now is to successfully introduce the AE option so that's their focus.

- Mark

 

[twowheelnut]

While I think ABS is a good idea for a big all-weather road bike, there is a significant portion of the market that wants a simpler and cheaper bike.

Well, they still make the Connie...

Well, here's one reason. Its a hell of a lot simpler and cheaper for them to produce only one model. Manufacturing 101.

You better go back to school, Chuckles. There are two '06 models... You forget 'bout dat lazy, faggoty-ass 'lectric shift model? Wise Ass Ph.D. Program.

 

[vectervp1]

Personally, I think Yamaha should have continued to offer the non-ABS model. While I think ABS is a good idea for a big all-weather road bike, there is a significant portion of the market that wants a simpler and cheaper bike.

Well if you think about it, the FJR is Yamaha's big road bike. I mean with the exception of the Venture, this is pretty much it for a touring bike for Yamaha. Where else would you have ABS as a standard feature? No matter how light weight feeling, and how flickable this bike is, its still a touring bike. As such this thing is alot more prone to see foul weather, and its fair share of questionable road surfaces.

Making ABS a feature instead of an option seems like a logical step to me. Now, if only 10-20% of the FJR's sold in the last two years were the ABS model, I could see keeping it as an option. Using your numbers, since half of them sold in the US (well D&H) are already ABS models it would seem to make sense to me to just have all of them have ABS. The market is obviously there. Since they just did an overhaul of the bike, this also seems like the best time to make this change. Now if the '06 was the same platform as the previous years, it would have raised an eyebrow for me just a little bit.

While linked brakes are probably a safety advance for the "average rider" (when I teach MSF classes, I'd estimate that fully 80% of riders overbrake the rear in an emergency stop), they are not well-received with most riders.

The same could be said about new car drivers. Alot of new cagers don't know how to apply smooth pressure to their brakes. They know to mash the brake pedal to the floor and hold it, ABS will the rest.

 

[BMWDavid]

I for one would like a non-abs as well as non-linked brakes. Don't know what to make of the electric shift yet but where is the cruise control?

For now I'll keep my '04.

David

 

[madmike2]

Trust the boards. Someone will come up with a way to switch off the ABS, and W.C. is already pondering a way to de-link the brakes.

Put it on the list of "farkles".

 

[DrEvil777]

QUOTE  While I think ABS is a good idea for a big all-weather road bike, there is a significant portion of the market that wants a simpler and cheaper bike.

Well, they still make the Connie...

QUOTE 

Well, here's one reason. Its a hell of a lot simpler and cheaper for them to produce only one model. Manufacturing 101.

You better go back to school, Chuckles. There are two '06 models... You forget 'bout dat lazy, faggoty-ass 'lectric shift model? Wise Ass Ph.D. Program.   

+1. Nicely put TWN!

 

[BrunDog]

...I'd bet that most dealers would have voted to keep a lower cost, non-abs model in the lineup.

I'd bet that no dealer wants a lower cost ANYTHING.

Besides, the dealers will sell what Yamaha TELLS them to sell.

-BD

 

[madmike2]

OR, they can only sell what Yamaha provides. If that means all FJRs come with ABS.......