Test Rides

[chivvalry]

Okay, so the AE is definitely not my cup of tea. I thought shifts were jerky and unpleasant and I kept reaching for the shift lever. Didnt like the hand shifter or the foot shifter. Dealer was really eager for me to like it.... There was a guy there with an 08 A that, after a short conversation, threw me his keys and I ran that one up and down the parking lot a few times. :yahoo: Sold, loved the regular shift bike MUCH more than the electric.

The dealer has a guy traiding in an 08 A for a connie (09 I think) next friday and its got 2k miles on it. He wants about 10500 for it and will give me 4000 for my 07 VTX1300c. I think he's a little low on trade in for my bike...

Edit: Those hand warmers on the AE are awesome though... can you get those on the A?

 

[highcountry]

I prefer the manual shifting also. I believe that you have plenty of negotiating room. KBB shows trade-in value on your bike at $4345 and retail at $6305 with no accessories. Trade-in value for the FJR shows to be $7140 and retail at $10135. The smart thing would be to get the price down on the FJR and sell your Honda on Craigslist. That dealer is probably getting the FJR for less than $7K.

Good luck!

 

[phroenips]

I prefer the manual shifting also. I believe that you have plenty of negotiating room. KBB shows trade-in value on your bike at $4345 and retail at $6305 with no accessories. Trade-in value for the FJR shows to be $7140 and retail at $10135. The smart thing would be to get the price down on the FJR and sell your Honda on Craigslist. That dealer is probably getting the FJR for less than $7K.
Good luck!

oster_stupid:

I recently traded in my bike (2009 Suzuki M90) and got taken to the cleaners on it...sell it on your own if you can, you'll come out way ahead.

 

[chivvalry]

I tend to agree that selling the honda private party is more sensible... though I may be forced into trading it as the wife is less than thrilled about the idea of two horses in the stable at the same time. She is also insistent that it must be a cash deal... no credit for the toy.

I'm going to see if I can decrease the gap between the two a bit more... shaving a grand off that $6500 seems more palatable. I'm seeing only a few used 08s (with many more miles) going at 9500 to 10500 or higher on cycletrader and there are bunch of vtx1300Cs out there as well.

I know the FJR has around 2k miles and is supposed to be immaculate... the guy trading it supposedly has 4 bikes and I saw his 'busa which was sweet and clean as a whistle. It's supposed to have two brothers cans on it... how much do those run? Some other farkles as well but not sure what yet.

Really enjoyed the test ride... though when I first started up on the AE I tried to put my feet up like I was still on the cruiser... d'oh! The FJR seemed to want to stand up a bit in the curves at first but I think I figured her out before I had to take her back. Only got about 25 miles on the AE for a test ride...

 

[phroenips]

Edit: Those hand warmers on the AE are awesome though... can you get those on the A?

Yes, but they are pricey. Part number ABA-2D237-40-00 (https://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/accessories/acscitemdetail/5/216/532/2406/all/1/2120/0/detail.aspx)

 

[dustyrains]

Okay, so the AE is definitely not my cup of tea. I thought shifts were jerky and unpleasant and I kept reaching for the shift lever. Didnt like the hand shifter or the foot shifter. Dealer was really eager for me to like it.... There was a guy there with an 08 A that, after a short conversation, threw me his keys and I ran that one up and down the parking lot a few times. :yahoo: Sold, loved the regular shift bike MUCH more than the electric.
The dealer has a guy traiding in an 08 A for a connie (09 I think) next friday and its got 2k miles on it. He wants about 10500 for it and will give me 4000 for my 07 VTX1300c. I think he's a little low on trade in for my bike...

Edit: Those hand warmers on the AE are awesome though... can you get those on the A?

Yes, you should by all means choose the machine that you already know how to operate smoothly. No point in taking a chance on learning how to do something new.

 

[chivvalry]

Yes, you should by all means choose the machine that you already know how to operate smoothly. No point in taking a chance on learning how to do something new.

Really? Are you grouchy 'cause you stayed up too late or something? I tried it, I didnt like it. YMMV.

 

[chivvalry]

Edit: Those hand warmers on the AE are awesome though... can you get those on the A?

Yes, but they are pricey. Part number ABA-2D237-40-00 (https://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/accessories/acscitemdetail/5/216/532/2406/all/1/2120/0/detail.aspx)

Zowie... $420 plus installation.... that IS a bit pricey. They were damn nice though. Oh well...

 

[Fred W]

He's just grouchy because you did not validate his choice of an AE. People are like that sometimes.

As to the heated grips, there are other (less $$) options for grip heaters than the Factory Yamaha grips. And yeah, grip heaters are nice to have. But if you'll really be riding in cold weather heated gloves work far better. Of course you can also do like I have and have both.

$10,500 is a pretty decent retail price for a basically new '07. The aftermarket pipes are fairly pricey. ~$600 - $900. The higher being the Carpet Fiber ones. But just in case you decide that they are not your thing (too loud) you'll want to be sure that you get the OEM take-offs from the original owner as they are even more expensive, and run >$1000 new.

You also did not mention if the '07 has any YES remaining. If so, it is transferable. But you need to do the paperwork.

 

[chivvalry]

He's just grouchy because you did not validate his choice of an AE. People are like that sometimes.
As to the heated grips, there are other (less $$) options for grip heaters than the Factory Yamaha grips. And yeah, grip heaters are nice to have. But if you'll really be riding in cold weather heated gloves work far better. Of course you can also do like I have and have both.

$10,500 is a pretty decent retail price for a basically new '07. The aftermarket pipes are fairly pricey. ~$600 - $900. The higher being the Carpet Fiber ones. But just in case you decide that they are not your thing (too loud) you'll want to be sure that you get the OEM take-offs from the original owner as they are even more expensive, and run >$1000 new.

You also did not mention if the '07 has any YES remaining. If so, it is transferable. But you need to do the paperwork.

Ah yes, the YES... It's an 08 actually so hopefully it does. Thanks much for the reminder. I'll have to see if I can get hold of the original owner to ask about the pipes... for SOME reason the dealer doesnt want to give me his full name... :glare: I did catch that his first name was Joe but that doesnt help much.

I hate the cold so the grip warmers were awesome... had them on medium and my hands were toasty. I can live without 'em... just have to put on the winter gloves instead of the summer ones.

 

[ugar-6]

Sound like you've made up your mind to go ahead and get what you're happy with. Great choice!!! I have the AE because I got a hell of a deal on it and have learned to manipulate smooth shifts out of it in no time. Obviously, it's not being made anymore so it's not everyone's cup of tea. I love mine but there are things that I like about the manual clutch as well. I'd be fine with either but found the deal on the AE. Don't know if you've ever had an FJR before but you're about to fall madly in love if not! Welcome to the madness.

 

[phroenips]

Zowie... $420 plus installation.... that IS a bit pricey. They were damn nice though. Oh well...

You can find them cheaper online, but search the forums, there are plenty of other options. I'm currently looking at the Symtec/Dual-Star solution (two different products which seem to be identical in manufacturing).

 

[dustyrains]

I thought shifts were jerky and unpleasant and I kept reaching for the shift lever. Didnt like the hand shifter or the foot shifter.

Yeah, maybe I was unduly grouchy. Just wanted to say you should not blame the bike for jerky and unpleasant shifts. That was operator inexperience. The bike shifts very fast and smoothly with a little practice and the correct technique. Too bad you did not like the bike, but then you probably did not have the time and miles to tune in to the correct technique. And how could you not like the foot shift? How is it's action or movement any different than the manual clutch model, other than the fact that neutral is before 1st? I have never ridden a manual clutch fjr, so maybe there is a difference in feel?

 

[200cs]

I came from the VTX world also and sold mine outrite for 7500.00 bucks with all the aftermarket stuff on it. It was an '06 with about 15k on it and this was in '08 so it was 2 years old. Several of my friends were absolutely positive that I would be very lucky to get 5000.00 for my VTX. I sold it in less than a week to the first guy that looked at it. Throw it on craigslist and cycle trader and see what happens. You have nothing to lose. Good luck

 

[sullivan]

ditto for Dusty. Felt natural enough shifting about 50 feet from the dealer. And I had to drive it home over 200 mixed miles, to boot. Different bird but an excellant one.

 

[chivvalry]

ditto for Dusty. Felt natural enough shifting about 50 feet from the dealer. And I had to drive it home over 200 mixed miles, to boot. Different bird but an excellant one.

Well, I felt like I could have gotten used to it... but after 25 miles on it I still didnt like it as much as the regular shifter. This is not saying I didnt like it... just that the reg shifter was much more comfortable and natural to me. YMMV

 

[chivvalry]

I thought shifts were jerky and unpleasant and I kept reaching for the shift lever. Didnt like the hand shifter or the foot shifter.

Yeah, maybe I was unduly grouchy. Just wanted to say you should not blame the bike for jerky and unpleasant shifts. That was operator inexperience. The bike shifts very fast and smoothly with a little practice and the correct technique. Too bad you did not like the bike, but then you probably did not have the time and miles to tune in to the correct technique. And how could you not like the foot shift? How is it's action or movement any different than the manual clutch model, other than the fact that neutral is before 1st? I have never ridden a manual clutch fjr, so maybe there is a difference in feel?

I rode them both, one right after the other, and I felt there was enough of a difference that the regular shifter won. First time I had ever ridden an electric shift like that so, yes, inexperience was likely a key there. Toward the end of the ride I figured out that it seemed to work better if you didnt let off the gas much (if at all) when shifting. Still just didnt feel good to me.

 

[Patriot]

He wants about 10500 for it and will give me 4000 for my 07 VTX1300c.

Here and I believe everywhere, you only pay tax on the net (difference between trade in and sale price)

Be sure to factor that in and the hassle (and liability issues) of selling your VTX yourself

Neither is better...just what you want to do and hope for the best

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

 

[chivvalry]

Dealer called this afternoon, the guy traded her in today so I went down to see her. She's gorgeous... the two brothers cans (carbon fiber) sound awesome and the throttle response with the power commander was... snappy.

Negotiated the price down a bit as well but "the owner has to approve the deal and he's not here right now... we'll call you tomorrow."

I put $300 down to hold her until I can close the deal on the 10th. It's going to be a looong 12 days.