THAT is a YAMAHA?!?

[Crash Cash]

I was packing my stuff away at the local Lowe's, and the guy in the van next to me goes "Is that really a Yamaha? I didn't know they made big sportbikes like that!"

So I said "yeah, only it's more of a sport-touring bike with all the goodies" and I showed him the heated grips, power windshield, etc etc, and his eyes just about bugged out. We chatted for a while and it turns out he's got a V-Star, but he's not a cruiser guy, but not a sportbike guy either. He thinks the FJR is just what he wants, and was kind of wondering why they kept it hidden under a rock. "Do you know what this year's color is..?" "Black, I think..." "YESSSS!"

As he was pulling away, he was asking his wife "can we stop off at the bike shop, dear?"

 

[SkooterG]

Silver. This year's color is SILVER. Same as the '03 silver, and then the '10 silver.

Though there are plenty of unsold 'brand new' '09s out there for someone who really wants one.

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

Yeah I'm always amazed when I park next to an R6 how small it is, seems like a toy bike next to the FJR.

 

[FJR Bill]

Last October I took a trip via country roads from Florida to Oklahoma and back. At just about every stop there were gawkers with lots of questions about this bike they've never seen before. My local large Yamaha dealer has none on the floor. Someone said they are special order only. That seems a bit strange.

Bill

 

[FJRScrewball]

I've been asked numerous times "Who makes that bike?"

Like a couple of weeks ago on the way home from a evening ride I stopped in at the Dunkin' Doughnut for a muffin and coffee. As I was putting on my gear a guy and his son were getting into their pickup. He commented on how nice the bike was but couldn't figure out who made it. When I told him it was a Yamaha he was totally shocked.

Dave

 

[escapefjrtist]

Couple weeks ago I was accused of riding a BMW...that's not all bad though! Cruiser rider w/o out any knowledge outside of the leather and fringe crowd. Don't think I made a convert out of him... :lol:

--G

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

Last October I took a trip via country roads from Florida to Oklahoma and back. At just about every stop there were gawkers with lots of questions about this bike they've never seen before. My local large Yamaha dealer has none on the floor. Someone said they are special order only. That seems a bit strange.

Bill

In Hawaii the sole ST dealer has BMW, Yamaha and Honda but will not stock anything as our market is very difficult given the size of the island and lack interest in ST's.

 

[Patriot]

I've been asked numerous times "Who makes that bike?"

everyone knows it's a BMW

especially my '04 with the blue/silver paint

 

[garyahouse]

I'll tell you guys what the problem is. Nobody gets to see FJR's around because of what they're made to do. People don't see them around town much because we don't cruise the side streets at 20 miles an hour trying to show off all the chrome. We don't park em out in front of the biker bars for people to admire because we're too busy out riding. After all, that's what they're made to do. Even out on the road people don't get to see much more than the tail lights, because NOBODY rides an FJR around at 49 mph. Heck, with a 6.6 gallon tank, we don't even show up at the gas station very often. Nobody takes em in to the Yammie shop much because they don't break very often. Just how ARE people supposed to get to see FJR's around anyway?

Gary

darksider #44

Heck, I won't even need to hit the shop for a new back tire for 35k miles...

 

[03HiYoSilver]

I'll tell you guys what the problem is. Nobody gets to see FJR's around because of what they're made to do. People don't see them around town much because we don't cruise the side streets at 20 miles an hour trying to show off all the chrome. We don't park em out in front of the biker bars for people to admire because we're too busy out riding. After all, that's what they're made to do. Even out on the road people don't get to see much more than the tail lights, because NOBODY rides an FJR around at 49 mph. Heck, with a 6.6 gallon tank, we don't even show up at the gas station very often. Nobody takes em in to the Yammie shop much because they don't break very often. Just how ARE people supposed to get to see FJR's around anyway?

Gary

darksider #44

Heck, I won't even need to hit the shop for a new back tire for 35k miles...

Great Points !.. it is a lonely world for those not in FJRdom, except for those on a FJR.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

I went from a VSTAR to the FJR back in '06. The mechanic at he shop had listened to how I rode and where I wanted to go and said to buy an FJR. Glad I listened.

 

[TomInPA]

This bike has sat in the garage since December 1 when I bought the FJR, which has had about 4 miles in the interim. Go figure:

 

[MojaveFJR]

We get that all the time. Often joke with the wife about our spirited rides through the canyon that people will report a "black bike with two people on it". Hmmmm, that ought to be hard to fine with the number of harley and other heavy cruisers around. Not a lot of people know this bike, only the fans of it. And yammie did a good job of hiding the make and model unless you know where to look. At red lights people will be staring at the bike, looking for the make and model. Have had people roll up at the lights and ask what it is and who makes it.

In some ways it would be nice if yammie marketed this machine better, in others, I am happy to be a member of the elite few that know and appreciate the FJR.

 

[wfooshee]

I am happy to be a member of the elite few that know and appreciate the FJR.

Aw, man. Elitism!

Are we gonna have to come up with our own Kool-Aid flavor now???

 

[GPRIDER]

I am happy to be a member of the elite few that know and appreciate the FJR.

Aw, man. Elitism!

Are we gonna have to come up with our own Kool-Aid flavor now???

FJR fruity tooty punch. :lol:

 

[zzzzip]

I had a bit of fun with the uninformed a couple of years ago on a trip.

While making a pit stop in St, Louis, I noticed a middle age guy watching me fuel up, then finally coming over while I took a break, to ask me what kind of bike it was. "Nice bike." "Thanks. You ride?" "No, but I'd like to get a Harley sometime. Never seen one of these before....BMW, right?" "No, FJR." "Whazzat mean?"

Now I just couldn't help myself: "Ferrari Joint Racing". "Never heard of them." "Yeah, it's a prototype bike that may be a joint manufacture with Yamaha building the frames and plastic, and Ferrari building the motor and drive train." <_< "WOW!"

I told the same story later in the day in Arkansas to a couple of young guys with lots of tats, baggy pants and ball caps shading their necks, but I embellished to include there were only 6 prototypes, with 3 in the US, and I was headed to New Mexico with this one for a guy to test. That drew a small crowd during the fill up.

I kind of felt bad later... they seemed like nice kids.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Skip,

You are just a born story teller...you caint help yesself.

 

[madmike2]

I went from a VSTAR to the FJR back in '06. The mechanic at he shop had listened to how I rode and where I wanted to go and said to buy an FJR. Glad I listened.

So THAT'S how you came to the collective.

We're going to find that guy and.......

:bleh:

 

[madmike2]

Yeah I'm always amazed when I park next to an R6 how small it is, seems like a toy bike next to the FJR.

I'm a rather ample sized human (6'2" x 260 lbs+). The other day I was suiting up for the ride home from work when one of the young office clerks was heading home. She came over to look at the FJR (I cover it in the parking lot) and as she walked up she said, "Mike, that's a bike is big! I only see it when you're riding away but now that I'm standing next to it...."

I dunno....it doesn't seem so large to me. :huh:

AND...the only thing on my bike that says Yamaha are the rubber protectors on the side of the panniers. I've removed all the tuning fork badges.