THAT is a YAMAHA?!?

[Timberwolf]

I cant count the times my FJR is parked in front of Auto Zone(since I work there) and people come in and say who owns the nice BMW out front? But as I do get to ride the FJR and a have a K1300GT that I can ride anytime I have become a fan of both flavors of kool-aid. This has truly spoiled me and has made me realize that I will never be able to own anything other than a ST type of bike. They are drug like other and only makes me wonder I never started this habit earlier.

As to what led me to the FJR. I did not want a cruiser and knew I would not be happy for a long ride with a sportbike. Then the wife told me she would like to ride with me and that led me to find a bike that would have the look I wanted with the comfort and look of a sportbike.

 

[garyahouse]

Some relatives popped over today while I was flushing out the brakes on the Feej. The guys were hanging around while I worked, and my uncle said to the other two, now this is what you call a "crotch-rocket," trying to sound well informed I guess. I stood up and looked at him and said, "No, it's not. This is a sport touring bike. Crotch rockets won't have a driveshaft, saddle bags, handlebars, and a comfortable upright riding position. This thing even has an electrically adjustable windshield and antilock brakes." Imagine that. Do other people look at FJR's and think they're crotch rockets?

Gary

 

[garyahouse]

Hey Crash,

Never thought I'd find anyone that owned a GSX1100G Sazook. I rarely ever saw any of those rascals around. I understand they were pretty rare.

Yeah, the front suspension on that thing was horrible, but that was about 150lbs ago for me, so it wasn't that bad. It also had a lot less "get up and go" than the FJR has, for being an 1100cc inline-4. Hell, I even have a pic from Sept 1998 for your viewing "enjoyment" and I just realized it's almost the same color as my FJR.

Awhile back I posted a RR about borrowing my buddies CBR 1000RR, the first time I'd ridden a sport bike. It felt to me like one of those toy pocket bikes I see kids riding around my neighborhood.

Heh. I just rode my SV-650 for the first time in a long time, since it's nice & warm. It felt like a Schwinn! A Schwinn with 70hp. Just wheeling it out of the garage, it was "this thang don't weigh nuffin'" - I also got to remember the joys of having to wear earplugs again.

Hey James:Thanks for posting the picture. Mine was a 91 and it was a dark chocolate brown. Soooooo glad I'm the proud owner of a Feej instead of that Zook. By the way, what did you mean by "150 pounds ago?"

Gary

 

[palerider]

Some relatives popped over today while I was flushing out the brakes on the Feej. The guys were hanging around while I worked, and my uncle said to the other two, now this is what you call a "crotch-rocket," trying to sound well informed I guess. I stood up and looked at him and said, "No, it's not. This is a sport touring bike. Crotch rockets won't have a driveshaft, saddle bags, handlebars, and a comfortable upright riding position. This thing even has an electrically adjustable windshield and antilock brakes." Imagine that. Do other people look at FJR's and think they're crotch rockets?

Gary

Depends on the size of what's in their crotch.

 

[wfooshee]

To a cruiser guy or someone who doesn't know motorcycles (as if there's a difference,) if it's not a 750-pound (at least) v-twin with tons of chrome, it's a crotch rocket.

 

[LAF]

Well to be honest about it, with the bags off, those holes capped, no trunk, it is a very sexy and sleek "Sport Touring" machine. I mean from the side it is very much "Crotch Rocket" looking. It got it's DNA from something? The FJR is a well kept secret and I love that. If you de-badged it you could tell someone it was anything and they would believe you unless they knew.

IMHO it rivals the current BMW GT,RT and I feel(again IMHO)that their new 1600 GT and GTL are styled very much like the FJR and other ST machines like Honda. They are very slim and body work is getting smaller all the time. But I don't think they "clean" up as nice as a FJR in no bags and mounting holes capped mode.

And from my HUGE riding experience of 112 miles, no side bags, but Givi in place, she sure can impersonate a "crotch rocket" banging through the gears even only going to 4500-5000 RPM for break in reasons. I am impressed and look forward to the 6000-8000 RPM range

To the OP, I hope they did not mean it derogatory, and you splained it to them?

 

[garyahouse]

To a cruiser guy or someone who doesn't know motorcycles (as if there's a difference,) if it's not a 750-pound (at least) v-twin with tons of chrome, it's a crotch rocket.

You said, "As if there's a difference." I about fell off the couch when I read that. Good one!!!!! Was talking to a friend who just got himself a Vrod and he was talking about all the power it has. I was going to offer him the keys to the FJR to do a little "comparison ride," but decided not to break his heart. Then again ya have to ask if a V Twinner rode an FJR, would he ADMIT that he noticed a HUGE difference? You know the old saying... a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." Arguing with Cruise heads about the merits of a bike like the Feej is about equal to trying to carry on an intelligent discussion about curfews with a teenager.
Nuff said.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[garyahouse]

YOU SAID, "she sure can impersonate a "crotch rocket" banging through the gears even only going to 4500-5000 RPM for break in reasons. I am impressed and look forward to the 6000-8000 RPM range

Come to think of it, most of the time, I don't get above about 6000 rpm. The bike just makes so much power down low that I rarely feel the need to wind it up and rattle the nerves of all the old codgers that I need to pass every day. As a matter of fact, I don't recall seeing one of them heading for the ditch when I go flying by... because I don't have to downshift to do so.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[Crash Cash]

By the way, what did you mean by "150 pounds ago?"

Haha! Let's say, if I retook that picture, I'd have to use the wide-angle lens. Too much time stuck at a desk and an inability to cook leads to difficulty tying one's shoes.

 

[garyahouse]

You're killing me Crash. Now I'm sitting at my desk at school in the wee hours of the mornin' getting ready to teach. I'm still cackling over you and your shoes. Now I know why you bought an FJR. Even when I put some of my well padded friends on the back, the Feej just goes about its business without a fuss. It's not intimidated by a few extra pounds. By the way, I forgot to mention, the guy in the picture looks both slim and YOUNG...

Gary

darksider#44

 

[Harald]

Even when I put some of my well padded friends on the back, the Feej just goes about its business without a fuss. It's not intimidated by a few extra pounds.

You must not operate the FJR like I do.

When my wife (who is not a waif thin super model is all I'm gonna say) is on the back, I have a hard time keeping the front wheel on the ground. :crazy: Even with my Gen II performance enhancing longer swingarm, I can't even come close to using all that FJR power with a passenger aboard. :dribble:

 

[BlueRidgeFJR]

Even when I put some of my well padded friends on the back, the Feej just goes about its business without a fuss. It's not intimidated by a few extra pounds.

You must not operate the FJR like I do.

When my wife (who is not a waif thin super model is all I'm gonna say) is on the back, I have a hard time keeping the front wheel on the ground. :crazy: Even with my Gen II performance enhancing longer swingarm, I can't even come close to using all that FJR power with a passenger aboard. :dribble:

Hopefully one day she will be o.k. with one wheel travel. It took some time, but now my wife does enjoy a wheelie every now and then. Even though I get the tap on the helmet "Maybee the wheelie is her excuse to tap". Oh well....ITS WORTH IT!!

 

[Crash Cash]

You're killing me Crash. Now I'm sitting at my desk at school in the wee hours of the mornin' getting ready to teach. I'm still cackling over you and your shoes. Now I know why you bought an FJR. Even when I put some of my well padded friends on the back, the Feej just goes about its business without a fuss. It's not intimidated by a few extra pounds. By the way, I forgot to mention, the guy in the picture looks both slim and YOUNG...

Gary

darksider#44

Thanks! but that picture is from 1998 after all, 13 years (sigh) ago... I need a newer one since I just signed up to FaceBook finally, but the pic I took looked like the guy that shot the senator! Gah. I just kinda hate being a lazybutt not getting the exercise I know I need, which would help my blood pressure, sleep apnea, getting down to check my air pressure, and I'd just generally feel better.

That *is* the main reason I got rid of the DL-650, after they nerfed the cams and added 40lbs of fairing, it didn't have much oomph. Coupled with the "blind man with a cane" front suspension, going down Deal's Gap made me realize I had to make a change.

 

[art miller]

My very first motorized two wheeler was a Schwinn with Wizard motor. That was back in 1957. In 1960 I bought a Zundapp (German) 200cc two stroke. I rode that bike for years and sold it to a friend in 1966. Next was a BSA Lightning which I kept for only two years. No more bike till 1995 when I bought a Yamaha Virago 1100. Next bike was a 2004 BMW R1200C Montauk sapphire black with chrome pkg. That was a great bike and drew more attention than any bike I had ever owned. In 2008 I bought my first FJR 2007A. A Year later bought my second 2007A which has black powder coated wheels, CalSci windscreen, PCIII, G2 Throttle Tamer, and Vibranator bar end weights. This has been the Eureka of motorcycles for me. Can't think of anything better on two wheels!!!

 

[networkguy]

Well to be honest about it, with the bags off, those holes capped, no trunk, it is a very sexy and sleek "Sport Touring" machine. I mean from the side it is very much "Crotch Rocket" looking. It got it's DNA from something? The FJR is a well kept secret and I love that. If you de-badged it you could tell someone it was anything and they would believe you unless they knew.

IMHO it rivals the current BMW GT,RT and I feel(again IMHO)that their new 1600 GT and GTL are styled very much like the FJR and other ST machines like Honda. They are very slim and body work is getting smaller all the time. But I don't think they "clean" up as nice as a FJR in no bags and mounting holes capped mode.

And from my HUGE riding experience of 112 miles, no side bags, but Givi in place, she sure can impersonate a "crotch rocket" banging through the gears even only going to 4500-5000 RPM for break in reasons. I am impressed and look forward to the 6000-8000 RPM range

To the OP, I hope they did not mean it derogatory, and you splained it to them?

Just FYI...it redlines in first at about 63-65, and 2nd at about 90-95. Cant speak for anything above that

 

[garyahouse]

Now of course we know you're not advocating ever going over the speed limit. You must have been thinking of kilometers per hour. Yesterday my college daughter made an interesting comment. She was complimenting a friend's choice to buy a Beemer, commenting on its styling. Then she characterized my Feej by saying that it looked like some boy-toy crotch rocket. I'm still trying to figure out if that was a compliment. But it does contribute to the idea that the FJR looks to others like a crotch rocket. If all that means that it has a very sporty appearance, then I'm OK with that. The styling was a huge part of why I bought it.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[phroenips]

Just FYI...it redlines in first at about 63-65, and 2nd at about 90-95. Cant speak for anything above that

*cough* about 120mph in third gear

 

[garyahouse]

Was talking to my uncle today about the FJR. After he was marveling at the adjustable windshield, I asked if he'd like to go for a ride. He replied that he didn't dare. He said he was afraid that he'd get "bit" and would have to buy one. Imagine that. There are actually people out there that don't dare ride an FJR for fear of HAVING to buy one.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[RadioHowie]

What did he say about the "abomination" on your rear wheel? :lol:

 

[garyahouse]

What did he say about the "abomination" on your rear wheel? :lol:

Hey Radio, haven't heard from you in a while. All three uncles were standing around examining the rear wheel. One uncle said it looked pretty cool, and was just listening and learning as I talked about the merits of the possibility of 35k miles and the cost of replacing rear tires on the beast. Another uncle wanted to tell a story of some crash and burn victim he saw on the side of the road recently and wanted to rail on the danger of motorcycles in general. I didn't bother telling him that my daughter was extremely upset after catching a ride home with him in his minivan last month because of his erratic driving. I didn't bother telling him that it's been 44 years since I got my first motorcycle and have yet to hit ANYTHING. Oh well. I've put about 500 on the "abomination" including a couple brief jaunts into three digit land while passing some land boats on I-4, and it's wearing in nicely.
Gary

-happy to be darksider #44

ps. Did ja notice that I'm no longer a training pilot? Geez, guess that means I got a promotion. Do I get a raise to go with it?