100-mile 2-Up Ride Report
I took Paula out on the GenIII yesterday for a 100-mile romp in the Columbia Basin, mostly at my secret High Desert Proving Grounds.
She reports numerous, significant changes for the pillion compared to the original FJR. Chief among them is the
*substantial* reduction of pillion helmet buffeting from the windscreen. She remarked about this several times. We experimented with raising/lower the windscreen incrementally and then ran thru various speeds, everything from residential speeds of 25 mph, up to supra-legal interstate speeds of 85+ mph.
She claims that when the windscreen is completely down, that's the position that is the most quiet, and that's the position of the least helmet buffeting at supra-legal speeds.
I have the rider's seat in the highest position (not because I have a ginormous inseam, rather, I am doing everything possible to extend the distance between hips and my ate-up, increasingly problematic knees). Because we are coming from the Gen I, which did not offer a height-adjustable seat, she also claims that she is protected more by my body - she thinks that is also a significant factor for the less wind noise observed. I should note that, at 5'8" and ~ 140lbs, Paula is not a tiny waif of a female. A lot of her height is in her inseam, so I am waiting to see if she has any complaints of leg room over time.
We did some brief triple-digit speed runs with the screen all the way down, and all the way up. In all instances, it was noticeably and substantially improved over the GenI. Yamaha has done a LOT of homework with this windscreen design. It appears to sit at a noticeably steeper angle than earlier generations; it probably mimics the angle that the Rifle Tuning Block guys used to rave about a decade ago. To give you an idea of the relative quietness at speed compared to earlier generations, Paula and I (using the phenomenal Sena SMH10 Bluetooth intercoms) were able to exchanged and understand spoken words at 103mph indicated. That's extremely impressive... on the Gen I with stock windscreen, we really couldn't hold a meaningful conversation above 85-ish mph.
Another highlight: I can now tell you without any reservation that the rear shock is *substantially* reworked from earlier generations. The big main spring appears noticeably larger than prior model years. Yamaha must have done a lot of work on shock internals as well - the ride seems much more compliant is every way. Paula is quite happy with the ride comfort back there, and remarked that is was a considerable improvement over rough roads, railroad crossings, etc.
All the above flowery **** having been said - 2-up riding for us on the GenIII is not without a couple of niggles (though nothing severe). We both know these stock seats aren't going to cut the mustard for the kind of Endurance runs we have planned. At the end of the 100 miles yesterday, Paula said there is NO WAY she would want to repeat the SaddleSore 1000 we did last August (on the way to the IBA National) on the GenIII stock rear seat. Me, I had already come to this conclusion on a 200-mile test jaunt last Friday... we will undoubtedly be motoring to see Rick Mayer come the latter springtime, when the northern California passes are snow-free.
Now that I think about it, towards the end of the ride, Paula did mention that it is *possible* that she has lost a bit of legroom compared to the Gen I. Since I was able to retain my original FJR, we still have it available to test her theory. Like I say, at 5'8" and a 32-inch inseam, Paula already is behind the curve regarding legroom, compared to a lot of females. Possibly, a set of passenger footpeg lowering brackets is in our future.
Headlight Beamcast Update
I am increasingly unhappy with the beamcast while in low-beam setting. :angry:
There is a very large "cone of darkness" emerging from both sides of the low-beam that many night-time riders of GenI/II bikes will not like. As you sit on the bike, these "cones of darkness" emerge at the same angle as the mirror stalks. The darkness is substantial. Me no likee. Further investigation is indicated.
