The FJR has pushed my cruiser into oblivion

[Bounce]

When I sold the Harley and got my first Wing, it was a great day. 3 Wings and 10 years later, I sold the 3 year old 98SE and got the "1st Wave" PdP FJR. What a great progression.

 

[FJR Bill]

Love the B12 Bandit. Likely the most underated bike in its time. Put 66,000 miles on mine then got my FJR. My moded B12 was faster and more nimble than my FJR but I needed something with better wind protection and cargo carrying ability.

Bill

 

[angus]

Fjr Bill if you like the Bandit you would love the FZ! they scream and they are a wheelie machine.

 

[LgFJR]

Was largely a cruiser guy up until I retired and had 3 bikes at the time. Commuted roughly 25K a year here in SoCal. Had a C10 Concours, a gorgeous Valkyrie and a KLR 650. Had the Valkyrie for over seven years and for short runs around town it was divine, the only shortcoming was looking for a gas station every 100 miles. Found myself taking the Concours with that huge 7.5 gallon tank when I just had to go somewhere and didn't feel like messing around. The KLR is just for dirt trips with the grandkids and my son. I had been lusting after the FJR since I had run into a guy with one at an airshow and realized it was built like a swiss watch compared to the "paint shaker" C10. After one long torturous trip on the Valkyrie Tourer up to Norcal I eventually sold it and the C10 and went FJR. I still miss the Valk a little and may pick another one up some day but nothing compares to the FJR. We all smile when activating the "launch sequence" on every on-ramp...........and continue on the F-16 for the freeway. The guys I ride with have new Wings, a new K1600GT and a couple assorted chrome hogs. So far I'm not tempted by any of them.

 

[Edbo]

Agreed, came off an M50, feels like a slow POS, hard to believe I liked it before my 2008 FJR - M50 on craigs list soon.....

 

[fjrbird]

I on the other hand still have my vulcan 900 cruiser. I ride FJR more often but with SoCal traffic, the 900 still proves to be nimble, agile, and great for commuting. Last weekend I rode the FJR to Malibu with a friend on his Suzuki 750 sport bike. The FJR was again so much fun on the mountain roads and flying on 101 fwy. No cruiser can compare to that feeling. Well I think I'm going to keep the cruiser for a while as it's still great for my work commute.

 

[bgross]

I on the other hand still have my vulcan 900 cruiser. I ride FJR more often but with SoCal traffic, the 900 still proves to be nimble, agile, and great for commuting. Last weekend I rode the FJR to Malibu with a friend on his Suzuki 750 sport bike. The FJR was again so much fun on the mountain roads and flying on 101 fwy. No cruiser can compare to that feeling. Well I think I'm going to keep the cruiser for a while as it's still great for my work commute.

Ah, the Vulcan. I had one (VN750) back about 25-26 years ago, when I met my wife. The first time she rode on the back, I knew I had a keeper! It was my 'daily driver', our day-off-cruise-down-the-coast bike, and our wedding limo!

Really -- we rode it to our wedding (at a park overlooking the ocean) and home again afterwards.

Sold it when we bought a VW bus.

 

[bulldog777]

I have a VTX1300 that I bought while looking at FJR's. If you want a good cruiser, they are hard to beat for the money. I commute on mine 90 mile round trips. I have to admit, i still want a FJR. I have not ridden one yet, almost afraid to. I may realize what a huge mistake I made by not buying the FJR. I would love to have the greater range of the fjr. Want to do an iron butt, but not really wanting to do that on the X.

 

[bgross]

I have a VTX1300 that I bought while looking at FJR's. If you want a good cruiser, they are hard to beat for the money. I commute on mine 90 mile round trips. I have to admit, i still want a FJR. I have not ridden one yet, almost afraid to. I may realize what a huge mistake I made by not buying the FJR. I would love to have the greater range of the fjr. Want to do an iron butt, but not really wanting to do that on the X.

Don't feel bad that it's been almost a year and you still don't have your FJR. Just remember - every 90 mile commute that you do on your X is one that you didn't do on the FJR.

Yet.

 

[jmdaniel]

Sold my 2003 1300VTX when I bought the 2007 FJR 1300A, so my situation pretty much matches yours. I have never looked back, and won't. If Honda ever updates the ST, I will take a good hard look at it, but I'm never getting back on a V-Twin. I was in Big Bend last month, riding with a buddy on a Kawi Vulcan 1500. He got knocked off his bike by a dumbass in a minivan, and I had to ride his bike out to the hospital. It was an eye opener, and reminded me of what it's like to ride one of those farting and popping turds.

 

[russperry]

The FJR does everything the cruiser does but much better and SAFER! IMO cruisers are inherently dangerous as one who rides them into the curves quickly finds out that you can't maintain a good rate of speed due to the limited to very limited cornering clearance... cruisers are for "cruising" and posing... not for mile munching, or spirited riding. I owned a cruiser for 364 days and I never missed it when I sold it for a sport touring bike. I knew its limitations when I bought it and I thought I could ride it in the twisties at more sedate pace, but I just couldn't.... scrape, scrape, scrape... good riddance... Once you're on the FJR, you'll wonder how you ever rode that POS cruiser for so long! Oh, and loud pipes lose rights..

Saw this play out almost exactly on Priest Grade near Yosemite last summer. Got to the crash site just after it happened, but the story goes:

1) Guy on a Harley from out of state is looking over the side at the great views

2) Realizes corner is coming faster and sharper than he thinks

3) Tries to lean it over to make the turn

4) Bottoms out on the left side

5) Panics, straightens the bike up

6) Goes over the side

7) Comes to a stop about 100' down the hill, very lucky to be alive

Don't know if it would have made a difference, but he probably would have had a chance on a vehicle actually designed to turn, not just make noise on Main Street.

 

[DragonflyTN]

Buddy of mine rode a GL1800, but decided it was too big and ungainly after his wife quit riding with him. Rides the GL like he owns it; scrapes the pegs down to nubs and does a pretty fine job keeping up with me on the Feej. Buys a 2006 Vulcan Nomad. First ride out with the Nomad, scares the crap out of himself because he realizes the floorboards are FIXED! Maintains rubber on the road, but has a LOT more respect for corners. So far so good...

Fast forward to Oct 2010, Cherohala Skyway between Tellico Plains, TN and Robbinsville, NC. All of ya'll who know this road recognize the need to be able to lean just that little bit more on those blind decreasing-radius corners. Unfortunately, the Nomad not only won't lean anymore, it will actually lever the rear wheel off the ground. Three broken ribs, broken ankle, and a collapsed lung was the result. And he was lucky he did not hit the rock wall, but just glanced off a tree. I truly believe if he had been on an FJR this would have never happened and he would still be riding. I miss riding with him.

 

[bulldog777]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="bgross" data-cid="1036374" data-time="1359348017"><p>

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="bulldog777" data-cid="1036292" data-time="1359336284"><p>I have a VTX1300 that I bought while looking at FJR's. If you want a good cruiser, they are hard to beat for the money. I commute on mine 90 mile round trips. I have to admit, i still want a FJR. I have not ridden one yet, almost afraid to. I may realize what a huge mistake I made by not buying the FJR. I would love to have the greater range of the fjr. Want to do an iron butt, but not really wanting to do that on the X.</p></blockquote>

<br />

Don't feel bad that it's been almost a year and you still don't have <strong class='bbc'>your </strong>FJR. Just remember - every 90 mile commute that you do on your X is one that you didn't do on the FJR.<br />

Yet. <img src='https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png' alt='Posted Image' class='bbc_emoticon' /></p></blockquote>

Thanks for those comforting words in a time of mourning. Nothing like words of encouragement to pick you up. Lol.

 

[FJR Bill]

Buddy of mine rode a GL1800, but decided it was too big and ungainly after his wife quit riding with him. Rides the GL like he owns it; scrapes the pegs down to nubs and does a pretty fine job keeping up with me on the Feej. Buys a 2006 Vulcan Nomad. First ride out with the Nomad, scares the crap out of himself because he realizes the floorboards are FIXED! Maintains rubber on the road, but has a LOT more respect for corners. So far so good...
Fast forward to Oct 2010, Cherohala Skyway between Tellico Plains, TN and Robbinsville, NC. All of ya'll who know this road recognize the need to be able to lean just that little bit more on those blind decreasing-radius corners. Unfortunately, the Nomad not only won't lean anymore, it will actually lever the rear wheel off the ground. Three broken ribs, broken ankle, and a collapsed lung was the result. And he was lucky he did not hit the rock wall, but just glanced off a tree. I truly believe if he had been on an FJR this would have never happened and he would still be riding. I miss riding with him.

My riding buddy who is the most accomplished aggressive rider I know bought the first year VTX. Riding familiar roads we did a tight corner and he hit the frame, levered the bike and he went off the road, almost crashed but saved it. He sold the VTX soon afterward. Bill

 

[Big Sky]

My last "cruiser" was sold in 1982 when I bought a '82 750 Sabre. Never had any inclination to go back.

 

[lonewolff]

I went from a VTX1300 to my FJR. I was like most where I was over riding and pushing the VTX too much for a cruiser. I changed to the FJR because of the advice of a friend who owned one here. It took a little bit to get the bike where I want it and be able to ride 500 mile days, not hurting and still wanting to be on the bike. I love the power and feel of the bike. It meets all my touring and speed needs. I can't see going back to a cruiser but I could see trying other sport touring bikes.

 

[bulldog777]

I went from a VTX1300 to my FJR. I was like most where I was over riding and pushing the VTX too much for a cruiser. I changed to the FJR because of the advice of a friend who owned one here. It took a little bit to get the bike where I want it and be able to ride 500 mile days, not hurting and still wanting to be on the bike. I love the power and feel of the bike. It meets all my touring and speed needs. I can't see going back to a cruiser but I could see trying other sport touring bikes.

I met a guy who had a vtx1300 in waco, tx once that went by lonewolf. He had a wolf etched on his windshield. Same guy by chance?

 

[Trip]

I have a 2004 VTX. It wasn't the performance bike that I wanted and got an FJ in '06. I only began to appreciate the VTX after I got the FJ and have kept both. I do not have a windscreen on the VTX and it is my go to bike when it is hot out and I want to go out for a spin. It is not called a cruiser for nothing.

 

[lonewolff]

I went from a VTX1300 to my FJR. I was like most where I was over riding and pushing the VTX too much for a cruiser. I changed to the FJR because of the advice of a friend who owned one here. It took a little bit to get the bike where I want it and be able to ride 500 mile days, not hurting and still wanting to be on the bike. I love the power and feel of the bike. It meets all my touring and speed needs. I can't see going back to a cruiser but I could see trying other sport touring bikes.

I met a guy who had a vtx1300 in waco, tx once that went by lonewolf. He had a wolf etched on his windshield. Same guy by chance?

Nope, sorry

 

[Goodman4]

I feel more positive toward the VTX than some of you guys, so I know I will miss it. I never took long rides until that bike. Before it, my wife had never ridden much with me except for a couple short fall rides each year. But I have taken the advice of the majority and have started getting things together to sell it in March. It's more about feeling guilty for not using things that I have upgraded when somebody else could be enjoying them as much as I did. And having the cash that someday may go toward my next FJR or maybe a Goldwing will certainly be a big plus.

I agree with the limitation of the handling and it took me a year to used to the difference. I laid it down in the first three months because I was practicing agressive cornering and it pretty much just said, "no." I have posted on this before and there are some very skilled riders here that will point out it is still my fault. I agree totally, because you have to know what your bike can do and know how to come into the curve at the right speed with the right amount of countersteering. I have already pretty much forgot how to countersteer on the FJR again, because it turns on a dime when I even think about a curve. That's an exaggeration, so don't jump on that. I am a fan of A Twist of The Wrist training and countersteering is still the way good cornering is done. My point is you just don't have to think about it much on the FJR because it handles so well.

But this doesn't mean the VTX or any cruiser is a bad bike because of cornering. It just takes a different skill. I eventually learned to ride slower and safer on the VTX after I moved from the KZ1000. I found out it can be really fun, especially when you are seeing the sights. I kind of think that's what the real joy of motorcycling is for me - experiencing the road and the scenery in a way you can't in a car. It's just more fun to do when your butt isn't hurting on a long ride and when you want to engage the rocket engine, it's a big plus with the FJR.

The only argument I have to anything that has been said is about safety. I still agree the FJR is safer than the VTX in many ways including quick cornering, stopping, and riding in bad weather. But it is not a beginners bike and I think cruisers are a better bike for many people that don't want to go on thousand mile trips or push the limits in the twisties. It's just too easy to get in trouble with that much speed if you're not very disciplined. My VTX helped me learn to control my riding and start to understand "the pace". I think I went from a very experienced rider on a crusier to a low intermediate rider on the FJR. But it sure is fun practicing as I get better.

I don't plan on offering the VTX for sale on this forum, though.