The FJR is argueably the ______ ________ M/C in the world

[Toecutter]

My Labor Day weekend will be spent not burning the cheapest gas in months, as our two out-of-town daughters will be home to visit (one turns 21 Monday). So, I'll be checking to see if the collective can come up with the term that best suits the virtues of our favorite motorized mount.

My best answer: The FJR is argueably the most roadworthy M/C in the world.

I know we can do better. Bring it, people.

Justifications for your answers are encouraged as well.

 

[mdisher]

OK, I'll bite...

The FJR is argueably the Best $/Performance Value M/C in the world.

[OK, it doesn't exactly fit your blanks but what the hell]

After looking at all the competition, the BMW's, the Honda, the Triumph, etc, etc. For what you get, $ for $ it's simply the best value hands down. :yahoo:

 

[bramfrank]

OK, I'll bite...
The FJR is argueably the Best $/Performance Value M/C in the world.

[OK, it doesn't exactly fit your blanks but what the hell]

After looking at all the competition, the BMW's, the Honda, the Triumph, etc, etc. For what you get, $ for $ it's simply the best value hands down. :yahoo:

IMHO, that particular honor is reserved for Kawasaki's Concours. Next year, when the current Connie is history that'll likely be true - perhaps it could also be the VFR. But at 13,500, the best value-performer it simply is not.

 

[wheatonFJR]

OK, I'll bite...

The FJR is argueably the Best $/Performance Value M/C in the world.

[OK, it doesn't exactly fit your blanks but what the hell]

After looking at all the competition, the BMW's, the Honda, the Triumph, etc, etc. For what you get, $ for $ it's simply the best value hands down. :yahoo:

IMHO, that particular honor is reserved for Kawasaki's Concours. Next year, when the current Connie is history that'll likely be true - perhaps it could also be the VFR.m But at 13,500, value-performer it simply is not.

Okay bramfrank,

You shot somebody else's idea down- easy to do, now what's your idea?

 

[v65]

The FJR is argueably the Best $/Performance Value M/C in the world.

I am going to completely the opposite and say the FJR is arguably the most expensive M/C in the world.

Before the FJR the SO didn't like to ride, now she rides every chance she gets. Now we have M/C vacations, new gear, two up riding farkles, etc. etc. etc. Bit irritating really, had my eye on Dale Walkers exhaust before the wife got factored in

 

[mdisher]

OK, I'll bite...

The FJR is argueably the Best $/Performance Value M/C in the world.

[OK, it doesn't exactly fit your blanks but what the hell]

After looking at all the competition, the BMW's, the Honda, the Triumph, etc, etc. For what you get, $ for $ it's simply the best value hands down. :yahoo:

IMHO, that particular honor is reserved for Kawasaki's Concours. Next year, when the current Connie is history that'll likely be true - perhaps it could also be the VFR. But at 13,500, the best value-performer it simply is not.

Wrong, you lose... I'm talking in the FJR's class so that rules out the VFR.

+ 1000cc's and up, comfortable 2-up for real world people.

+ The Concorse is not a modern machine, so it also is disqualified.

Both those are fine machines, but neither in the same ballpark, if you look at today's offerings for full featured, large sport-touring bikes.

 

[bramfrank]

Sorry, but it just isn't 'the best' at any one thing. It is all in the package as a whole.

Interesting styling (looks better with the bags off), reasonable power (BMW K1200 blows the doors of the FJR - hasn't got the best weather protection, Kawasaki and Honda hold that one - and it is missing some key elements, such as self cancelling turn signals, cruise control and some of the plastic is optional and overpriced. At this price point it just should not be.

It would be nice if the paint for the '06 wasn't so damage prone. The windshield ought to have been coated and finally, it seems as though they've licked the heat issues.

Honda was more expensive, but no longer - and next year there's supposed to be a new model hitting the streets. Kawasaki supposedly also has something new up their sleeves. And the past few years haven't been all THAT kind to the machine given the history of valve guide issues - yes Yamaha has been fairly good about fixing tickers - then again they should be.

Yamaha hasn't made the bike easy to own in the US either, with the build-to-order program.

Hmm. What is my FJR? Probably the best overall compromise of power, handling and up to date technology available at a reasonable price on the market today.

Will it still be next year? Who knows?

 

[mdisher]

Then how about this...

Yamaha's new advertising slogan:

"The FJR is arguably the best sport-touring compromise in the world."

 

[bramfrank]

OK, I'll bite...

The FJR is argueably the Best $/Performance Value M/C in the world.

[OK, it doesn't exactly fit your blanks but what the hell]

After looking at all the competition, the BMW's, the Honda, the Triumph, etc, etc. For what you get, $ for $ it's simply the best value hands down. :yahoo:

IMHO, that particular honor is reserved for Kawasaki's Concours. Next year, when the current Connie is history that'll likely be true - perhaps it could also be the VFR. But at 13,500, the best value-performer it simply is not.

Wrong, you lose... I'm talking in the FJR's class so that rules out the VFR.

+ 1000cc's and up, comfortable 2-up for real world people.

+ The Concorse is not a modern machine, so it also is disqualified.

Both those are fine machines, but neither in the same ballpark, if you look at today's offerings for full featured, large sport-touring bikes.

Oh, CLASS!!!! You should have said so. You didn't. Modern? You didn't say that either. You said it was the best bang for the buck - period. And it just isn't.
If you'd wanted to limit the comparison to modern bikes in the class, perhaps you SHOULD have said something like:

"The best Yamaha-built 1298 cc machines in the supersport touring category painted dark metalic blue available on the market today". Or something like that. B)

Connie may be an old design, but she goes real good and handles well enough AND offers the best weather protection available for anything except perhaps a Goldwing. Kawasaki has enough faith in her that the base warranty is 3 years and can be extended to 6. All for less than 8 grand. No ABS, no electric windscreen, but she's missing precious little else.

However I ride an FJR. I had a Concours. I didn't make the jump because of the money - I could have bought almost TWO connies for what the FJR cost. However it was the package - and I decided that the extra features, power, handling and more modern design was worth the added expense. So I'm not trashing the ride, just bringing some reality to the value statement. If it was all about value, we'd all be driving Hyundais.

 

[mdisher]

OK, I'll bite...

The FJR is argueably the Best $/Performance Value M/C in the world.

[OK, it doesn't exactly fit your blanks but what the hell]

After looking at all the competition, the BMW's, the Honda, the Triumph, etc, etc. For what you get, $ for $ it's simply the best value hands down. :yahoo:

IMHO, that particular honor is reserved for Kawasaki's Concours. Next year, when the current Connie is history that'll likely be true - perhaps it could also be the VFR. But at 13,500, the best value-performer it simply is not.

Wrong, you lose... I'm talking in the FJR's class so that rules out the VFR.

+ 1000cc's and up, comfortable 2-up for real world people.

+ The Concorse is not a modern machine, so it also is disqualified.

Both those are fine machines, but neither in the same ballpark, if you look at today's offerings for full featured, large sport-touring bikes.

Oh, CLASS!!!! You should have said so. You didn't. Modern? You didn't say that either. You said it was the best bang for the buck - period. And it just isn't.
If you'd wanted to limit the comparison to modern bikes in the class, perhaps you SHOULD have said something like:

"The best Yamaha-built 1298 cc machines in the supersport touring category painted dark metalic blue available on the market today". Or something like that.

Connie may be an old design, but she goes real good and handles well enough AND offers the best weather protection available for anything except perhaps a Goldwing. Kawasaki has enough faith in her that the base warranty is 3 years and can be extended to 6. All for less than 8 grand. No ABS, no electric windscreen, but she's missing precious little else.

Dude, I don't want to derail this thread. Everyone knows the Connie is an exceptional Value.

But comparing it to the FJR is apples and oranges.

If anyone purchased a Connie over and FJR, they ONLY did it for financial reasons and none other.

No, the FJR isn't perfect, I don't for a second think it is. I'm not delusional.

 

[bramfrank]

Dude, I don't want to derail this thread. Everyone knows the Connie is an exceptional Value. But comparing it to the FJR is apples and oranges.

If anyone purchased a Connie over and FJR, they ONLY did it for financial reasons and none other.

No, the FJR isn't perfect, I don't for a second think it is. I'm not delusional.

I didn't buy my Connie for the price. I really loved the retro styling. I loved how easy it was to work on and how complete the support was and the availability of parts and such both for used parts and for aftermarket hardware.
So you agree that the FJR doesn't offer the best dollar value-performance combination for motorcycles in the world? (he said, ducking)

 

[kaitsdad]

Ya know, when the wife and I picked up Wonky,

She saw it sitting there in the sunlight -

and she just kind of ... stared at it.

A very quiet 'wow' escaped her lips.

Does any other bike out there do that to your SO's?

 

[warsw]

[/quote=Renegade]No, the FJR isn't perfect, I don't for a second think it is. I'm not delusional.

It is for me. I can think of no other bike that does everything I want a bike to do better than the FJR and does it at a price I can afford. :yahoo:

(The FJR is arqueabley the best SPORT TOURING m/c in the world.)

 

[chornbe]

OK, I'll bite...

The FJR is argueably the Best $/Performance Value M/C in the world.

[OK, it doesn't exactly fit your blanks but what the hell]

After looking at all the competition, the BMW's, the Honda, the Triumph, etc, etc. For what you get, $ for $ it's simply the best value hands down. :yahoo:

IMHO, that particular honor is reserved for Kawasaki's Concours. Next year, when the current Connie is history that'll likely be true - perhaps it could also be the VFR. But at 13,500, the best value-performer it simply is not.

Hmm. we know my feelings of the Connie, but I'll still be objective.

The Connie's got better out-of-the-box seat and pillion comfort.

In all other aspects, I think the FJR wins. No buffeting (for me), better seating position. Far, far more power. Smoother by a LOT. Easier to work on (so far for what I've done). Longer maintenance intervals. Better luggage. Hell of a lot better looking. Better handling. Lower CoG. Far less topheavy and far, far more parking lot friendly as a result. Far fewer mandator fixes (balance shaft, engine mount retorquing, exhaust pipe mount retorquing). No inherint weakness in the twiggy forks. No mandatory need for a fork brace as a result. Better stock tires. It *actually* stops!!

But yeah, Connie's got a better seat and *definitely* has better pillion comfort.

The VFR is a nice bike in its own right, but it's not the same class of bike. A major part of the "tour" part of Sport Tourer for me is factory-provided luggage as part of the package and shaft drive. Chain bikes are anti-tour, IMO. On the road chain maintenance is ass. And *lots* of owners of the newer VFRs absolutely hate the V-Tech engines.

Ya know, when the wife and I picked up Wonky,
She saw it sitting there in the sunlight -

and she just kind of ... stared at it.

A very quiet 'wow' escaped her lips.

Does any other bike out there do that to your SO's?

Nope. A guy at work who doesn't even really like bikes stood and stared at mine for about 20 minutes the other day. And so did a Harley guy. Go, Yamaha!!

 

[mdisher]

Dude, I don't want to derail this thread. Everyone knows the Connie is an exceptional Value. But comparing it to the FJR is apples and oranges.

If anyone purchased a Connie over and FJR, they ONLY did it for financial reasons and none other.

No, the FJR isn't perfect, I don't for a second think it is. I'm not delusional.

I didn't buy my Connie for the price. I really loved the retro styling. I loved how easy it was to work on and how complete the support was and the availability of parts and such both for used parts and for aftermarket hardware.
So you agree that the FJR doesn't offer the best dollar value-performance combination for motorcycles in the world? (he said, ducking)

Let's see...

If I had $11-$25k to spend on a NEW sport-touring bike, something to ride for 5-10 years, and all around bike, to ride for fun and commute, and tour one. My choice would be the FJR, IMHO the best VALUE of everything out there, or you might say the best compromise.

If my budget was limited to only $10k with the same NEW requirement I would in fact buy a Connie.

Yes, I could be pollyanna and say it's perfect for me too because that's what I chose. But truth be told, if I could build a bike, there are parts of other bikes I do like better and things I'd change.

None the less, I do really like my FJR, a hell of a lot.

 

[Ignacio]

"best package for me"

 

[Mogambo]

I was looking at what the 06 ST1300 color was for 06. Damn, and then my eyes went to what their asking for that thing. Something in the neighborhood of 15,500.000 for the ABS version? Holy crap! And it's suppose to be great right out of the box, aye? O.Kaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy...

People who are discriminating about what they do, ride or whatever, almost always have to tweak something to come as close as possible to fit their own "discriminatating" standards of how they think things should be. That's what makes them discriminating.

Professional atheletes are given the best quality equipment that technology has to offer. Still..............they tweak it. To make it....just right....for them.

I've had the 04, and liked it very much. Certain circumstances made it a good idea to get the 06. Will I perhaps tweak something down the road? Probably. But, that's part of the fun of it. So far it's a hand and wrist thing. Meaning it's just my hand and wrist getting used to how THIS bike responds. So far, I don't even think that the throttle spring is too tight. But.....that's me.

I don't know everything. Tell me, what is a more perfect blend of ALL it does well than the FJR? I'm not trying to be argumentitive. I'm really curious. I pride myself on being open to being educated.

I have to tell you, that so far, I've heard some kind of crap about everything.

Ride it. Like it. Keep it.

Ride it. Don't like it. Get something else.

 

[Knifemaker]

Ya know, when the wife and I picked up Wonky,
She saw it sitting there in the sunlight -

and she just kind of ... stared at it.

A very quiet 'wow' escaped her lips.

Does any other bike out there do that to your SO's?

There it is then... The Best Looking Sport/Tourer in the World .

KM

 

[Toecutter]

It is for me. I can think of no other bike that does everything I want a bike to do better than the FJR and does it at a price I can afford. :yahoo:
(The FJR is argueabley the best SPORT TOURING m/c in the world.)

Well yeah, but that's too easy, and it really only works if you say it to a bike head. I'm lookin' for the perfect thing to relate to a layperson that it will go farther and faster more comfortably on pavement than anything else. I think Skooter would tend to agree, but what do you tell the spectator at a gas pump in one sentence? (Besides, "This is the model [in the faster color :derisive: ] that recently set a world motorcycle distance record for 24 hours")
Please remember the "argueably" operative term. I didn't say "without a doubt", so no arguing, 'K?.

There it is then... The Best Looking Sport/Tourer in the World.

Well that's kinda color-specific, and probably applies more to blue ones (in the eyes of women and most gay men). Big :derisive: and runnin' for the Nomex...

I've had the 04, and liked it very much. Certain circumstances made it a good idea to get the 06. Will I perhaps tweak something down the road? Probably. But, that's part of the fun of it. So far it's a hand and wrist thing. Meaning it's just my hand and wrist getting used to how THIS bike responds. So far, I don't even think that the throttle spring is too tight. But.....that's me.

So, did you get an AE? Didn't see enough information in your profile to know for sure.