Papa54
Active member
Since I retired in 2020 I spend some time looking at the YouTube motorcycle videos. One thing I've noticed is that there seems to be an undercurrent of these "near naked bikes" being suggested, if not pushed, for sport touring. I guess it sort of chaps my backside, for one because they've raising the prices pretty significantly, and they're suggesting that they're the latest greatest thing for sport touring....
I live in the Atlanta area, about 32 miles southeast of the city. There's a Yamaha dealer on the North east side that I've done some business with, and last summer I stopped in and they had a new Tracer 9 GT on the floor. One of the young sales guys I was talking to about the bike conveyed to me that there'd been a three day promotional ride that he participated in, on which he was provided with a new Tracer 9 GT. As he and I talked, he didn't have to say what he thought of the bike for said, "travel", but he did say there's not enough wind protection, particularly sitting up in the wind, and he was less than thrilled with the vibration of the engine......
Next this is for you young folks who are questioning what may be the best "bang-for-your-buck" sport tourer.....
First, before you buy one of these tall skinny converted naked bikes, take one for a four day trip and ride 500 miles a day. I guarantee you, that between the vibration and the lack of wind protection, when you get back the last thing you'll want to do is buy it....... I have a 2013 FJR1300a. Bought it in 2013 with less than 2900 miles on it. Now it has over 76,000 miles on it. I'm 63 years old, and have taken several one to two day trips, and three multi-day trips on my FJR. Since this is my 11th motorcycle, and I've been riding for what will be 46 years in August, I can reasonably say that for sport touring / traveling I think the FJR is hard to beat. There are more comfortable motorcycles to travel on, and of course with that I have to acknowledge the Goldwing, and v-twins from Harley and Indian, and maybe also a Star, or Kawasaki Vulcan, but I've covered 952 miles in a day and have routinely covered over 700 miles a day on the FJR. When it comes to covering distances that include twisting roads and high speed interstate or Montana two lane highways at well over 70 mph, comfortably, and with competent handling, braking, and cornering, you can't beat the FJR. With this machine you won't have a want for sheer mid-range power that let's you roll the throttle on in fifth gear on a tight mountain curve and just accelerate. There's also a top end that'll easily put you behind bars, if that's your thing. This FJR of mine has covered 80 miles of Wyoming black top in 45 minutes, to get to a stopping place to camp, before dark. I've also loaded it with 20 days worth of living on the road, and that was before I learned about doing it frugally. So extra, extra clothing, a four man tent for comfort, laptop, camera equipment, etc. Two large roll top bags, a 50 liter GIVI top box, a tank bag...... The FJR handled the weight, which includes 220 pound 6'1" me and provisions, and went down the road just like it was built for that, and it was. Yamaha designed and built a great machine here, in the tradition of the famous sport tourer the FJ1200, which I owned two of. I just can't give enough credit to Yamaha. If you young folks that are out there tooling around on your naked bikes, or sport bikes, are starting to think of what's the best way to see the United States by a two wheeled machine, forget those lumber wagon V-twins and 900 pound Goldwings. Do yourself a favor and equip your helmet for sound, tune in to some good tunes, and take an FJR for a 1500 mile jaunt for a couple of days. If you don't come back and slap the dog stuff out of the Harley dealer that wanted $30,000 of your money for a chromed up vibrator, it'll surprise me. The same goes for those two or three cylinder one day wonders. They're fine for a two day two hundred miler to the state park for an overnight, but for criss crossing America, forget it. Riding a vibrating screaming noise machine is the best way to cure yourself of ever wanting more motorcycle travel.
I live in the Atlanta area, about 32 miles southeast of the city. There's a Yamaha dealer on the North east side that I've done some business with, and last summer I stopped in and they had a new Tracer 9 GT on the floor. One of the young sales guys I was talking to about the bike conveyed to me that there'd been a three day promotional ride that he participated in, on which he was provided with a new Tracer 9 GT. As he and I talked, he didn't have to say what he thought of the bike for said, "travel", but he did say there's not enough wind protection, particularly sitting up in the wind, and he was less than thrilled with the vibration of the engine......
Next this is for you young folks who are questioning what may be the best "bang-for-your-buck" sport tourer.....
First, before you buy one of these tall skinny converted naked bikes, take one for a four day trip and ride 500 miles a day. I guarantee you, that between the vibration and the lack of wind protection, when you get back the last thing you'll want to do is buy it....... I have a 2013 FJR1300a. Bought it in 2013 with less than 2900 miles on it. Now it has over 76,000 miles on it. I'm 63 years old, and have taken several one to two day trips, and three multi-day trips on my FJR. Since this is my 11th motorcycle, and I've been riding for what will be 46 years in August, I can reasonably say that for sport touring / traveling I think the FJR is hard to beat. There are more comfortable motorcycles to travel on, and of course with that I have to acknowledge the Goldwing, and v-twins from Harley and Indian, and maybe also a Star, or Kawasaki Vulcan, but I've covered 952 miles in a day and have routinely covered over 700 miles a day on the FJR. When it comes to covering distances that include twisting roads and high speed interstate or Montana two lane highways at well over 70 mph, comfortably, and with competent handling, braking, and cornering, you can't beat the FJR. With this machine you won't have a want for sheer mid-range power that let's you roll the throttle on in fifth gear on a tight mountain curve and just accelerate. There's also a top end that'll easily put you behind bars, if that's your thing. This FJR of mine has covered 80 miles of Wyoming black top in 45 minutes, to get to a stopping place to camp, before dark. I've also loaded it with 20 days worth of living on the road, and that was before I learned about doing it frugally. So extra, extra clothing, a four man tent for comfort, laptop, camera equipment, etc. Two large roll top bags, a 50 liter GIVI top box, a tank bag...... The FJR handled the weight, which includes 220 pound 6'1" me and provisions, and went down the road just like it was built for that, and it was. Yamaha designed and built a great machine here, in the tradition of the famous sport tourer the FJ1200, which I owned two of. I just can't give enough credit to Yamaha. If you young folks that are out there tooling around on your naked bikes, or sport bikes, are starting to think of what's the best way to see the United States by a two wheeled machine, forget those lumber wagon V-twins and 900 pound Goldwings. Do yourself a favor and equip your helmet for sound, tune in to some good tunes, and take an FJR for a 1500 mile jaunt for a couple of days. If you don't come back and slap the dog stuff out of the Harley dealer that wanted $30,000 of your money for a chromed up vibrator, it'll surprise me. The same goes for those two or three cylinder one day wonders. They're fine for a two day two hundred miler to the state park for an overnight, but for criss crossing America, forget it. Riding a vibrating screaming noise machine is the best way to cure yourself of ever wanting more motorcycle travel.
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we're like another country the rest of the year. We should go for a scoot together sometime. I frequent Plymouth from time to time. Love my FJR, I never speed, and I obey all traffic laws. But sometimes I fib... just a little. 
I'm only human...
