Used FJR Price Advice
- Thread starter spartan1984
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07fjrTom
Well-known member
Barry,
It sounds like you are a smart guy with a common sense approach to riding. It doesn't matter what you are riding as long as you have the maturity and control to be cautious and apply what you have learned. Any bike will eat your lunch if you let it. Good luck with whatever you choose, but keep in mind that in this market you are in the drivers seat. I just bought a super clean used 07' with 25k for $7000. Nicely farkled with one scratch on it. Keep your eyes open and keep asking the right questions.
Just my $.02
Tom
It sounds like you are a smart guy with a common sense approach to riding. It doesn't matter what you are riding as long as you have the maturity and control to be cautious and apply what you have learned. Any bike will eat your lunch if you let it. Good luck with whatever you choose, but keep in mind that in this market you are in the drivers seat. I just bought a super clean used 07' with 25k for $7000. Nicely farkled with one scratch on it. Keep your eyes open and keep asking the right questions.
Just my $.02
Tom
RadioHowie
I Miss Beemerdons!
Hadn't read through this love fest all the way to the end until this morning and I must say I'm surprised someone hadn't come up with a better suggestion on buying an older, used bike to "prepare" Barry for an FJR....
That would be to buy an '03 or '04 FJR.
And before some of you Gen II wankers start screaming about the "heat" issue, I bet Spartan ain't the pussy you guys are.
Seriously, Barry...the main thrust of most of the advice to start with an older bike is the cost factor of dropping and repairing it when you DO drop it. Still just as expensive to fix the plastic on an '03 as it would be on an '07 or '08, but since you wouldn't have nearly as much money in the bike to start with, the cost ratio is MUCH more in your favor.
With an older FJR, you'd be "training" your body and skills for a new FJR MUCH better than you would be with a naked bike with half the power and a third of the weight. You probably already have the basic motorcycling skill set from your year and a half on the Piaggio. All you really need is to hone those skills with a 600+ pound bike with 145hp. You ain't gonna get that with some 1980s rat bike.
Besides, if you don't frag yourself on an '03 or '04, then you'd be ready to hop on a late model FJR without hesitation. And if you hadn't destroyed the bike in the process of preparing for the "leap" I bet you could get every penny back you spent on a well-kept Gen I. THEN go buy your new FJR.
But you WOULD wonder where all the power disappeared to.
That would be to buy an '03 or '04 FJR.
And before some of you Gen II wankers start screaming about the "heat" issue, I bet Spartan ain't the pussy you guys are.
Seriously, Barry...the main thrust of most of the advice to start with an older bike is the cost factor of dropping and repairing it when you DO drop it. Still just as expensive to fix the plastic on an '03 as it would be on an '07 or '08, but since you wouldn't have nearly as much money in the bike to start with, the cost ratio is MUCH more in your favor.
With an older FJR, you'd be "training" your body and skills for a new FJR MUCH better than you would be with a naked bike with half the power and a third of the weight. You probably already have the basic motorcycling skill set from your year and a half on the Piaggio. All you really need is to hone those skills with a 600+ pound bike with 145hp. You ain't gonna get that with some 1980s rat bike.
Besides, if you don't frag yourself on an '03 or '04, then you'd be ready to hop on a late model FJR without hesitation. And if you hadn't destroyed the bike in the process of preparing for the "leap" I bet you could get every penny back you spent on a well-kept Gen I. THEN go buy your new FJR.
But you WOULD wonder where all the power disappeared to.
spartan1984
Active member
RadioHowie,Hadn't read through this love fest all the way to the end until this morning and I must say I'm surprised someone hadn't come up with a better suggestion on buying an older, used bike to "prepare" Barry for an FJR....
That would be to buy an '03 or '04 FJR.
And before some of you Gen II wankers start screaming about the "heat" issue, I bet Spartan ain't the pussy you guys are.
Seriously, Barry...the main thrust of most of the advice to start with an older bike is the cost factor of dropping and repairing it when you DO drop it. Still just as expensive to fix the plastic on an '03 as it would be on an '07 or '08, but since you wouldn't have nearly as much money in the bike to start with, the cost ratio is MUCH more in your favor.
With an older FJR, you'd be "training" your body and skills for a new FJR MUCH better than you would be with a naked bike with half the power and a third of the weight. You probably already have the basic motorcycling skill set from your year and a half on the Piaggio. All you really need is to hone those skills with a 600+ pound bike with 145hp. You ain't gonna get that with some 1980s rat bike.
Besides, if you don't frag yourself on an '03 or '04, then you'd be ready to hop on a late model FJR without hesitation. And if you hadn't destroyed the bike in the process of preparing for the "leap" I bet you could get every penny back you spent on a well-kept Gen I. THEN go buy your new FJR.
But you WOULD wonder where all the power disappeared to.
Freaking hilarious...I enjoyed your comment :yahoo: And I never even thought about an older model, but now you've opened my eyes. Will be on the lookout for multiple options to see what comes my way.
Barry
Tom,
Very good point and thank you for the advice. Will be looking for a ride to get the experience I need and would love to own a late model FJR in the future.
Barry
cruppelt
Will always be FJR rider at heart
Hi Barry,
So you are still looking and haven't made up your mind yet! Have you actually test rode an FJR yet? Anybody on here close to Oceanside that would let him ride for a few minutes? I still think that once you've actually been on one your mind WILL be made up...
Good luck!!!
Chris in Portland
FJR-Don
Well-known member
There are some great buys out there... I just picked up a very nice 04 with 24k on it for $5600.
spartan1984
Active member
:yahoo:
Yes, there are a couple folks close by and I'll touch bases with them to learn more about the bike. By the way, how are you enjoying yours :yahoo: ?
Barry
that sounds like a great purchase...I'm on the lookout for sure.
Hi Chris,
Yes, there are a couple folks close by and I'll touch bases with them to learn more about the bike. By the way, how are you enjoying yours :yahoo: ?
Barry
Don,
that sounds like a great purchase...I'm on the lookout for sure.
cruppelt
Will always be FJR rider at heart
Hi Barry,
Great, I always thought you should ride one before making the decision.... About my FJR, I am definitely in love, but I still can't take her out on the open road. Riding around the driveway is just not that much fun :dribble: ..... I am expecting the title to get here in about 1 to 1-1/2 weeks from now. I knew it would take a while when I pulled the trigger, but waiting is just not one of my strong sides. :lol:
Scooper
Well-known member
Hi Chris,
You have gotten great advice here. That said as reserved as you sound I agree that an older Fjr would work as long as you start out slowly. I bought a 2004 with only 6440 miles on it for $6300. I have not felt the heat problem some talk about but I wear ATGATT and the bike may have had the heat fix too.
I started riding in 1999 on a Royal Star Venture. That bike will make the FJR feel like the scooter you have now. It has a weight in the area of 900lbs. You can do it but you must be alert to what you are doing too.
Scoop
You have gotten great advice here. That said as reserved as you sound I agree that an older Fjr would work as long as you start out slowly. I bought a 2004 with only 6440 miles on it for $6300. I have not felt the heat problem some talk about but I wear ATGATT and the bike may have had the heat fix too.
I started riding in 1999 on a Royal Star Venture. That bike will make the FJR feel like the scooter you have now. It has a weight in the area of 900lbs. You can do it but you must be alert to what you are doing too.
Scoop
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petercwelch
Active member
If you are a mature person (you sound like you are) the FJR is ok in my opinion. It is much much heavier than you are used to which is an issue only at low speeds and when stopped or stopping. Lots of us have dropped them in the driveway so be very careful when stopping and moving it around. Suspec the price is high. Probably can find a newer one for the same price or another 07 for quite a bit less. Good luck. I LOVE MY FJR. I will soon be 68 and hope to ride it for many more years.
spartan1984
Active member
Great information and thanks for the compliment (about being mature...hehehe) :yahoo: Looking forward to that day when it's in my driveway
spartan1984
Active member
Patience my friend and you will get your wish...soon
Amen to that for sure
