Wait? What wait?

[paste007]

Place order on 10-18-05.

Picked up bike this afternoon (4-13-06). The bags were shipped separately, but arrived in time not to delay my receipt of the bike.

First impressions, after having been on a '77 KZ1000 for the last 27 years:

Wow! Wow! and Wow!

1) Great handling. Just thinking of turning or lane changing and it's done. Forget countersteering, this bike reads my thoughts.

2) Great brakes. Two fingers. The tech that took it for a test ride said that the integrated ABS works better than previous year's models and that try as he could, he wasn't able to lock up the rear wheel.

3) Great windshield. No wind in the high position, but seemed louder. In the down position, still provided a lot of protection, but wasn't near has hot.

4) Power at all levels. Unbelievable torque. Gave up thoughts of the motoman breakin method of taking the bike to red line in the first three gears. With the power of this bike, I'd worry about the re-entry. It'd be in triple numbers very quickly.

Wait? What wait? What seemed like an eternity is all behind me now. I want to thank all of you for the great ideas that I've picked up on this forum over the last six months, awaiting my bike, but from this point on, I will be on the road and not on the net. Maybe I'll see you in my travels. I'm the guy with the **** eating grin that won't go away.

 

[throttlejockeyTJ]

Interesting what you say about the windshield. How tall are you. I have the +2 Rifle on 05. Down a lot of wind just under helmet height, up a litttle atop my helmet. I'm 6'. Yeah tripple digets come quick.

 

[paste007]

I'm 6', 265 lbs.

My comments on the windshield are with the seat in the higher position. Tomorrow, I'll ride with the seat in the lower position and compare results. Also, I believe that the handlebars are currently in the rearward position, however, that might also effect the windshield's effectiveness in it's range of positions.

Over the last six months I've looked forward to such "testing".

The bottom line is that this is a great bike and fine tuning can only make it more user friendly.

Also, the bike sounds great. A deeper growl than what I remember hearing on earlier models. The sound should be enhanced with aftermarket slip on's.

Forgot to note that mine has Metzlers. Anticipate going to Avon's for the next set.

Hopefully there will be a lot of the vendors who make the various farkels at the Reno rally.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Congrats!! Have fun testing and we'll have fun reading the results!

I went and spent more time looking at the 2006 FJRs at the Roseville Yamaha dealership today. They got 4 yesterday and have more coming in today. I even tagged along and followed on a test ride of one that had completed set up. CISCO (from the forum) was testing it and he made a few comments:

1) Seems to have better and punchier response in the middle

2) Seems to be more gear whine

3) I'm gonna get one

It was a fun time and I took comaparison pictures of some of the differences that I'll post later. My impression of the bike: Nice package. I like the 06, now we have to beat them up to add factory cruise control for the 07

 

[skyway]

It 'aint real until we see a picture of it!

 

[Luke]

Hey, all that "handling, braking and generous torque in full rpm range" talk is making me drool. That's exactly why I sold my cruiser and am waiting for the '06.