What do your friends think of your AE?

[Rondo777]

I have my AE and I love my AE. I'll admit that I had 2nd thoughts once or twice over the initial 2 or 3 hundred miles but have never regreted the AE over a standard clutch. Now with 2k miles on it I would never give it up. Many of my friends have ridden it and I'm shocked at how many dont like it. They like the bike, just not the AE. Out of about a dozen that have tried it all ride cruisers except for one, he has an R1 and he is the only one who got off the bike and thought the Auto Clutch was cool and just loved the bike. All the rest hated it. Just curious if any of you have experianced the same?

 

[madmike2]

Inthe end, it only matters what you think.

I have one friend who owns one, TurboDave, and he loves his. That's all that matters.

 

[palerider]

Inthe end, it only matters what you think.

That's absolute nonsense. If you're out of step with those around you, then you made the wrong choice. You should give the bike away.

Face your demons. Give the bike to me.

 

[mutha1300]

I don't care what my friends think, and if I had any it still wouldn't matter.. <_<

I love my AE, and the peeps who have ridden it seem to like it, well the two who rode it.. One liked it so much he bought one the next weekend (traded in his FZ-1).. :blink:

I have about 5000mi on mine and like you, I dig the auto-clutch.. I didn't find it hard to get use to, one trip around the block..

When it's time to get a new one and Yamaha still makes 'em, well now, perhaps.. :derisive:

 

[fatrat]

most people are like me, they think that it is "trick", started not to go ae, knew i'd always wished i'd got one,,,so i did. have other bikes manual, so i've the best of both worlds. took about 200 miles to get used to handlebar shift, now i'd buy another. most people around here hav'nt seen one, creates a lot of interest and discussion.

 

[schrecke]

Out of about a dozen that have tried it all ride cruisers except for one, he has an R1 and he is the only one who got off the bike and thought the Auto Clutch was cool and just loved the bike. All the rest hated it. Just curious if any of you have experianced the same?

You let a dozen people ride it....what a trusting guy. Did you hold their bikes hostage?

 

[SR-71]

I read somewhere 7 A's sell for every 1 AE. I'm not sure if that's an availability thing, Yamaha trying to break new ice, or what. I had a chance to buy the AE, but it wasn't me.

But something is wrong here. Why aren't owners of A models writing posts wondering what AE owners think?! We need to get to the bottom of this thread! I sense there's a deeply seeded problem. If I was a shrink, I'd have a tendency to think that the title of your thread "What do your friends think of your AE?" has you ever so slightly wishing you had went with the standard A model. Maybe even panting and begging for that clutch lever as you manually reengage that powerhouse of an engine, upshifting and powering out of a turn.

Questions. When you're half asleep does that little voice in your head say,

"... go for the clutch! Oops, damn, there ain't no frinkin' clutch! Uh... I mean button!" :dribble:

"Was the Yamaha engineer just attempting to create the world's first FJR Scooter?" :blink:

"What's next? Push a button and it's a fully automatic shift?"

Are people staring at that "Born to be Mild" bumper sticker on the back of my FJR?" :glare:

Awww hell, I'm just pulling your leg. You're obviously happy with your choice. :fans: Forget what anyone else thinks and stop creating crazy threads like this! :lol:

 

[Mooseonagoose]

I can't say that I have 'many' friends that I'd LET ride my bike [can think of maybe 3], I guess it's just that while I've got alot of friends & many more acquaintences, there are really only about that many of the ones that are fellow riders that truly fall into the friends category....

As regards being out of step w/ what the masses prefer, I guess over the years I've accepted that as a functional reality in my life, ...in fact, do I even take a certain perverse pleasure in it? ... uhh, yeah a tad.

Besides, too much concern about what they think of your choice reduces the grin factor, ...keep ridin', keep smilin', keep collectin' them bugs!

 

[mcatrophy]

Only one who's ridden mine scared himself when he blipped the throttle, and took off unexpectedly!

I believe most riders, once they've got used to it, generally prefer the AE (AS in my part of the world). It does take a while to learn how to use it properly, so an opinion after one ride isn't really valid.

Topic covered fairly well here I think.

 

[Rondo777]

Out of about a dozen that have tried it all ride cruisers except for one, he has an R1 and he is the only one who got off the bike and thought the Auto Clutch was cool and just loved the bike. All the rest hated it. Just curious if any of you have experianced the same?

You let a dozen people ride it....what a trusting guy. Did you hold their bikes hostage?

My friends are all long time riders. I dont throw them the keys and watch my bike ride off. We'll trade off during rides. Of course everyone wanted to try the FeeJer

 

[ROBSMST]

I'm not sure I have any friends I would let ride the AE. First, too much power even for the experienced. Too heavy even for the experienced. And then add the no clutch lever thing? I don't think so.

I've put a couple thousand miles and I still don't feel like I know my AE. Everyday I know it more and more.

I've ridden a lot the past year (20+K miles) and I would not go back to a non-AE bike for my main bike. In city traffic, on the highway, on on-ramps, on turns, off-ramps, twisties, the AE is just too much fun.

There is something to be said for not having to shift the weight of your hands or your feet to shift. I feel like I have more control (counterintuitive I know but that is how I feel).

 

[fjrchooser]

You need more friends that aren't cruiser riders. They all think their bikes can't idle without their help, try that crap on an AE an they end up with their balls in their belly button.

No surprise they don't care for it much.