Why Buy an FJR?

[big ears]

Wanted a sport tourer like the bmw but they were to high. Had a Yamaha Roadstar so I got a better trade for the FJR than if trading for the St1300. Glad I got the FJR. Didn't buy to get attention but the FJR usually gets it when around other bikes. They ain't real common around here.

 

[mcatrophy]

My reason at the time I got the FJR was solely because of the electric gear-change. For me, Hobson's choice. Owing to a painful joint in my left little finger, I could no longer ride any distance on my previous bike, a Triumph Trophy.

I will say I have no regrets whatsoever in having a bike that doesn't pull the comments like my Trumpet did, but does give me every bit as good a ride. And the ONLY reason I have a bike is to ride it.

I use it for commuting, a whole 3 miles each way (only two days a week now I'm officially retired), shopping, local rides of perhaps a couple of hours, and week long tours. Don't care what people think, it's a purely selfish indulgence.

Does that answer the question?

 

[nofreeride]

Simple. I had a Concours and loved it, but my next bike had to have ABS, fuel injection, and an adjustable windshield. And when used FJR's became affordable, I snagged one. No regrets.

 

[Deacon51]

I'm not yet a FJR owner, but I will be as soon as I can find a good deal and get some money in order.

Why I decided (and I have decided) on a FJR... well, I have a 2003 FZ1 now and I love it. I have always been a Yamaha Fan and owned several YZ's and IT's as a kid. That kind of given Yamaha's a leg up, but I'm not so brand loyal that I won't check all my options.

Coming from a FZ1 (which I love) I want something with better wind/weather protection. I want ABS and an adjustable wind screen. I want storage space and room for some two up riding. Running 120 down the interstate and dragging knees in the curves are not longer why I ride, but I'm not willing to give up the ability to do so.

That list took me down to the big four sport-touring bikes.

ST1300 is to heavy, to dated looking.

Conie... love it! But Kawasaki's I'm just not a fan. The bikes they build are great, but they seem rushed or something. Fit and Finish just isn't on par. Plus the weight and size of the Conie, just feels to large for me.

K1300GT If the price was in line with the others I would be all over it. I like it a lot, I would love to own one. I like the looks of the FJR a little better, but man that K bike is nice. It's just not $8000.00 bucks nicer than a FJR. That's just to much money to join the BMW Riders Club.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Brand loyal to Yamaha since my first sport moped, many years ago. I was riding a VStar but wanted something quicker and with better cornering. R6/R1 not suitable for touring - at least not if you want any comfort. Then I saw the FJR and just fell in love with the styling. Someone else mentioned a visceral reaction. I felt that too.

That was during the pre-order program. I couldn't find a bike to sit on, anywhere. 31.7" seat height on a top-heavy bike versus 26" inseam, without a lot of strength. Not a smart combination but a used bike appeared in the right place at the right time.

Then I found a whole community of like-minded people. Since joining the forum, I've ridden my bike to all kind of events that I wouldn't have otherwise gone to, and met some great new friends.

 

[Stewart]

Was definately going to purchase an st bike back in 03/04 and did lots of research on them. BMW's too much money, Honda ST1300 (high speed issues and price too high), FJR1300 blowing the doors off all the competition price a little better then the ST1300 however didn't like the pre-pay play and too many riders complaining of the heat. Decided on a used concours and used that for a few years and loved the sport touring style, fast, comfortable, could holds lots of stuff and still ride two up very comfortably. Then in 06 yamaha fixed the heat issues however I still couldn't afford one new. Kept the concours for another year and in the fall of 07 purchased my 06 with only 3K on the clock at a fair price. I love the way it handles, cleans up easily if I feel like it, don't care what the girls think of it, it handles my wife or one of my two daughters and I with ease and comfort and like the concours does things quickly and we can still take lots of stuff.

The FJR is a great bike today and in MHO the best ST for the money at this time. If Kawasaki fixed the new concours heat issues then it would be good competition for FJR buyers, however even if it were fixed I do like the way the FJR looks in comparison to the concous with the fugly exhaust can on only one side.

My .02 cents.

Regards,

John

 

[Cdogman]

======= OFF TOPIC....... ;> =========
CDOG......... where is your hair???.........

you use to have hair...... looks like some kind of rough landing strip now........... :lol: :yahoo: :yahoo:

B.....

Jes sayin

It got tore out by the wind through my helmet. Somfin a slow feller like you dongotta worry about <_<

 

[Bustanut joker]

I bought mine because it was the only werd I could spell at the time.. Oh an something about this place convinced me it was a good idea.

****! If I'da known my I.Q. was gonna fall after joinin' up well I'd never have dun it.

Buncha spaz's here I tell ya.. :dribble:

:jester:

 

[racer]

Why buy an FJR? I bought mine, because no one would give me one for free.

 

[Bobcattoo]

"i rarely clean my bike but no matter who i ride with harleys, r1 types or gold wings people always comment on my bike first."
Yeah, hehehe. I rode with a buddy who was on his near-new BMW K1200LT. At a couple of stops., people walked past and ignored it to ask about my Feej.

Heheheh.

Well I've had the opposite happen when riding with an 1150R. Girl at country store saw the Beemer from her window and commented on her "loving" the BMW's. Then see ask if mine was as well and I informed her it was an FJR. She had no clue...........or interest in that Bike. Frankly, I don't get too upset when people that don't know Bikes don't know what that one is. Good thing she didn't bother to walk out and inspect the Beemer. She might have noticed the left rear turn light was held on with electrical tape. It had just fallen off earlier in the ride.

 

[Cdogman]

Why buy an FJR? I bought mine, because no one would give me one for free.

PERFECT ANSWER!!!

 

[mdisher]

A buddy with a nice Black VStrom has VMW Roundel's on the side tank. They look legit and he tells people it's one of those newer Vietnamese BMW's. Most people who walk up and ask have no clue and believe him.

If I could find BMW roundels with JMW on them I'd put them on in a second. I'd say that 95% of the people who don't know what the FJR is, assume it's a BMW.

I bought it quite simply because it is the best overall bang for the buck bike on the market. If I didn't have it I'd have a sport bike and a wing or LT.

-MD

 

[winewhisperer]

My reasons for buying the FJR were based as much on emotions as they were on hard facts. Most sport-touring bikes have similar equipment, and are pretty close performance-wise. Besides, the skill of the rider will in most cases determine which bike wins in the twisties. However, I simply think the FJR is the BEST LOOKING sport-tourer on the planet. The fact that it is a proven winner and a great value are just bonuses. I happen to be lucky, in that I can buy any sport-tourer I want; regardless of what it costs; and I chose the FJR because IMHO it is the BEST, period. My guess is that many others in this forum share similar opinions.

Gary Green

 

[Dblhelix]

I bought the FJR because of all the other bikes in the class, I wanted it the most. Completely 100% satisfied with my decision.

 

[Cdogman]

[SIZE=12pt]Couple of years ago I had looked at the Kawa ZZR1200... At this time it was hard to find a Feej.... I didn't buy the bike, waited a few years, bought the Feej, and do love it... My back could use a little more comfort, especially after a 500 mile/day ride; or perhaps I need to pick up a pack of tampons!!???[/SIZE] :lol:

LOL

Maxi pads work.. Dont ask how I know

 

[majicmaker]

STATUS?!?! Oh Pleeeze!!

That's for someone who needs to buy something that will give them some. My reason?, I was ready for a Sport Tourer in my life. I just felt it in my bones.

After a year and a half of reading everything I could get my hands on about any and all ST's. I had the choice of all 4. (Connie, BMW, Honda & FJR) After all the

Magazine comparisons were done, after finding out that dollar for dollar, the FJR was just as good, if not better in some catagories than any other bike, including

the BMW. I got the FJR because it was the ONLY ONE that gave me Goose Bumps by me just looking at it. (The full page picture of the '06AE on Page 52 of the

Robb Report Motorcycling Magazine 2006 Preview Jan/Feb 2006 issue made me weak in the knees.) The fact that this bike was just "Drop Dead Gorgous" did it

for me! I don't remember the last time I parked somewhere where it didn't attract a crowd that just wanted to look at it. Now, having said all that. It's just icing

on the cake that this bike has become a gigantic babe magnet!!!! LIFE IS GOOD!!! :yahoo:

 

[Rolavine]

STATUS?!?! Oh Pleeeze!! ........ on the cake that this bike has become a gigantic babe magnet!!!! LIFE IS GOOD!!! :yahoo:

Damn, there has to be something wrong with my FJR, maybe I'm not rubbing enough botox into the seat?

 

[SouthernCruizer]

I had stepped down from a GoldWing to a Honda Magna 750, wanting something lighter and less bulky because I was doing so much in town riding and the Wing had become too cumbersome. Rode the Magna for almost 3 years, and had put 75K on it. I liked the bike, but felt it still wasnt exactly what I needed, and something never really felt "right". By pure chance one day, I ran across an old buddy at one of our Rig Rider rallies, and he was riding a 2004 FJR 1300. When I first saw it , it really didnt turn me on much. He offered to switch bikes for a 60 mile loop run. Man, after that, i KNEW it was what I had been craving! Now that's what a bike is SUPPOSED to feel like! It just talked to me and I knew we fit like peas in a pod. Four weeks later, I had my 2004 FJR. Put about 75K on it in less than 3 years, and knew I had to stay with the FJR, and thus my new 2008 FJR found its home.

 

[CRMH Eagle]

My 07A is the first bike I've ever owned. My reasons for buying: sports look, chicks dig it, two-up capability, easy maintainance, boatload of horsepower & torque, adjustable windscreen, low insurance rates, great gas mileage, luggage cases that are very functional and match the bike's sports look, nice seating position, and this forum where there are uncountless threads and riders who are willing to help and assist.

I took my FJR this past weekend from Denver to Santa Fe and back. 900 miles round trip. Going down to Santa Fe from Denver I went the back way, thru the mountains, and the FJR thrilled me in the curves. I left Santa Fe going 100mph all the way to the CO state line... and the bike was begging for more. On the way back home I encountered heavy rain and heavy traffic. Excellent brakes. The bike is easy to maneuver out of trouble spots. It'was easy to work with in Santa Fe traffic. Out of the numerous times I stopped to take a picture or visit a store I didn't think at all about how easy it is to park the bike.

If you know of a bike that can combine the fun factor and practicality and sexy looks better than the FJR then I'm all ears.

 

[wfooshee]

I bought one because one became available at the same time as I had enough money in my pocket.

I wasn't looking specifically for an FJR, or even any ST bike. I was actually trying to find a 10 or 15 year old GW that I could afford, thinking that's what I really wanted.

My brother found out about that, and knew his friend had an '03, and steered me right.