Thoughts on FJR 1300

[Jedz123]

I don't think it's exactly on the level to state categorically that the Gen 1 FJR is lemon-like. It's not. As I said, I have friends who have ridden them, and the one who put 70K on one did it on an '03-and that bike is still running very well (we still see the bike at bike nights). Neither of the guys I know who have them have had a single hiccup or reliability issue. In 2011, Cycle World listed the Gen 1 FJR as a number one used bike buy.

I was strongly advised to not look for them due to vibration issues, possible vale seal and head gasket failure issues that were completely knocked out from the release of the Gen 2. I know an acquaintance that has over 100k on his gen 1 FJR and still rides it almost everyday, no issues and love his bike. I also met a gentleman on the road that had a gen 1 FJR that blew it's head gasket at 110K miles and left him stranded thousands of miles from home, however he loved the bike and bought a Gen 2 FJR which he was riding. He said the gen 2 was a better bike then his gen 1. Your right Pilot it's a good machine and it's not a lemon. I guess the point I'm pressing is the Gen 2 is the better machine, refined and it's been fixed from all the gen 1 short comings. It was that gentleman I met on the road (Deal's gap exactly) that put the ST seed in my head for I was really not happy with the B-king for my trip. That's why when I first started looking for ST's I was focused mainly on a Gen 2 FJR.

Really personal preference.

 

[eddie21]

Typical FJR rider? lol

 

[Rob S.]

I'm so old I remember when the FJ was cutting-edge sportbike.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

If I were in the market for a modern sport-tourer, I'd be all over an early FJR. That said, I like old stuff, so I'll stick to the hard decision between various vintage BMWs.

 

[Jedz123]

If I were in the market for a modern sport-tourer, I'd be all over an early FJR. That said, I like old stuff, so I'll stick to the hard decision between various vintage BMWs.

One of my Bosses is on the same boat. He has a K100 with over 160K miles... Of course he's spent a small fortune in keeping it on the road for the past 3 decades but loves it. However his wife had one look at my bike and told him he had to get that next .

 

[trevor]

One of my Bosses is on the same boat. He has a K100 with over 160K miles... Of course he's spent a small fortune in keeping it on the road for the past 3 decades but loves it. However his wife had one look at my bike and told him he had to get that next .

The wife is missing the soul in a K100 compared to the Tupperware Connie.

 

[RichDesmond]

The wife is missing the soul in a K100 compared to the Tupperware Connie.

Soul in K100?? Perhaps the most soulless, clinical, antiseptic bike ever made....

 

[trevor]

Soul in K100?? Perhaps the most soulless, clinical, antiseptic bike ever made....

And the connie has it?

 

[RichDesmond]

And the connie has it?

More than the K100.

As you may have figured out, I hate that bike. Haven't owed one (perish the thought!!) but have ridden a few. They always struck me as a bike designed by people who never rode, like BMW brought over a bunch of car engineers on a lark and mistakenly put into production the aberration they came up with.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

I have been looking at various K75s and a few R100s, both of which I like. Regarding spending a small fortune to keep them on the road, meh. Pretty sure they won't cost as much over three years as a new C14 does to buy, and we know Jedz will not have the C14 in three years. I always buy older vehicles. No depreciation, generally easier to work on and cheaper on parts (though BMW stuff is rather dear).

Still, for a full boat ubertourer, I'd take an FJR. One of my co-workers just bought a C14 in the metallic Kawi green. Good looking machine, but a great riding buddy bought one and said it was the only bike he'd ever bought that he failed to fall in love with. I think the FJR is a bit sharper, and at 100 pounds lighter, it'd be a more sprightly ride.

 

[trevor]

More than the K100.

As you may have figured out, I hate that bike. Haven't owed one (perish the thought!!) but have ridden a few. They always struck me as a bike designed by people who never rode, like BMW brought over a bunch of car engineers on a lark and mistakenly put into production the aberration they came up with.

One word.... Tupperware.

 

[eddie21]

Still, for a full boat ubertourer, I'd take an FJR. One of my co-workers just bought a C14 in the metallic Kawi green. Good looking machine, but a great riding buddy bought one and said it was the only bike he'd ever bought that he failed to fall in love with. I think the FJR is a bit sharper, and at 100 pounds lighter, it'd be a more sprightly ride.

You have to make compromises somewhere if you're going to get a sport/tourer. If you want to "look good" as Fernando would say, pick yourself up a Heritage Softail with pretty streamers or something. The popular sport/tourers of today have gravitated to lots of bodywork as part of their function. With the prerequisite front fairing for long range comfort and hard saddlebags for the stuff you'll carry on a comfortable mile-eating beast, there isn't a lot of room for vanity type styling. The Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki sport/tourers are ok to look at. They are built for function and whichever one you choose is the 'correct' one... for you! Yes, I have the C14 and in 4 1/2 years of ownership I have replaced the tires, changed the oil and oil filter (a tedious 20 minute job), and replaced the brake pads. That's it! I'm a big guy and the heft of the bike is totally inconsequential for me. It is a hundred times easier to put on the center-stand than a C10, I can even do it in bare feet! Jedz could probably describe the power of the bike better than me, more than sufficient, that's for sure. Trevor, you and I rode Hwy36 together in Northern California, although the C14 isn't a MotoGP bike, it still can handle the twisty stuff quite well. My only regret about buying the C14 is that I waited until 2011 to buy mine, when they came out in 2008 is when I wish I'd bought it!

C'mon, they're not that ugly! The bulletproof shaft Kawi designed for it is a thing of beauty all by itself.

 

[trevor]

You have to make compromises somewhere if you're going to get a sport/tourer. If you want to "look good" as Fernando would say, pick yourself up a Heritage Softail with pretty streamers or something. The popular sport/tourers of today have gravitated to lots of bodywork as part of their function. With the prerequisite front fairing for long range comfort and hard saddlebags for the stuff you'll carry on a comfortable mile-eating beast, there isn't a lot of room for vanity type styling. The Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki sport/tourers are ok to look at. They are built for function and whichever one you choose is the 'correct' one... for you! Yes, I have the C14 and in 4 1/2 years of ownership I have replaced the tires, changed the oil and oil filter (a tedious 20 minute job), and replaced the brake pads. That's it! I'm a big guy and the heft of the bike is totally inconsequential for me. It is a hundred times easier to put on the center-stand than a C10, I can even do it in bare feet! Jedz could probably describe the power of the bike better than me, more than sufficient, that's for sure. Trevor, you and I rode Hwy36 together in Northern California, although the C14 isn't a MotoGP bike, it still can handle the twisty stuff quite well. My only regret about buying the C14 is that I waited until 2011 to buy mine, when they came out in 2008 is when I wish I'd bought it!

C'mon, they're not that ugly! The bulletproof shaft Kawi designed for it is a thing of beauty all by itself.

Did we ever ride Hwy 36!! Wow Glenn what a trip on what I would say were two perfect bikes for two guys looking to cover tons of miles on all kinds of roads. Man that was an awesome trip buddy!!!

 

[Jedz123]

Yeah I know I'm still the 5 year old on the forum and I have gone through at least 15 bikes since i started riding when I was 23 (8 years ago). Hey isn't that what you do when your young work through machines till you find the one you want???

I've seemed to have settled happily on my investment, the Connie does everything I need it to do and it does it very well; Go long distances in comfort (check), Easy on tires (check), Go ridiculous fast (check), Handle like a sport bike (check), Tour(check), low maintenance(check).... List goes on. I honestly didn't jump on the ST band wagon earlier for I refereed to them as old man bikes, something I wouldn't want to get onto until 15 or 20 years down the line... God was I wrong and I've been kicking myself since. I'll always own more then 1 bike and I may trade it in down the road but if I do it's going to be for another newer Connie. This thing is a tank and I love it. I won't lie I get some flak from my buddies about riding an old man bike but after a spirited day of riding bags off they are singing a totally different tune...

Soulless??? Not really I find my self talking to it and rubbing the tank after achieving accomplishments like riding 400 miles or grinding out a peg or breaking 150mph... the Bike really does everything I want it to do. As for Tupperware? Yeah I hope so! That $hit never breaks and my grandmother still uses her's and its as old as me! Hope the Connie goes that long, likely will... It a product of the Big 4.

Dude I think it's a gorgeous machine... Strip off the bags and it looks even better (better then the FJR IMO) and she keeps up with the best of them... My buddy on his RC51 couldn't shake me, sure I might have a slightly better skill set but dude a touring bike wouldn't let a RC51 sport bike get away...

Ride on guys.

I really need to go out west and ride those roads... Gorgeous pics Trevor. Wouldn't expect any less.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

I don't think "looking good" = Harley. Not at all. The FJR handles better than the C14 and is much lighter. Buying a sport-tourer doesn't mean you have to want a ton of weight, and I'm just not keen on bikes that weigh upward of 700 pounds. I think the FJR is the sharper looking bike, and they do everything as well as pretty much any ST bike going, without the bloat that seems to creep in.

 

[earlfor]

I don't think "looking good" = Harley. Not at all. The FJR handles better than the C14 and is much lighter. Buying a sport-tourer doesn't mean you have to want a ton of weight, and I'm just not keen on bikes that weigh upward of 700 pounds. I think the FJR is the sharper looking bike, and they do everything as well as pretty much any ST bike going, without the bloat that seems to creep in.

Yeah, FJR's, C14's and BMW's are nice touring TANKS. I would rather have something smaller and lighter like a F250. LOL

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Yeah, FJR's, C14's and BMW's are nice touring TANKS. I would rather have something smaller and lighter like a F250. LOL

The 2003 FJR weighed less than a GS850G ...

 

[Guest]

well I took the 2 bikes out on Sat. , cold as hell so not alot of high speed runs . The connie definatly has more power and is heavier. The Fj is a longer bike, and a little lower. They both are alittle cramped for me, but I think either one could be improved with alittle peg relocating. As it stands I think Iam going to try and find a 2nd gen FJ to try before I make a final decision. Because as for me what ever I decide to buy I will have for a while and I want to make a good decision. Also have to get the wife on a ride on both as she will be on the back of which ever I Buy at least 80% of the time.Thank you for all the imput guys .

 

[eddie21]

Your selection process sounds good! Try out the ones you've shortlisted, then make a choice. As well as peg relocation, changing the seat can make huge ergonomic differences as well. I don't know of any manufacturer that produces a modern bike with a decent stock seat... (for me anyway)! I put a Corbin on my C14 and have been very pleased with it.

 

[Jedz123]

well I took the 2 bikes out on Sat. , cold as hell so not alot of high speed runs . The connie definatly has more power and is heavier. The Fj is a longer bike, and a little lower. They both are alittle cramped for me, but I think either one could be improved with alittle peg relocating. As it stands I think Iam going to try and find a 2nd gen FJ to try before I make a final decision. Because as for me what ever I decide to buy I will have for a while and I want to make a good decision. Also have to get the wife on a ride on both as she will be on the back of which ever I Buy at least 80% of the time.Thank you for all the imput guys .

Great to hear Jim! Id say give the Gen 2 a whirl and see what you think. 2 up was also a big reason why I went with the Connie. My misses and I hated riding the B-King together and since we both love riding 2 up the Connie was the best match, for us that is. The FJR not so much. Lol I can't belive you said they made you cramped... Then again Your the only person I know that can make a GS1000 look like a 400 when you ride it.

Keep us posted!