I like my 05 BMW R1200GS, but,

[jim williams]

I don't love it. I don't get excited about it. The realistic side of me feels like I should keep it. With a Sargent seat and Aeroflow, it makes a great touring bike. 1000 mile days no problem. My knees don't ache like other bikes have done. It's great in the city just puttering along. Lots of luggage with my Jesse bags and top box. Handles great in the rain. Honestly, it does everything I want in a bike, but, it doesn't do for me what it should. It never goes off road. twice, I've lost brakes entirely. BMW says the ABS sensor can do that. Rare. but, it can happen. I find that unacceptable. anyway....

That FJR. Wow. I haven't ridden one yet, but, it sure looks great. Folks love theirs. Folks also love their GS's!

Sell me on an FJR and make my local dealer happy.

Anyone go from a 1200gs to an FJR?

[UFO]

Anyone go from a 1200gs to an FJR?

I have nothing bad to say about my '04 FJR except it's a hot biatch.  I've not had the chance to ride an '06+ FJR to see how much the heat issue has been resolved.  On the flip side it makes a great cold weather bike.

I will probably make the switch to another bike next year, and a new FJR is on the short list...it's that good of an all around bike (assuming you never go off road).

[ratbagg]

I have nothing bad to say about my '04 FJR except it's a hot biatch.  I've not had the chance to ride an '06+ FJR to see how much the heat issue has been resolved.

Heat issue..., what heat issue?  Keep the tank full of gas to absorb the engine heat.  And keep your knees off the tank.

[UFO]

Heat issue..., what heat issue?  Keep the tank full of gas to absorb the engine heat.  And keep your knees off the tank.

The fact that you had to post this indicates you agree there's a heat issue on the earlier version of the FJR.  Thanks for the confirmation Mr. Wizard.

[atadaskew]

Heat issue..., what heat issue?  Keep the tank full of gas to absorb the engine heat.  And keep your knees off the tank.

How do you keep the tank full as you are riding it?  You refill every 30 miles?

[ratbagg]

The fact that you had to post this indicates you agree there's a heat issue on the earlier version of the FJR.  Thanks for the confirmation Mr. Wizard.

Don't you think that all motorcycles have heat issues?  I am amazed by the overly sensitive few that whine about the FJR and it's heat issues. I have ridden my '04 in Arizona during the summer and found that it is no different than a HD V-twin as far as it producing heat. It's a large internal combustion motor between your legs fer christsakes. If you want to talk about heat issues, take a Honda ST1300 for a spin. You'll think that your Yamaha has AC compared to the Honda. Mr. Skipper

[ratbagg]

How do you keep the tank full as you are riding it?  You refill every 30 miles?

On a warm day I'll tank up every 100 miles.

[UFO]

Don't you think that all motorcycles have heat issues?

Simply put:  NO

All motorcycles DO NOT have heat issues.  WTF?

[greench440]

FJR is a great bike for gobbling up the miles in style and comfort (with an aftermarket seat) at 45+ mpg.  I regularly go 200+ between stops.  The bags will swallow a whole lot of gear, enough for the wife and I to go away for a weekend with no complaints.

The bike is a hot bitch though.  To me, the problem seems to be more aerodynamics, with the hot air flowing up and over the riders legs and getting worse as the windshield is raised.  The generous fairing and windshield also keep air off your body, contributing to a warmer feel.  A couple of fixes are available that will get things under control.  I've tried to increase the air flowing "through" the bike by increasing the gap between the base of the windshield and the fairing and running with the windshield all the way down.

Compared to my ZX-11, the air temperature is not quite as hot, but hits you about knee level and flows up over your thighs.  The ZX-11 directs hotter air directly on your ankles with more of the regular air stream keeping your body cooler.  An air cooled 83 GPZ 1100 that I had was the hottest of all.

[jim williams]

OK, we've established that it's hot. I live in the Northeast, but, I'm not from the northeast. Cold sucks, but, I ride in it anyway, and, I get really cold. That will help. What else about the bike I should know that a stealer won't tell me? Oh, and, is there a preferred dealer in southern New England? Pawtucket Cycle is very local for me...

thanks!

[Chips]

Jim, I feel the same way about my FJR. It's EVERYTHING I want in a do-it-all streetbike and I like it but sometimes I think I want more. I won't pull the trigger on a replacement but I took the liberty of editing your post to show my point of view...

I don't love it. I don't get excited about it. The realistic side of me feels like I should keep it. With a Sargent seat and stock screen, it makes a great touring bike. 1000 mile days no problem. My knees don't ache like other bikes have done. It's great in the city just puttering along. Lots of luggage with the stock side bags and Givi V46 top box. Handles great in the rain. Honestly, it does everything I want in a bike, but, it doesn't do for me what it should. It never goes off road.  anyway....

That K12GT. Wow. I haven't ridden one yet, but, it sure looks great. Folks love theirs. Folks also love their FJR's!

It doesn't put out the heat that my FZ1 did so that's a big plus. I've only had it for 6 months and 7400 miles so it may still grow an me.

[FJRmgm]

the '05's (mine) and earlier had some heat issues but there are a couple of fixes to alleviate most of that (windscreen, insulation and removing a panel up front) so mine is very good now.

At 44.5k miles it may not be THE perfect bike but for me it is and I'd buy another in a minute.  It just does so much so well and will eat miles at whatever speed you want to go in comfort with 45-50 mpg.

I'd like to ride an '06 or '07 as they have changed the engine venting and those that have had both the early and late models say the heat is a non-issue now.

It's a great bike.  Visit www.fjrforum.com for owner comments.

[lilwing]

I love my Feejer.  It's the most comfortable bike of the three that I own.  As far as heat, I came off of a '92 Concours so it really doesn't bother me.  I do get more heat from my Road King than either the FJR or the Guzzi.  In stop and go city riding, my right inner thigh gets so hot, I swear I can smell bacon.  If I had to get down to just one bike, it would be the FJR.  It's got all the power, load capacity and comfort that I need.

[WBill]

My '05 rides about as hot (cool?) as other bikes now that I have made two mods:

First I made the little "Cromeit" doodad out of aluminum roof flashing and installed it near the upper left side of the radiator.  That cost about 65 cents and an hour of work.  "Google" it for details.

Next, I bought a roll of bubble-aluminum insulation (from Home Depot) and cut it to fit under the front part of the fuel tank.  A ten dollar roll is way more that you'll need.  You don't even have to remove the tank fully to do this one.  Just remove the two little ten mm screws on the front, loosen the crossbolt on the back (12mm), lift the front end up and slip the sheet in for measurements.  The tank will pivot on the rear bolt.  Eyeball where the wiring goes and cut a slit there.  Take a sharpie and draw a line on the insulation sheet around the tank, then cut it out to fit.  Slip it in and tighten down the bolts.  Half an hour; Big difference.

As for a GS comparo, the GS seat height is too much for my short, skinny legs.  Others claim no problem, and fine for them.  My K75 seat was taller than the FJR's, and I didn't like trying to tippy toe it around, particularly on slippery surfaces.  

I assume the dual sport Beemer is more nimble off-road, where I never ride.  The Feejer is hard to beat on pavement, be it straight, sweepy or twisty, where I love to ride.  The 1300 cc engine makes all the power one could reasonably need, with enough grunt to let one nearly jump over semi's, fully loaded, uphill.  The chassis offers plenty of feedback, and nearly sport bike fun with the hard bags removed.  At 600+ pounds, she's no Gixxer, though, and the trade off for a lower seat height is the occasional peg or boot drag if one gets frisky in the twisties.

There 's a new girl in town, though, and word is she's pretty neat.  Her name is Connie 1400.  It'll be interesting to see if she has issues.

[SuperHans]

I've got an 06' and as others have said, it's a great all around bike. The bike really doesn't need a whole lot other than possibly an aftermarket seat and a topbox. The stock seats okay but not great for long trips.

[chornbe]

I don't love it. I don't get excited about it. The realistic side of me feels like I should keep it. With a Sargent seat and Aeroflow, it makes a great touring bike. 1000 mile days no problem. My knees don't ache like other bikes have done. It's great in the city just puttering along. Lots of luggage with my Jesse bags and top box. Handles great in the rain. Honestly, it does everything I want in a bike, but, it doesn't do for me what it should. It never goes off road. twice, I've lost brakes entirely. BMW says the ABS sensor can do that. Rare. but, it can happen. I find that unacceptable. anyway....

That FJR. Wow. I haven't ridden one yet, but, it sure looks great. Folks love theirs. Folks also love their GS's!

Sell me on an FJR and make my local dealer happy.

Anyone go from a 1200gs to an FJR?

I didn't have a GS, but I've owned or ridden pretty much *everything* to come out of Japan (almost) and Harley and a few others here and there.

THe FJR is the greatest over-all, do-it-all road bike I've owned or ridden, bar none. It's comfortable, torque like a tractor pulled by a freight train, it's dead sexy and it lets me farkle up the way I like. 800+ mile days, a non-issue.

I literally have *nothing* negative to say other than it'd sure be nice to turn off two cylinder when it's raining. Did I mention LOTS of torque?

[bmac]

Jim,
I came from a VFR and had plans to fill the garage with an FJR, a GS, and a Tuono.

I have had the 06 FJR for over a year and have no heat issues and think it is an absolutely fabulous bike. It is a little heavier than I would like but it still handles very well. I did change the seat and made some mods to the windscreen to cut down on turbulence. In stock form there was a little more vibration in the bars but with a throttle body sync and a barbarian jumper mod everything is fine. This bike is great for 90% of the riding I do.

I had very firm plans to by a GS but I wanted to take it for a long test ride first. The suspension was set up a little softer than it should have been and overall it was a nice bike but for some reason it just did not get me excited. By the end of the test ride I had decided that I would not buy one. I was actually a little surprised because before the test ride I was 95% sure I was going to buy one. It didn't help that I had read about some rare but pretty significant problems from a number of owners.

Next to the FJR is an 03 Tuono. This bike is about as different from the FJR as it can be. It is an absolute blast to ride and is the bike of choice when I want to feel like a kid again. With these two bikes in the garage I have no desire to add to the fleet.

[Baz]

Jim:

I almost bought a GS but the hot economy here would have put me on a waiting list, and the dealer here is not very reputable. I imagined being poor, with no bike to ride most of the summer. I also calculated how much I would have used the off road capability of the GS and it probably would have been close to zero. So I ended up with the FJR.

I have to say I love the bike for everything it is. On the highway, I can't think of any other bike I would rather be on (in an all around sense) The FJR is quick, comfortable and great for two up.

The only complaint I have with the FJR is the snatchy fuel injection. (I have a power commander on order) The PC and a laminar lip, and givi topcase were and will probably be the only thing I will buy for the FJR. The FJR is no lightweight, and not a load of fun in stop & go traffic. It would be a bear to commute with.

I spoke to a fellow today that is planning a 2nd FJR purchase, and on the FJR forums, you will find a few people on their 2nd FJR. I always thought that this is a pretty good endorsement for a bike that seasoned riders tend to buy.

[WBill]

Snachy fuel injection?  Mine runs like an electric motor from idle to redline.  There is a little drivetrain backlash at low speeds, though.

[Baz]

Hey WBill:

I just had this same conversation with a fellow that owns an 05 locally. It appears when Yamaha had to meet the Euro 3 air regulations they leaned out the 06's considerably. Most I have talked to say that a PC-3 clears this right up. I have met quite a few 06 owners who have the same opinion as me. Let's just say that you would not want to suddenly apply throttle from idle to mine in a corner. It is that snatchy. I thought at 1st I would adjust to things but even after 5,000 km, I can't get used to the erratic behaviour.

A great bike otherwise.