Thought about making an apple an orange, decided to buy an orange -ADDED PICTURE

[sfalexi]

Well my original post was here . . . . . http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,30317.0.html.  

Long story short, after seeing the costs for replacing the front cog, getting a full set of GIVI luggage, redoing the seat, getting a bigger windshield, and trying to somehow make the MAX LOAD on the bike enough to carry myself, my girlfriend, and enough clothes/items for a weekend away, I said, "Screw it" and looked around for buying a proper Sport Tourer.

So I stopped by a dealer today just inquiring about Yamaha FJRs (my bike of choice based solely on opinions from the internet and rugged good looks).  The owner of the yamaha dealership was selling his personal FJR used.  I asked the reason (since it seems like such low mileage), and he said he's had it long enough and he just preordered a VMAX.  So he's selling his FJR and fully toured out FZ1.  So I put a down payment to reserve the bike, and I should take delivery and finish up paperwork tomorrow.  I figure this bike was probably well-taken care of and all the services done on time.

It's a 2003 FJR with a top box as well, what looks to be a power socket for something? (not the car adapter that I'm used to . . . ), and 18000 miles.  Price will be 6800 OTD.  After my trade in of the 919, I'll owe 1000.  

I took it for a test ride today, and while nervous seeing as I only have 6 months of riding experience under me (about 5000 miles), I felt comfortable once I got it above about 10 MPH.  And I'll just have to get used to the heaviness at slow speeds (VERY carefully).

And yes, I'll do my best to put pics up by Friday/Saturday.  And I'm so friggin' excited!!!!  I can't wait to take it up to visit my girlfriend this weekend.  Now let's see how that 200 mile, 3.5 hour trip feels with a machine that was DESIGNED to do it.

Alexi

[EDIT] Some pics of the new ride. I was showing my happiness in the last one (hehehehe)

[kevin_stevens]

I'm hungry.

KeS

[ksann]

 

[Chick]

Alexi, post up pics when you get it.  
Since this is a new to you bike, and you don't have a kazillion miles, find an empty parking lot and work on your low speed maneuvers, and braking.  Remember, the lower the speed, the less front brake.  Use the rear in parking lot speeds and gas stations, and the tendency for the front to wash out goes way down.
Have fun, and keep us posted.

[DogBoy]

Apples. Oranges. Just stay away from the lemons.

Congratulations on the bike.  

[sfalexi]

Alexi, post up pics when you get it.  
Since this is a new to you bike, and you don't have a kazillion miles, find an empty parking lot and work on your low speed maneuvers, and braking.  Remember, the lower the speed, the less front brake.  Use the rear in parking lot speeds and gas stations, and the tendency for the front to wash out goes way down.
Have fun, and keep us posted.

Thanks for the reminder  I didn't think about it till now (stupid me).  But I did do this with my cruiser (first bike, bought used and cheap to learn on) for a few weeks and didn't do it on the 919 and seemed ok.  But I'm definitely wary of the FJR.  So this weekend while my woman is at work I'll be working on slowspeed maneuvers in some empty parking lot.  

I did take the basic MSF course and will basically practice what I was taught there.  Loved the test ride, and I'm sure I'll feel even better once I'm more comfortable with it's weight in slow speeds.

Alexi

[ksann]

You will not even notice the weight  after a bit, you got yourself a great machine there.



ken

[Hardware]

While I originally voted for keeping the 919, this is great too!  Congrats on the new (to you) bike!

[vulcanbill]

Thanks for the reminder  I didn't think about it till now (stupid me).  But I did do this with my cruiser (first bike, bought used and cheap to learn on) for a few weeks and didn't do it on the 919 and seemed ok.  But I'm definitely wary of the FJR.  So this weekend while my woman is at work I'll be working on slowspeed maneuvers in some empty parking lot.  

I did take the basic MSF course and will basically practice what I was taught there.  Loved the test ride, and I'm sure I'll feel even better once I'm more comfortable with it's weight in slow speeds.

Alexi

Congrats!  That's very exciting.  I would suggest that if she is willing, you include your girlfriend on your low speed maneuvers.  Carrying a passenger is challenging on its own.  Doing it on a new bike that you know will be heavier than you're used to will present even more.  If you can get her to the parking lot with you, you'll have a precious opportunity to remove the unknowns before they bite you...in the middle of a crowded intersection or gas station.    I'm jealous.

[ol Rocket]

You will not even notice the weight  after a bit, you got yourself a great machine there.

ken

This happens in wives and girlfriends, too.   (I can't believe I just said that )

[EricJ]

Congradulations! We look forward towards some pics posted!  
Eric

[Aviatorkev]

Hey, welcome to the club! I traded a Ninja 500R for my FJR. 330lbs to 598lbs was a huge jump for me, but after two months on it I can u-turn in just over my lane without taking my feet off the pegs. Once you get used to the weight, it really is pretty stable at slow speed. My GF loves the extra room.

  Enjoy the 200 mile trip! I have made some great 200-250 mile trips in a day from Knoxville. (Think GSMN, Clingman's dome, Cherokee, Maggie Valley, the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, Foothills Parkway, and this weekend will add the Blue Ridge Parkway!) I picked up the V-Stream windshield for cooler weather touring and the FJR is MADE for exploring. You will love it!

[squeezer]

(snip)
It's a 2003 FJR with a top box as well, what looks to be a power socket for something? (not the car adapter that I'm used to . . . ), and 18000 miles.  Price will be 6800 OTD.  After my trade in of the 919, I'll owe 1000.  

Congrats!  I ride an '03 and love it.

On that power socket...  the '03's didn't come stock with any power outlets, so that was added.  If it's not a standard car adapter, it's probably a BMW-style Powerlet socket.  A lot of heated gear, etc., comes with that type of plug.  It'll be handy.

[1moreroad]

I thought you bought a KTM with comments about oranges and all.

Congrats.

[motoguy128]

The power socket is either for a heated vest or GPS.  If your'e really into long distanec sport touring, you'll want to have both... especially the heated vest.

[leveredge]

That's why I have a Honda ST13. I didn't need such a big bike for just myself but it works for us and to take all our stuff. This bike works for our commute as well. I keep the top box on it all the time. Laptop fits in there nice. If you are going to ride or tour two-up much I think the FJR is probably going to work for you better in the long run.

[county]

You will not even notice the weight  after a bit...


ken

   Yeah, right.  It'll be like a SV650.

Seriously, do some practice with that big fcuker.  At slow speeds.  

[Liquidsilver]

I thought you bought a KTM with comments about oranges and all.

 
Exactly what I thought.  
 
 
 
Listen for a strange ticking sound in the valve train.   Some of the '03s were stricken with that.   Yamaha paid for everybody's I know of... but it'd probably be best to find out early.   The normal valve train has a lot of mechanical noise, but a ticker sounds like a clear tapping of a spoon inside the motor.
 
Phenominal bike though!  
 
It is a heat producer, and I found that smaller windshield in the summertime was the biggest cure.
 
Cheers!!  
 
 
 

[napper]

Seriously, do some practice with that big fcuker.  At slow speeds.  

This happens in wives and girlfriends, too.   (I can't believe I just said that )

[sfalexi]

Turns out the power supply is for a "widder" vest.  Which the previous owner strongly recommends.  Although I may do some cutting/soldering and see if I can wire it to a standard cigarette lighter.  Maybe see if I can mount it in the fairing.  I'll ask about it in the mods section.

Loving it BTW.

[JonS]

I thought you bought a KTM with comments about oranges and all.

Congrats.

+2

Congratulations! I don't think you could have bought a more competent tourer and the deal seems very good. Your 919 must be in great shape.

[2RR2NV]

Grats!  excellent choice!!  Have tons of fun. i'm already planning a trip to WI next summer in late May, early June. roughly 800 miles 1-way. too bad i couldn't sign up or whatever for an IBA event along the way. either way, can't wait.

[sfalexi]

bump to show I added pictures in the first post . . .

[cyclopathic]

It's a 2003 FJR with a top box as well, what looks to be a power socket for something? (not the car adapter that I'm used to . . . ), and 18000 miles.  Price will be 6800 OTD.  After my trade in of the 919, I'll owe 1000.  

Dude there isn't any friggin' way you'd turn 919 into STer for 1000$, good move!

yeah go practice in parking lot, and when get comfortable load cases with rocks /gradually/ to get used to ride with load: you don't wanna drop that thing with GF on board  

Perhaps getting frame/swing arm sliders and riding w/o side cases  for now would be good too good luck

[klavdy]

Wow.
FJR as your second bike you say, with six months and 5000 miles riding under your belt.

That's the spirit.

Low speed, use clutch and rear brake only, don't touch the front brake under 5-8 mph, you should be able to roll at less than walking pace with a little practice, hold the revs at about 1500,with just a touch of rear brake on, and then use the clutch to modulate your speed.
Hold revs at 1500
Lightly hold rear brake.
Use clutch, slip it in and out to vary your speed.
Remember, don't vary the throttle speed, you use the clutch for that at low speeds.
Practice this heaps , get the hang of it before you get a passenger on the bike.

[sfalexi]

Wow.
FJR as your second bike you say, with six months and 5000 miles riding under your belt.

That's the spirit.

Low speed, use clutch and rear brake only, don't touch the front brake under 5-8 mph, you should be able to roll at less than walking pace with a little practice, hold the revs at about 1500,with just a touch of rear brake on, and then use the clutch to modulate your speed.
Hold revs at 1500
Lightly hold rear brake.
Use clutch, slip it in and out to vary your speed.
Remember, don't vary the throttle speed, you use the clutch for that at low speeds.
Practice this heaps , get the hang of it before you get a passenger on the bike.

Well, technically, my third bike.  First was a suzuki C50.  Also very heavy, but got that one pretty good.  Could u-turn in a space of two parking spots after some practice.  DEFINITELY gonna practice my stuff on this one, but so far so good.  Been able to crawl along in traffic using clutch and keeping constant revs (heavy clutch though!), so far no jerky stops or starts (except when trying to put on a throttle rocker and it being adjusted too high - the weight of my wrist got it until I readjusted it), and I'll be practicing u-turns tomorrow.  I can do a u-turn in a regular residential street (have done a few so far, only to the left and I want to practice getting it perfect and completely controlled).  I won't be having a passenger on there for about a month (I was gonna say a thousand miles, but I'm gonna hit that on Monday - five days - hehehe).  

Had some fun exploring so far.  And accidentally took a road that turned out to be an unpaved farm road (worse than the fire-roads that I'm used to).  Man.  I felt like I had just tried to turn the FJR into a dual sport because of the territory.  Took it slow, came off a rock or two with a slightly bigger than normal drop (5 inches or so, couldn't see because of the angle), but made it.  Definitely fun.  And I think my next bike (in addition to the FJR), WILL be a dual sport.  I think I'd have a blast tearing up some dirt paths!

Alexi

[mxvet57]

congrats on the (new) FJR. i got my 04 with zero miles and I'm 1300 miles short of the 100K mark. i have no regrets ever buying the bike. i ride it every day. I've had no problems other than a battery going dead. for comfort i put on bar risers and a Sargent seat and improved the comfort level 100%.
it didn't take long to get use to the weight. i have even taken it on a track day.
have fun and ride hard.

[cyclopathic]

DEFINITELY gonna practice my stuff on this one, but so far so good.  Been able to crawl along in traffic using clutch and keeping constant revs (heavy clutch though!), so far no jerky stops or starts (except when trying to put on a throttle rocker and it being adjusted too high - the weight of my wrist got it until I readjusted it), and I'll be practicing u-turns tomorrow.  I can do a u-turn in a regular residential street (have done a few so far, only to the left and I want to practice getting it perfect and completely controlled).  I won't be having a passenger on there for about a month (I was gonna say a thousand miles, but I'm gonna hit that on Monday - five days - hehehe).

How much the MSF ERC in your heck of the woods? consider

[Malks]

Nice ride.  A friend of mine just bought an '04 and while on a recent two day ride down through NY and PA we learned how easy it is to tip over and how difficult it is to pick up.  Be careful of your footing when stopped.  When/if it starts to tip, don't try to stop it, just slow the fall.  It took three of us to right the beast, I think it is a little heavier than my ST11.

Malks

[sfalexi]

 How much the MSF ERC in your heck of the woods? consider

Free for me if I do it through the military (I'm gonna ask the commander to go through it as soon as I get back from school in early november).  If he can't afford to let me go to get it done during the duty week, it's only $60 through the local yamaha dealership and it's one saturday.

Alexi

[cyclopathic]

Free for me if I do it through the military (I'm gonna ask the commander to go through it as soon as I get back from school in early november).

If you're in military and own sport-touring bike you're required to take military sportbike course; it is mandatory beware

[Karmak]

SFALEXI, go to www.fjrforum.com- more than you'll ever want to know.  FJR owners on this Forum have posted everything you might possibly want to know about the FJR, including how to work on them.  If you have any questions about how to get at stuff, etc., PM me & I'll be glad to help.  I've had an '05, now have an '08 and have had them apart, upside down, inside out!  here's the '08:

[2RR2NV]

If you're in military and own sport-touring bike you're required to take military sportbike course; it is mandatory beware

whenever it gets here. they don't know anything about it yet.  heehee