MATURITY+RESPECT+SKILLS+EXCITEMENT=FJR1300

The title of this article pretty much sums up what I've known since the summer of 2014 when I purchased my first Yamaha FJR1300 a 2006.  As I've gotten older my riding skills have improved along with my riding maturity.  With this maturity comes respect for the machine you're on, those around you and the skills you've acquired.  Riding, like anything else should improve as you continue to practice.  Yamaha FJR video.

Since 2002 I've owned mostly Harley-Davidson's.  My motorcycling adventures started with the purchase of a Yamaha Virago 750 back in the early 90's.  I later sold this bike and purchased my brother-in-laws 1984 Honda Goldwing Interstate.  After a short time with the Wing and having two young children, like many, the bike was sold and I was done riding for many, many years.

Then came the 100th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson in 2003!  I told my wife, I WILL be attending the Biggest Party of Milwaukee's History next year!  She replied, "You can, you have the mini van to get you there!"  Really a mini van to go to the biggest motorcycle gathering known to man!!?? Not gonna happen!  Went searching for a Harley-Davidson almost immediately!  Our list of motorcycles through the years; 1993 Heritage Softail Classic, 2000 Electric Glide Standard, 2002 Ultra Classic, 2008 Ultra Classic, 2008 Harley-Davidson Road Glide, 2008 Honda Goldwing, 2011 Ultra Class Limited, 2012 Honda Goldwing, 2014 Ultra Classic Limited Peace Officer Special Edition and now a 2016 Yamaha FJR1300A.

For the past three years I've been hoping, praying Harley-Davidson would introduce a Sport Touring Motorcycle to help us older riders feel the nimbleness of a lighter motorcycle.  To my surprise the Motor Company just hasn't!  Believe me, if and when they do, I will be the first in line for a test ride!  Our Harley-Davidson "bagger" weighs in at around 900 pounds (2019 HD Limited 877 lbs), add a passenger and gear and wha-la you're up over 1,000 pounds! Sport Touring motorcycles like the BMW R1200 RT (609 lbs, 109hp & 89ft lbs torque), Honda ST1300 (730 lbs, 116hp & 85ft lbs torque), Kawasaki Concours (690 lbs, 158hp & 100ft lbs torque) and Yamaha FJR1300 (635 lbs, 141hp & 99ft lbs torque).  As you can see the Sport Touring bikes are almost 300 pounds lighter!  Less weight can add to better acceleration, better braking and easier maneuverability, providing the rider has these skills.

Last season I almost signed papers on a new 2018 BMW R1200 RT! Our Harley was paid off and this would have translated to about an $8,000 loan plus giving them our motorcycle.  I didn't do the deal.  Though not doing this deal still weighed in the back of my mind the entire riding season and into this year.  After riding The Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee last week on the Harley and having a blast, I started thinking again at how much fun I had on the FJR1300 on The Dragon a few years back.  Well I decided, I'm not getting any younger and I will be turning 60 this year, why wait!  So once we got home I started looking towards the FJR1300 again.  A few calls were made, trade values for our 2014 HD Limited I was told were about $10,000!  Really!!??  Keep in mind the Limited when new listed for around $28,000!  There was a time, many, many years ago when Harleys kept their value.  Those days are long gone, like everything depreciation has hit us like a ton of bricks!

I kept calling dealerships looking for a used FJR that I could possibly trade our 2014 Limited in and walk away owning nothing and paying next to nothing!  After several calls, I didn't think this was going to happen, until I contacted Fuel Powersports out of West Bend, Wisconsin.  Long story short, I traded in our 2014 HD Limited with 37,000 miles (owned it since spring of 2015 when it was purchased with 7,200 miles) for a "new" leftover 2016 Yamaha FJR1300A with the Yamaha Top Trunk, larger windscreen, Frame Sliders and Accessory Mount.  Initially they wanted our Limited plus $2800!  I left the dealership with the FJR, 1 year manufacturers warranty and $89 less in the checkbook.  The FJR listed out around $16,500 plus the accessories placed it in the neighborhood of around $18,500 plus dealer freight, etc, etc........and all I paid was $89 for title and registration.

The most pleasant changes from my 2006 FJR to the new one include; 1.) LED headlight, directional, running, brake lights 2.) Cruise Control 3.) 3 position Heated Grips 4.) Touring and Sport Riding Modes 5.) 6-speed Transmission 6.) 6.6 gallon tank 7.) ABS Brembo Brakes along with past likes that included; 1.) Side Easy Removable Locked Saddle Bags 2.) Electrically Controlled Windscreen 3.) 2 position High/Low Seat Adjustment 4.) Center Stand and of course the added Yamaha Top Trunk.

Photos #2-4 show the 3 different variations a rider can equip the FJR1300.  Each style is unique to the type of riding an individual will encounter. Photo #2 shows full tour, #3 Sport Bike with saddlebags and finally #4 totally Sport Bike, no bags!