Yamaha XJR [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

Jackrat

9th July 2005, 09:39

Jackrat

9th July 2005, 16:30

ok,try again.
Anybody got one of these.

marty

9th July 2005, 17:30

ok,try again.
Anybody got one of these.

mate of mine has one - uses it as his daily ride. it is very capable, looks great, and recommends it. pretty much unbreakable, bit like a cb1300, but not a honda....

Hitcher

10th July 2005, 15:16

Valentino Rossi rides one on his days off. Not a bad donk for something air cooled. The "retro" instruments let them down a bit. I find that they whale around a bit, but fiddling with the rear Ohlins and tyre choice could make quite a difference. They certainly look the part and sound nice with a custom zorst!

Jackrat

10th July 2005, 15:31

Thanks guy,They are just one of the many bikes that have caught the eye in the search for another bike to share the shed with XS.
I've found a couple of owners sites on the web,an yeah handling does seem to be an issue.I guess it's how you ride em' that makes the difference there.
Shouldn't be much of a problem the way I ride. :o

Two Smoker

10th July 2005, 16:54

MikeL has one...

MikeL

10th July 2005, 20:51

Sorry, only just saw this. Been out of town for the weekend.
Mine's a 99 1200 - I think one of the last 1200s before they were replaced by the 1300. If 6 extra hp matters go for the 1300. Some of the earlier 1300s and most of the 1200s had standard Yamaha rear shocks but more recent 1300s have Ohlins as did the 1200SP.
O.K. so it's not a Honda. The CB1300 is a good bike but some might say the engine lacks character (i.e. doesn't vibrate as much...). I prefer the XJR's looks. The XJR 1200 engine is pretty unbreakable and the 1300 engine is even better.
Handling is probably the key point. You can't expect the refinement and precision of a pure sports bike. It does whale a bit but it's predictable. With Diablos and the right tyre pressures it behaves better than you might think.
You can drop it without heaps of expensive damage and there are quite a few around so parts are not a problem.
Basically for me it's a good compromise between a sports bike, tourer and cruiser. You can ride it all day and not feel sore. At 100 kph the engine is doing about 3300 revs in top gear, and maximum torque is available from about 4000. I think the top speed is theoretically about 230 but I wouldn't know... From about 180 it gets a bit uncomfortable hanging on.
If you're a dedicated sports bike fanatic you wouldn't give it a second look.
But I love it.
Even the retro instruments.

Jackrat

10th July 2005, 22:09

Thanks Mike.
Just what I was looking for.
Things like handling can be addressed if need be, an I doubt it's any worse than the Suzuki GS850 I had anyway.
The instruments are probably more up to date than anything I've owned in the past as well.
Thanks again.

Badcat

11th July 2005, 10:50

Anybody got one ?,I'm talking about the naked 2000 model,I think!!
They come out as 1200 and 1300cc,I think!
The one I'm mainly interested in has a blue/white paint job with yellow springs on the rear shocks,but any of them from that year would be nice to hear about..

it's scruffy and a '95 but maybe worth a a look...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports-tourer/auction-31077430.htm

k

MikeL

11th July 2005, 11:17

it's scruffy and a '95 but maybe worth a a look...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports-tourer/auction-31077430.htm

k

The Ohlins shocks and 4-1 Yoshimura would make it worth a look, but there's no way the km can be genuine. That's about what most of us XJR riders do in a month, let alone 10 years. With that question mark hanging over it, as well as the age, and even with the Ohlins and Yoshimura, I think $5000 is very optimistic...

MikeL

11th July 2005, 11:21

Jackrat, if you like the idea of the XJR don't forget that the Suzuki GSX1200 is virtually identical apart from 4-1 exhaust and although there aren't that many of them around they tend to go for a bit less than the XJR. I would still be riding my GSX if it hadn't been for an unfortunate incident on SH22 last year.

Fryin Finn

11th July 2005, 11:38

I've got an XJR 1300 - lovely bike. Big, comfy and handles very well considering it's size. I have been complimented several times by passerbyers on it's good looks. Great for pillions too. I took a mate on the back to the Brass monkey, claims he fell asleep.
I've ridden a bandit 1200 and prefer the XJR by a long way. A mate demo'd a CB1300 and found it too bland.

magnum

12th July 2005, 09:12

rode a gsx1200 a month or so back,wheelies off the throttle in first :ride: coooooool.

Hailwood

13th July 2005, 12:45

I rode both the XJR and the GSX1200 and settled on the GSX..seemed to handle a bit better and the 4into 1 has a 2bros can on it..sounds sweet..both are nice bikes..ride both and then d :Punk: ecide..enjoy

Hitcher

13th July 2005, 20:26

Ahem. This is my cue...

The best 1200cc naked bike, no matter how you want to rate them, is the Kawasaki ZRX1200R. "Why do you say that, Hitcher?" I hear you ask?

1. It looks great. The Eddie Lawson replica styling is what a REAL bike should look like. And the candy lime green is the only colour for a Kawasaki.
2. It handles superbly. Fully adjustable suspension front and rear. Absolutely no frame flex (sorry Mr Bandit).
3. It stops amazingly well. The best brakes in its class -- 6-pot Tokikos up front with great feel through the lever.
4. It goes like stink. 0-100kmh in less than 5 seconds. God knows what they do flat out. I had 230kmh out of mine and it was still pulling. But the wind you wear at that speed is quite an experience.
5. They sound great, after you throw away the 700kg stock can. I had a Neptune on mine. I still miss that howl on acceleration and that gorgeous off-throttle gurgling.
6. They're comfortable to ride over long distances. I did a Grand Challenge on mine. My bum was in great nick at the end. A nice "natural" riding position.
7. And being chain drive, they wheelie...
8. Buy one. You'll love it. I REALLY miss mine...

MikeL

13th July 2005, 23:11

Yes but what's the price tag?

Hitcher

14th July 2005, 08:53

Yes but what's the price tag?
Sigh. There's always one, isn't there...

ANZA in Palmerston North will probably sell you my old one for $8,500.

MikeL

14th July 2005, 09:26

Sigh. There's always one, isn't there...

ANZA in Palmerston North will probably sell you my old one for $8,500.

So why hasn't it sold already?

rogson

14th July 2005, 09:41

Hitcher

14th July 2005, 10:22

So why hasn't it sold already?
You know, Palmerston North and all that. Go figure...

It's comparatively high mileage -- 46,000km on a 2002 model. But has near new Z6s, a Neptune can, Scottoiler, and has been regularly and devoutly serviced by the best Kawasaki mechanics money can buy. I guess big nekkids aren't everybody's cup of tea.

MikeL

14th July 2005, 18:49

I've ridden all the big nakeds and they're all are good - torquey, comfy, reasonable handling, etc., but I chose a GSX1200 because it felt the smallest and most agile which tipped the balance for me. Moral of the story - ride them all and decide for yourself.

The GSX is I think about 10 kg lighter than the XJR, and certainly feels a bit more agile. But the difference is relatively small. One other advantage of the GSX is a sweeter gearbox. I never had a false neutral on the GSX, unlike the XJR.
The GSX has a devoted following in Europe, especially Italy and France - it is sold under the name Inazuma.

Hitcher

14th July 2005, 20:16

Si hoc legere scis, nimium eruditionis habes
Spero nos familiares mansuros...

MikeL

14th July 2005, 22:01

Spero nos familiares mansuros...

Cum te doctissimum esse scirem, ignorabam tamen te quoque litteris latinis studere...

Ixion

14th July 2005, 22:19

Cum te doctissimum esse scirem, ignorabam tamen te quoque litteris latinis studere...

Hey, no fair, upping the ante. I ain't that overedumacated. Tis many years since I forgot my little Latin and less Greek . :no:

wari

15th July 2005, 01:22

TWo WHeels mag APril 2005 hassa re-view ofda big 4 nake-ids .. :yeah:

GOod read too just qui-ettly .. :clap:

Hitcher

15th July 2005, 14:52

Cum te doctissimum esse scirem, ignorabam tamen te quoque litteris latinis studere...
Illud iterum dicere potes!

Ixion

15th July 2005, 15:01

Illud iterum dicere potes!

Unum miraculum ad tempus

Lou Girardin

15th July 2005, 15:32

Hey check this out everyone. A Latin pissing contest.
And E pluribus unum to you too.

Keni

15th June 2006, 15:41

Hi ,

greetings from Finland (Europe)Here is a good site for comparing different bikes. http://www.bikez.com/ . I bought a XJR 1300, 2000. It is s imported from Germany with 72 kW.

SARGE

15th June 2006, 15:45

hey jackrat..

these bikes have to sturdy old FJ1200 derived engine in them..

i thrash mine and it never misses a beat..

reliability 5 stars and 2 thumbs up

igor

7th July 2006, 21:43

my next dooor neighbour has a XJR1300, rides it daily and loves it. Ohlins shocks etc. talk from nowhere

option B for $12995 is as hitcher mentioned is a ZXR1220. there are two on bikepoint that are brand new 2002 models. one in NP with fairing and the eddie Lawson replica in wellybob i think.

they were $21k new I think. mate in Np has one in his stable of eight bikes and says it has varoooooooooooom from nowhere

another chepaie is a FJR1300. let someone buy a new one for $29K and buy it a few months later for around $19K with 5 k on clock

i have a mate with one of these and loves it. He also has a R1200GS and a R100GS PD. I thik he like motorbikes

Hitcher

9th July 2006, 14:50

Buy an FJR. Slaughterer of XR6 turbos. Almost too easy. And a high beam that wouldn't be out of place at Jade Stadium. Whoar.

Motig

9th July 2006, 16:36

I looked at the Yam, Kawa and Suzuki nakeds and really think they are all pretty similar in the real world of commuting/touring etc. Decided on the GSX1200Y purely on price and its excellent condition and its turned out to be a really nice ride. But still would have been quite happy if I had brought either of the others.

trixtrem

9th April 2007, 23:59

this is a '96 model, with fully adjustable front shocks, brembo brakes, and ohlins rear shocks, just modified the mufflers, and put a new chain and sprockets on it, have had it about three weeks, and love it....

peace

SPman

10th April 2007, 15:41

What did you do to the mufflers?

warewolf

10th April 2007, 18:45

What knobbies are you going to fit when you take it adventuring?

Transalper

10th April 2007, 19:27

merv

10th April 2007, 19:41

.. and where the heck is Jackrat these days, I miss his pertinent comments?

Storm

10th April 2007, 20:18

Had a bit of a disagreement with certain folks, and decided this wasnt a place he cared to be anymore.
Like a lot of others sadly :(

merv

10th April 2007, 20:21

Geez no wonder some people divorce too if its that easy to fall out. If you know him tell him we miss him.

Hitcher

10th April 2007, 20:28

If you know him tell him we miss him.
But our aim is improving daily...

trixtrem

21st May 2007, 13:15

to SPman, i ended up geting some 42mm end caps for the mufflers, remove the small exhaust outlet, and pipe and pope rivet the new plate in... sounds great, but not tooo loud....

peace

SPman

21st May 2007, 13:25

Did you make them up or get them off Ebay?
I've just got a set of 36Y inlet rubbers, so they'll go on next with the airbox mod.

trixtrem

22nd May 2007, 23:34

have modified the air box already, cut the intake pipe down to about ten mm, the 36y's would be good but i cant afford a dynojet kit atm, and the simple fact that the bike has shite fuel economy around town... 150-170 km for 21L!!! and thas not even given it some...
standard
http://img176.imagevenue.com/loc579/th_33587_standard_muffler_122_579lo.jpg (http://img176.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=33587_standard_muffler_122_579lo.jpg )

modified
http://img19.imagevenue.com/loc890/th_33588_rear1_122_890lo.jpg (http://img19.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=33588_rear1_122_890lo.jpg)

i got the plates off ebay, was cheaper to do that, than to pay someone to make them up here....

give me a yell if you wanna do it, am a fitter and machinist by trade..

peace

trixtrem

22nd May 2007, 23:39

just thought i would post a pic of the bike after i fitted the '03 R6 front brakes... think they look really cool, and match the rim tape....

hope you like

peace

[img=http://img182.imagevenue.com/loc531/th_33939_side_122_531lo.jpg] (http://img182.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=33939_side_122_531lo.jpg)

SPman

23rd May 2007, 18:08

Same brakes as my 02. ...and the missus' FZ1.
Looks good with the wheel tape.
Fuel consumption aint great - the FZ1 gets far better mileage, espec. when pushing it, but that sounds rather a lot! A month or 2 back, trying to sit on 180+ for an extended period, still got 200k out of 17 litres and commuting to work get 210k out of 14 litres! (one round trip)