Yamaha XJR

[Jackrat]

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..

[Jackrat]

ok,try again.
Anybody got one of these.

[marty]

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]

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]

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.

[Two Smoker]

MikeL has one...

[MikeL]

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]

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]

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-Mo...n-31077430.htm

k

[MikeL]

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

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-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]

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]

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]

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

[Hailwood]

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 ecide..enjoy

[Hitcher]

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...