Upgrading to a tourer

[banditrider]

I don't think I'd worry about the k's either, especially at a good price. Mine has the typical cam chain chatter at start-up but settles down within a couple of seconds. Zero issues since a very early KI-PASS problem and very minimal maintenance. Go out to the shed, wheel it out, hit the button and you're gone. Even still on it's original battery.

[rustys]

The FJR1300 is the best sports touring motorcycle. In. The. World.

Range, economy, performance, handling, stopping, brakes, pillion comfort, hard luggage and options, headlights, tyre choice options, weather protection and pricing: nothing else comes close.

If you want an over-priced, ugly-as, quirkily-unreliable ride, buy a BMW.
If you want a galleon with odd-ball tyres and peculiar hard luggage, buy an ST1300.
If you want a lesser distance range and a too-big standard muffler, buy a Concours.
Too much money, like really old-tech air-cooled engines and like cleaning chrome, buy a Chub-Glide, or a Wide King or whatever they're called.
Want something cheap as chips that will go forever and ask no questions, buy a Bandit and dress it up with the kit you need.

I have to agree with Hitcher, l have a 2005 and would not go past it as one of the best Tourers i have ever had, riden plenty of other makes, but would never go past the FJR.

[AllanB]

Go out to the shed, wheel it out, hit the button and you're gone. Even still on it's original battery.

Yet people still wank on about the good old days of 'real' bikes ........ Thank god for the Japanese dragging the rest of the world into reliability.


Battery - that is impressive - probably due to the constant use I suspect. Well done.

[banditrider]

Battery - that is impressive - probably due to the constant use I suspect. Well done.

That's what I reckon too. The longest the bike goes between rides is about 3 weeks (normally in winter). The one in my V-Strom is possibly as old (unless previous owner did it). It only has 43k on it, previous owner did the first 12. It possibly gets fired up more (I commute on it occasionally, whereas the Connie does no commuting), although more short running...

[Winston001]

All very well gentlemen but you overlook the passion in motorcycle ownership.

If horsepower/torque divided by mass (weight) was the sole criteria for buying bikes, everyone would buy a trail/adventure bike. Harley Davidson would disappear.

The problem with Japanese bikes is that they are bland and ubiquitous. Utterly reliable and everywhere.

Don't misunderstand - my first bike as a Suzuki TS185 plus a Yamaha XS650. Much fun.

But when I finally bought a BMW it was just so stable and reliable that the other bikes faded away. And the engineering was magnificent.

[Ocean1]

If horsepower/torque divided by mass (weight) was the sole criteria for buying bikes...

Well, there's two ways to tour.

You can do it comfy, in which case any ol' whale will do.

Or you can do it properly.

[Voltaire]

All very well gentlemen but you overlook the passion in motorcycle ownership.

If horsepower/torque divided by mass (weight) was the sole criteria for buying bikes, everyone would buy a trail/adventure bike. Harley Davidson would disappear.

The problem with Japanese bikes is that they are bland and ubiquitous. Utterly reliable and everywhere.

Don't misunderstand - my first bike as a Suzuki TS185 plus a Yamaha XS650. Much fun.

But when I finally bought a BMW it was just so stable and reliable that the other bikes faded away. And the engineering was magnificent.

LOL, my wife an I rode a Japanese bike from Saigon to Hanoi last year, 3300kms of utter reliability, man those Honda 150's are a good bike.

[GrayWolf]

All very well gentlemen but you overlook the passion in motorcycle ownership.

If horsepower/torque divided by mass (weight) was the sole criteria for buying bikes, everyone would buy a trail/adventure bike. Harley Davidson would disappear.

The problem with Japanese bikes is that they are bland and ubiquitous. Utterly reliable and everywhere.

Don't misunderstand - my first bike as a Suzuki TS185 plus a Yamaha XS650. Much fun.

But when I finally bought a BMW it was just so stable and reliable that the other bikes faded away. And the engineering was magnificent.

bland and ubiquitous? Never owned an MT-01 have you? There are several HD style bikes that produce the throb/feel. The XS6650? i also had one the 'special', they vibrated like a b'stard, starter motors were 'shyte'. All jap manufacturer's have produced 'bad bikes' over the years, the TX750/500's ring a bell? Honda the late CB500/450 twins, the kwaka triples, the GT125 suzuki?? to name just a few from the early times. BMW seem to be losing their edge, I had an airhead R100-GS 1991, and was a brilliant bike, but I read/hear of a lot of the newer ones with issues.
HD have a target market, Hell's Accountants, suit all week, bad ass bike on sunday.

[Voltaire]

bland and ubiquitous? Never owned an MT-01 have you? There are several HD style bikes that produce the throb/feel. The XS6650? i also had one the 'special', they vibrated like a b'stard, starter motors were 'shyte'. All jap manufacturer's have produced 'bad bikes' over the years, the TX750/500's ring a bell? Honda the late CB500/450 twins, the kwaka triples, the GT125 suzuki?? to name just a few from the early times. BMW seem to be losing their edge, I had an airhead R100-GS 1991, and was a brilliant bike, but I read/hear of a lot of the newer ones with issues.
HD have a target market, Hell's Accountants, suit all week, bad ass bike on sunday.

OMG....I'm a suit wearer now.... don't make me buy a Harley, my Commando will never forgive me

I worked in London for a while as a Mobile Building Services Technician ( don't ask), and had a brand new Kawasaki z500, that would have to be the most boring bike I have ever ridden. Do have fond memories of my Z1000 and CB 500/4.
I only have twins these days, flat, L, V,parallel
My touring bikes are a BMW R80st and an R90s.

[scumdog]

Battery - that is impressive - probably due to the constant use I suspect. Well done.

'er indoors Sportster is on its second battery from new - and it's a '97 model, I've put the second battery in my '01 Superglides about a year or so back.
I use a battery charger on the bikes every few weeks throughout the winter when the bikes aren't used so much.

OK, off topic I know....

[scumdog]

HD have a target market, Hell's Accountants, suit all week, bad ass bike on sunday.

Uh, some would say 'Revenue Gatherer, blue suit all week, tatty suit & bike on Sunday' for me!

[Swoop]

Ducati Rules.

Is that "you'll soon get acquainted with the electrical and mechanical systems of your bike"...