New FJR1300a - NOT! PO'd in ATL!

[XJOK2PLAY]

Kurt,
Congrats on the new FJR! Awesome!
Totally with you about long trips. That was why I went that way, too.

Can't tell ya how to adjust the grip heaters on an FJR. Maybe Harry can...

Mine are "no brainers" design... A knob on the left side that says low to high, and OFF. But that's Kawasaki...

Lol...

Here's what Ivan told me a while back about his first FJR...

I said, "I bet that's a great bike, huh?"
He said, " Yes, it is. But I miss my old 11. This bike's like a surgeon's scalpel... I think it, it does it. But, it just doesn't have the soul of an 11... ya know what I mean?"

At first, his response surprised me. But, I knew exactly what he meant.
There's nothing like riding an 11!

But, with that said, I love my C14, and it sure has made interstate long trips a lot more comfortable and enjoyable.

Here's wishing you many, many miles and smiles with the new FJR.
I dig the blue, too.
Bob

[madmax-im]

DANG!! I already posted about that here didn't I.

Sucks getting old and absent minded.

ha ha ha...welcome to the party pal...

[newc4]

Welcome to the club

I'm pretty happy with mine

[HalfCentury]

Hey Kurt. Congrats on the new FJR acquisition. The blue is quite purty.

How do you like the seat? The stock seat caused loss of leg circulation for me and crated days-long pain after a 12 hour day in the saddle. I purchased a used Russell Day Long and that cured the leg/butt pain.

I went the cheapo route and bought a 2003 with 45,000 on the odometer. I had new wheel bearings installed, new tires, new triple tree riser and new handlebars, new front brake line and new clutch line. The total pull-back of the handlebars approaches the pull-back of an XS/XJ 1100. My back/shoulder cannot handle the forward lean-angle of the stock FJR.

This past Saturday, I rode 2-up for the first time on the FJR. It was much more satisfying than 2-up on my old XJ650.

cheers

[kboehringer]

FJR - Modern, Fast, Reliable, Fun, NO STYLE!

SNIP..
How do you like the seat?
SNIP....
I went the cheapo route and bought a 2003 with 45,000 on the odometer.
SNIP....
My back/shoulder cannot handle the forward lean-angle of the stock FJR.

This past Saturday, I rode 2-up for the first time on the FJR. It was much more satisfying than 2-up on my old XJ650.

HalfCentury,
I have not yet noticed a problem with the seat. But, I have only 600 miles (first oil change time) on the bike. One of the salesmen at the dealer has a unused aftermarket leather seat from Corbin he's offering me for $300. I believe it's a $1000 setup. But it has a "Funky" looking stitch design I'm not too overwhelmed with. Probably gonna pass on it....

I don't think of a used one as a "Cheapo Route". I was afraid of buying a complicated and modern machine that may/may not have been either: maintained poorly, or beaten to heck, or both. A fairly large portion of the "Biker People" (aside from the average Harley Guy) that I have met are cheap "buggers". Cheap and this hobby don't mix. I think it's more likely than not I'd have purchased an FJR owned my some dummy using HarborFreight oil or some such nonsense in the machine. I like the warranty and the knowledge that every mile on this machine was mine.

I'm getting use to the bars but will likely try some of the available adjustments. I don't think they'll do much. IT does take some getting use to. I find myself setting the cruise and leaning back regularly.

Two-Up.
Rather than install one of those HIDEOUS Givi trunks (sorry to those that love them.... I don't), I purchased a beautiful backrest and rack fabricated by Gary on the FJRforum. Definitely NOT cheap, but really nice. Installed in fifteen minutes! Best welding I ever saw! The wife loves the backrest. I barely even notice she is back there She gets a little too close (i.e pushing me into the tank and a goose of the throttle pushes her back onto the rest (no kidding~!). The XS didn't mind a passenger but you knew you were 2-up. No effect on performance on this monster 1300.



STYLE......
I was looking over my collection and come to the conclusion the FJR has little if any style. Sure, it's fast as heck, modern comforts, beautiful panniers, absolute reliability (iron butt guys love 'em), etc., etc., etc., BUT, the style of the XS1100 is far better still 37 years later. The XS11 just looks like a beautiful machine compared to this 0 to 120mph++ beast.

My XS11's aint going anywhere..... They just won't be traveling any out-of-state distances (except for the Annual Vintage Yamaha Rally in Stecoah)

Sincerely,

[vedgar]

well said

Don't want this to become the FJR site.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Kurt,
Not sure about a Corbin for the FJR, but as for the rest, Corbin seats are hard as concrete and expensive torture devices.

Lots of guys get them for C14's, and like the way the 2 piece looks.
Corbin also makes a small "smuggler" trunk that replaces the passenger portion of the 2 piece seat. Those are cool, but expensive!

But it's usually not long after the C14 guys buy a Corbin, they post complaints of how hard they are, how lousy Corbin customer "service" is, how expensive they are, and who the best seat refurb guy is to redo it... shortly followed by seeing them up for sale.

Seats are like oil... Opinions vary. I tried 4 different ones before settling on the one I have... The optional Kawasaki gel seat.

Here's what I've figured out about seats- leather's slick, expensive, doesn't like to get wet, needs to have a lot of tlc.
Stock seat covers usually suck and the foam tends to be too soft. Feels good for about 2 hours...then misery starts.
Seats that are too hard are immediate torture devices.
Bucket shaped seats are comfy for touring long stretches, but you need long legs to get your thighs over the wings to reach the ground (ie; RDL & Baldwin.)
Long legs? These work well. Short inseam? Stay away!

I love the cover on my Kawasaki gel seat. It fits the seat snugly, and has a rough textured vinyl covering that holds me firmly in place...no sliding into the tank. Gel pad gives 12 hour comfort. Styled like the Sargent low version, but way better seat. Passengers can stay planted w/o needing something to constantly hold on to. Only seat I've found that provides the passenger with this.

Just some things I've experienced searching for the right seat for me.

Lots to consider, cause none of them are cheap.
Bob

[BA80]

My XS11's aint going anywhere..... They just won't be traveling any out-of-state distances (except for the Annual Vintage Yamaha Rally in Stecoah)

Well, my XS is going EVERYWHERE. I just don't think it can be beat for reliability, ease of repair (if necessary) on the road, or .............STYLE. Most particularly for the price.

It has seen a LARGE chunk of the US with me sitting in the saddle and I'm pretty positive it'll see a lot more.

Enjoy y'all's plastic.

[motoman]

Agree with the lack of comfort from the Corbin. Had a new Corbin on my ST, and the issue I found to be....very quickly is the memory-foam the use is a bit too dense and hard. Always wished I'd spent the extra $200 and bought a RDL(RusselDayLong). They are manufactured using a spring in the middle of riders position, and flared out for thigh support. Have riddin aboard a RDL on both an ST1100 and FJR(06). They are definitely the ultimate LD touring seat, as thousands that use them verify.

[kboehringer]

2-Up Touring not exactly a XS11 SPECIAL strength

Well, my XS is going EVERYWHERE.
Enjoy y'all's plastic.

Greg,
What I meant was "I AINT SELLING or DISPOSING of ANY of my XS11's".

Personally, I'm just not comfortable with a LONG distance and that attractive but very small SPECIAL fuel tank. The other MAJOR factor is I'm driving 2-up 90% of the time. That means me & the bride are stuck on the side of the road with a nearly 40 year old XS11 that no dealer will work on. I could slap a backpack on the bride with all the possible spares and tools?

Although I have certainly done a bunch of driving on my XS11 Specials 2-up, it is certainly not a great choice for 2-UP touring far from home. I doubt many would argue with that position?

If I didn't have a passenger 90% of the time, the FJR would still be on the dealer floor in Montgomery Alabama.

Respectfully,

[MaximPhil]

Hi Kurt,
The Venturer is a much better set up for two up riding. And newer at only 37 years old
Unlike the Special it makes a great touring bike if properly restored and maintained.
With no bride or anyone else who rides on the back 98% of the time
I have a Kawasaki Concours for the same reasons even though the XS has never left me at the side of the road....it did need electrical surgery in motel parking lot last time out
Even a used FJR was out of my price range.
Phil

[Bigfoot]

Mine came with a Corbin seat. So far it has been very comfortable. I have yet to put over 150 miles in a day on it though. Only 800 miles on it in the last two weeks since I bought it. So far, haven't noticed it at all, which is a good thing. A longer ride is in order to see if it changes being in the saddle all day.