Simple question
On paper, the FZR1000 tops the FJ1100/1200 in almost everything
Weight
Top speed
Standing qaurter mile
Power
Torque(just barely)
Tire size
Cooling(liquid vs air)
USD forks...
Etc. But how does it compare to the FJ
On the road in cities
On highways
Between cities
Im not really thinking of getting one, just a bit surprised I have barely heard praise of it on the forum. I heard they werent very common in the US?
Jesse,
The FZR was the R1/CBR/GSXR/ZX of its day. Much more narrow focused than the FJ.
Comparing other factors like weather protection, comfort, ease of maintenance, carrying capacity the FJ quickly rises compared to the factors you list.
While I'm sure some folks could ride them for hours, many can and do ride the FJ for days.
I could live with the FJ as my only bike. I would need at least one other if I had the FZR.
That's my opinion anyhow,
Arnie
I've had both. And now come back to FJ1200. Fzr is faster(never fast enough stuck $6000 into motor) and handles better. But FJ beats FZR hands down on comfort.
So other than the FJ, was else was like an FJ in its time?
I sat on an FZR and will say its less comfy than my 200cc which is less comfy than my FJ. Agree that If I had an FZR I would want another bike.
Well, nothing was quite like the FJ :-)
I guess the bikes most like the FJ were the Suzuki GS1000, Kawasaki Concours or KZ1000, Honda CB900 or VF1100, BMW 1000RS or K1000. (I may have left some out or got the capacity wrong on some of these)
Cheers,
Arnie
To me the bikes that were similar GS1150E Suzuki and the Kawa 1000R. In 86 it was still a sport bike in my term -- just not Pure Sport.... as the Pure Sport designation went to the FZs of the day.
Stevecc
Hi Jessie.
I have A yzf1000r thunderace 1998 model which is the direct descendant of the fzr1000,which is basically an fzr with some refinement,and the predecessor to the r1.I bought it because my relatively stock 86 fj1200 is not so much fun in the twisties.While the thunderace is comfortable compared to many sports bikes,the fj beats it hands down for comfort.Also the fj has better torque in the lower rev ranges meaning less gear changes in normal street riding.If I had to get rid of one :cray:,It would be the thunderace.Currently I am getting bits together for upgrading the fj's suspension so this may happen :cray:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/2/medium_1645_01_07_11_8_13_35_1.jpeg)
Cheers :drinks:
Jeff P
Put a 17 inch front wheel on that FJ and it will be MUCH funner in the twisties!
I think I see a parts donner bike in that picture. :-)
DavidR.
" much funner".....really David? Where *is* Klavdy when you need him?
The early 90's FZRs had some nice USD forks I used on my bike.....although those stout 48mm forks on the T-Ace are just as beefy..
.....but conventional forks...blah...the chicks love the USD's... (popcorn)
I'm in the process of putting 2008 GSXR1000 front end on my 86 fj1200. And 1992 GSXR 750 rear wheel. Also putting GIVI rack and E41hard cases. So hoping to have the ultimate sport touring bike .
Wow, that really was some bad grammar. Kind of embarassing.
What was I on, or rather how much of it did I already take?
DavidR.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on May 22, 2012, 04:04:01 PM
" much funner".....really David? Where *is* Klavdy when you need him?
Pat,
Put some Texas twang on it and it sounds bout rite...
Randy - RPM
Interesting discussion, suspension upgrade(s)...
If I may suggest a set of fork valves and a fork brace from RPM there would not be a need for another set of forks, USD or otherwise (uh, sorry Pat).
At least on a '91 FJ. I will admit to having installed wider rims as well, but it is unlikely that an otherwise stock FJ will exceed the capabilities of Randy's front end set up.
And may I recommend the Blue Dots up front as well because they will be needed as a compliment to the improved handling characteristics of the new set up.
Gently fellows, gently...
Mike Ramos.
Flips, I must say, you have some beautiful bikes there and both in my favouriye colour scheme :wacko3:
I really want to keep my FJ going but I cant keep a bike that keeps getting me in debt.. I think it was AndyB who once said if you cant afford to maintain an FJ you shouldnt be riding it.
I have been looking around though and found a good few bikes that have caught my eye. One that has really caught my eye is a 2003 YZF R6 which has a few nifty upgrades and for only 30 000zar (i think thats about 3500 us $) which in SA is a really great price, so great the bike probably wont be there by the time I have the FJ fixed up enough to sell and then still save up..
Granted an R6 would be a bit of a hooligan bike, but atleast in the future I could come back to an FJ, that is if I dont find one thats in good nic and fits the bill..Well I got lots of time to think..other options that sort of fit my bill are a yami FZR400/1000, a RVF 400 nc30, or an old zx750..all these bikes are old though.
This is the R6 I talk of...
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h410/FJTILLDEATH/R61.jpg)
Jesse,
Nothing wrong with an R6 - for a young kid like you who's still flexible enough to ride in the position they demand :-). They do have a sky high rev range to get any power from them, and then you'd better hold on.
And, while your knowledge of basic mechanical devices, and motorcycles in particular has improved markedly since you bought the FJ and joined this group....... It may not yet be improved enough to be able to sniff out a dog that's been tarted up for sale.
That R6, a 2004, selling for ~US$3500 is very cheap. Why? What's it really like? The claim that it hasn't been raced is suspect (at least). Maybe they just liked the race look, but it has quite a lot of race stickers that may indicate it has been raced- OR that its been crashed and had the OEM plastics replaced with (used?) raceglass bits (which are much cheaper). Does it have safety wire on sump and radiator drain plugs? Does the seller offer any documented service history?
If you're serious about purchase of this or ANY other "bargain", take someone with you who is an expert mechanic to check it out properly (even if you have to pay them).
You certainly wouldn't want to be stung twice by shifty shitty bike sellers.
Arnie
Quote from: Arnie on May 23, 2012, 10:14:09 AM
They claim that it hasn't been raced is suspect (at least). Maybe they just liked the race look, but it has quite a lot of race stickers that may indicate it has been raced- OR that its been crashed and had the OEM plastics replaced with (used?) raceglass bits (which are much cheaper).
Jesse
FWIW, I had the same thought as Arnie. Be careful. At this point, given your recent experience, (if I may offer some unsolicited advice) I'd be looking for a bike that was at least as
functional as it is aesthetically pleasing. Seems to me, this involves sizing up the bike as well as the current owner. Is he a squid? Does he come across as honest? Does he have the paperwork to back up the maintenance he says he's done/ has had done? If he says he done the work himself, quiz him a bit on his abilities. Did he just do the minimum? What sort of modifications have been done to the bike. Are they similar mods that you would have done -indicating perhaps a similar approach/ respect for the machine/ motorcycling...
Seriously, I would be careful with your hard-earned this time around. The point is, despite the impression you may get reading everything here, it's mostly about
riding the bike, whatever bike you buy. The maintenance, in my mind, is a means to that end. Oh, some folks here will talk about the catharsis of working on your bike, bonding with it -hell, I think I've even said that. But ultimately riding the thing is the payoff, the raison d'etre, if you will. So buy a bike that will let you ride at will and maintain when you want to.
This is my input, take it or leave it, but I'd like to see you get a good one this time around, FJ or not.
Dan
I owned a FZR 1000. And the only place were really was faster than FJs was in a track. In open roads and in a real world the FJ comfy upright position with the weight at the back gives you more ride control and let you more errors
The problem with the FJ is that the excellent ride control diminish your speed sensations and you think you go slower than in fact you are. I have had this feelings a lot of times riding with in theory faster stuff like GSXRs, ZXRs, FZRs, ZZRs... When I´ve ridden that bikes the speed sensation was higher, but the stopwatch was saying the opposite
Jesse, racing fairings can be quite thin by design (light weight) and as such, are not as durable as you think.
I would pass on this bike. You don't need a worn out track bike...
Quote from: Alf on May 23, 2012, 11:36:52 AM
I owned a FZR 1000. And the only place were really was faster than FJs was in a track. In open roads and in a real world the FJ comfy upright position with the weight at the back gives you more ride control and let you more errors
The problem with the FJ is that the excellent ride control diminish your speed sensations and you think you go slower than in fact you are. I have had this feelings a lot of times riding with in theory faster stuff like GSXRs, ZXRs, FZRs, ZZRs... When I´ve ridden that bikes the speed sensation was higher, but the stopwatch was saying the opposite
This is a good point. On some of my bikes, it's work to get speed, where on my Aprila, I'll just be cruising along and look down at the speedo to see I'm in the triple digits. I remember the second day I owned it, got on the freeway and rolled her on, was toodling along, looked down to see the speedo say 117 m.p.h. That was an eye opener, anything else I've ridden, you KNEW you were going fast....But a big lunk like the FJ or the Tuono, it just seems to glide up there...
Thanks for all the advice, Dan, Arnie, Pat. The one thing I learnt from the FJ is to check at what I actually purchase, I asked a friend to check the bike out for me and while everything was fine cosmetically, the engine was off a beat. Besides trying to decode what my friend told me, he basically just said to stay away. The bike was in good running order, but something was soon to go wrong somewhere down the line. One thing for sure is that I dont wanna go from my FJ to a bike that will be just like it - in terms of repairs
I know that with my next purchase I need to purchase based on the condition of the engine first and then on the looks of the bike. I had seen another R6 for the same price but an earlier year model, with original fairings and some nice upgrades like the exhuast, otherwise failry standard. Nice low kms too. Unfortunately the bike was already sold, but the guy who sold it said there was nothing wrong with the bike. So my options are still quite open to say the least..I have been presented with a few extra options anyway..
I can only really make a decision when I actually have the money in my hands, so until then its just window shopping :hang1:
I will start with a little background of myself. I rode motorcycles as my main vehicle from the time I was 19 until I was 30. I have been without a bike for the last 15 years. I have just recently purchased a 1989 FJ1200 and getting back into the full motorcycle lifestyle. For the FJ versus FZR question. 20+ years ago when I had my FJ1100, I could ride non-stop from tank fill-up to reserve. My previous bike was a 1986 Honda Interceptor 500, it had nowhere the fuel range. I would find at times that I would have to stop to get the kinks out of the knees on long rides. The FZR would fit into the same situatuation as my 500. Now that I am in my mid 40's, the comfort of the FJ is much more appealing.
Quote from: aviationfred on May 27, 2012, 07:53:29 PM
Now that I am in my mid 40's, the comfort of the FJ is much more appealing.
Yeh I think people who have never ridden an FJ have no idea how relatively comfortable they are on a long-ish journey...
Besides an FJ I now also have XJR's which for the uninitiated are a retro style naked bike and to see one you'd assume they'd be more comfortable than even an FJ but frankly I can go further on my FJ without stopping and I find myself beginning to think about emulating the FJ's rear-set relative positioning onto my XJR so as to rotate the pelvis/hips which would get the curvature of the spine straighter and more similar to how I find the FJ.
As for FZR's, In '88 I traded my then "ageing" '86 FJ12 I'd bought near new on an '87 Genisis and then traded that on a brand new '89 EXUP when they came out. Being then in my early twenties and motorcycling was my only mode of transport, it was nothing to cover 50,000 kilometres per year and sometimes 1000 kilometres in a day to a bachelor and spinsters ball out on the Nullarbor Plain or some other such crazy reason to go for a "spin"...
The FZR used more fuel, had a shorter fuel range and I found (even with the more supple limbs of youth) the FJ was much more leisurely and comfortable on the long haul, much less susceptible to cross-winds and a LOT less sensitive to the additional mass of enough "necessities" for an overnight camping trip (ie: a swag and a bottle of Wild Turkey).
And I can say categorically that the FJ's ability as a true all-round "sports tourer" was what attracted me back to owning one again some 25 years later.