FJ Paradigm shift triggered

[nchattaway]

All,

Most of my bikes have been sports or sport tourers. In my mid 40s, I'm not as flexible as once I was, and my knees get pretty sore if locked into a bend for more than an hour. So I'll just come out and admit it - I've been flirting with other bikes besides FJs. I was dead set on the Yamaha XSR900 for a while, then it was a Ducati Monster S4RS I hankered after, and then a sweet Softail Slim S all blacked out with the 110 Screaming Eagle motor. My riding mates all have cruiser bikes. Was I missing out on something, sticking to sporty style bikes?

I ended up bringing home another Yamaha, a Roadliner 1900 Midnight. This is a big long and comfy muscle cruiser. I've owned it for about 6 weeks now, and have made the time for a 2 day blast to Broken Hill and back with a couple of mates. There's no screen at all, just a giant Art Deco headlight nacelle to offer any relief from 110kph wind. But there's also the Vance & Hines 2 into 1 and powerchip that make it sound like a cammed up 350 Chev when you work her through the gears under full throttle. I love it.

But I have no intention of selling my FJ1100. Funny thing is, this giant and low-revving cruiser with almost no cornering clearance has utterly transformed the FJ1100. Before the Roadliner, my FJ1100 felt old, heavy and a bit sluggish and mushy. Now, whenever I leave the big black one in the goatshed and fire up FJ, she feels like my old KR1S stroker used to feel twenty something years ago. Tiny, slim and nimble, and rearing to get a few revs on the dial and light out of there.
I've discovered the joy of context. In this new context, my FJ is a vintage piece of race rep horsepower on wheels. I'm loving the ability to choose the right bike for the right occasion now. I may still take the FJ for tours, but I definitely feel unburdened about no longer having to modify it from the original design brief in order to live with it as a comfortable touring bike. I can now fit some super sticky tyres, dial in the firm new suspension, rip off the gearsack rack and focus on putting this girl into sports mode for my daily commute and for Sunday arvo blasts with friends. It's very liberating!

Has anyone else discovered a new facet to their FJ just by complementing it with another model bike? I'm thinking yes, and I'd love to hear about combinations you have found to be particularly effective!

[nchattaway]

Here's my goatshed these days...

[camo]

Great point mate, perspective is hugely important. Thats why I prefer looking at life from inside a helmet 

[Country Joe]

I got the same perspective adjustment when I had a Honda GL 1800. My FJ felt like a 250 Ninja after riding the Goldwing exclusively for about 3 months.

[mr blackstock]

After riding my Yamaha xj650 along some nice twisties, after the weaving, lurching, scary braking, and "not bad" acceleration, my stock '85 FJ feels like an RC30!  The honeymoon lasts for months, then back to the xj for a few days, and so on....

Cheaper than an RC30 too!

[Patsfan]

I'm with you. I have a VTX1800C and the FJ1200. Took them both out yesterday and loved it! Had the FJ out 2X.