PA Ride June 6-9, 2019

[Zwartie]

I posted this report on the FJR Owners site the other day. I know this isn't exactly an FJ ride report, unless you count the part where Rob rode with us. I owned and rode FJ1200's from 1994 until 2019 (25 years) and after years of contemplation, I finally "upgraded" to a 2006 FJR1300. I loved those FJ's and wish I could have kept my last one (the Blue Bunny) but I just don't have time for two bikes, especially two sport-touring bikes. The FJR has proven to be a very competent, comfortable, and sporty two-up bike and I know my wife is way more comfortable on the back of the FJR than she ever was on the FJ - mostly due to the Seth Laam seat.

Went for a little 4-day riding adventure with my wife June 6-9. We headed down to our usual stomping ground - North Eastern and North Central PA. It really has the best roads that are within a day's ride from Southwestern Ontario. We left Thursday morning and took the secondary roads from London, ON to Fort Erie. My buddy Rob Hersey rides an '85 FJ1100 and he joined us for the ride to the border and then headed back home.

This is Rob and my wife Kim just after a mandatory Timmies stop in Simcoe, ON


Here we are just outside Fort Erie, ON where we parted ways


From Fort Erie Kim and I headed to Ellicottville, NY where we stopped for lunch and then fueled up the FJR


From there we rode to the Allegheny National Forest and ended up in Warren, PA and spent the night at the Hampton Inn (put those Hilton Honors points to good use!)

Friday morning we had some fun riding in the ANF yet again and that included a nice winding 50 km stretch of PA route 666


Before ending up in Williamsport, PA we stopped in Renovo, PA for some ice cream and we met Jim, a fellow FJR rider from Buffalo. One more FJR and it would have been an official rally!


We made it to Williamsport mid-afternoon and stayed at the Hampton Inn downtown. That morning I had a nice chat outside the hotel with some riders from Toronto doing a "shamrock" tour of the area.


Our Saturday destination was Buffalo, NY and to get there we had to take two of my favourite roads in Pennsylvania - PA route 44 and PA route 144. This included an obligatory stop at the Germania General Store which I've been to at least a dozen or so times in the past 25 years.


Our lodging for Saturday night was the Homewood Suites in Buffalo. After 3 days of riding we decided to take an Uber to dinner which also meant I could enjoy that extra beer! We ate at the Italian Village based on a recommendation by the hotel front desk and the food was fantastic.

Sunday we left Buffalo, crossed the border at Fort Erie and took the lake shore (Lake Erie) most of the way to Port Dover, ON where we stopped for a lake perch dinner at Willie's. From there it was about a 90-minute ride home.


We rode 1,410 km in 4 days and the weather was absolutely perfect - mid 20's (Celcius) each day and not even a hint of rain. Considering how cold and wet this spring / early summer season has been so far we really lucked out! Kim is the perfect riding partner and now that we've upgraded to the Laam seats the ride is that much more enjoyable than ever. When you ride a few hair-pin turns, scrape the pegs along the way and your passenger comments how great the ride was (fully aware of the peg scraping), you know you have a great passenger. This is the first multi-day ride that we've done just the two of us but it won't be the last!


Zwartie.

[Charlie-brm]

Great report. 

I was held up making my reply post because I was searching for the "Like" button on the screen – until I woke up.

[Tuned forks]

Zwartie, how much adjustment was there going from to a much heavier motorcycle?  I see the FJR's weigh 650 lb/295 kg wet.

Joe

[Zwartie]

According to the interweb, here's how the two compare in terms of weight:

Model                       FJ1200   FJR1300  Difference
Wet weight (lbs)       571          650        79
Dry weight (lbs)        540          591        51

Looks like there's a significant increase in the wet weight difference compared to the dry weight difference of the two machines. I'm thinking it's due to the coolant, final drive oil, and additional fuel capacity (3 more litres) of the FJR.
That being said, I can tell that the FJR is heavier but it really isn't all that noticeable when riding - either at slow speeds or a more "spirited" pace. The FJR really wears its weight well.

Zwartie

Zwartie, how much adjustment was there going from to a much heavier motorcycle?  I see the FJR's weigh 650 lb/295 kg wet.

Joe

[FJ Flyer]

When I went from the FJ to the FJR is felt like quite a jump in weight.  But you adjust quickly.  Then, when going back to the FJ, it felt like a mini-bike.  But I had the same experience when I went from my 650 to the FJ.  FJ seemed huge. 

I got quickly spoiled by the modern conveniences of the FJR - full fairing/adjustable windscreen, shaft, FI, ABS, hard bags, etc.  And, now with the '16, I'm even more spoiled by the electronic suspension, cruise, LED lights.