3CV or 3XW

[ribbert]

Well said Kyle, they are all good bikes and the differences and preferences largely personal.

I have the fairing off my second bike and a recent ride of only 20k's or so at highway speed was enough to remind me of my youth and the 100's of 1000's of K's done without a wind protection.

I could not ride all day on a naked bike anymore.

Assuming you like to ride long distances I have never understood the whole naked bike thing. It's like going back to drum brakes and kick starts, a backward step. Retro might be cool with some things but the widespread use of some form of wind deflection is a wonderful thing on modern bikes.

That alone makes the XJR1300 undesirable to me as I like to ride long distances.

It may however suit a younger "man" with wrestlers arms and a bull neck that can hold himself against the wind all day long at speed.

Noel

[fj12_rider]

Well said Kyle, they are all good bikes and the differences and preferences largely personal.

I have the fairing off my second bike and a recent ride of only 20k's or so at highway speed was enough to remind me of my youth and the 100's of 1000's of K's done without a wind protection.

I could not ride all day on a naked bike anymore.

Assuming you like to ride long distances I have never understood the whole naked bike thing. It's like going back to drum brakes and kick starts, a backward step. Retro might be cool with some things but the widespread use of some form of wind deflection is a wonderful thing on modern bikes.

That alone makes the XJR1300 undesirable to me as I like to ride long distances.

It may however suit a younger "man" with wrestlers arms and a bull neck that can hold himself against the wind all day long at speed.

Noel

yeah I have to agree I just ordered a high flip screen for my FJ . Wind deflection is a must for me . I`m very happy with my Fj and not looking to replace it .

[fintip]

I've never ridden with a windscreen, and never would have thought to desire one if people hadn't made comments about it. I can definitely imagine that it makes the bike a lot more comfortable, but I don't find the lack of it uncomfortable... I must just be strong and young, maybe I'll get it when I'm older. But for me it's like trikes--I'm sure it makes cruising comfortable, but I feel like it would detract from the experience for me.

Springy over there sounds like he's projecting his own jealousy onto those around him. You see the emotional trauma a conversation like this can bring onto these insecure 3XW owners, who try and make up for the fact that their bike handles like a fat woman in a mud wrestling ring with unsubstantiated trash talk. 

As for who is waiting for who at the coffee shop, I direct any with questions to the hard numbers on horsepower, quarter mile times, and weight... There's a reason Doc picked an FJ11 for his FJracer, and I don't recall any other stock FJ model showing a 10.54 like Jay Gleason got on the '84....

[fintip]

Correction, Gleason turned 10.43. Just went back and checked the article. Fastest stock bike time ever recorded when it was recorded, by the way...

[FJSpringy]

Springy over there sounds like he's projecting his own jealousy onto those around him. You see the emotional trauma a conversation like this can bring onto these insecure 3XW owners, who try and make up for the fact that their bike handles like a fat woman in a mud wrestling ring with unsubstantiated trash talk.  

thats if one owns a stock FJ, which one doesn't   and what is wrong with fat women mud wrestling 

[fintip]

Haha, both points valid, if that's your thing... 

But with a username like FJspringy, I have my doubts as to the handling on your FJ, lol.

[FJSpringy]

Haha, both points valid, if that's your thing... 

But with a username like FJspringy, I have my doubts as to the handling on your FJ, lol.

one wonders why you object to my custom Wilbers/Technoflex shock with remote pre-load and remote rebound and compression damping, specifically setup for my T/Ace conversion 

[ribbert]

While out riding my 3XW a while back, I stopped for a piss in a quiet paddock, making sure no one was around.

Even before I had finished, all these bikes pulled up to look at the FJ.

Would it have happened on a 3CV? I doubt it.



Apparently they had been trying to catch me for miles.

[ribbert]

 There was only ever a bees dick in the weight / performance thing anyway and the by the time the bikes are as old and as fiddled around with as our FJ's it is pretty much irrelevant.

You could fill a page with the variables that effect performance and the weight issue could be evened out by the 3XW rider taking a dump just before the ride.

Who redlines their motor on every gear change at WOT whenever they ride anyway.

Most of these bikes are no longer standard and the ones that are would be the slowest and worst handling.

Pick a favourite for sure but I don't think you can realistically include speed and weight any more in the equation.

Noel

[nurse]

First i should clarify my side of the fence as it were.  I have a 93 3xw.  i didnt know too much about the model variants before i bought it, i was guided by a trusted colleague of its good pedigree.  It was a good bike, with very good mileage at a very good price.  I have since then learnt of its legend worthy status.  I havnt riden any of the other model years so am in no way qualified to make any comparison.

But here goes my 10p worth (wont convert to other currencies as exchange rate may change by the time i have finished this reply!)

I have over the last few month pulled this bike about a bit and stuck my head into BABS's (as she is known-the B is for Bullshit, the ABS im sure you can work it out) dark and sacred places.  i have noticed that these later bikes are a real hotch potch of different model years printed on the various parts.  The motor is a 3XW, but there are panels, components all sorts with 3YA, 3CW, 3TX and loads of other variants on them.  I will check the sticker when i get home but the frame is not a 3xw maybe 3CV.  My point is that by the time we got to the late model bikes we are using the components from all the model years.  The best bits from each model you could argue, or you could argue the left over bits from the back of the factory!

So it will be like debating which of your kids is the best and therefore you love the most. (the one that isnt moaning at the time i would say)

There are elements of all the model runs in there.

This could mean my bike has been totaled and rebuilt from loads of other model years, but given that it has a solid paperwork history only one owner who never took it out, it leads me to think it is far more likly that the later bikes used the best of all the fore runners and it is just a part of the natural progression and evolution of a model run.

The only safe conclusion we can draw is that: Ner Nicky Ner Ner
My bikes better than you bike, My bikes better than you bike,My bikes better than you bike, My bikes better than you bike,My bikes better than you bike, My bikes better than you bike,My bikes better than you bike, My bikes better than you bike,My bikes better than you bike, My bikes better than you bike,My bikes better than you bike, My bikes better than you bike,My bikes better than you bike, My bikes better than you bike,My bikes better than you bike, My bikes better than you bike!

[rktmanfj]

While out riding my 3XW a while back, I stopped for a piss in a quiet paddock, making sure no one was around.

Even before I had finished, all these bikes pulled up to look at the FJ.

Would it have happened on a 3CV? I doubt it.

Nope... they wouldn't have been close enough to catch up.     

[SlowOldGuy]

Parts that have the model prefix of previous versions simply indicate that the part didn't change from generation to generation.  Not uncommon in the manufacturing business.  The later models will show more model numbers for the parts that did not change.

No need to change something that works well.  If you look closely, the suffix number will typically change to indicate a minor alteration like paint color.

This makes it easier for us to swap parts over the years, like seats, fenders, side covers and many other bits.

Also, Noel is correct.  The weight change over the years is a total non-issue.  I can't tell a bit of difference in weight between my '85 and '93.  The '93 is definitely smoother, but I wouldn't call the vibration on the '85 bad.  Both bikes are fun to ride.

DavidR.

[aviationfred]

I believe Nurse has pretty much summed everything up and hit the nail on the head. The differences between the 3 generations are negligable. I agree fully with Nurse that with the age of our rides, due to parts availability, slight performance diferrences and parts cost. Most of us have made changes and included parts from other generations to put on our own. 1TX owners put 3CV front forks on to get the 17" wheel and Blue Spot Brakes. 3CV owners swap the "Better" Sumitomo 4 piston calipers for blue/gold spot calipers. 3XW owners ditch the steel swing arm for the 3CV aluminum one, 3XW owners remove/deactivate the ABS and install a 3CV front wheel and blue/gold spot calipers. All generations toss the rear shock when they are able.

A personal case in point, not performance oriented, but a good example. I installed a Hepco & Becker Pannier and top box frame originally for a 3XW on my 3CV. It doesn't fit as designed, That was what was availble at the time and I made it work.

On top of all this nit picking between which model is better. Alot of us even have non FJ parts installed in the search of prolonging our rides lives and performance. FZ1, R1, R6 blue/gold spot calipers, FZR front wheels, FZR, FZ1 swingarms, FZR, GSXR rear wheels and brake componants, FZR, GSXR USD forks, CBR mirrors, CBR rear shock, and other more difficult one off mods.

All in all, we are a resilient bunch and we have the best all around bike that has ever been made. After almost 20 years since production has ceased, our bikes still draw admirers. Mine is nowhere as pristine as quite a few other owners bikes that belong to this group. A few times I have been asked if mine is a new 2013 model.

Fred

[FJSpringy]

I love these nonsense no possible right answer threads   

I like my FJ because I own it, when I don't like it I will sell it.

I have a team of 120 consultants who I keep telling, less is better, lots of words mean you have nothig to say, over anyalsis and lots of words give me a headache   

[movenon]

Put your gear on, sit in it, turn on your mp3 or4 player, light the fire, and roll on with the biggest smile you can produce . At speed they are all great.