Older versus newer street bikes

[Vsekvsek]

Being new to street but a former mxer just curious differences between new and older street bikes like our fjs. Reason I ask is a guy i know has been riding forever prefers bikes like fjs. He said the older bikes are just more comfortable. I have the fj cus it was a deal but he told me I am not missing much and my 89 with low original milaege is a gem. Another guy said newer bikes are way way nicer. What says you?

[Rhino]

I find the seating position on older bikes more upright, newer bikes seem to have the handlebars too low.
My arms are too short to ride newer bikes, i rode a mates R1 around the block and I was leaning so far forward it was too difficult to lift my head enough to see the horizon.
Lol and the fuel tank shape doesn't leave enough room for my belly )

[Goetz]

I find pretty much anything with an S or R or RR after the model number is more for racing than everyday use, though a blast for short commutes. I did a few 400+ mile trips on an sv650s and it hurt. But slap some bar risers on an r1 and lower the pegs and you have an fz1 with a fairing and better handling.

[movenon]

I don't like the new sport bikes. They make you look like a fat lump sitting on top a gas tank. Not to comforatble. They run like hell and corner on a dime but I would like to see someone ride one for 600 miles or more.
There some real nice sport touring models out there if you want to spend the money. I am cheap so the FJ fits me fine. And thats what it's all about, what makes you happy. That's what counts. If you go down the path of having to own the greatest and latest then you are in for an education.
George

[Pat Conlon]

I am 6'3" and there are many many new comfortable bikes available for me to buy.
Water cooled, fuel injected, even a few with driveshafts and (thanks to RPM) only just a few that are faster than my 1350 FJ.

I am not delusional in thinking that my FJs are the only comfortable, fast bikes available.
Yes, I too do not fit comfortably on sport bikes, but still there are many I do fit.

I fell in love with my FJ in '84 and I still enjoy her, warts and all. Then again I have been married for over 40 years (same wife) and before Klavdy comments, no, she has no warts...... .

[aviationfred]

For a new bike, I would probably go with a FJR1300. But at $15800.00 for a 2013, it is a check that I am not interested in writing.

For our FJ's, there are proven mods and Randy @RPM engineering FJ specific ugraded parts. Our FJ's have always had enough oomph from the motor. A person can do a few mods and purchase a few new upgrades from Randy and have a bike that is better than it was from the dealer and equal to any 2013 bike in the same class. IMO 90% of the riding most people do with their 20+ year old FJ's and FJR's, Concours C14's, and ST1300's, they are all equal.

Fred

[yamaha fj rider]

I love my FJ and don't ever plan on getting rid of it. This being said if I was to buy a new bike the FZ1 would look real good next to the FJ in my garage, second choice FZ8. I have never ridden them, just looking at them makes me want one. I was at one of the local Yamaha dealers las summer they had some non current FZ8s for a deal, was hard not to take a test ride.

Kurt

[Klavdy]

Hahaha!
Some of you have no idea.
It's 2013.
I like FJ's and have had a few of them, done a lot of miles on them too.
Modded?
Done just about everything you can with them apart from a huge horsepower engine upgrade.
I don't own one anymore.
Go ride a new FJR or a GTR 1400 then go ride a heavy piece of shit old FJ.
Not just around the block, either.
After that, go ride an upgraded FJ1200, one with brakes, suspension ,engine and ergonomic mods done.
Then compare them to a stock standard GTR or FJR.
Pat and I will expand on this further next week, we'll have a new gadget to try out.

[ribbert]

Being new to street but a former mxer just curious differences between new and older street bikes like our fjs. Reason I ask is a guy i know has been riding forever prefers bikes like fjs. He said the older bikes are just more comfortable. I have the fj cus it was a deal but he told me I am not missing much and my 89 with low original milaege is a gem. Another guy said newer bikes are way way nicer. What says you?

I get to ride modern bikes and a lot of guys here own modern bikes as well as their FJ's.

With a few tweaks, your missing nothing and the FJ's have soul.

New bikes to me are like a hotel room, everything (unlike my house) is modern, clean, tidy and works. The heating and cooling is efficient, the bed's great, the hot water endless, crisp sheets, a pile of thick fluffy towels, bedside controls and so on. Fun to stay at BUT, you wouldn't want to live there.

On a recent trip while riding some long sections of slab I amused myself by making a hypothetical case for a new bike. I considered all the things my bike had done over the last few days and how well it had done them and what part of that would have been better on a new/modern bike.  My conclusion was nothing.

The only thing a modern bike offers that I would like is (modern) ABS for safety, although many old timers and young hot shots will tell you it's an invention of the devil and "real men" can outbrake it.

My short list of things to make it ride better are:

17" wheels F&R with modern rubber
Raise the back a bit and lower the front a bit (no cost)
14mm adjustable brake m/c with ss braided lines and EBC HH pads. IMO the standard 4 piston calipers (which I believe your bike will have) with these mods are enough. Most people do their front brake upgrades all at once and I think the improvement attributed to the blue spot calipers themselves is overrated.

After that, everything is icing, and there is LOTS of icing.

Certainly upgrading the suspension will deliver a big improvement but it is not necessary to make it handle or safe.

Don't forget, a new bike will depreciate more each year than best FJ cost. You can fund a lot of improvements for that.

First thing to do is comprehensively check the bike over, service and tune it.

Noel

[ribbert]

Having just read Klavdy's post. He is right. An FJ is not a universal alternative to a new bike, it's not for everyone.

To some people motorbikes ARE ONLY the sum of the nuts and bolts that make them up and for them the latest and greatest is best.'

For me, and I guess many others here, the appeal of the FJ goes beyond that.

Unlike many bikes from the era that could only be described in today's world as novelty rides, the FJ equips itself well in the company of FJR's and GTR's and other modern machinery.

I like the fact that it's old, the way it looks, the quality of the finish that no amount of money will buy you on a new bike, the reasons go on.

FJR's and GTR's will be throw away bikes when they get tired, no second life.

FJ v New Bike? It would be like trading your XK120 Jag for a Toyota Camry. After all, they do everything better.

Noel

[Pat Conlon]

All good points.
I like Frank Moore's quote: "The RDI on my FJ is so low, as to be almost unmeasurable"
RDI = Relative Duplication Index.
The chance that someone will pull up to you at a stoplight with a bike like yours.

I rode the new Kawasaki ZX-14 last week and with a seat and bar change, I could get real comfy on that bike.
One moment it was quiet, smooth and docile...and the next moment it was piss your pants fast. Scary fast.
I have yet to try the BMW1000RR's. That's next on my list...then the new Tuono V4's...etc, etc.

I still come home to my FJ's though.

[ribbert]

For a new bike, I would probably go with a FJR1300. But at $15800.00 for a 2013, it is a check that I am not interested in writing.


Fred

Try $25,000 here!

[Klavdy]

Life's too short to ride old bikes all the time.

Don't get me wrong, the FJ is a classic in the way that few vehicles are.
But, and it's a big but, it's a close to 30 year old bike (probably more when you factor in the design lead time) things changed a lot in that time.
Fuel injection, electronic rider aids like ABS and traction control,aerodynamics,metallurgy,suspension and brake components, electrics, you name it.
The FJ still does it's purpose pretty well but there's no getting away from the fact that it is old.

Mind you, there's not really a modern sporty sport tourer that fills that niche,amongst a few there's the Kawasaki 1000cc Ninja SX




I took one(stupid name, ninja)out as a loaner bike the other week while my 1400 was getting a log book service (I want the log book stamps for the first few services).
The bike shop got a bit snarky when it came back with another 400 + Km's on it but hey, at least it got a good run.
It was quick, no doubt reliable, handled well and sounded horn with the Akrapovic slip ons
Smooth, vibration free,nice rider triangle for good ergos, quiet engine and drivetrain to no doubt pass some arcane Euro III requirement with  typical quality Jap switch gear and gauges


but it felt a bit cheap,some of the fasteners were already somewhat furred,its fairings rattled a bit and just didn't really do it for me.
It's no future classic that's for sure, few modern bikes are.
A lot of modern bikes are like that and you wouldn't really expect to see them on the roads after thirty years.
Then again, I probably wont be on the road in thirty years either so I'll ride modern bikes with the occasional foray on a classic while I can.

[FJ Flyer]

I loved my FJ.  Put almost 100K miles on her.  But after having the FJR for over 4 years and 60K miles, I have no longing for the FJ.  I did a Saddle Sore 1K on the FJR, and several 900+ mile days, as well, which I don't think I could do on the FJ (maybe in my younger days).  For me, the FJR is more comfortable, has ABS that works, decent fairing, FI, etc.  Granted, the FJR is heavier and no where near as nimble, but, overall, I'll take the modern bike for everyday use.

When I get on the FJ, it seems tiny to me, now.  And a bit more 'fun'.  But its limitations jump out.

I picked up my FJR used, two years old, low mileage, which knocked a considerable amount off the price of new. 

[ribbert]

If I had a modern bike I would have to find something else to tinker with.

Riding my bike only accounts for about half the pleasure I get from it but I do understand some people just want to ride.

My brother for example does 35,000 km a year of purely recreational riding. His interest in tinkering with his bike is limited to putting fuel in it.

I need a rolling project.