There really is a first time for everything

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Fred W

1 Wheel Drive
FJR Supporter
Joined
Nov 9, 2006
Messages
17,696
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Location
Eastern VT
For me, yesterday was a first. Prior to yesterday I had never bought a brand new motorcycle. Ever. It is just totally against my frugal Yankee nature to want to take that big whack in depreciation when you ride off the showroom floor. No, no... my motorcycle buying MO has always been to find lightly used examples of the bike I was lusting after at the time, and negotiate a fair price for it. But yesterday was different. Way different.

So, to go back to the start of the story, while on our two week vacation ride, TMJ and I both enjoyed the trip immensely. It may have been the best vacation that we've done together in our 36 years since we tied the knot. Even while we were still enjoying it, we started talking about the next time, and I started thinking; How could we make it even better? Maybe on a bike that is a tad more comfy and rides a bit more leisurely than my '05 FJR.

When we arrived back home, buried in the pile of junk mail, free papers and catalogs was a post card from MOM's (Motorcycles of Manchester) that they were having a Yamaha Demo Truck this weekend on Friday and Saturday. "Wow, cool", says I. I wondered if it would be the truck that SkooterG works on. I called the dealership and talked to one of the sales people and asked if the truck would have a 2014 FJR and a 2014 Super Tenere on it, as those are the bikes I would be interested in riding. Yes. Yes they'll both be available, Come on down and have some fun!

So yesterday I headed over to MOMs on the B4 with the idea that I might very well be downsizing my garage full of 3 bikes down to just a single, new, SuperTenere. A great do it all bike that we could set up for LD riding with some ginormous side bags, and one that would suck up the bumpy crappy NH roads at home with aplomb.

Got to the demo triuck and signed right up for the two test rides, an FJR 1300ES and then the S10ES. Then SkooterG came back from leading a prior test ride group, and we finally got to see each other in the flesh, and shake hands, after what... 8 years of electronic conversations on this forum? What a trip. But more on that later.

Soon enough the 12:30 ride group was forming up. Skooter went over the FJR's electronic controls with me quickly. Luckily I had already read enough about them here that I was relatively aware of what could be done. Since I'm a Klydesdale, we set the ES preload to the middle stiffness (single plus luggage) and middle damping to start off. Then away we went on a roughly 10 mile ride route.

The streets of ManchVegas are well representative of NH roads, meaning they suck. I intentionally aimed at every sewer lid and crevasse in the torn up pavement and was instantly astounded with how well the new ES sucked up those bumps. The engine has infinitely smoother power deliver than my '05 had in stock form, and the handlebar buzziness is reduced by an order of magnitude. I diddled with the buttons during the test ride and tried a few different setting, including going to two up preload, and it never becomes harsh in the least. We had a good couple of miles stretch of interstate in the test loop and I really appreciated several things over my 1st gen, the airflow over the windscreen, the lack of any heat from the engine bay, and the lower rpm at cruising speeds.

By the time we rolled back in to MOMs parking lot, where fellow NERD ionbeam had arrived since we left, my helmet had become completely filled by the stupid shit eating grin I was wearing. Wow what a rush. Can the Tenere top that? Luckil;y I wouldn't have to wait long to find out as I was in the very next test ride on the S10 ES.

The S10's control functions are nearly identical to the FJR, except no power windshield, of course. We headed out and I was immediately struck by how much like my old Manstrom the S10 handles. The 1200cc engine does have quite a bit more pop, but both engines are high rev-ers if you want to generate any big HP. The six speed trans is nice as the engine is really loafing at highway speeds, but the aerodynamics are typical adventure bike, which is to say minimal compared to the likes of the Feejer. Just like on my Strom. I had a hard time justifying plonking down >15 large for a bike that I already essentially have one of.

When we got back to the parking lot, another NERD FJReady had shown up. And by then my mind was already made up. The hook had already been set deeply on that first test ride. The only thing left was getting a price and doing the paperwork.

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FJReady caught me after we had taken care of the former and were dealing with the latter. I will take delivery of 2104 ES serial # 457 next Friday.

The Perfesser (ionbeam) and FJReady also took a couple of test rides that afternoon.

Alan (ionbeam) tested the FJR ES too, but then took Skooter's own 2nd gen transport, equipped with a CT, out for a (short) spin.

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And Russ (FJReady) tested the same two bikes that I had earlier, here heading out on the S10 ES.

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I'll let them chime in with their own impressions. But I had already snapped up the last ES they had in stock, so their pocketbooks were safe (for the time being).

Since SkooterG was in town, we just had to take the Zonie boy out for some authentic New England seafood. ionbeam, his good pillion Helen and I met Skooter at his hotel that evening after he finished all his demo duties, (TMJ couldn't make it due to a prior commitment) and we all carpooled it out to the coast to Newick's Lobster House on Dover Point for dinner. We met Russ and his good pillion Sarah at the restaurant since they live on the coast (the lucky bastidges) and it was a shorter drive for them.

We treated him to some fresh Maine oysters and, for another "first time", Skooter had his first boiled Maine lobster. After devouring the thing with only minimal instruction (he's smarter than he looks), Greg admitted that; "Now he understands all the fuss we make about eating lobsters." Yep, another convert... an honorary NERDS member now.
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I think the others may have snapped a few pictures of the affair in the restaurant. I was too busy basking in the afterglow of all of the days prior proceedings.

 
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Congrats Fred!! I am of course jealous, but my wallet is safe, as there's no way I/we could justify such an expenditure, when we've barely ridden the FJR all summer.
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Like others. I will likely wait until there comes a gently-used ES in a couple of years.

 
Congrats Fred. I purposely missed the demo days here in Murrysville earlier this year. I wouldn't have had the coin then to buy anyway. So the 05 was traded?

 
I am sure glad I had no clue this was going on. Fred and I may have been fighting over the one in the show room.

Congrat's. Fred, So when is the maiden voyage taking place?

Dave

 
When I saw Fred pull into the parking lot I could feel a disturbance if the Force. Yup, it was certain that the last ES at MOM was getting a new home and Fred's reputation as the Frugal Yankee was despoiled :) but in a gooood way.

I rode the ES, it is almost certain that either a '14 or '15 will be getting another new home in my garage.

I rode the Dark Sider. Umm, NO. Not just NO but NO thank you. FJReady found it not so bad. As he is a continental span traveler that tire may work for him too.

We had a great time eating Homarus Americanus on the coast in a restaurant overlooking the Great Bay in Dover NH. Lots of stories, lots of laughs. FWIW, deep fried cheese cake does not go well with Sam Adams beer :lol: Who would have thought...

 
Congratulations, Fred. This is indeed a milestone for ya. And even though you have indeed preached, "I don't buy new" in the past, you couldn't "sell out" to a better machine. Granted, the ES suspension is a cut above the standard, but from what I've been reading, sounds like it's definitely worth it. Sure, you coulda picked up a lightly used 13, but yer only gonna save a couple grand, and the 13s didn't offer the ES suspension. Besides, if you like that beautiful red color as much as I do, you can't really compare the two bikes that easily as they look so very different side by side. Isn't it amazing how that gold metalflake just jumps out of the paint when the sun hits it? What an gorgeous looking machine. Ha-- it looks so good, just standing next to it will even make YOU look better, Fred
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I rode one at the Orlando Expo last year, following along behind Scooter. He sure knows how to set the pace, does he not? Anyway, as much as I did enjoy riding the new FJR, it's just not in the picture for me right now.

I also got to ride the Super T. It felt more like I was sitting on TOP of the bike rather than "in" the saddle... like the FJR.

The power at lower rpms was fine, but once ya get up past 6k, ya keep waiting for that "FJR kick in the pants" at higher RPMs, but it never comes. The power just kinda dwindles off as the RPMs rise on the Super T. That was a deal breaker for me, and coupled with the non adjustable windshield that wasn't even close to FJR dimensions or performance, I walked away with no interest of ever riding one again, and certainly no interest in buying one.

So I can certainly understand your decision this week. Hope to hear more about this new relationship...

Gary

darksider #44

 
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Congrats Fred !!!

I sensed you were headed in that direction from other postings. It is certainly good to hear that your vacation riding was so nice.

I guess when the Gen. 3 comes out in blue my temptations will be strong, but I need to run up 200k on a gen. 2 first. As asked before,

I am wondering if you traded the '05?, kept the Strom?

Are you considering an Alaskan 2-up ride?

 
Nice. It is great to have someone as knowledgeable as yourself buy a new FJR that we can all benefit from for years to come. I just which my 07 wouldn't run and handle so good, or I would join you in buying new.

 
Congrats Fred, last Saturday I picked up my ES from my good friends Desert Valley Powersports in Prosser Washington. Vin #454, apparently at a point in time they were a lot physically closer to each other than they are today. After years of saying if they ever built it in red I would have one, Yamaha called my bluff. I resisted the urge almost all year until, like you, my long trip this summer got me thinking about all I had read on how much refinement the new generation held. Add in a healthy dose of "support" from my riding bro and the ever lovely Jenny and further resistance was futile. I'm still in awe of what a wonderful machine this bike is.

It takes a wise man to be willing to evolve from long established beliefs when circumstances intersect with opportunity. Sometimes the only thing we get by waiting.....is older.

 
So, Fred is a perfect example of why I don't dare ride a '14 ES. The same syndrome as H-D riders who always refuse my offer to let them ride the FJR - they really don't want to know how much better things could be. I'll go on deluding myself that the '05 with 50k is just marginally inferior. Fred, start working up your 2015 Rockies tour. Ya rode some of the best, but there is more...

 
<Photos by FJReady and Mrs Ionbeam>

Photographic evidence beyond Fred signing his way into new adventures to come:

Corrupter the Demo bike:

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Note his security blanket:
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The group less FJReady Russ the photographer. L - R Mrs Ionbeam; near the camera Mrs. FJReady; Ionbeam; Skooter; Fred W
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Food adventuring:
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As the meal progressed Skoot found out why people wear da bib.
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Fred W and Russ using hand sign language to supplement large, many syllable words. Note Fred is already wearing '14 red shirts.
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For NERDS this is a whole lot of foot PoRN.

It was great day riding many motorcycles, SPENDING MONEY, good food and good company.

The '14ES was clearly a more refined bike that has most of the big farkles already built in. I was riding along on the highway enjoying the bike when I happened to notice that I was in third gear and was perfectly happy so I snicked the gears all the way up to fifth. On my Gen I I would be looking for sixth gear, on the '14 I wanted to shift down a gear. Like Fred I played pothole bingo switching between suspension modes and settings and found that it was easy to get a comfortable ride. I like the suspension, the smoothness and the refinement. It looks like Yamaha has solved the windscreen issues, it would take a 100º ride, a 20º ride and a rain ride to see how it really works. I though that the throttle response might have been a bit softer than my Gen I until I noticed I was in the T mode. A finger flick fixed that.

Strangely, when I got on my >100k mile FJR it still compared pretty favorably to the '14 -- but I have lots and lots of $$$ and time in my Gen I to get it to feel and run like the Gen III does right out of the box.

Fred is busy with family fun at the coast today, he will be along with the saga of why his B4 is still in his garage in spite of a very good offer from MOM.

 
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As this is your first new bike, don't go steaming off on a 2000 mile trip without considering it should be serviced at 600 :) (mine's on 560, booked in for when my stars are aligned with the dealer's).

And, congrats.

 
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Oh Fred! I am so proud of you! What really impresses me is that you thought the ES was as impressive as I thought it was. In other words, you just made me feel smarter. You are comparing a bone stock '14 to a heavily modified/improved Gen1. I was comparing it to a well set up Gen2 and still found the differences to be stunning. And not just the suspension, the whole bike.

What is the deal with that SkooterG guy? He's like a damned stray dog. He shows up looking half starved and every body wants to feed him. I think it is just an act. I hope I never have to deal with him again.

Just kidding! We loved him. Greg is welcome to eat at our table anytime. I found it a pleasure to watch him "herding cats" on the demo ride and he was extremely patient with myself and Pop explaining the controls for the '14 ES. Of course Pop looked at the kids lining up for the demo ride and decided to just wait in the parking lot...

Congratulations on your new bike. I hope it is everything you want it to be. More importantly, I hope you make it comfortable for TMJ. This forum needs more fantastic RRs from the two of you. May I suggest a dip into Colorado next year?

 
Finally met up with Skooterg...that's cool. Greg and pictures with food are always hysterical.....2009 examples in the mid-atlantic states:

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Yes, feeding SkooterG is rewarding on some goofy level. I cannot explain it.





I cannot help but wonder if the Bass Bote Blue '05 is not being kept for some sort of Father/son riding adventures. Just hoping so anyway.

 
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