FJR - BMW Sport Touring Shootout

[jwhite518]

Dingbat: Very nice comparison report. I am in wholehearted agreement with your comments on the paralever and telelever allowing for a quicker ride on the RT over the FJR covering the same route, this is my personal experience also.
You are right on regarding the ease of manipulating the RT throttle versus the FJR throttle, which is a bear to smoothly use.

Dingbat and beemerdons,

My bike has a PC III, courtesy of the PO. I actually think the throttle response is MUCH smoother than the R motor. There is none of that abrupt engine braking when rolling off the throttle. I find the FJR a dream to ride smoothly with a passenger, due to the smooth throttle both on and off the gas, combined with the silky transmission. If you guys think the R bike is smoother, get yourself a PC III.

 

[palerider]

I wasn't able to tell if the sight glass thing was facetious or serious, but I'll hazard a comment anyway.
I was a Beemer forum correspondent while I owned one, and they had were numerous accounts of oil sight glasses blowing out while I was on the list. I have yet to learn of a similar Feej problem. The FJR glass does have level marks, BTW, but I guess everyone here knows that, huh? WBill

The sight glass thing was a joke.

jeezus that's sad you have to say that

 

[Chaz Fisher]

Tell me how the riding position compares between the two. I've got barbacks on the RS, if that matters.

Hard to really compare. My RS didn't have barbacks but the Feejer does. Also the Feejer has a completely custom seat, the RS had custom foam in the stock shape. All that said, the FJR is more upright. I kind of liked the slightly forward position of the RS. It made it very comfortable to ride aggressively in the turns. However the upright position of the FJR is more comfortable on the highway. So - no clear winner. Ask me again after turning in a few endurance rides.

Thanks, that helps. The next bike needs to be a little more upright, with a little more legroom, compared to the RS.

 

[RockiesRider]

So, in this comparison.

Should we mention that with the FJR you get saddlebag liners for free.

BMW wants way to much extra for them on a bike that costs to much to begin with.

just another of my $.02

 

[Gerry.GEG]

I bought a '08 FJR in May. 2200 mi. and pretty darn happy.

1. I rode a RT1200 in comparison with my bike. Very nice used 2006 that was $3200 more than my brand new FJR. Ok, maybe it had nice features, maybe it was worth more - probably. The main reasons I bought the FJR is I have wanted one for two years and it fits my style. For me Japanese machinery is more dependable (read bullet-proof), less maintenance than most European machines. I have a good friend who is a mechanic (motorcycle) and has told me about the basic and valve maintenance on a BMW versus a FJR and I"m sure you know who wins hands down. I don't do my own so I would be paying plenty.

Then there is the BMW final drive issue. Again, I don't have any first hand knowledge of this other than a couple people who I ride with who had similar problems with theirs and others I've read about. I know there are many, many BMW owners who have never experienced this issue and their bikes. I just wouldn't take the risk however small when I can have a known quantity. I don't like dumping $$ into cars or motorcycles in unequally frequent maintenance or repairs while using them under normal circumstances.

All the bluster about our bikes means nothing in the end We ride what we like and motorcyclists are all good people from my experience.

I certainly wish everyone happy riding and low maintenance and repair bills.

 

[OkieBikerDude]

Now that the Okie's are involved I feel it my duty to pass on my experience. Prior to the purchase of my '07 FJR my previous two motorcycles were BMW's, and both were inline four cylinder models (K bikes). Although they were great bikes, electric windshields and all, there were three glaring issues I couldn't overcome. Number one, the nearest dealer was 100 miles from home; Number two, the K1200GT was almost $8,000 more expensive and number three: dealer available on the road. (average less than two per state)

As for most of the performance points outlined in the opening thread, I think the engineering in the FJR is 10 years newer and it shows in almost every area.

OBD

 

[Spook]

I bought a '08 FJR in May. 2200 mi. and pretty darn happy.

only 2200 miles do you ever ride???

 

[wel1123]

I check this FJR of mine for oil every 3000 miles when I change it. Still doesn't use or leak it so it's never been low (yet). How often do you pull out the dipstick on your car??

 

[LAGO RUNNER]

Very good post.............I ride a BMW 1150RT at work, and Jwhite hit all the points ....... The dry clutch on the BMW is annoying, that it can not be feathered in slow Maneuvers, but the bike is more nimble. The speed is not comparable to my Feej.... and the BMW eats oil almost as much as the gas.. have to top off weekly

and it sucks checking the oil every day...

 

[fjrb0]

Case in point is this Sunday's ride of AZ FJR Forum up Devil's Highway 666 in Eastern Arizona; our favorite racer boy road.

NO DOUBT !!! We found this ride after stopping for breakfast in Alpine, the waitress at the cafe told us we'd be idiots to not ride south on 666, or 191 as it is now, WOW, that first 30 or 40 miles heading south are awesome!!! It was early May a couple of years ago, snow on the sides of the road, and the twisties, ahh, the twisties!!!

 

[beemerdons]

LAGO RUNNER: Thanks for your feedback! I have friends who are Motor Patrol Officers here in Arizona: DPS, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Chandler, Phoenix and the other municipalities that utilize the R1150RTP Authority bikes; some are members of AZ Beemers. They put on approximately 200 miles a day, working out to 1K miles a week on their police bikes. They relate to me that they top off with about a third of a quart of oil a week. However, all these machines have less than 50,000 miles.

I follow the same guidelines as wel1123 does and change the oil on my two BMW's, FJR, H-D FXD every 3,000 miles. My Kawasaki KLR 650 gets its oil changed every 1.5K miles because it is constantly run off road under really grimy conditions.

The oil usage on these Arizona R1150RTP's is close to the same as my civilian R1150RT; I will be at least a half quart low at oil change time. Ironically, my 1996 R1100GS doesn't use a drop of oil between changes. But this is now at 110,000 miles.

What is the mileage on your Authority R1150RTP? Could it be that the rings have still not seated on the NIKASIL cylinder liners? Up until 50,000 miles the R1100GS was also using a third of a quart every 1K miles. Rings were still not fully seated!

fjrb0: Glad you enjoyed the Devil's Highway. They're forecasting possible snow and hail this Sunday. Wacky AZ Weather!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

<snip>... about a third of a quart of oil a week. However, all these machines have less than 50,000 miles. Could it be that the rings have still not seated on the NIKASIL cylinder liners? Up until 50,000 miles the R1100GS was also using a third of a quart every 1K miles. Rings were still not fully seated!

What kind of engine technology is used w/BMWs? Is it really - really good and, once broken-in, will last forever and never wear-out?

It's sure something I don't know about.... I haven't had to add oil to engines for decades.

Then...., I only ride ordinary bikes... :blink:

 

[beemerdons]

charismaticmegafauna: In Arizona Beemers we have members with 300,000 miles on their Type 259 engines and these machines are still running strong. As a Club Director, we still have not had a final drive failure among our 110 members.

We worry about the final drive failures though! It is a real problem! My early VIN 2003 FJR uses .25 quart every 3K miles.

Say charismaticmegafauna, are you going to join your fellow Arizonans on the Devil's Highway Ride this coming Sunday, 9/14?

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...40&start=40 SkooterG & FJRobert are selling autographs!!!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

In Arizona Beemers we have members with 300,000 miles ...are still running strong. , we still have not had a final drive failure

Good for you guys -- I doubt if anyone will ever ride an FJR that many miles....

To what do you attribute your rear-drive good fortune? Effective maintenance, proper riding/use, crystals...?

My early VIN 2003 FJR uses .25 quart every 3K miles.

Mine is one of those that always looks like there's more oil in there than I want. Has never used a drop in 55k miles. I can't remember when I've had a modern engine, bike or car, that used oil.

Just lucky, I guess... :blink:

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

....are you going to join your fellow Arizonans on the Devil's Highway ride this coming Sunday, 9/14?SkooterG & FJRobert are selling autographs!!!

'beemerdons': They're forecasting possible snow and hail this Sunday.

Weather might be prohibitive?

Really, a SkooterG autograph?... Well, maybe (for that)? I've met FJRobert -- and he's an ordinary nice guy (really no need for his autograph).

BTW: it's rumored that Charlie Coons was trying to sell autographed Aerostich catalog covers at the VBR II rally in Duluth.

 

[Draggon Rider]

. The word "snooty" and "condisending" do not even cover it..
KM

The fact that you can spell snooty and condisending should have been proof enough that you were not a second class citizen... :clapping:

 

[mcatrophy]

. The word "snooty" and "condisending" do not even cover it..KM

The fact that you can spell snooty and condisending should have been proof enough that you were not a second class citizen... :clapping:

Er, no :no2: , sorry, it's "condescending". Just sayin' :mellow: .

 

[jwhite518]

. The word "snooty" and "condisending" do not even cover it..KM

The fact that you can spell snooty and condisending should have been proof enough that you were not a second class citizen... :clapping:

Er, no :no2: , sorry, it's "condescending". Just sayin' :mellow: .

That fact that you know the proper spelling of condescending means that you too are an elitist snob. Where are you hiding the Beemer?

:lol:

 

[palerider]

. The word "snooty" and "condisending" do not even cover it..KM

The fact that you can spell snooty and condisending should have been proof enough that you were not a second class citizen... :clapping:

Er, no :no2: , sorry, it's "condescending". Just sayin' :mellow: .

From the Latin: "con" (with) and "descending" (descending).

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.ibmwr.org/r-tech/oilheads/R11Ma...nce_2-25-02.pdf Hello charismaticmegafauna, I first became aware of the severity of the BMW final drive failures during the 2005 Iron Butt Rally. I am friends of Voni and Paul Glaves, who are also friends of Warchild and Ignacio on our Forum, and Paul informed me of how much of a problem this is.

Paul writes the Technical Column of BMW Owners News and is the co-author of the Motorcycle Consumer News article that chronicled the final drive failure fiasco. Owners Manual states that you are to change the final drive fluid every 24k miles.

BALONEY! For the last three years I've changed the final drive fluid in the GS and the RT every 6k miles. Maybe just lucky!

By the way. A SkooterG autograph encounter is equivalent to a colonoscopy, a nagging mother-in-law, a root canal, a bad divorce, a DUI stop, pestilence, famine or an Internal Revenue Service Five Year Audit. FJRobert is indeed a real nice guy!