2013 2000km ride impressions

[fiveman]

Thought I would pass on my 1st thoughts on the new fjr1300 ,I have been in Yuma Arizona on holidays , so here goes...my last bike was a 2012 fjr and with the improvements thought I would update to the new one and am a little on fence if it was worth the price for the improvements. I like the new colour as it does not show dirt as bad as the blue , I tried the two modes tour/sport and pefer the sport mode the best . I like to pop the odd wheelie and on the new bike you must have the traction control on to do as it will not do one with out this being on , bad thing is you have to activate it each time you start bike. the ability to custom tune your message screens is ok I guess but I found them a lilltle confussing to reset trip milage etc will probly get easyer with more use. I don't like the turn signal indicater location and caught myself forgetting to cancel signals often...this is bad as other driver don't know what the hell you are doing if you miss cancelling, these should have been self canceling.I am positive the bike shifts smoother than the old one.

Now my pet peeve.... the cruise control limit of 139 km is an absolute piss off , it works great below the 139 instant on etc but if there is a fix please tell me as I found that the 139 wasn't even fast enough to keep up with traffic flow on some of the free ways

power is great but I don't think any better than the 2012

comfort the same

Handle bar heaters not as good as the 2012

Handleing seems the same as well, I usually have about 3/16 of chicken strip showing on tires..... so maybe I don't ride hard enough to feel improvements in suspention or tires

I have smuggler , handle bar set backs , and sat radio as accessories

One thing that I did notice with bike was how many complements I got about bike from other riders and even people walking by and aside from colour differance bike has the same look as my 2012

So all in all so far aside from the cruise issue its pretty much a slightly refined 2012 to me

 

[LKLD]

Odot enters thread in 3...2...1...

 

[Spud]

Nice, honest review. Makes me feel better as an old-school gen II owner....

 

[FJR Bill]

Enjoyed reading your ride impressions. I'm glad the 2013 FJR is getting excellent reviews. I think the FJR dropped off the media map for a couple of years because of few inovations. Now Yami added some nicities and its back in the limelight. All good but what I think was missed is the bike has been one of the best designed, affordable, SST's since its inception. Cruise contronl is nice but I'm satified with my $100 Throttlemesiter, it has no limits and while not a cruise control it does what I need...rests my right hand at any speed. I'm happy the FJR is back in the top reviews. It should have stayed there.

Bill

 

[SeattleTy]

Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy your new bike, it sounds like a good one, something I hope to have someday

 

[SkooterG]

Similar impressions t what I have found.

But.... you have to have the Traction Control ON to do a wheelie? Sure you don't mean OFF?

And don't even get me started on the cruise control limitation!

 

[SouthernCruizer]

you dont have to turn on traction control each time you start the bike, it is ON by default. You have to turn if OFF manually.

 

[fjrgary]

Thanks for the review. Here is a $20 fix for your cruise control complaint, purchase a GO CRUISE Throttle control at 2wheelride.com. Works great. And in regards to your comment "aside from color difference bike has the same look as my 2012" you really need to take another look. Most people notice a big change in the fairing and front end.

 

[Auron]

Slightly refined and the nicest looking dash ever made

 

[networkguy]

As has been posted many times, you can wheelie with TC off OR on. The bike will automatically turn it off when the front wheel leaves the ground. Its in your manual.

 

[20valves]

I disagree with the OP on the grips. The Gen II grips got no hotter and had no more range of adjustment. And the signal canceling switch is in the same location even if the indicators are slightly different (indicators have improved with each new Gen imho). There is not one thing about my Gen II bike that prefer over my Gen III. But overall I agree, it is indeed just a nicely refined and updated Gen II but that's fine. As FJRBill says, it's always been the best package out there, it just keeps getting the few remaining rough edges chipped off and gets a bit closer to perfection with each new generation.

And network guy, the bike will wheelie MUCH farther with TC off. When the wheels' rates of rotation begin to vary too much, the ECU interprets that as wheel spin and intrudes just enough to drop the front wheel. TC off + Sport drive mode = wheelie mode (as long as you have enough grip!).

 

[networkguy]

I disagree with the OP on the grips. The Gen II grips got no hotter and had no more range of adjustment. And the signal canceling switch is in the same location even if the indicators are slightly different (indicators have improved with each new Gen imho). There is not one thing about my Gen II bike that prefer over my Gen III. But overall I agree, it is indeed just a nicely refined and updated Gen II but that's fine. As FJRBill says, it's always been the best package out there, it just keeps getting the few remaining rough edges chipped off and gets a bit closer to perfection with each new generation.
And network guy, the bike will wheelie MUCH farther with TC off. When the wheels' rates of rotation begin to vary too much, the ECU interprets that as wheel spin and intrudes just enough to drop the front wheel. TC off + Sport drive mode = wheelie mode (as long as you have enough grip!).

OK. I only know what the manual says and my own experience. Manual says as soon as either the front or rear tire leave the ground, TC is turned off. Also, I pulled the front tire up in second pretty damned easily (and unintentionally lol) *shrug* I havent done any comparative testing though

 

[Big Sky]

Digital speedos suck v. analog, IMHO.

 

[20valves]

OK. I only know what the manual says and my own experience. Manual says as soon as either the front or rear tire leave the ground, TC is turned off. Also, I pulled the front tire up in second pretty damned easily (and unintentionally lol) *shrug* I havent done any comparative testing though

It will definitely get the wheel off the ground easily with TC off, it's keeping it off the ground that seems impossible with traction control on. I agree 100% about what the manual says though. According to it, you can wheelie and even do a burnout with traction control on.

 

[Granger]

Fiveman, thanks for the review. I'll stick with the '09 without envy after reading that.

And I agree with Bill, the FJR is a bike "for the ages", its been standing up to competition for over a decade and even with a 40%+ price markup (in one case) other bikes have to work hard to match up. And the bike has always looked fast, I still get comments all the time, and envy from 600cc cafe' owners who want to "race".

The best tip for anyone who wants one: shop carefully, there are great FJRs out there for far less than full retail. Clue: buy low, and ride it forever.

Granger

 

[SkooterG]

Digital speedos suck v. analog, IMHO.

I'll disagree. Digital speedos are the dog's danglies! However when it comes to a Tach, true analog is the only way to go.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Digital speedos suck v. analog, IMHO.

I'll disagree. Digital speedos are the dog's danglies! However when it comes to a Tach, true analog is the only way to go.

I know for a fact that Dad can't see his analog Gen2 speedo at speed. He knows about where to point the needle but can't see the tiny little numbers. Whether he would like the digital speedo or not is irrelevant, he would love to be able to see the #'s. It is worth noting that no true sportbike is sold in this country with an analog speedo anymore. Yes, I know about the 'Busa and the ZX14 but they are in a different classification.

 

[networkguy]

OK. I only know what the manual says and my own experience. Manual says as soon as either the front or rear tire leave the ground, TC is turned off. Also, I pulled the front tire up in second pretty damned easily (and unintentionally lol) *shrug* I havent done any comparative testing though

It will definitely get the wheel off the ground easily with TC off, it's keeping it off the ground that seems impossible with traction control on. I agree 100% about what the manual says though. According to it, you can wheelie and even do a burnout with traction control on.

If the bike turns TC off when the front wheel leaves the ground, why would it be difficult keeping it off the ground? It wouldnt be interfering...

 

[20valves]

If the bike turns TC off when the front wheel leaves the ground, why would it be difficult keeping it off the ground? It wouldnt be interfering...

I am only reporting my field testing both on the FJR and the Super Tenere. The TC stops the fun, i don't care what the manual says, if the TC is on, it will gently deny you enough power to keep the wheel in the air.