Very First Motorcycle ever

You've got a great bike.  Go for serious miles.  Respect the weight, as in, it's not a 600.  Enjoy 2020.

Congratulations on your first bike, excellent choice. All great advice here from those with many many mikes under their belt.

Surprised nobody mentioned this, but make sure you wear the right gear, ALL the time. Lots of opinions here, but I like Motoport and many like Aerostitch. They are more pricey than other gear, but when (not if) you need to rely on them, it will feel like a bargain compared to cheaper gear or your hospital bills you avoided. 

Get good gloves and boots too. Helmets are very personal based on what fits, look at the Sharp ratings to see how they test.

You will spend about 10% or more of what you paid for the bike (although used Motoport or Stitch deals can be had) but don’t sweat it.

Take it from someone who slid the length of a football field at 65 mph on the freeway with no serious injuries and no road rash.

FJRBluesman said:

That's good! I like it. Lets not scare him too much. Bet yes they do want to run you over. :0

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We WANT people scared. It keeps them alert. It's dangerous to ride a motorcycle no matter how much we pretend it isn't. Otherwise it'd be boring like a car. We don't want them petrified into inaction; just scared.

Bounce said:

We WANT people scared. It keeps them alert. It's dangerous to ride a motorcycle no matter how much we pretend it isn't. Otherwise it'd be boring like a car. We don't want them petrified into inaction; just scared.

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Alert is good. Scared is never a good thing on a bike IMO, as it keeps you from being relaxed, which is important for truly enjoying riding as well as maintaining control of the bike. I look forward to every single ride - I'm never scared, but always excited. The excitement keeps me alert, looking around/ahead, and also reduces the risks/danger significantly. I started my riding career on a Yamaha XJ900 in 1988. Many people told me it was too big of a bike. I disagree - it taught me some respect from the very beginning, which I carried to my ST100, ST1300, and now FJR1300.  Several of my friends who started on small bikes were killed once they moved to the more powerful bikes unfortunately. 

Mortenk said:

I started my riding career on a Yamaha XJ900 in 1988. Many people told me it was too big of a bike. 

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Agreed.  I started with the 450 when they (before internet) said that was appropriate.  Had some friends and a brother with 750's, which was the pinnacle!!! Ha!  An inline 4? Wow, someday!  I jumped big to an 1100, V-65 Sabre (two of them).  Loved the bikes but I was 23 and learned quickly, but not necessarily successfully.  Fast forward to having gray hair> do I triple digit for a burst? Of course.  Do I respect and love the FJR at a red light or country road, just like as if in a sports car? You bet.  Still dumb once in a while. In closing, alert versus scared, I agree and my two cents is be aware of your horsepower availability to get out of the way of danger, meaning that whether someone is in a car or on a bike, commit to a decision to turn, pass, or whatever.  I hate it when people waffle and that usually leads to nothing good.  So much for a quick input to the post.  All have a good weekend.  Bike out this sunday for tinkering.

I think we're talking about different levels of fear. You've heard for years how performers use stage fright and "jitters" to keep their edge. That's the level I was talking about and differentiated from the "petrified" that I specifically called out.

HeavtFootHick said:

Hi, I'm new here.

I'm located in Portland Oregon and in May bought a 2016 Yamaha FJR 1300A as my very first motorcycle.

I've ridden several friends dirt bikes and quads over the years but have never owned a motorcycle nor ever ridden a street bike.

Since then I've recorded over 1600 miles on the odometer. Every day I get more comfortable riding it and beginning to ride more aggressive and with purpose.

I look forward to contributing to the forums here and gleaning research to help enjoy Street riding more.

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Happy you want to ride, yes this motorcycle is powerful. Mine has plenty of scratches, broke a mirror once. Dont park your motorcycle on hot tar pavement it will fall over! I had to get (T-rex engine guards plus luggage guards) costs like $300.00 mabey a bit more. Get the right year! Happy rideing....

I'm in the PDX area, also. I would never advise anyone to start on a big-bore machine. Way, way too much bike for a beginner. Why on earth would you think a 650lb bike with 145hp engine would be a good first motorcycle? Most new street riders will go down at some point - maybe a few times before they either learn not to make mistakes that cause a crash or they quit riding, get injured or die.
To survive on the street, buy a reliable trail dirt bike and ride it until you know how to break traction and maintain full control of the bike. Then get a light weight street bike - under 400lbs and learn to use the front brake, lean into corners and to avoid straightening up and running off the road when you enter a corner too hot. Lightweights are the most fun and the easiest to progress your skills on. Go out and test your self at high speed with a PIR track day. Then move up in power and weight if you feel the need. Starting off with the big 'ol FJR will likely teach a beginner some lessons - the hard way. Installing crash bars is a poor substitute for experience. Dropping your FR1300 is not "normal". Don't get in a hurry to push your limits it on the street. Don't ride "more aggressive", just ride safe and you'll get better. Good luck. Rubber side down.

Congrats on your new bike!!!

The FJR is very top heavy and once it's starts to go over Hulk Hogan won't even be able to stop it. So be aware of slow speed movements in the garage or on uneven surfaces, They can get ya!!!

A number of years ago an underwriters' group published a study that showed the class of motorcyclist most likely to have an accident was 1st year riders, followed by middle aged riders new to or returning to motorcycling after many years. You tick both boxes..

Next in line were 3rd year riders, who tend to think they are now experienced.

I'm another who thinks the FJR is not a beginner's bike, but that ship has sailed. Just remember the old adage: "There are two kinds of motorcyclists -- those that have had an accident and those that are going to have an accident." (and note that the two conditions are not mutually exclusive). Wear All The Gear All The Time (even when it's hot out) make sure your medical insurance is paid up and your Will is up to date. Then ride like it's not.

(for reference: I have been riding street bikes of all sizes for 45 years and a career firefighter hosing blood and guts off the pavement for 34).

I’m sorry, but please put the fjr away for awhile. Find a lightweight easy to ride motorcycle that you can learn on. You will have more fun and become a better rider. Then come back to the fjr when your skills and riding judgement are better matched to the machine. The fjr is not a beginner bike. It’s a bike for advanced riders only.

This thread is three years old. Pretty sure he knows how to ride his FJR by now.