Not all 5K's are created equal!!!

[hppants]

I just bought a 2005 Yamaha FJR1300 (non-ABS)!!!

5K miles (but that's not the best 5K part)

I offered the seller $5K dollars (but even that's not the best 5K part).  He told me I was stealing the bike (prolly right), but he agreed anyway.  I pick it up on Wednesday, as he is out of town on work until then.

This is the best part....

I rode it yesterday for about 10 minutes and she really purrs.  This bike is so smooth.  Normally, I run Ole Yella up to about 4-5K in top gear for cruising.  The wind tells me how fast I am going.  During the test ride yesterday, I run the FJR up to about 5K in top gear, and I'm just starting to feel a very slight amount of wind.  I look down and I am going 105!!!!    I could hold that all day if I wanted to.  I'm going to have to re-think how I ride - big time.

She's plenty fast.  Not quite as fast as the 1250s Bandit (that thing is stupid fast), but what she lacks on the top end, she really makes up on the low end.  From 2K, she pulls evenly all the way up.  Standing at the red light, she feels a little heavy - hopefully I can get used to that.

Of course, with such low miles, the gas tank concerns me.  But I can't see inside it very well.  The seller said he rode the bike ever 2-3 weeks to run fuel through the injectors.  The bike started cold at the touch of the button.  Idled down automatically in about a minute, and never missed a beat.  I guess I'll be OK - I plan on flushing that tank pretty well.   

I'll have to go through the bike - learn about it.  Change fluids, etc.  Should be fun.

I'm inclined to sell Ole Yella.  With school starting, the timing is pretty good.  I'll prolly regret it, but as a weekender, I really have no use (or room) for 2 bikes.

[m98]

hppants, congratulations on your new scoot! If the bike starts no problem and runs
fine, you should not have to flush the tank, just fresh gas and go for a couple of long
rides. You can always put some Stabil in there once you fill the tank it will not hurt it.

[Laminar]

Can't wait for pictures and that first glorious ride report!

[mattrowe19]

Congrats hppants! Lookin forward to pics of the new ride! Sad to hear Ole Yella might be going away but it sounds like you definitely upgraded. Good luck with the new ride!

[DesignFlaw06]

I don't know whether I'm sorry or you're welcome.

All it took was a small swap of bikes for a bit.

Hockey_Hawk is next on my list. If weather cooperates, he'll be taking my FJR tomorrow. 

[luckylindy]

Congrats on the FJR.  I agree-you stole it.  Was looking forward to an AR tour with Ole Yella, but I guess you won't mind slumming with my old NH next month

[JB1290]

You're a lucky man, Pantsman. You did steal that bike. Just be careful...since your test ride lead you to a 105MPH oops, you could end up losing your license and then someone else will steal that bike from you.   

[hppants]

Thanks for the replies and the congrats.

I don't know whether I'm sorry or you're welcome.
All it took was a small swap of bikes for a bit.
Hockey_Hawk is next on my list. If weather cooperates, he'll be taking my FJR tomorrow.

For those of you that do not know, Designflaw started this.  At the 2010 Deal's Gap Rally, we swapped his FJR and my RWB700s for a 20 minute stretch.  I feel in love that evening, and have been wonderlusting over a S/T bike ever since.  Hockeyhawk - Buyer beware.

Congrats on the FJR.  I agree-you stole it.  Was looking forward to an AR tour with Ole Yella, but I guess you won't mind slumming with my old NH next month

Brody found the bike parked on a rural road.  The seller was asking $6,800.00 which is book value BTW, and he has had it for sale for 6 weeks.  Brody egged me on to go look at it, and I was so unserious about it, I forgot to bring the camera.  When we got there, clearly the guy was desperate.  So I slept on it, and in the morning I thought "I'll offer him $5k for it, but he's not gonna take it.  I'll walk away and that will be the end of it."  When I called him, he countered with $5,500.00, and I thought "This guy is desperate".  I declined and he said let me think about it.  15 minutes later, he called with "meet me in the middle at $5,250.00 and I'm thinking "Holy CRAP, I'm fixing to steal this bike!!!"  Again I declined and then the seller said "OK, I got to let it go for $5K, but you are ripping me off".  Feeling guilty, I gave him a chance to back out, but he said other financial constraints are forcing him to let it go.

Luckylindy - I'd ride with you anywhere on mopeds, brother.  I can't wait to hear your impressions after riding the FJR, but read above and be forewarned....

Last night, SOQS and I talked and, as she has done for over 25 years, set me straight on the 2 bikes thing.  While we are still raising kids, I should be thankful to have 2 toys (the boat and 1 bike), and therefore I should sell Ole Yella.  This will free up more play money in our budget for family things.  So, it's going to go.  I'll figure some details on that soon.

Just be careful...since your test ride lead you to a 105MPH oops, you could end up losing your license

No doubt JB - this bike could be a trouble maker.

I joined the FJR Forum and as expected, they have a ton of knowledge there.  I'm going to lurk for a while before saying anything.  I'm not going to judge, cause it's new and I don't know anyone there, except Designflaw.  Initially though, I don't get that warm and fuzzy feeling I got the day I joined the NHF.  We'll see.

Still the same, I'll hang around here with you guys anyway if you will have me.  With a bike that went out of production 8 years ago, sooner or later, this is bound to happen to all of us.

[hppants]

OK - this might be a record.

I posted 1 hour and 50 minutes ago that Ole Yella was officially for sale.

Mark it - at 9:50 am CDT, she's sold!!!  Another member has bought her.  The details will be his to reveal at his discretion.

I will be keeping some of the accessories and will post them later today on my "parts for sale" thread with prices.

Good Ju Ju happens sometimes.

[chromy]

HP,
  Congrats on a spectacular deal.  Think of it this way, your discretionary income is helping someone out of a jam during these hard times.  Sorry you could not have your cake and eat it too (Ole Yella).  I'm very happy for you.  Try to stay out of jail riding that FJR.

[JB1290]

Congrats on the sale, Pantsman! Now you have peaked my curiosity on who bought it.   

Whoever bought her knew they were getting a good bike because we all know how well you care for your bikes.

Are you counting the minutes until you take delivery of the FJR?   

[gammer]

Congrats Pants 

Looking forward to seeing some pics of the new 'babe' 

[bajakirch]

Good things come in threes.

[JordanA]

Nice score!

[detdrbuzzard]

congrats hppants. i know a lot of people say they don't need a big bike or a big motor but for the type of riding most of us do the beauty of a big motor is that it isn't working so hard just to cruise down the road

[hppants]

Yeah, I liken it to outboard motors.  I never heard anyone tell me that had too much power.

Read several sources yesterday that the FJR will eat back tires if you run it hard.  7-9K miles is normal, but if your wrist is heavy, 4K and it's done.  At $200.00 a pop, I'll have to choose my power runs wisely.   

The FJR forum is incredibly techical.  I mean they have some technical threads that would make 40hrdays' Dining Room Project look like a cartoon (no offense intended).  Really precise photographs of every single step - with arrows pointing to the exact bolt.  Amazing.

OTOH - many of those guys are condensending potty mouths.  I don't think I'll be running up my post count too much over there.

[gammer]

Respect the power 

Seriously, I liken power to when I was racing motocross. On the 125's it was WOT all the time and the bike was singing. The throttle was either on or off...no in between.
On the 250's you couldn't just punch it to WOT very often. You had to roll it to WOT. You had to show a little respect and use other parts of the throttle range.
On the 500's...well the 500 was a totally different breed. I never used 1st gear...mostly 2nd and 3rd and you barely twisted the throttle hard at all. Unless you wanted to be thrown off the bike as the front wheel lifted over your head. The CR500 I rode, commanded respect.

HP, my friend, you have just figuratively entered the 500cc class of motocross racing 
Ride safe 

[luckylindy]

[quote author=hppants
Luckylindy - I'd ride with you anywhere on mopeds, brother.  I can't wait to hear your impressions after riding the FJR, but read above and be forewarned....
[/quote]
Can't wait.  After you read about my latest mis-adventure, you may not want me to to ride your FJR.

[hockeyhawk]

Congrats pants, on the FJR and the sale of the hawk.

I rode DF's bike yesterday for about a 15/20 minute run. I liked it so much I had to give it back. It is smooth as glass and dives right into the twisties, it goes where ever you point it. Enjoy it, I wont be able to up grade for a while but the FJR is now on my short list.

Looking forward to your thoughts after a few rides. 

[RIDERED]

congrats, twice i guess lol

all i can say is i am glad i had kids young, while my buddies were buying the interceptors and gixxers i got an iroc instead, it was the grown up thing to do well almost they didn't have minivans yet,

i found that you do have to be a little more careful on the gas, i don't care so much about tire wear its more of the outrunning the cops haha  i found out on mine if i get to a certain rpm i can wheelie it without the clutch, thats scary if ya think about it,

last night i was heading home and for some reason the bike likes 115, well at that speed it can still put you in your seat it pulls so hard, i have been up to 130 so far and never got into after reaching  it but i feel it still will pull for some reason, i will find out sooner rather than later just waiting for the right road haha

go easy on the beast till ya think you got her feeled out and then take it easy for another couple 1000 miles lol and post up some pics already hahaha good luck with her

[DesignFlaw06]

Does this look familiar? The seed is planted again.

[rdg20]

you'll really like the FJR1300. I bought a 2010 last fall and have made several long multi-day trips. It's great on the highway or the twisty back roads. I haven't been able to part with my 1995 Nighthawk though. I bought it new and it's in very good shape. I guess I'll hold on to it a little longer. Enjoy the FJR!

[hockeyhawk]

DesignFlaw, you are an evil man.   

[hppants]

Hey HH - you and I have the same riding jacket!!! That's got to be karma, or something.  Although clearly a fashion blunder, I'm planning to use the Honda Joe Rocket jacket on the Yami until it wears out.

It's been an unbelievably long 3 days waiting.  I pick up the new bike tomorrow evening.   

[hockeyhawk]

Hey HH - you and I have the same riding jacket!!! That's got to be karma, or something.  Although clearly a fashion blunder, I'm planning to use the Honda Joe Rocket jacket on the Yami until it wears out.

It's been an unbelievably long 3 days waiting.  I pick up the new bike tomorrow evening.   

Congrats. By the way, I think we may also have the same pants, the mesh ones from jafrum that you posted up. Something wierd going on here.