It's Landed !!!

[Dallara]

I was certainly beginning to have my doubts, but...


The FJR-1300 Has Landed!


After lots of various implausible and bizarre excuses from Yamaha, and lots of frustration... The damn thing's here. :eusa_clap:

Joe Werkhoven, the owner of the local Yammie dealership and an old friend, just called and said the truck just set 2006 Yamaha FJR-1300-AVL #000192 on the ground, and man, is my dealer going the extra mile... He is having his son assemble it, who assembled bikes for them for about three years before moving up to mechanic and then their parts department manager. Then he is having his service manager, who has been a Kawasaki mechanic since 1972, and a Yamaha mechanic for 9 years, (!!!) service it out (and he is an old friend and ex-race competitor, too).

Should have it around 5:00pm this afternoon... Do a super-quick "MotoMan" style break-in this evening, and it looks like it will be joining my trusty, dusty BMW R-1150-R on the Hill Country Ride! :thumbs_up:

Should be fun...

145 HP, 99 ft/lbs torque... Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-Ha! :031:

It's about time!

Cheers!

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

[Deans BMW]

Sounds great Allan, I'll be heading out for Texas in about an hour, get a good head start and stay the nite in Demming or Las Cruses,NM. I plan to ride thru Rocksprings on the way to Kerrville thru Hunt. Call you this evening. Guys see you in Texas.

[socalrob]

Very cool BigD.

If you asked me a few weeks ago I would have said no way would Yammi come through. Its great how every so often the stars align.:)

[Tipstall]

Allan,

Congrats. Have fun with the new toy.

Ken

[fnfalman]

Let us know how well that semiautomatic gear shifter work.:104:

[Capt. Blackadder]

Schwing! :yahoo:

[Promethean]

Awesomeness! Pictures when available please. :dance:

[DJ Down Under]

Anyone else thinking about that scene in 'The Worlds Fastest Indian'...:icon_mrgreen:...I hope not Allan.

DJ

[arkline]

I just know you're gonna do the prudent and right thing and break it in according to the manual specifications. No more than 2500 rpm for the first, um, 100 miles....Like that, right?

[Dallara]

We don't need no stinkin' semiautomatic gearbox! :028:

Nope, got the plain jane manual shift model (semiauto AE's won't be released until June it appears) 'cuz I kind'a like clutchin' and shiftin' on my own... Plus something tells me that whole semiauto electronic shifter is just another one of those things you don't want to have if something goes wrong. Hell, I would have got the damn thing without ABS if I could have, but that's not an option...

And I do like the new Cobalt Blue paint on the 2006.

DJ, I haven't seen "World's Fastest Indian" (they never showed it locally) so I am completely in hte dark... What's the scene you're referring to?

Ron, as far as break-in goes, this is pretty much how I break-in most of my motorcycles - http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Have done the same kind of break-in for a long time. Not exactly like MotoMan's, but close. Hell, with our race car engines we never gave them any sort of break-in at all. They were rebuilt, slapped on the dyno, warmed up, and immediately run up to full power.

We'll know a bit more about the FJR this evening, and pics might have to wait until I'm back from the Hill Country Ride.

Cheers!

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

[Bones]

"Pics might have to wait until after the Hill Country Ride............"


[BULLSHIT...WE WANT PICTURES NOW!!!:104: :104: :104:

FONT="Arial Black"][/FONT]


Meanwhile, Halle Berry and I are sitting here in my bed smoking a cigarette after having..........but you will have to wait for the pictures.:058:

C'mon, just one or two little pics, please?:eusa_drool: :eusa_drool: :eusa_drool: :eusa_drool: :eusa_drool: :eusa_drool: :eusa_drool:

We'll wait if we have to, I guess.

Hey, congrats. I am sure you are pretty excited about getting it before the trip. That is fantastic. The Yamahas have nice fit and finish and that Cobalt Blue is quite pretty. I haven't ridden the FJR, but I anxiously await a ride report, even a brief one after your short run in ride.

Fantastic. Enjoy.

Jeff

[Dallara]

Geez, Bones... Okay.

I will try and shoot a pic or two this evening on the driveway after work. Not going to get to ride it much as I still have tons to do preparing for the Hill Country trip tonight. I'll be surprised if I get it to the Hill Country with 50 miles on it, but we'll see.

One good thing, though...

If SocalRob gets there and doesn't like ridin' his rental Harley then I'll have my R-1150-R along for him. If he doesn't need it then Wade Woodall may use it as a stand-in for his mega-mileaged Kawasaki KLX-650 (and notice that his a KLX-650, and not a KLR...). Ridin' the FJR should slow me down some I hope... :eusa_pray: :eusa_pray: :eusa_pray:

Cheers!

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

[Bones]

There won't be nothin' slow about you on the FJR, I assure you.

Jeff

[Dallara]

Hell...

Now's it's looking like I won't be able to get clear of work here to pick it up before they close today!!! :093:

I just HATE IT when things like work get in the damn way of my motorcycling! :eusa_wall:

Oh well, there's always tomorrow... I guess... :022:

Anti-Cheers...

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

[DJ Down Under]

Allan...there's a scene in the movie were he arrives in the US to find the crate/box with his bike inside is loaded on its side..and a bit smashed up.

I hope yours arrives safe and sound.

I had a good look at the new FJR while down at the Phillip Island Superbikes...will yours have heated grips or are they standard on the bike.

DJ

[Dallara]

Friggin UNBELIEVABLE, DJ...

Yamaha shop just called... Lots of humming and hawing on the other end of the phone... Finally tell me that the crate was freight damaged... Not too bad Brian (the owner's son) keeps telling me, over and over... I finally say "Brian, what's wrong with it?"

Says there is damage to the lower fairing... Scratches and the like... They have already ordered all the parts... They are sorry, but it's not their fault (which is certainly true)... They want me to wait to pick it up until tomorrow anyway since they want to thoroughly check it over and make sure nothing else was damaged, etc., etc., etc....

Man, I am honestly beginning to wonder about this bike. It has been sort of star-crossed since I ordered it.

Damn...

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

p.s. And no DJ, it doesn't come standard with heated grips.

[Wild Will]

It states that it's critical to change the oil soon after running the engine the first time, since it's full of metal particals; I wonder what the effect is on the permanently sealed BMW final drives which never get the metal partical-rich oil changed. Anybody wonder about that besides me?

[DarthRider]

Yes.

Dave

[DarthRider]

Congrats Allan!
I hope all the "difficulties" are now at an end and you can get on with riding that bad mama.
That Cobalt Blue is tits...hell, everybody's got a silver one.
We'll get lotsa pics on the Hill Country ride!
C'ya Thursday...
Dave

[DJ Down Under]

Allan..here's the one I saw...I'm pretty sure heated grips come standard down under..not that we even need them..:017:

What a bugger about your bike...:076:

DJ

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2327.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2328.JPG

[Bones]

Allan,
As a buddy of mine says "these new bikes have intense ground seeking behavior they seem to need to get out of their system." So yours has taken care of that already.

I think the Karma is good with this bike. All of this stuff is just making you want it more and making you sweat it out until the last moment.

Jeff

[Acacia]

"LEKKER!"

(Dutch, Flemish, Afrikaans for nice.)

[TorqueMonsterMT-01]

Allan,
As a buddy of mine says "these new bikes have intense ground seeking behavior they seem to need to get out of their system." So yours has taken care of that already.

I think the Karma is good with this bike. All of this stuff is just making you want it more and making you sweat it out until the last moment.

Jeff
__________________

I agree with Jeff. The bike is just testing your desitre before committing herself. Stick with her and treat her right and she will do the same for you.

[Dallara]

Well Bones & TorqueMonster...

You two may be right, but that's really not what has me so bummed about the whole fiasco at the moment. The real pisser in this latest development is the parts problem...

Seems that Yamaha has used all the Cobalt Blue body panels and pieces building the bikes to ship, and didn't bother to make spares. Apparently it could take MONTHS before any dealer sees the pieces the dealer needs to make the bike correct again. Then the subject of paint matching came up, and there was a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong silence. It seems that since the replacement pieces are bound to be shot at a different time, etc. that there is no guarantee that the paint color will match on the panels when they do finally get here.

I am considering numerous options at the moment, like...

1.) Tell Yamaha that I want all new bodywork to make sure of a paint match.
2.) Pass on this FJR and wait for another one, but then I won't get it until August. Apparently this year each dealer can order one FJR to put on his showroom floor, but they will not be delivered to dealers until August. I could get that one.
3.) Unwind the entire mess and chalk it up to bad kharma...

Hell, I don't mind if I damage the damn things, but I hate it when somebody else damages my stuff... And this one even before I get to turn a friggin' mile on it. May sound trite and a bit foolish, but when I buy something NEW I expect it to be frickin' NEW when I get it... Not damaged. Not repaired. Not fixed as good as new. Friggin' NEW!

I'm not going to bitch at my dealer. It's not his fault and he and I have been friends far, far too long. I am going to bitch loud and long at Yamaha if I keep the bike, however... About the time frame for dleivering the replacement parts... About the paint matching... And about their choices for frickin' freight carriers.

To be quite honest... I'M PISSED OFF, ROYALLY! :013: :096: :013: :096: :013: :096: :013:

Maybe about four more scotches and a good night's sleep will help my crappy outlook...

Anti-Cheers!

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

[Gord]

Allan - I am extremely jealous of anyone who owns more than one bike. So damn good for you to have multiple rides. Pics and stuff ASAP my good man!!!

I have been thinking a lot about what I would do for a second bike. My twin - he of Triumph Daytona 955i fame - is negotiating the vending of a Triumph Speedmaster. He has stayed loyal to the brand he prefers, albeit he is changing up his riding style considerably. If I were to add another bike to my stable, I am confused about what I would do.

Most of my riding buddies are Harley guys. Not a good enough excuse to consider a Harley. I am lusting after the K1200S, but have learned to love (with DJ's pictures) the K1200R. But I can't see having a KR and an RR, so I am leaning to the KS. But my dealer has a very sweet R1100S sitting in his stock. And the new R1200S looks sweet. So I am still a lusty BMW aficianado. But to be honest, if I buy a second bike, I can't help but think about a Ducati. From all that I have read, they are the antithesis of BMW. Uncomfortable, painful. But the essence of sports bike.

So enjoy the new bike Allan. Just like Bob is enjoying the new GS. I am so struck with penis...er, cycle...envy!

[TorqueMonsterMT-01]

Allan;
You certainly have the right to be pissed off. No doubt about it. The expectations of receiving "new" when buying new is a fair expectation. Honestly, even though he is a long time friend, your dealer should help you to get some incetnive for the mess. After all, he does represent the product. Obviously, that is your call on how much to squeeze from the relationship.

Have you thought about having the entire bike sprayed? Maybe if your dealer or Yamaha were to pay for it, you could have any color that you choose.

As a side note, and I am sure you know this, today's paints, especially at the factory level, are mixed by computers using a common six digit code. The paint on the replacement parts will match the current parts. Problems might occur if the bike gets any sun fading between now and the time you replace the parts.

In the end, I hope you make the decisions that best fit your wants and needs. Good luck with the whole process.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Tipstall]

Allan,

I'm a big bad kharma guy. It's your call but if you feel bad about it will always be in the back of your head. Spend the extra money and get the K. Maybe find a sweet used one.

Sorry, I can't buy anything and am just living through you.

Ken

[Ed K]

Hmmm, I know someone who is in the market for new, slightly scratched FJR... shall I have him contact you?

Just joking... its a fantastic machine, and I am sure you'll both get through this difficult stage in what sure to be a long term relationship.

Congrats! Enjoy! And as everyone has said...Pics! ...Pics!! Oh, did we say PICS!!!

[Dallara]

Thanks Guys for all the support and listening ot my rants...

Apologies to all. I shouldn't let something like this get to me so bad, but I guess I have just gotten frustrated with this entire Yamaha PDP horse hockey. The rest of the world gets the FJR as regular *on-the-floor* model while here in the USA, Yamaha's largest market, we have to play paddy-cake with a malfunctioning and idiotic program like this "Preferred Delivery Program"... Boy, now there's an oxymoron if ever one existed! "Preferred" my happy ass!

Anyway, because of this same ludicrous PDP program parts are always scarce for FJR's at the dealer level.

Torquemonster,

I hear what you're saying about paint... I have a pretty good sized bodyshop in our dealership, and we do painting all day, every day. Sure, the color is computer coded and mixed, but there is many a slip between the lip and the cup, so to speak, that can effect the final color outcome on the surface... Temperature, humidity, thickness of coat, surface preparation, shade of the plastic underneath, and all sorts of other variables that come into play when shooting paint. It's hard enough matching colors when you are shooting right there next to the one you are trying to match, but it's even more difficult when the piece you are trying to match is half a world away! Certainly I can only hope they get it right if I keep the sled, but I was a Honda dealer long enough, seeing Honda plastic bodywork come through the parts department, to know that you can end up with 3 and 4 colors on a bike that's supposed to be one color...

We even see it in our car store these days.

Oh well, enough wasting time and effort worrying about it tonight. I'm off to bed.

Thanks again, guys!

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

[socalrob]

Allan,

Its amazing what BS is told these days!

Common sense tells me that IF Yamaha wanted to, they could pull blue body panels off the assmebly line & FedEX them anywhere in the world in a few days for a few hundred dollars or less. Of course they would have to WANT to do it.

Another thing, modern packaging & crating has been taken to an art form in todays world. Either I would question Yamaha's ability to have a competent industrial engineer design their shipping crates, or Yamaha's correctly engineered shipping crate suffered an extremely rare failure.

How about offering your dealer friend the following solution:

If the panels don't match, your Yami dealer will pay the labor to dissasemble & reassemble all painted body parts, & you will get your car dealer's paint shop to spray them all at cost, which your Yami dealer will cover. Yamaha USA (or whatever they are called) should them reimburse your dealer for the costs, because I would think they are recovering $$ from the shipper for the damage anyway. If your not careful, Yamaha USA is going to make $$ off this from a settlement with their shipper.

Now the thought of that would grind on me.

The more I think about this, that bike at $15,000 or whatever, is going to sit on your dealer's floor for 4 months until the new parts come. Say at 6 percent interest (0.5 percent per month), that represents a loss to either your dealer buddy or Yami USA of $75 per month or $300. I would ask for that amount too.

Of course on the bright side, it would be very cool to have a custom colored one of a kind FJR. I vote dark cherry black maroon with a bunch of clear coat.:)

[jamais]

Crap like that really bothers me. So what if you drop this lovely in your garage and bang up a few dodads. Are the parts going to take a similar boat to your dealer. Its bad juju I tell you. I'd walk away from it.

[Bones]

I wouldn't walk away, I would do this;
1. Have them fix what needs to be fixed now, so all is working fine.
2. Have Yamaha ship ALL new body work.......the whole bike's body work.
3. Have #2 installed when it gets here even if that is August.

You get to have the bike all Spring and summer and ultimately with fresh one color body work.

It isn't the same as walking up to your brand new fresh pristine bike, but it deals with the issues and you get 100% correct body work when it arrives.......if they can ship that without damage.

Keep up posted and hang in there man! VERY frustrating.

I'll share my story about how a similar thing happened with my FZ1 when I purchased it, but that is a different thread.

Jeff

[Acacia]

I am going to go on a different tack.

Damaged goods are damaged goods. No amount of paint and cosmetics is going to change that. There is no paint job that will match original perfectly - and Alan has a keen eye. Allan is paying a fair price for a new, without a blemish bike. He has waited through a lot of BS to get it.

If it was my choice - I would not accept it - unless Yamaha went to really exceptional lengths to resolve this. Unless they have a good customer service process, who is Alan to Yamaha - some small town hick - let his dealer take the heat. They will patch the bike up and sell it to some other buyer who will not be any the wiser.

[geechie]

This has been an interesting saga, for sure.

Allan, I'm kinda with Alan (jamais) on this one. I think I'd walk away from it too.

But then you know the dealer, and I know in the end you'll make the right decision.

Good luck...

George

[Dallara]

Thanks again, Guys...

I appreciate all the input. Makes me look at the issues from a number of different perspectives.

I haven't seen the damage yet, but that is going to happen about an hour from now, so that will be the real decision time. I'm a lot calmer this morning about it... Guess a good night's sleep does help more than one often thinks. I was plenty tired yesterday, as work was a manure storm, and hearing about the freight damage just iced the cake.

Going to take it low and slow this morning and try and stay cool no matter what I find when I see the bike. Only then am I going to make a decision. Just to set the record straight, my dealer buddy has graciously offered all along the way, while I was waiting past the due date, to refund my deposit if I wanted to walk. I have no doubt if I have any doubts about the bike or the repairs he will gladly unwind the deal where I am whole, no harm, no foul, and our friendship will remain intact. He's a good guy, and always has been, so I know I have him *in my corner*, not on the other side of the fence.

The *bad guys*, in my mind, of this whole affair has been Yamaha. I been through it all before, so I won't drag it all out again here, but this idiotic "Preferred Delivery Program" stinks so bad, on so many levels, that I know I wouldn't ever endure it again. The program doesn't work as advertised, it's administration is poor, and it leaves no avenue for reasonable recourse if Yamaha doesn't perform as the program is contractually designed.

Oh well, live and learn, eh?

Okay, let's see do I have everything...

- PDP form, Buyer's Order, and other purchase documents - check.
- Checkbook - check
- Digital camera & digital voice recorder - check
- Helmet, gloves, boots, etc. - check
- Shotgun, shells, pistol, spare mags, cartridges, C4 explosive, detonators, radio trigger, transmitter - check

Okay, I'm ready! Off to the Yamaha shop!

Cheers!

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

[Promethean]

I agree with jamais....unless the dealer/Yamaha is willing to give a steep discount or replace the bike with a new unblemished model...I'd give it a miss.

[DJ Down Under]

Good luck Allan...I like Bones's idea....I'm sure they'll agree to that.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall in that Yamaha dealer today...:003:

DJ

[Dallara]

Okay Folks, and update...

If you guys aren't bored of this fiasco yet...

Went to the dealer this morning and surveyed the damage. Good news is that it is not as bad as I might have imagined... Bad news is that is much worse than I thought.

Now, before continuning, let me say that the crate itself appeared absolutely undamaged. I mean not a tear, a rip, a hole, or any other indication that something might have been amiss beneath. The crate frame was perfect, with no bends, breaks, or pieces missing or damaged. Like I said - perfect. So my dealer, nor the trucking company, could have possibly known the carnage inside...

Which is where the forensic part part of this debacle gets interesting. I have spent most of my life involved in the motor vehicle industry - both with motorcycles and cars - and I have seen all sorts of crate damage, shipping damage, etc. - so you develop a feel for what occurred to cause certain damage. Ladies and Gents... This bike was damaged when Yamaha put it in the crate. Simply couldn't have happened any other way. The damage was done all the way back in Japan, period. The evidence supports no other conclusion.

Which is why no claim is being filed against the freight carrier, but only against Yamaha itself. My dealer was in complete agreement with this conclusion, too.

So, let's move on to the damage first...

Left side fairing lower & right side fairing lower, oil filter, left side stator-rotor-ignition cover, let side grip, left side handlebar switch assembly. Now some of this sounds worse than it should... The left grip has a very small tear right at where it meets the switch assembly, and the switch assembly has a small, but deep, gouge - about 3/4 inch long - in the same place the grip is cut. If somebody didn't show it to you most likely you would never see it.

However, the rest is all too apparent... Both sides of the fairing are scratched and gouged, with the right looking like somebody did a real low speed drop with a fair number of scratches. Left side has one big gouge at one of the openings. Left igintion cover is covered with scratches underneath with one on the outer side. Oil filter (it's on the left side of the motor just behind the ignition cover) was bashed in pretty severely, as though a strap did the damage... I could go into more detail, but it boils down to this - it appears they lower these into the crate base with a strap/cradle arrangement, and with this bike it somehow came loose from the strap. Maybe the strap/cradle slipped and the bike fell to it's right side, landing on the fairing onto the crate base. As this happen the strap slipped forward, wiping out the end of the oil filter, scratching the cover and gouging the left side fairing, and the strap just caught the grip/switch.

Okay, there's all the bad news...

Now the good news, if you can believe it. My dealer called to get in touch with his dealer rep as soon as they saw the damages. Dealer rep happened to be in Austin, TX. Rep was driving down to Corpus as I spoke to my dealer this morning so he could look at the bike first hand, but he had already verbally approved whatever the bike needed be replaced at Yamaha's expense, no questions asked. The bike was serviced out and ready to go, but my dealer asked that I leave it for the rep to see it and take pictures, to which I certainly agreed. Dealer will call me as soon as the rep makes his inspection and report. According to dealer replacement parts should be expedited to get here ASAP, but meanwhile I can take the biek and ride it certainly... Once again, my dealer offered to let me walk on the deal, or he would also try and find me another one from another dealer if I wanted that. Like a good friend, and a good dealer, he said he simply wanted to do whatever would make me happy and that he was truly sorry about Yamaha's negligence in crating this bike.

So, pending what the rep says when he sees it, I think I'll go ahead an take delivery of the bike. It will look like I crashed the damn thing the minute I ride out of the lot on it, but I guess that's not so bad.

Now some observations from just seeing it and sitting on it...

Seat feels better than the '04 and '05 I have been on. Riding postion is much more *leaned forward* than I remembered on the other FJR's. It feels no heavier than my R-1150-R. Fairing and windshield look perfectly sized for me IMHO. Bags are neater than I remembered and are way bigger than my BMW system cases inside, and don't have all the weird nooks and crannies. Should work tons better IMHO than the BMW cases. Locking mechanism makes more sense, too, and they are tucked into the bike TIGHT. Riding postion may take a bit of getting used to, but we'll see, and it is adjustable to a degree.

The Cobalt Blue color is STUNNINGLY GORGEOUS!!! :yahoo:

:dance: :eusa_dance: :055: :049: :yahoo: :060: :119: :023: :eusa_clap: :023: :119: :060: :yahoo: :049: :055: :eusa_dance: :dance:

Simply beyond description, and one of the most beautiful colors I have ever seen. Trust me, pictures simply cannot possibly do it justice. You have to see it to appreciate it.

Probably the color, more than anything, is what convinced me I didn't want to wait around for another nor unwind the deal (if I can get all the pieces replaced I want, and that should be replaced).

Don't know if I will be able to do pictures before the Hill Country Ride, but I'll try if I get it picked up today.

Cheers! (I think...)

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

[Tipstall]

So you think the color is OK?

Ken

[Dallara]

Got a few free minutes earlier today and got dropped off at the Yammie dealer for the FJR. Yamaha rep had been there, agreed it was pretty friggin' outrageous for the bike to be damaged in the crate like that. Said Yamaha would gladly pick up the tab, parts and labor, for the damages, etc. Little more to do on that, but all in all, okay.

Quickie review from riding the bike 21 miles and then getting picked up and brought back here to work...

- Feels heavier at walking speeds than the R-1150-R, but lighter at a standstill, and then way lighter when underway despite being a good bit heavier than the R-1150-R.

- Man, I had forgotten how dramatic front end dive under hard braking could be!

- Color is spectacular!

- Lever controls are heavy... Much stiffer clutch and front brake lever feel. Brake still plenty taunt with the lever adjustment turned all the way down. Grips will have to go. They are lousy.

- Phenomenal brakes, and I do mean phenomenal. I ride braking pretty hard, and I got into the ABS a bunch, but it is nothing like the weird feeling BMW ABS gives you. Great lever *feel* for what the tire is doing, just not as light a lever pressure as a non-ABS R-1150-R... But waaaaay less lever pressure than the *wooden* feeling lever a BMW servo assist ABS feels.

- Terrific seat. May not need a Sargent. Plenty firm, and shaped well for me.

- Man, it's a pretty color, and is eye-popping in the sun.

- Need to adjust foot levers. Brake and shifter both too high out of the box set at the factory hash marks.

- Nice fit and finish.

- Gorgeous color.

- Heavy throttle return springing. Makes modulating the throttle at low speeds a snatchy proposition. Should be able to fix this, though. Too much free play in throttle from pre-delivery set-up. I can fix that.

- Lots of neat info from the LCD panel. Showed it was 90 degrees here inland, 88 closer to the water, and 89 at my house (four blocks from the bay). Even at those temps, and even in traffic, no heat issues I can feel, at all, and I was in street clothes (except for riding boots, helmet, and gloves).

- Bars seem a tiny bit low and swept too far aft. Will see how the factory adjustment plays out. Nice riding position otherwise, with more legroom that the Roadster.

- Man, what a beautiful COLOR!

- You sit much *ON* the Yamaha, and nearly as much *IN* it as you do the BMW. Not a bad feeling, just different.

- Gearbox is a bit notchy, but should smooth out nicel with break-in. More driveline snatch than the Beemer, but a lot of that is the throttle return springs making the twistgrip so damn hard to modulate.

- Engine is as smooth as a turbine everywhere, and the mirrors crystal clear from 0 to over 100 MPH.

- At first I wasn't sure if it handled well really, then I looked at how far I had already leaned it over on a couple of twisty sections on the way home. Must handle pretty good, and is definitely confidence inspiring and stable. More pitching fore and aft than I like, but I haven't even begun to play with suspension adjustments.

- Sure is a damn attractive color.

- Fairing is nice, and the windshield works pretty damn good going 90+ MPH into a 25-30 knot head/cross wind. Windshield buffets a lot in those conditions. Didn't get a catch ot try it the other direction or in still air. Adjustment of windshield is cooler than canned beer!

- Did I mention the incredible color?

- And now the part you've all been waiting for... Power... Well, it's damn sure the torquiest inline four I have ever ridden. Feels almost like an old open-class two-stroke moto-crosser - power is strong at the bottom and just keeps right on building and building. In fact, the damn thing is awfully deceptive, much like my old VFR was. You don't feel like you are going as fast as you really are. Showered down on it on rural road coming off a light and the dman thing just BEAMED me damn near into the back of a slow moving car waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay up the road. I looked down and I was in third gear going damn near 120. I had to hammer the brakes, and yes, I thought while I was there I would see if I could get the ABS involved... I did, and it worked fine, without near the pulsating I have gotten on other ABS-equipped bikes, particularly Beemers. Anyway, bike has PLENTY of power, but is so torquey it doesn't feel that much like an inline four... More like a V-Four. That said, it does like to be in the proper gear. On a VFR you had three gears to choose from for any given situation. On the FJR, you've got two. Will probably actually require more shifting in the twisties than the R-1150-R, but I'm still not sure about that. You sure will be going down the straights faster on the Yamaha, though!

That's it for now. Gotta' get finished up here at work, round up some more stuff for the Hill Country Ride, do some packin' and loadin', and then maybe... just maybe... I can get another couple of miles on the FJR and snap a pic or two.

Cheers!

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

[TorqueMonsterMT-01]

Congratulations Allan,
It sounds like you have overcome the "issues" and have accepted the bike as your own. Keep us updated on how your dealer and yamaha perform on their promise to take care of the issues.

By the way. How do you like the color of your FJR?

Cheers,
Jeff

[Ed K]

Life is pretty good, ain't it Allan... :028:

[Dallara]

Well, it definitely doesn't suck, Ed... :dance:

Got a new sled. Got the old one, too. Both paid for and insured, and taking both of 'em up to the Texas Hill Country tomorrow to meet with a bunch of really neat and interesting people, have some great food, have some good beverages and cigars, and ride some terrific roads.

You're right, Ed... Doesn't get much better than that! :yahoo:

Torquemonster,

I still got major issues with Yamaha, believe me. It's just I decided it wasn't worth it, especially that it was ruining my attitude about this weekend's ride with all the good folks from here. I figure, hell, now I got at least two panels I can drop the damn thing on for FREE, eh? :031:

Glass half empty or half full, and all that!

Take care everybody, and I see ya' on the flip side of the Hill Country Ride!

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - Thankful to be a Member of the Cafe'!)

[BobFV1]

Allan -

Pass on the anime and get a GS.

[marko]

Alan
just logged into the site after a few days and catching up on your saga!
First congratulations on taking delivery of the bike, but agree that a new bike should be an unblemished beauty......I was glad to get to the end of the story and see that all will be fixed .....eventually.
I would be gutted waiting for so long and then having a damaged bike delivered.
There are not many times in most peoples lives they can afford something as expensive as a new car or bike and the feeling of heading off to the dealer to pick up the new toy and finally seeing it is an enormous pleasure....it is a pity you had to head off with trepidation after receiving bad news of damage. (There should be some compensation from Yamaha for this alone!)
I think back to the time i picked up the 1150r from the dealer....only my second new bike ever, and i have never had a new car- and the ride home was magic - so exciting.
Anyway, I hope you guys have a great trip in the coming days and you enjoy the ride on the new bike Alan...looks like all will be fixed eventually so enjoy the ride in that knowledge.
I look forward to ride report and pix of the event.
Enjoy

[R4R&R]

.......So now it's finally home......WHERE ARE THE PICTURES?!?!?!?!?

[fganger]

Allan,

From pictures you've posted, one can tell you are fastidious about your machines. I can understand how you must have felt on this emotional roller coaster. The length of time, spent waiting for your newborn, only exasperated the situation.

There may be a bright spot in all of this, it may not be visible right now, but I'm sure by the time you return home from the hills it will be. You are also a bit of a philosopher; while riding in the “hill country,” I predict it will all make sense to you.

Congratulations on your newborn - it seems to favor you a bit.

Frank

:eusa_clap:

[Bill]

Congratulations Allan,

My brother has a 2 year old one and loves it. Power, speed, good looks and he rides it 500-600 miles per day. Just did an IRON BUTT SS1000 in January.
Wish I could be with you folks in the Texas Hill Country, just have to go with the wife to Jacksonville for her 1 year check up - Liver transplant at Mayo Clinic. She is doing great, even gave up the beer that caused the problem. http://www.e-foerster.com/LiverTransplant.htm I hope to see you at Bonneville and Big Bend if these two make it. Might even hitch a ride to Bonneville if you have room.