Buying a new bike - FJR1300

[Obleo]

I agree ferret why buy a 5 speed when 6 speed is available, if I could have seen into the future I would have waited on the 6 speed cb 1100 . Just my 2 cents.

[postoak_imp]

The bike just becomes less frantic in 6th. Smoother, quieter, gets better gas mileage, less stress on the motor, riding the torque wave that's available even at those low rpms. Not that it is particularly frantic in 5th, but the number of rpms that feels comfortable to a person varies just like windshields and seats. Some guys want to cruise around at 2500 rpms, motor barely loafing, some feel 4-6K is in the right range on the edge of an acceleration peak, and some people don't think you should drop below 6K. Sport riders would lauugh at 6K.

So do you just ride around in second since you are then at cruising speed? or do you use 3rd thru 5th? ...Same thing.

I wear earplugs, so quieter isn't an issue. My Nighthawk was doing 6000 rpm at 85 and I had no problem with that. I would normally keep it at 4000-4500 - at the bottom of the max torque curve, as you say. On my 5-speed CB1100 I would go 1st, 2nd, 5th on spirited acceleration. To me, it is annoying to shift, run the revs up just a little, and then shift to the next gear, and then repeat that over and over. A sixth gear would just make it that much more annoying. Mileage isn't a factor either.

[LongRanger_imp]

CB1100DCT?

[peterbaron]

I agree ferret why buy a 5 speed when 6 speed is available, if I could have seen into the future I would have waited on the 6 speed cb 1100 . Just my 2 cents.

+1

[rboe]

T120 is a nice bike, but perhaps on the wrong side of value for your money.
FJR, like you suggest, a very good bike but not fitting YOUR riding requirements (well, shall we say, not fitting all that well).
CB1100, A better choice than the two above - but you have already sold it before, do those reasons still hold?
Moto Guzzi V7ii or 7iii. You can get them at a reasonable price, in my experience they have a much higher grin factor than the T120 (I didn't get one because the CB was a better fit physically). But you'd probably have to do your own maintenance (having said that, they ARE easy to work on and many Guzzi owners buy them for that reason).

CB500X; I hear nothing but good about these bikes and if you fit them I think they should be on your short list. They tick a lot of boxes.

Royal Enfield; I consider this a bit of an outlayer, but for some people they are the bees knees. For others, not so much. If you really like a classical looking proper motorcycle then this is your baby. Newer ones have fewer QC issues.

I like 6 speeds, maybe because the Griso has 6. Typically you don't choose 6 until 75-80. So that may have something to do with it. In any event, match the tranny to the engine torque curve (and job) and see where the numbers come out.

[postoak_imp]

Interesting post Rboe, but I bought the 2014 FJR. The owner is bringing it to my house tomorrow.

[Cormanus]

Good for you, postoak. We’ll all look forward to hearing how you get on with it.

[the Ferret]

Congrats poastoak. Indeed a super machine. Picture please.

[peterbaron]

Good for you, postoak. We’ll all look forward to hearing how you get on with it.

+1 = buy and own what you like to be happy Postoak
Edit pics as well, please...and keep it in a lower gear as you like it
Safe

[F800GT_imp]

I too like the FJR1300, but for daily commute is a little bit overkill, unless it's a > 100-mile commute.