heyho

[feef]

Noob alert from Huntingdonshire.

Prefer my bikes to my car, but ultimately, love anything with an engine.

stable currently contains:

Alfa 147 2.0 Sillyspeed
Yamaha FJR1300
Yamaha YZF1000 Thunderace
Honda VTR1000F Firestorm
Suzuki DR350s
Kawa GPZ500
Suzuki GS125
and a Yamaha FZR400 racebike.

a

[feef]

spikeyhead said:

silverian535 said:

Hi there. Bikes always seemed a little dangerous to me.

I prefer going sideways on four wheels

Welcome

I've done the sideways thing on two wheels, well, when I say two wheels I really mean one wheel and a shoulder. I'll stick to four for now.

but welcome anyway

Sideways on two wheels is just as much fun.

I refer the hon gentleman to my 20 mile commute, in several inches of snow, on a DR350 a couple of years ago

a

[feef]

_Voyager_ said:

feef said:

stable currently contains:
Yamaha FJR1300

Hi feef. I live just south of Hunts and am taking my bike test in a month or so. When I pass (hopefully this time) I was thinking about a FJR, probably an early 2001 with a few miles. What are they like?

I'm just South of Huntingdon myself..

The FJR are fantastic, from my point of view.

It handles surprisingly well for a 250kg bike, and the torque and power means it can keep up with most things, but also means it can and will spin up the rear in the wet if you're not careful. Very comfy, both solo and 2-up (I've done 11 hrs non-stop with no ill effects), and the luggage is reasonably capacious. Handling at slow speeds isn't too bad, but when your front tyre gets a bit worn it becomes a pig.

They ARE a handful to maneuver about at a standstill tho. I'm 5'8" with a 32" inside leg, and I'm on tip-toes, so can't move it about at all without getting off and hefting it with a hip into the side.

Mine has 76000 miles on the clock, and is on a 53 plate.

I'm not sure how much riding you've done before, but I'd not necessarily recommend such a heavy and cumbersome bike. I've drooped mine a couple of times in carparks, simply because, when it starts to go, there's no way you can stop a 1/4 of a ton going down.

_Voyager_ said:

Assuming I do pass, are you up for some rides around Cambs?

certainly.. there's a few of us in Cambs who often go for rides.

a

[feef]

_Voyager_ said:

Speaking to a friend who had the previous model (FJ1200) he said as I was use to the Monaro it should reduce the likelihood of killing myself by miss-judging speed etc.

I'd say the FJ isn't really a "previous model". It might be in spirit, but the FJR is an entirely different monster. It's significantly more powerful, more torque and heavier than the FJ, nor as easy to handle.

I don't wish to put anyone off the bike, but I know some very experienced riders who find the FJR a bit of a handful, and its power and speed has caught me out a few times, and I'm hoping to race this year. That being said, once you've passed your test, take a trip up to Webbs and take their demonstrator out for a ride and see what you think for yourself

_Voyager_ said:

Is there anything happening next weekend? I am back for a few weeks so I could buy you a pint then if you are up for it?

I'm up to my eyeballs in stuff, race-prep for the bike, sorting out a propshaft for the boat and sorting out the house for my folks coming to stay at the end of the month. Once the weather's nicers, and it's biking weather again, I should have more time. Need to get the FJR MOTd too.

a