Love the Bagster, Chuck!
It Was Fun.....
....while it lasted. In December I picked up a very clean '05 FJR with less than 29000 miles. I'd always wanted an FJR. It was my dream bike. Well, I had one until today. I traded it for a 2011 VStrom 650. Why? My riding skills from 15 years ago matched my FZ1 very well. I was confident on it. We fit. 15 years later (I'm now 64) I don't feel like my riding skills are up to riding this FJR confidently. I rode the FZ hard and fast....I like speed and speed was waaay too easy on the FJR beast. Too many times I accepted vroom vroom challenges on the road in an instant. Running 125 mph on the highway is not wise. So, I made what I hope is a wise decision. I stepped away from speed and hopped onto to CHILL. It'll still have enough juice to keep from getting run over on those rare interstate treks, but the ADRENALINE fix won't be happening and that's ok with me. It doesn't hurt any that the 650 is approx 180 lbs LIGHTER than the beast. Thanks, y'all. I most definitely enjoyed it!
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This group! I can't help but laugh at the comments and with you all. Thanks for being such a good-natured bunch of hooligans. And I second the kudos to Ray and those that continue to contribute who have said fair well to an FJR.
How the hell old are you Ray? You’ve got the soul of a young man still….I said goodbye to my FJR a couple of years ago.... getting old, gonna have to give it up one day, however, went lighter and with the plan to enjoy that as long as I can. Not too many ride after 80.
@AtlRiderrr , Maybe your question to Ray can be phrased slightly differently, something like this: Mr Ray, how young are you sir? You have the wisdom of an old master. 😉How the hell old are you Ray? You’ve got the soul of a young man still….
He's not a woman, it's ok to ask his age 
. Besides, he's too flakey to understand your kindness. When dealing with really old people like Ray my motto has always been "straight up, no bullsh!t". Anything less only confuses them .
. Besides, he's too flakey to understand your kindness. When dealing with really old people like Ray my motto has always been "straight up, no bullsh!t". Anything less only confuses them .I'm 73 now. When I garaged my '06 FJR for the winter, I was feeling pretty-much like you. The bike was a hand full. I just don't have the strength I did a decade ago. I don't have an issue with wanting to over-ride it or finding myself easing into three digit speeds. My problem, in fact, shows itself most when the bike is standing still. It's becoming too hard to wrestle around... especially if I'm on any kind of incline. Lean too far when standing at a stoplight, and it takes everything I have to get it back upright. And when riding the bike becomes a wrestling match rather than pure pleasure, I think it's time that like you, I switch to something a little smaller and lighter and with the seat a little closer to the ground. But the idea of selling her makes my heart bleed.....while it lasted. In December I picked up a very clean '05 FJR with less than 29000 miles. I'd always wanted an FJR. It was my dream bike. Well, I had one until today. I traded it for a 2011 VStrom 650. Why? My riding skills from 15 years ago matched my FZ1 very well. I was confident on it. We fit. 15 years later (I'm now 64) I don't feel like my riding skills are up to riding this FJR confidently. I rode the FZ hard and fast....I like speed and speed was waaay too easy on the FJR beast. Too many times I accepted vroom vroom challenges on the road in an instant. Running 125 mph on the highway is not wise. So, I made what I hope is a wise decision. I stepped away from speed and hopped onto to CHILL. It'll still have enough juice to keep from getting run over on those rare interstate treks, but the ADRENALINE fix won't be happening and that's ok with me. It doesn't hurt any that the 650 is approx 180 lbs LIGHTER than the beast. Thanks, y'all. I most definitely enjoyed it!
I like keeping it real and straightforward, when in person and online. This isn’t Game of Thrones, bruh.😆@AtlRiderrr , Maybe your question to Ray can be phrased slightly differently, something like this: Mr Ray, how young are you sir? You have the wisdom of an old master. 😉
What I did this year was simply reverse the digits, so I'm now 37, and much more immature mentally of course. I went lighter a couple or three years back, thinkin' that will prolong the journey to the day I'll have to hang up the spurs. Meanwhile Root Beer's new owner and I ride together a fair bit, and once in a while it visits for some maintenance.
I bought my second FJR from a gentleman that was 73. As far as I know he was done riding. Can’t remember if it was his back or his legs that prevents him from riding, guess we will all be there at some point.
A group of older guys, 20years older than me, I’m friends with all grew up together riding “enduros” together back in the 70s. They all just bought some light enduros and got off their Harley’s just to keep enjoying the ride. I really need to pick up an Xr or klr to ride with these guys before they hang it up.
A group of older guys, 20years older than me, I’m friends with all grew up together riding “enduros” together back in the 70s. They all just bought some light enduros and got off their Harley’s just to keep enjoying the ride. I really need to pick up an Xr or klr to ride with these guys before they hang it up.
You guys probably all've seen this but this seems like a good place for a replay.
Don't remember seeing that before. Friggin awesome. The human spirit is an amazing thing.
Thanks for posting that.
Thanks for posting that.
I've got a '94 Honda V-4 750 Magna that needs carb work. It's a great ride. Plenty of power (it tops out at about 110), is very comfortable, and the saddle is close enough to the ground that I have no trouble at all maintaining my upright stance when stopped. I think it's time to go through the carbs and put her back on the road. It could give me another five to ten years riding. When that gets to be too much, I'll downsize again. Who knows.... I could end up on the first bike I ever owned: a 1966 Suzuki X6 250 Hustler.I bought my second FJR from a gentleman that was 73. As far as I know he was done riding. Can’t remember if it was his back or his legs that prevents him from riding, guess we will all be there at some point.
A group of older guys, 20years older than me, I’m friends with all grew up together riding “enduros” together back in the 70s. They all just bought some light enduros and got off their Harley’s just to keep enjoying the ride. I really need to pick up an Xr or klr to ride with these guys before they hang it up.
My kid brother desperately wants my FJR. He's a young pup at a mere 59 (60 in November). I'll probably end up giving it to him, but only after I tease Hell out of him. It's what brothers do.....
Excellent!You guys probably all've seen this but this seems like a good place for a replay.
I had a V45 Magna and several V65 Magnas...oh boy the Honda V4 was a great motor! But what a pain in the ass to get the carbs off and back on...I've got a '94 Honda V-4 750 Magna that needs carb work. It's a great ride.
True Dat!I had a V45 Magna and several V65 Magnas...oh boy the Honda V4 was a great motor! But what a pain in the ass to get the carbs off and back on...
I just posted some of this on another thread, but I am about in the same boat. Albeit only 58 yrs. young. I went from a ZZR1200 to a Concours 14. That was too much, albeit comfy. Too top heavy, but not much heavier than the FJR? Anyway, I went to a 2016 FJ-09, telling myself and my wife that would be my retirement bike. Took a week long trip down to the Smoky mountains on the FJ-09, and realized that bike was WAY too light for my fat butt, all my week long gear, etc. It just didn't feel safe fully loaded. Maybe some things I could have done. But, I went for the FJR. It's heavier than I want, but seems less top heavy to me, than the concours. I was just talking with a friend, who has a buddy that just got a trike. Said he was early 50's. You gotta do you. So good luck, I may not be far behind you on getting something lighter.
I think the FJR is about 100 lbs lighter than the Connie. I'm 195lbs and the 650 totes me just fine. I can tell that it'll still have plenty of juice if I fill up all of the cases for a trip.
One advantage I'll have.... my wife doesn't ride with me any more. So whatever I end up on, it'll only have to cart my (admittedly too big) butt around. I'm still leaning toward fixing up my '94 Magna V65 at this point. It's comfortable, fast, smooth, easy on gas, and low enough to the ground that I don't have any issues with keeping it upright at the halt. Anyway.... I live in the Rockies, and we just had our most recent snowfall yesterday (and have even been known to have May snowfalls), so I've still got some time to decide.I just posted some of this on another thread, but I am about in the same boat. Albeit only 58 yrs. young. I went from a ZZR1200 to a Concours 14. That was too much, albeit comfy. Too top heavy, but not much heavier than the FJR? Anyway, I went to a 2016 FJ-09, telling myself and my wife that would be my retirement bike. Took a week long trip down to the Smoky mountains on the FJ-09, and realized that bike was WAY too light for my fat butt, all my week long gear, etc. It just didn't feel safe fully loaded. Maybe some things I could have done. But, I went for the FJR. It's heavier than I want, but seems less top heavy to me, than the concours. I was just talking with a friend, who has a buddy that just got a trike. Said he was early 50's. You gotta do you. So good luck, I may not be far behind you on getting something lighter.
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