Fjr1300 / car / train?

Kaya75 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 11 Jan 2015 Karma :

TLDR: Bike suggestions welcome, spend 5k, length, 250mile trip twice a month.. Top of list atm FJR1300.

Ok I've just being reading through neveragains 4 hour commute dilemma. Coincidentally I'm in the same prediction I need to travel 280 miles, SE to SW m25, m3, m5 etc every 4 to 6 was.. I was gonna look at a fjr1300 on Saturday but now I may be looking at trains..

I could go 5k plus my bike sale or part ex if needed but I'd prefer to keep it to below 5k lower the better, but gonna be travelling 250 miles east west or south to north quiet a bit, so I want a newer bike and 5k is the max I can afford and the seems to offer the lowest end of possible solutions.

Big arse sport tourers don't impress me much, but seem the best solution, although I'm not against having one for a year or so at all. Other option would be a sprint GT. Then I'd prefer the st 1050 plus I know I got a have shaft driven.

Basically I need a impossible bike, a bike easy and sweet to run a south east daily commute and then tour 1/3 of the country at the weekend.

Any suggestions that don't involve trains planes and automobiles. I read NeverAgains thread and they are good options but I'm up for a bike, got to do London to Cornwall mid winter at least once in yer life eh?

So fjr1300 is at the top of my list atm, any others worth considering?
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ybr125 Sold, GSF600 K1 Bandit (For Sale), FJR13000 gen2.

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Kwak GTR1400.

Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

ST1300?

Waaarrrggghhh · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 27 Oct 2016 Karma :

you need something with serious wind/rain protection then because if its raining during your commute you will be drenched, cold and miserable and not in a good state to work.

RhynoCZ · Super Spammer Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :

ZX-7R · Banned Joined: 24 Jan 2016 Karma :

Train ticket and 8 cans of Stella.

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Current Bike - 2000 ZX-7R

RhynoCZ · Super Spammer Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :

Enduro Numpty · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Karma :

I've had my FJR1300 for over 6 years and it's the most reliable bike I've ever owned. A great all rounder that's taken me and the wife all over Europe in comfort.

bamt · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2013 Karma :

Don't think you can really go wrong with any of the above suggestions (FJR, GTR1400 or Pan 1300). I ended up with a Pan because it was the first of the three that turned up at a price/condition I was comfortable with.

The FJR is a bit more sporty in position, the GTR a bit wider in the panniers (they don't tuck under as neatly as the Pan) and not quite as a good a fuel range, the Pan is getting to be a bit of a dated design so doesn't have all the toys that more modern bikes have, but all three will eat those miles up. I do around 90 miles/day round trip commute on my Pan, and regularly do 300+ mile days.

They do feel a bit like a supertanker the first time you take one out, but once you get the feel for them they are great machines and surprisingly nimble.

Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

A 250 mile journey twice a month is nothing, especially seeing as you'll be mile-munching on motorways.

That's still only 6k miles a year. Any large cc bike could put up with that sort of mileage, and actually FWIW seeing as the mileage is made up of mostly single journeys - I'd say shaft drive was less of a priority than in the other thread.

Personally, I'd get a large sportsbike or sports-tourer and make the twice monthly journey an interesting one...

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sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

The question you need to ask yourself is why you think you need a 1000cc+ bike to ride 280 miles? I think the answer is going to be something along the lines of, because you don't want to do it.

As an example simply because its what I use I believe you would be fine on something a lot smaller like a Deauville.
Physically they are big bikes but low powered so comfortable while retaining cheap servicing and decent mpg.

Once you get to the bottom of the M5 the non-arterial roads are crap into Cornwall so a big bike loses a lot of its convenience.

Don't assume you need a big bike to go a few hundred miles.

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

I had a Deauville before the GTR and it was a little bit gutless at motorway speeds. On the other hand, if you want to keep your licence it makes licence losing speeds harder.

280 miles every now and then? Pretty much any bike would do it, in fact, I'd even consider a car for a journey that infrequent.

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

NeverAgain · Nova Slayer Joined: 29 Oct 2016 Karma :

AshWebster · Brolly Dolly Joined: 05 Jan 2017 Karma :

Really depends on what you want from riding.

Some people commute every day on their bikes, rain or shine, and still have fun on the weekends on the same bike. Either they don't own a car/license or just prefer the bike through the traffic - as well as many other reasons.

Personally I hate long journeys / commutes on the bike. Much rather do that trip on the train and have a nice bike for the weekend NSL fun.

If you can afford to do that that's what I advise. But again it depends what you want from riding.
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Honda cg125 J reg peice of shit ---> CB650F ---> 2016 CBR600RR
Ford KA ---> 93' MR2 ---> 94'MR2 ---> 98' Subaru WRX STI Ver 3 (track car)

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

The Deauville gets a bad press cos it does what it’s supposed to do with the minimum of fuss. Like I said, on the motorway it was a bit gutless - maybe gutless is the wrong word - it needed a sixth gear really. At motorway speeds it revs a touch high and feels like it’s struggling slightly.

NeverAgain · Nova Slayer Joined: 29 Oct 2016 Karma :

Analogkid · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Jul 2016 Karma :

Get the FJR, helped with part of a charity run last week, escorting 50cc scooters along the A9 FJR was comfy and stable at their speeds, but an absolute hoot on the way home, I have fitted bar risers to mine, it helps with the wrist angle as much as body angle, bike is fast and planted, and with decent waterproof textiles you be mostly warm and dry. 2013 on had cruise control and heated grips, screen is electric too. 2016 models add 6 speed box and slipper assist clutch, but may be beyond your budget.

They are great in the twisties too, and planted on the motorway bike, I compared FJR and the GTR, both 2016 models, GTR has more power and may be better for motorway, as its a good bit heavier, but no cruise which is useful for keeping your licence intact, but it is no where near as nimble in the twisties, both are sportbike quick when needed too.

There is a thread elsewhere comparing ST1300/FJR/R1200RT, main point I took from it was ST 1300 was a sport TOURING bike, FJR was a SPORT touring bike, all 3 mentioned in this thread though will easily do the job, and you'll have something tasty to ride, can't take the train up a twisty mountain road.

TL;DR Buy the FJR, its a bike that gets under your skin, and will do the job you are considering it for and more.