If I bought a Yamaha XJR1300....

[FLV]

for my first bike, would I

Freeze to death in the winter on my twice a week 200mile trip with no protection from the weather?

Spend all my money on fuel?

Get fed up with all the wind buffeting about 2 days into the first tour I try on it?

Spend all my time soaked to the skin with icy rain cos there's no fairing?

Not worry about all that when crash it cos its way too big for a first bike?

or.....

Love it as much as I did when I saw it, enjoy riding it every day and never look back?

[colin1]

very nicely written

You could always fit a front screen if needed, lots of layers of clothes will keep you warm (i'm talking michelin man level)

However, I'd suggest a blackbird for twice a week 200 mile trip in all weathers. They go for £1500 on ebay these days.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

eeeerr.
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[pepperami]

All of the above! especially the last one
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[ram_doom]

[MarJay]

Start with a smaller more practical bike, otherwise you'll regret it.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Darth]

I sold mine about a month back. I only had it about 2-3months.

My personal opinion is that
they do look awesome (especially in Blue/Black),
they are comfy,
great for cruising on a nice day,
more than enough oomph to get you past slow moving traffic safely

unfortunately...
they are very heavy,
doesnt feel good filtering around town (feels a bit unbalanced and wide high mirrors dont help)
wind does become a PITA after more than half an hour on an A/M road
small screeens do not really make any difference
fuel costs are almost car like
not anywhere near as fast as it feels or you feel it should be
not much fun on back roads


The above is only my personal opinion and only based on one bike owned for a relatively short period of time. I really tried to like it but just was not for me but there are plenty of people that love theirs. They do look awesome though....

https://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/darthpalmer/IMG_0560-1.jpg
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Harold_Shand wrote: I suppose it's like anything, you get your fingers burned when you start out, you learn from it and eventually become a complete arsehole about the whole thing.

[Seb]

I'd lean towards something lighter with a fairing for that sort of commute, a ZZR600 would be a good start, mine was absolutely ace on motorways.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[FLV]

Hmmm, thanks for that guys. certainly food for thought there.

They do look fantastic, sitting on it, it just felt right too. I have no doubt it would be cumbersome filtering though, as you say.

I keep screwing my sensible head on and thinking 600's with a fairing.
I Havn't really found one I like the look of though.
I looked at bandit 600's SV600's & Honda VFR's etc
I go and look, sit on one and it just feels like it would be cramped after an hour, or after no time with a pillion and some luggage.

I'll have a look out for a ZZR600 to look at, ta

I should probably just get something, but theres time yet....still got to pass!

[T1z3R]

i havent ridden an XJR yet.
i posted a while back asking about them and got mostly negative comments on them.

i think ill still get one though when i have the money.

i wouldnt be put off about the the size/weight though.
i went from a 125 to a YZF750R which is rather large and heavy and had no problems other than it kept breaking down

test ride one when you pass your test and take it from there
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