At about 2pm today, I talked to a customer who has just put his $500 deposit on an 04 non ABS FJR..and good for him! Since he is also a friend, I MAY get to take a ride on it, if I ask REAL nice and after the new has worn off....when it FINALLY comes in...July, August or whenever. My point stands...you can't go to a dealer here and try one on for size, much less test ride one. And riding to Sturgis just for a test ride...sound great, but is not very practical for those of us with careers, families and live in the east.
Maybe I was too harsh on the Yamaha marketing folks. My bud who has ordered the FJR has a long background in the retail end of the bike bidness and pointed out to me that the exclusivity is boosted, etc, and the overstock situation of the early 80's really, really burned 'em bad. I still feel that if you don't have the product on the floor, you just won't sell as many...and artificial mystique just annoys me.
All in all and griping aside, I'd rather have the FJR available as it currently is rather than not having it available at all.
Another post mentions that Sport tourers just are not on the floor of may dealers: good point, though my local Honda dealer DOES have an ST13 std on the floor now. Only the larger dealers around here routinely stocked ST's. I travel a LOT on business and stop in at bike shops to kill time aroung lunch. What does sell is what is stocked. But there is a supply side argument to be made..supply creates it's own demand. Naturally good marketing, etc counts for a lot. And the USA probably will never be a big sport tourer market.
As for non Sportster HD's..who cares? I sure don't.
And speaking of Sportsters, we all know the AMF years just bit and bit hard, but as for looks, the earlier Sportsters with big tanks, normal bars and 19"/18" wire wheels were just the best looking Harleys ever...even if you truly "rode a mile and walked the rest".
Does anyone out there remember the time when, if you were an H-D guy..the only question was: you ride an "H" or "CH"?.