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2005 FJR 1300 Ordering & Info

92254 Views 84 Replies 34 Participants Last post by trespass, Aug 18, 2004

Redux

Discussion Starter · Feb 6, 2004

Very annoying

The first year, I could understand. Yamaha was "out on a limb" cost-wise. It has become quite old. I have debated getting a new FJR but never seem to get within the "window" that I am ALLOWED to request one. If you have to do the silly Pre-order thing. At least make it year- round. I could tolerate having a 90 day wait to pick up the bike. All the hoops will send me elsewhere

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sarnali

· #2 · Feb 7, 2004

Re: Very annoying

But you get to be part of an "exclusive club"of FJR riders.

I agree with you, last year my re-finance didn't fall into place until after the ordering period, so I wasn't about to put money down in case things fell through. A buddy of mine did pre-order and his bike showed up with no saddle bags. It took a little while to straighten that out, but he eventualy got them and he loves the bike so it ended well.

I can see Yamaha's point in the first year of not knowing how well the bikes would sell, but now they have rave reviews and sell every one they make I think the pre-order deal is just hype. Just do like everyone else and give each dealer an allotment based on sales volume, keep a few in reserve and watch the sales climb.

42941

· #3 · Feb 7, 2004

You have to blame the American consumer for this and not Yamaha.

It's been proven that the riders in the good old USA love their cruisers and that sport touring models have historically been a tough sell in this country.

If you want one, put in an order.

seruzawa

· #4 · Feb 7, 2004

You just don't get it.

Only Harley can be ragged on for producing limited edition bikes. Harley does it to screw the consumer because Harley is an Evil American Corporation(tm).

It's perfectly fine when Yamaha or Aprilia any foreign company puts out a limited edition bike. It's completely different. This is self-evident and requires no explanation. You apparenly just don't get it. These companies are not Evil American Corporations(tm) so any identical acts are actually totally different.

Yamaha is doing this because Americans are at fault. Yamaha is holy and pure of spirit and would never put the bottom line before its customers.

Oh, yes. One more thing. Obligatory Loony Link.

Betcha like my links better than Kook's.

F451

· #5 · Feb 7, 2004

I love my American cruiser, but a couple of friends bought FJR's who love 'em. The price is right, well built and I commend Yamaha for making a balls-out sport tourer. I would not mind putting down a deposit or waiting in line, because there will be someone to take my place should I opt-out. Yamaha makes some tight bikes (I have to admit that the new R1 is beautiful and looks more Italian than Japanese). I am waiting to see what the new V-Max will be.

F451

· #6 · Feb 7, 2004

Re: You just don't get it.

LOL

Winger4Life

· #7 · Feb 7, 2004

Don't want to start a whole flame war but....I don't get the whole sport tourer thing. Why not just get a Gold Wing, Electra Glide, etc... and do it right? If you want comfort, you are not going to get it in that kind of sitting position. You have no where to shift your legs. etc, etc, etc....

Sure it doesn't weigh as much, sure it handles better, sure it has more power, but the main reason for a 'touring' bike is comfort, right?....so you can rack up 800 miles a day and not need three days to recover.

saddlebag

· #8 · Feb 7, 2004

Depends, if your idea of touring is going to the beach anything comfortable should do. If your idea of touring is taking your SO along to carve up the finest mountain and canyon roads in the country and beyond, only an ST will do.

Me, I'm in the second camp.

sarnali

· #9 · Feb 7, 2004

Re: You just don't get it.

If only you used your powers for good instead of evil.........

I'll try to explain again for you, American corporations are capitalistic neo-fascist oppressors of the honest and hard working proletariat, whose sole purpose is to exploite the masses and ravage the natural resourses the state in it's mis-guided wisdom alloted them.

Japanese corporations are, on the other hand, wise and benificial stewards of the land who provide well made and usefull products for the enjoyment of the people, and for the betterment of mankind in general.

sarnali

· #10 · Feb 7, 2004

Most of my riding is within 400 miles of home and when I'm not commuting, nowhere near a freeway. I've been riding sportbikes for the last eighteen years and standards and choppers before that. Though I did own an FLH for a few years, the common thread in my bikes is they were little more than engines and wheels.

Sport tourers are perfect for me because they give sportbike performance and handling with just enough weather protection and luggage to let me ride all year and haul some stuff with me. To be honest if I lived in a warmer climate I wouldn't even bother with the fairing and just ride a sport-standard

Without being rude or flaming I could ask you the same question, if you're going to ride around on a Goldwing all the time why bother at all? if comfort and distance is your main criteria why not get a Lincoln LS or a Lex. To me a Goldwing or K1200LT is little more than a two-wheel car. With the FLH Ultra at least you can tell it's a motorcycle, but they're pushing it.

Bikes like this Yamaha or the Ducati, Triumph or Aprilia give near sportbike performance in a good all around package.

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Winger4Life

· #11 · Feb 7, 2004

fair enough. I see your point.

wrecks

· #12 · Feb 7, 2004

This type of marketing is what differentiates Yamaha from Honda. This is typical of Yamaha to undersupply the market; most of their new motorcycles need to be pre-purchased early in the season. >>At the the bike show in Calgary, Yamaha people were saying I'd have to have a deposit on a new R1 before March if I wanted one.<< This gives them a bit of exclusivity, and may help them retain their value. (anyone have figures?)

This is in black and white contrast to Honda, who floods the market all season, giving their dealers more than they can sell, and forcing them to "blow out" non-currents at wholesale the following year.

I think Honda makes great motorcycles, but it is this market flooding that has made them Number One. As for Yamaha, their undersupplying may be holding them back... but... it may also make their bikes (new and used) more desirable.

12250

· #13 · Feb 7, 2004

"Without being rude or flaming I could ask you the same question, if you're going to ride around on a Goldwing all the time why bother at all? if comfort and distance is your main criteria why not get a Lincoln LS or a Lex. To me a Goldwing or K1200LT is little more than a two-wheel car."

Darn, beat me to it. Remember dude, to each his own.

-Andy

wrecks

· #14 · Feb 7, 2004

BTW that FJR is a brilliant motorcycle. (especially in that new blue) I haven't ridden one yet but I think they've nailed it.

Honda would have to either add 30 Hp or drop 50 lbs from the ST for it to be a serious contender for this machine. (for my dollars anyways)

Buzglyd

· #15 · Feb 7, 2004

We know why you really ride a Wing.

It's to hook up lights! Lots of lights everywhere! More than an 18 wheeler.

Don't forget the Yosemite Sam mudflaps.

sarnali

· #16 · Feb 7, 2004

Re: We know why you really ride a Wing.

I like the little chrome girlies that dangle under the trunk, if I could find them I'd put some on my Trophy

sarnali

· #17 · Feb 8, 2004

Re: To each, his or her own

Thats exactly how I feel, I ride what I like and respect your decision to ride what you like.

sarnali

· #18 · Feb 8, 2004

Re:neener neener

Hey Buz and Ser, I'm putting a dent in some 10 year old Irish single malt and listening to "traditional" Celtic strings while my girls cook me dinner

It don't get much better than this, boys.

Agent0090

· #19 · Feb 8, 2004

Man, I can't believe you knocked the Pinto.

Whipped out the econ text books and thunk a little bit about this problem. I found the following thought exercise to be helpful:

Company Y makes widgets. That's widget spelled "F-J-R." It prices the widgets at about $13,000, a price at which it expects to make a reasonable profit per widget, assuming it sells X number of widgets. Suddenly the marketing research weenie says "Hey, that F-J-R widget kicks a$$! At $13,000, you could probably sell a number n > X!" (Marketing research weenies have a way with words. That's why they get all the hot chicks.) This being almost a year until production of the 2005 model year is expected- it has to be just the right shade of blue, mind you- Company Y could probably ramp up production to sell a number n > X, and increase profits accordingly. So why don't they just do that? They get more $$, we get more bikes, and nobody waits in line.

Then it dawned on me:

BECAUSE THEY'RE LYING!!!

What makes much more sense is that Company Y is kind of concerned that n may actually be < X, and having read a story about painting a certain fence that was written by a man fond of steamboats, they learned the lesson. Make it COOL to put down your money early and wait for a long time to get what you want. (The aforementioned author being distinctly American, it seems that an American motorcycle company has already figured out this trick to getting a fence painted and has enjoyed great success with the strategy.) Thus imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and now metric motorcyclers can have inconvienience of deposits and long, uncertain waits for the ride of their dreams. Bravo! May the free market prevail! Go buy a Kawi Concours! (After this many years, they can't be wrong.)

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Blue_Are1

· #20 · Feb 8, 2004

You can find FJR's available at some dealers, you just have to look around a little. Some of the dealers are ordering bikes under fake names just to have some extra bikes in stock.

I've heard of a few people walking in to dealers and being able to buy them on the spot.

I think Yamaha is worried about the prospective buyers having the typical sport-bike rider mentality, if it isn't the latest and greatest then it's doomed to sit in the showroom until it's heavily discounted. Just like what happen's every year with left over 954's, R1's and GIX 1K's. As soon as a new one is introduced the leftovers are practically given away.

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