I've been looking on and off for a few months. Most recently, within the last two weeks, a slew of 2021 bikes have been appearing all over the country. Intrigued, I asked a dealer in Virginia about it. Apparently, a national motorcycle rental company decided to turn over about fifty (50) 2021 FJRs in it's fleet, and dealers scooped them up for re-sale. At first, I thought these were Yamaha Demo bikes, but that is not the case. They are rental bikes.
All of them are ES models and have between 8,000 and 10,000 miles. From my research, dealers are asking between $14K and $15,500.00. I was able to buy mine from a dealer in Houma, LA (about 100 miles southeast of my home), and negociated the sale price a bit below the lower end. The bike has one scuff on the mirror, one small scratch on the tank (will be under the tank bag), and a couple of scuffs on the right saddle bag. Otherwise, it's spotless and if its been ridden in the rain, I can't tell.
My bike came with a brand new set of tires, albeit the BattleAX B023s (boo!). It had 10,200 miles on it when I bought it, and I took the long way home.
It's a long story, but I was able to sell my '14 FJR to a private buyer in Houma. I got a few hundred more than the dealer was offering on trade, but even that was a bit underwelming. In these parts, selling ANY bike that doesn't have the words "Harley Davidson" on it is difficult. Selling one with 90,000 miles on it is VERY difficult. Perhaps I could have squeezed someone else out of a few hundred more, but that might have taken 6 months, and by then, these 2021 bikes will be gone. So I said "f-it" and pulled the trigger. My buyer plans to join this forum, and I know we will welcome him kindly.
Before I did the deal, I removed everything farkle wise from the bike with the exception of:
1. The 1" bar risers. I don't have the original bolts for the handlebars. I bought that '14 with 1100 miles and it had the risers on it.
2. The T-Rex Frame sliders. One of them was scuffed pretty bad and I decided to just get new ones.
3. Speed bleeders, tank protector, 90 degree valve stems - all self-expanatory.
Most noteworthy was that I was able to keep my beloved Cee Bailey shorty tinted windscreen. I sold red first thing this morning, my buyer brought me to the dealer, and after I bought the new bike, I went back to my buyers house and swapped windscreens (a condition of the sale).
Tomorrow, I guess I'll start putting all the farkles back on.
I enjoyed the ride home on my new bike, and have some comments and questions about that I'll share later.
On the way to my buyer this morning, I really enjoyed thinking about all of the terrific memories I have had on my red FJR over the past 8-ish years. We've been all over the country together, many of those (s)miles shared with many of you. I'm usually not that attached to inadimate objects, but I will admit, leaving Ole Red was a bit melancoly this morning.
Now - it's time to have new adventures and make new memories.
Stay thirsty, my friends.....
