Well, the 2018 FJR is out.....

[silverback]

....... Be aware if you buy one and it' anything like HD used you have to be careful what cleaning products you use as the finish is not as durable.

What are ye saying, mate?!?! Softer paint than the 2014 and 2015 models??!!

Can't answer that but can tell you that Harley finally issued a handout to any customer purchasing one of the new matte finish bikes a list of cleaning products you should or should not use with their matte paints. If I recall, and it's been a few years now, even something like Simple Green was not friendly with that paint HD used. Only really mild detergents and no waxes were to be used. As I said, I'm not a fan.

Sounds kinda like tempra-paint they use on grocery store windows!

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Hppants]

I've had a night to sleep on this and try to come to my senses. No luck.

WTF is Yamaha doing here? Clearly, their market for the FJR is 30-60 (with FAR more closer to 60 than 30) riders with experience (hardly nobody buys an FJR for their first bike).

If we examine the total changes to the bike over the past 15 years (yeah, that's right - the FJR has been out for FIFTEEN years), it's not a whole lot. Before the flames get fanned in forum land, hear me out. I've put 60K miles on a Gen 1 before moving to the Gen 3. The difference is noticeable for me, but to the untrained rider? Far less, I suspect.

Yamaha did this bike right. It's a sport tourer that leans a little to the sport side, without giving up long ride comfort. And now that it has cruise control and 6 gears, the whiners (including me) can shut up and ride. Why change a good thing?

Which brings me to my point. If they are going to leave a good thing alone, then COLOR is one of the only (if not THE only) thing that separates one year from another. And so you pick an "unfinished" paint? For 30-60 year old seasoned riders?

Ah shit.... who am I to judge? I just think the color sucks....

[kieefjr]

15 years!!, sound like a good year to have an anniversary model!


Maybe a Kenny Roberts special edition? A black and yellow model? A blue and white model?

Choices are endless but as Yamaha sees it, "Matt colors" are the hot item these days.
Oh well, I'll wait and see it in person but in the mean time a left over 2016 would be a nice find.

Except for all the crap I would have to swap over to it from my bike.

[raYzerman]

I'd vote that the beautiful '07 Black Cherry is one of the two best colours for an FJR, the other being the Root Beer brown of my '14. The Euro folks have had matte finish silver for a while now, but to make Bass Bote Blue a matte finish is just wrong... considering sales of the FJR can't be very high these days...... I don't see any Gen3 owners are gonna get a new one any time soon.

[Redfish]

I'd vote that the beautiful '07 Black Cherry is one of the two best colours for an FJR...

No way this is uglier than the 2007 brown color. THAT is the ugliest FJR ever made.

And here we have proof that Wheaton is once again right.

We have the useful, awesome, wonderful raYzerman once again sharing his wisdom and good judgement.

Then we have gixxerjasen being himself.

[wpbfjr]

A black and yellow model?

YES YES YES sweet jesus mama yamaha, YES YES YES


Sent from my TRS-80

[raYzerman]

I'd vote that the beautiful '07 Black Cherry is one of the two best colours for an FJR...

No way this is uglier than the 2007 brown color. THAT is the ugliest FJR ever made.

And here we have proof that Wheaton is once again right.

We have the useful, awesome, wonderful raYzerman once again sharing his wisdom and good judgement.

Then we have gixxerjasen being himself.

OMG now I have to live up to that?
We will agree however that gixxerjasen's taste is all in his mouth........

[gixxerjasen]

A black and yellow model?

YES YES YES sweet jesus mama yamaha, YES YES YES


Sent from my TRS-80

I wanted this as well, my favorite color combination. Then I saw someone who had painted their FJR yellow and for some strange reason, it really just didn't work. Don't know why but I was both surprised and disappointed.

[Steel_Gin]

I really like the color so much I am talking to the finance manager about it........negotiations are on going at this time. With that said I really like the '16 too.

Did some reading on care for the matte finish. The good part, wash then dry and you are done. Basically don't wax it. The bad, you need to be much more careful in how you clean it to avoid any swirl marks as the buffing action starts to polish the paint and starts to give it some shine.

Be interesting to know for sure if there is a top coat that will maintain that matte finish. Going off of the other Yamaha models that have matte finish I'm guessing it doesn't and for that the ones who wash their bikes often, not a good selling point. One good rub to remove a bug and your finish is no longer even is the impression I have. I'm surprised in this day and age there isn't a top coat that can be applied to maintain the look.

Hmmm, kind of sound like I'm talking myself in to looking for a left over '16.........that I would love every bit as much. Might even make negotiations a little easier........hmmmmmmm.

[wheatonFJR]

...Hmmm, kind of sound like I'm talking myself in to looking for a left over '16.........that I would love every bit as much.

If there is one around.

Good luck.

[Top_Speed1]

I really like the color so much I am talking to the finance manager about it........negotiations are on going at this time. With that said I really like the '16 too.

Did some reading on care for the matte finish. The good part, wash then dry and you are done. Basically don't wax it. The bad, you need to be much more careful in how you clean it to avoid any swirl marks as the buffing action starts to polish the paint and starts to give it some shine.

Be interesting to know for sure if there is a top coat that will maintain that matte finish. Going off of the other Yamaha models that have matte finish I'm guessing it doesn't and for that the ones who wash their bikes often, not a good selling point. One good rub to remove a bug and your finish is no longer even is the impression I have. I'm surprised in this day and age there isn't a top coat that can be applied to maintain the look.

Hmmm, kind of sound like I'm talking myself in to looking for a left over '16.........that I would love every bit as much. Might even make negotiations a little easier........hmmmmmmm.

Sounds to me.... you're sold!

Let me be the very first to congratulate you on your new bike!

[gixxerjasen]

I'm guessing it doesn't and for that the ones who wash their bikes often, not a good selling point.

Soooo....it's the perfect bike for me is what you say?

[Uncle Hud]

Soooo....it's the perfect bike for me is what you say?

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! That means my 2015 already has a matte finish!

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See y'all (or at least some of y'all) on Friday in a Wytheville parking lot.
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[Steel_Gin]

I really like the color so much I am talking to the finance manager about it........negotiations are on going at this time. With that said I really like the '16 too.

Did some reading on care for the matte finish. The good part, wash then dry and you are done. Basically don't wax it. The bad, you need to be much more careful in how you clean it to avoid any swirl marks as the buffing action starts to polish the paint and starts to give it some shine.

Be interesting to know for sure if there is a top coat that will maintain that matte finish. Going off of the other Yamaha models that have matte finish I'm guessing it doesn't and for that the ones who wash their bikes often, not a good selling point. One good rub to remove a bug and your finish is no longer even is the impression I have. I'm surprised in this day and age there isn't a top coat that can be applied to maintain the look.

Hmmm, kind of sound like I'm talking myself in to looking for a left over '16.........that I would love every bit as much. Might even make negotiations a little easier........hmmmmmmm.

Sounds to me.... you're sold!

Let me be the very first to congratulate you on your new bike!

Let me get the '16 in hand first. The first conversation didn't go so well, I got a yeah right. It wasn't a no so I'm going to continue working it.

[gixxerjasen]

Let me get the '16 in hand first. The first conversation didn't go so well, I got a yeah right. It wasn't a no so I'm going to continue working it.

Wait wait wait, I smell dangerous waters. Was it "Yes of course" or "Yea right" or "Fine, just do whatever you want" ???

[wheatonFJR]

Let me get the '16 in hand first. The first conversation didn't go so well, I got a yeah right. It wasn't a no so I'm going to continue working it.

Wait wait wait, I smell dangerous waters. Was it "Yes of course" or "Yea right" or "Fine, just do whatever you want" ???

What is this conversation you are having? I'm confused.

[gixxerjasen]

Um, no, Deang is having it. I however have had this one before. The current state of my garage says I won't be having this conversation for a long while.

[Hppants]

Kind of reminds me that movie with Jim Carrey....

"So you saying there's a chance!!!"

[Steel_Gin]

Let me get the '16 in hand first. The first conversation didn't go so well, I got a yeah right. It wasn't a no so I'm going to continue working it.

Wait wait wait, I smell dangerous waters. Was it "Yes of course" or "Yea right" or "Fine, just do whatever you want" ???

Yea right is not a yes or no. Which means I can still talk to her about it a bit more at the right time.

[palerider]

I'm waiting for self-cancelling turn signals.