New Guy in Utah

[JohnO_SLC]

Greetings - new here, and I live in the Salt Lake area. Got my endorsement 4 years ago, rode a DL650 for three years and sold it when an acquaintance was killed just riding home. But... I miss it, and my grand plan to buy a sports car was nixed by my wife, so...

I've had my eye on the FJR for a couple years now, and think I will pull the trigger soon. Everything I read sounds like this is a great bike and it'll chew up miles like a Gold Wing, without boring the crap out of you, LOL (rode a friend's a couple times--that bike is a car without doors that rides smoother than most cars).

Looking forward to learning more on the forum!

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[mi_pjk]

Welcome On John,

The FJR is quite a engineering feat, instilling rocket-ship go-go, couchy comfort, and hammer-like reliability.


I may be biased tho.

[LKLD]

Don't do it, John. Or...all of your time, money, and thoughts will be consumed by the bike.

You've been warned.

[CollingsBob]

Welcome to the forum..find some rider safety training and take a course, please.

[jwilly]

Welcome to the forum. Good luck with your FJR purchase, you won't be disappointed.

[natehawk750]

Welcome!

[JohnO_SLC]

Thanks all. I know, I know... with a bike in the garage, days at my desk are torture! Actually the decision to sell the VStrom was made easier by the discomfort I started feeling riding more than about an hour. About two years into owning it, I tweaked my back lifting it after several spills on a trail in Moab. Ever since then, I was just so limited in how long I could ride it. The sport touring position seemed so much more comfortable when I’ve tried bikes in the genre.

As for training courses, I have taken the MSF course, but am overdue for the street riding course. Another reason I need to buy a bike, right? I’ll either do the street course from MSF, or a riding skills course taught by the local racing organization at the Tooele race track. Anything that improves my handling and awareness.

[Hppants]

Welcome, John. I've toured the southern part of your State on the bike, but a recent Rider Magazine article has me jonesing about riding some of North Utah's sites, closer to where you call home, I imagine.

I'm on my 3rd FJR, and almost 150,000 miles in, it's the bike for me. You will find it much heavier than your Wee Strom was, especially at speeds below 30. And you had better give up those Moab trails, or you are going to pull more than your back out there. But it's an all weather Sherpa that will gladly haul whatever load you throw on it. And it's dead nuts reliable. Think of the most dependable thing you own. Your kitchen faucet. Your bathroom flooring. You family dog. When was the last time those let you down? Well, the FJR is better than that.

You might as well budget for a custom saddle and aftermarket windscreen in your purchase. Sooner or later, those will happen. After that, it just depends on your needs and preferences.

Good luck - looking forward to having you here.

[Uncle Hud]

Welcome to FJRiders, JohnO_SLC. Been to your fair city quite a few times while living in Idaho Falls, and quite a few times afterward because of it's incredibly convenient airplane-to-ski connections. Pretty city!

We're a rowdy bunch, but we travel. And we bring our own liquor when travelling to Utah.

[escapefjrtist]

Welcome from metro Seattle!

Happy hunting, there's lots of good buys out there.

~G

[FJRPittsburgh]

Welcome John! Once you make the move to buy an FJR, you won't be disappointed. However, you may be disappointed by some of the members of this forum. I've been disappointed for years and it's fantastic!

[wheatonFJR]

Yeah, you will love your FJR, see many amazing places, and be surprised at the riff raff you are willing to ride hundreds of miles to see again.

[Red]

Greetings - new here, and I live in the Salt Lake area. Got my endorsement 4 years ago, rode a DL650 for three years and sold it when an acquaintance was killed just riding home. But... I miss it, and my grand plan to buy a sports car was nixed by my wife, so... I've had my eye on the FJR for a couple years now, and think I will pull the trigger soon. Everything I read sounds like this is a great bike Looking forward to learning more on the forum!

JohnO,

Around SLC, you have Craigslist, Cycle Trader, KSL.com (classified ads), and other ad venues. You will see scams, sorry to say, so buyer beware; if anything smells a little fishy from a seller, RUN do not walk to the nearest exits. The good deals will turn up for you, so don't get "tunnel vision" on any one ad. These strong bikes are barely broken in at 60,000 miles, and there are lots of 100k+ milers that still give good service around here. A maintenance logbook or stack of receipts will be a plus, for any bike being sold.

Welcome to our sandbox! Happy hunting!

[Steel_Gin]

Welcome John and good luck in your search. Just buy new and get it over with.

[fontanaman]

Welcome from Spokane Washington. My 100,000 mile FJR is more reliable than my kitchen faucet and my dog.

[raYzerman]

WElcome, John. As another benefit of this forum, all of us veterans here can spend lots of your money on the bike and accesories. We're good like that.

[0face]

Welcome... Ray is an expert at fork seals.... FYI

[JohnO_SLC]

LOL hanks for the great welcome, everyone. Moving slow on the purchase here—we are taking a trip in May, and I’m thinking I’ll start looking after that, or even wait till fall and pick up a deal.

Although 4 mos of riding is sure worth paying some extra cash...

[fontanaman]

You can get a great used FJR for $5000 to $10000. Don't wait cause tomorrow is not a given.