ST or FJR ?

[ifly]

Just sold my wing ! Tell me pros and cons compared to each . Which do i want ST or FJR and why.Thanks Tim Keller Bristol TN.

[Mellow]

Well, it just so happens I put this sub-forum together for just that purpose.. read through the posts here, I moved your post here, and see that helps.

[Alberta Boy]

I think they're both great bikes. Grew u[p on Yamaha, so it was a tough decision to make.

For me it came down to riding position... I think you're leaning over a little less with the ST (but I could be wrong.. it's close). And, the color..... love my black '06 (and they're the fastest, I hear!)

:06biker:

[Byron]

Tim,

I think this is one of those areas where you need to see what each bike has to offer and then weight them for yourself. I might buy one for one reason that doesn't mean anything to you and I might overlook something that on one that would be a deal breaker for you. No short cuts, time to start doing your homework! :)

[bygdawg]

Get the ST. You know you want it. It's why you are at the ST forum asking for our opinion. I don't think you'll have many folks around here tell you to go for the FJR. However, if you are deadset on the FJR at some point in time, forget it and go for the Concours 1400 instead. It will offer more of what you're expecting to get from the FJR and probably do so with a more comfortable ride. Just my .02.

Be sure to checkout my JD Power rating in another thread on the forum. Check for reliability and see who's scoring what.

Good luck.

[Elmo]

Pepsi or Coke?

The smaller details will make the difference for each individual. I go 6' 3", 260 lbs. I felt better (looked better ;) ) on the ST.

Good luck!



Elmo

[ifly]

I rode a ST this past sunday and was very pleased with the results. This coming sunday i get to ride a FJR. Any comments will help. Which has the best wind coverage, quiter,etc....

[John Anthony]

When my wife was looking for a new ride last summer, we rode both flavors of an FJR and while it's a good ride, I think the ST is a better choice, particularly if you're going to be in the saddle for a number of miles. The FJR is a bit more "sporty" compared to the more solid "touring" feel of an ST.

If you plan on keeping the bike for a while, and especially if you're going to do any kind of longer distance touring, I'd go with the ST.

Good luck.

John

[Bob Hughes]

Put a larger windshield on the ST and you will have good wind protection and a comfortable ride. I put a top box on mine from Honda Europe (cruiserbackrest.com) and I have about 80% of the wings storage space. The ride is quicker and more responsive as you would expect on a lighter stiffer bike. I think you will like the ST but the FJR is a fine bike too and very similar, maybe just a little smaller.

[bygdawg]

I tested all 3 before buying, in this order:
ST
FJR
Wing

The ST has the better protection hands down and with a clearview, you're good to go. The ST is more comfy. The ST has great storage room. Two words: Honda Reliability. The ST pegs are nicer, especially for the passenger. The ST is the better tour bike IMO, and it doesn't lack in the sport department either. It's stupid fast. It has front tip-over protection. I sell rear tip-over protection for it.

The FJR is more flickable, as it is lighter. The FJR did bring a big grin to my face when I accelerated hard from the dealership, riding as if I had stolen the thing. That grin diminished when the seat position and the thought of the long distance discomfort that seat would give me. Two words: Tick...Tick... Seriously, I think they got most of that worked out. I got more wind and wind noise on the FJR. It's stupid fast. No tip-over protection. :(

The Wing is the Cadillac of upright touring and that's all there is to it. For an 800 lb. bike it is incredibly nimble. It's no slouch. It has a ton of storage room, and it's weather protection is bar-none. I like to think of the Wing as the CTS Cadillac of bikes, the ST as the fine German engineered Porsche, and the FJR as the Ferrari, not quite as refined as the ST and a bit more cramped, but still a monster in the twisties and a bargain for the performance, although the same could be said for the ST. Am I making things as clear as mud for you?

As everyone said above, you'll have to do as I did and take a ride on both, consider what you want the bike for and how important comfort is to you. With that in mind, a day spent test riding should make your choice very clear. Good luck.

[brianm767]

I don't own a FJR but I came very close to buying one, here's my thoughts.
Every since 2003 when the FJR's and ST1300's became available I knew I wanted one for two up riding with the wife, I test rode both of them back then and honestly I just couldn't get past the vibrations on the FJR and also the heat issues with both bikes, I held off until a couple of weeks ago when I decided it was time, I had heard they had pretty much eliminated the heat issues with the 6 FJR, ( as a side note I had helped my neighbor pick between the two bikes also, he was getting back into riding after ten years off a bike, and for his riding needs I told him I would go with the FJR, so he did) My neighbor brought home his new 06 FJR and offered it to me for as long as I needed it to decide it it was the bike for me, I took it out and was immediately unimpressed with the Vibrations, I had figured after four years of owners complaints the engine would be a little smoother by now, but nope, I have ridden a Hayabusa for 25 thousand miles and compared to my Blackbirds, that thing vibrates, but it's only above 4500 RPM so that works out to 87 MPH in 6th gear, but the FJR vibes all the time, and it feels like it's undergeared, you constantly feel like you need to switch into a 6th gear, but too bad it's only a five speed, I think they even gave it a little higher gearing in 06 but it's still not tall enough to get out of the vibrations while cruising, after riding the FJR my Hayabusa feels butter smooth, maybe I'm picky but I cant stand vibrations in the bars , especially at highway cruising speeds, the looks, the TQ , standard ABS, just about every thing on the FJR is fantastic, but it's not the bike for me.

A couple of things that made me pick the Honda ST1300 over the FJR, first I bought the St thinking full well that I would keep my XX so the HP and TQ advantage of the FJR wasn't too important, I felt if I needed to ride a rocket , I could take the XX out for a spin, and the bottom line was I was looking for a touring bike for my wife and I to ride two up on all day long, comfort and more importantly passenger comfort was my top concern, "THE ST HAS TWO MORE INCHES OF LEG ROOM FOR BOTH PASSENGER AND RIDER" it has a larger windscreen, larger fuel tank, but I've since realized my bladder can not out last my range, it's so much smoother on the highway than the FJR and at lower speeds and from a standing start it does have some vibes from the engine, but it very similar to riding a boxer BMW to me, but once your cruising it's smoother than a Blackbird, I absolutely love it, I don't care for the looks though, the FJR is a beautiful bike, and you can ride it without the bags and it still looks great, take the bags off the ST and it looks horrible, this bothered me at first, but since I've gotten used to the bags, I couldn't imagine leaving home without them, I even have the Honda top box on it and so far I haven't taken it off either, there just too handy to have, I am still concerned about the heat issue with the ST though, where I live it's always over 100 degrees in the summer, but I figure if it's no worse then my XX, I'll be fine, my XX will roast your crotch in traffic, especially when compared to my Hayabusa and I deal with it, so all of these reason are why I went with the ST.

I would say , just like all the magazines have also concluded, if your looking for a sport touring bike that leans more towards the sport end of the spectrum, go with the FJR, that's if the vibrations don't bother you, but if you want more of a touring sport tour bike, look at the ST, and believe me, I know several folks who ride St's and they can out ride several of the guys we ride with who are on FJR's, the St maybe heavier , but it carries it's weight low and forward and I believe it has a shorter wheel base than the FJR for being such a heavy bike, once your moving it's quite capable in the mountains and it's defiantly more comfy than the FJR for the long hauls and honestly, since I got my ST, I've had no desire to ride my XX any more, I'll probably end up selling the Bird.

To me the FJR seems like a sport bike that they converted to a sport touring bike, the St seems (especialy from the cockpit) like, and is, a purpose built sport touring machine,

One last thing, I hear so many people say the ST is boring or bland or has no personality? I don't get it, yah it's not the easiest bike to wheelie, but it will lift the front end up when coming out of a corner and rolling on the throttle hard, surprises the hell out of you that a 700lb bike will do that, and it might not look as sexy as a XX or an FJR , and it doesn't sound like any bike your used to, it actually sounds just like George Jettsons space car from the cartoons, but after 400 or 500 miles in very cold temperatures , who cares, I want comfort and a bike that made my ride as enjoyable as possible and like my Hayabusa, the St's looks are growing on me.

[Bones]

The V4 motor sets the ST apart in my view, not just from the FJR but from everything in the sport touring segment. The FJR is a great bike, but it's really a big sport bike. The ST is purpose-built to be a sport tourer, and that motor is what makes it work so well as a package. My $.02.

[bygdawg]

Exactly. The FJR falls in the same class as the Sprint ST to me. The jury is still out on the upcoming Concours.

[tdeboeser]

I've rode an FJR for about 6 hours before I bought the ST. I bought the ST without riding it. The FJR felt like my old '87VFR, good but slow to turn.

I didn't like the power band much either, but I've only been on V4's and Vtwins... That said the FJR and ST1300 are VERY close in performance/features/etc, for me the ST1300 had more fairing, better windshield ( yes, to me the stock ST shield is better than the FJR shield ), and best of all TIP OVER WINGS. ( <--- I don't understand why other Manufactures don't include these ).

Also, I found the ST to turn quicker ( although that coulda just been the tires ), and the ST1300 powerband seems to fit "real world" riding...

Either way you go they are both VERY good bikes, I think you'll be happy either way.

Good luck and don't think too much about it - get a bike and ride!!

Tom de

[Machog]

I regularly ride both FJR & ST. My neighbor has the FJR, as others have said its not as comfortable, I'm only 5'10" and the FJR feels cramped to me. I did put MCL handle bar risers and lowered rider and passanger foot pegs, makes it very good for long trips. I don't find stock windshield bad-but coming from a Valk and my KLR-both of which have horredous wind noise-but that's the joy of biking for me. I get in the car if I don't want the wind noise.

FJR (until this year) spits out a lot of heat-you can burn youl thigh on the frame on a hot day 95+, specially with a low tank of gas. If you are buying new not an issue.

ST produces heat, but nothing like as much. ST is more sedate, very predictable, FJR more of the crotch rocket, but both great bikes. As some said this is the ST forum, so don't expect un-biased advise. Finish on both is good, nod to Honda on reliablity and great gas mileage, you can get 350+ on one tank of gas with the ST.

You'll be happy either way.

[bygdawg]

Whatever you decide on, let us know how you like it once you get it.

[ifly]

Thanks i will report back !

[Scaredy Cat]

I tested all 3 before buying, in this order:
ST
FJR
Wing

The ST has the better protection hands down and with a clearview, you're good to go. The ST is more comfy. The ST has great storage room. Two words: Honda Reliability. The ST pegs are nicer, especially for the passenger. The ST is the better tour bike IMO, and it doesn't lack in the sport department either. It's stupid fast. It has front tip-over protection. I sell rear tip-over protection for it.

The FJR is more flickable, as it is lighter. The FJR did bring a big grin to my face when I accelerated hard from the dealership, riding as if I had stolen the thing. That grin diminished when the seat position and the thought of the long distance discomfort that seat would give me. Two words: Tick...Tick... Seriously, I think they got most of that worked out. I got more wind and wind noise on the FJR. It's stupid fast. No tip-over protection. :(

The Wing is the Cadillac of upright touring and that's all there is to it. For an 800 lb. bike it is incredibly nimble. It's no slouch. It has a ton of storage room, and it's weather protection is bar-none. I like to think of the Wing as the CTS Cadillac of bikes, the ST as the fine German engineered Porsche, and the FJR as the Ferrari, not quite as refined as the ST and a bit more cramped, but still a monster in the twisties and a bargain for the performance, although the same could be said for the ST. Am I making things as clear as mud for you?

As everyone said above, you'll have to do as I did and take a ride on both, consider what you want the bike for and how important comfort is to you. With that in mind, a day spent test riding should make your choice very clear. Good luck.

Ferrari? Sorry, but I've got that - Kawasaki ZX12R.
Faster than a 'busa, and will scare the pants off you in 2 seconds flat. I love her.
The ST is my long-term partner though, the ZX12R a one-night stand now and then,
Hope that made some sense.

My take on it:
FJR:
Fast, handles, looks like a sportsbike with boxes attached.
Wing:
Latest models are pretty, fast, and surprisingly good handling. My local dealership doesn't have one for test rides. Doh!
ST:
Looks horny fully dressed. Goes fast enough. Takes loads of luggage. Just keeps going. Rusts.

[ifly]

OK i rode the ST last week and today the FJR . Did not take very long to make my mind up. Now all i have to do is find a good deal on a 04 or newer ABS ST. Why ABS ? Because my wing had it and i loved it. Just seems like there is more ST without it for sale ! ( Thanks for everybody's help ) !

[bygdawg]

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[tommyboy]

I too looked at the FJR and ST (plus the BMW R1150) before settling on ST. I eliminated the BMW because of service costs. the best way to explain the difference for me is the ST is a sportTOURER and the FJR is a SPORTtourer

[bygdawg]

The secret to my success has been farkleitits. :)