Aaaaaargh!!! I've been unfaithful!!

[chazs_peanut]

Ok, so it finally happened. I rode my hubby's FJR for the first time yesterday....and I fell in love. I didn't expect this, but somewhere coming down the curves of 58 in VA, it happened. The unthinkable, the feeling of oneness with a bike not my beloved ST. :eek: I guess I should explain how this came about.

The ST is definitely a top-heavy bike and I equate it to a high-spirited stallion. You better be in control, but you can't micromange it. You have to let it run, but it's just waiting for you to make that one mistake. It responds instantly to any movement of the handle bars so you have to make it keep a line in a curve. :o4: It's definitely the bike which can handle the tightest twisties and an aggressive riding style. However, I'm not a particularly aggressive rider and I'm a shorter rider who's recently lost a lot of weight making the top-heaviness more of an issue.

So I had sat on hubby's FJR before, it definitely has a lower center of gravity (and is a bit lighter) so I started asking about how it rode. He took my bike to TN this last week and said after thinking about it, the FJR is a much more "forgiving" bike in practically every way than the ST and perhaps I should try it. He said it's not nearly as good in tight turns as the ST (surprising considering the reputation of both bikes) but instead is a great "sweeper" bike because it holds a line great in a turn.

I tried it and a beautiful thing happened. It soooooo much more suited my riding style. :woo Now it definitely needs a better windshield :no1: and the seat needs some adjustment (some of Spencer's loving care :D ). The position is a bit more forward than the ST but I'll wait until I get the seat adjusted and ride it a few times before I look for risers which come back a bit (currently has risers on it). So it looks like we might be switching bikes. He'll take the ST, and me the FJR.

Will you all ever forgive me???:o:

[Medicine Bear]

Oh Mary, how could we not forgive you. Maybe if you stuck with a bike not suited to you...:spank1:

At least you've got a hubby willing to trade with you. :D

Congratulations on finding a bike you really love.

Fred :03biker:

[RideTN]

no forgiveness here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[Mellow]

Life is short.. ride what you want or ride as many as you can... either way, you win.

[Mark]

Chazs,

Women can be so fickle...
:-)
Glad you found a ride that fits you better.

Mark

[Snoweyowl]

Why should we? Then again, as long as you are happy with what you are riding, it doesn't matter what you ride.

[BigTom]

You know you are always welcome here Mary.

Don't forget to turn your ST owner hubby on to this place:)

I like the FJR a bunch, too. If I could afford both....

[huxtablejones]

you know what, it's really growing on me. I like the snarl it has over 5500, and the mid range push that comes with it. It's definitely crispier handling than the feejer IMHO. Really weird, cause the feejer has the sportier reputation. But if I'm going to the gap (deals or tuggles :) ), I'd rather have the ST, no doubt about it.

It loses 300 pounds the instant you start moving. I like that too.

I've decided I don't like that VIP top case. The lines don't fit, and the color doesn't quite match. I dunno if I'm gonna actually snatch it off there, but I don't like it.

I tried not to like this bike. I really did. It's not working. Sigh.

[John Anthony]

I can relate. My wife Maggie went through 6 bikes (or was it 7???) before she found her 2 wheel true love.

Life's short. Enjoy your new ride and don't sweat yesterday.

John

[Mark]

I tried not to like this bike. I really did. It's not working. Sigh.

Now *this* thread is funny!

Mark

[Tarheel_Rider]

Ok, so it finally happened. I rode my hubby's FJR for the first time yesterday....and I fell in love.

It's definitely the bike which can handle the tightest twisties and an aggressive riding style.

Double yellows - watch out!

[SteveST1300]

Sounds like your husband is getting a GREAT deal!:03biker:

[NCrider]

You can still ride with us.......um if we ever ride again. :rolleyes:

We got to wake up the Southeastern group.

[Byron]

Mary,

Before you give up on the ST try backing out a little of the preload on the rear shock. It may have been fine once but your loss of wieght also contributes to more preload than required. With to much dialed in the bike will react quicker to steering input. Taking a little out should slow its reponse down or make it more neutral in the turns. It should hold whatever like you have once you enter the turn without any additional input from the handlebars unless your in a decreasing radius turn or it opens out.

********
Note: The above information was based on the assumption that the bike was diving into the corners and needed to be reigned back to stay on line. It it was running wide and needed additional steering to stay in the turn then revese the recommendation and add more preload.

********

[Lou65]

Mary, we want you to be happy.

[RTETR]

Normally I would respond with ***? but perhaps your betrayal is better suited with a ***JR?

If ya feel more comfortable on the FJR go for it... At least you can still say you also own an ST to help maintain at least some pride and standards... ;-)

[Pred8tor]

Mary, you and Charles crack me up! You mean to tell us that the whole time Charles had the FJR, you never tried it?? :eek:

Charles - I know you rode the ST once in a while.... NOW you prefer THAT over your formerly beloved FJR?

Well, at least you two have the perfect situation - just each ride the other bike. No sales, no money, no problem. How many riders can simply find the bike they want... in their own garage???

Mary, you should try a Wing sometimes!!! You'd be surprised at how it handles :D

[Herleman]

There is a twelve step program which...

Well you know.

[Tarheel_Rider]

Mary, you and Charles crack me up!

Well, at least you two have the perfect situation - just each ride the other bike. No sales, no money, no problem. How many riders can simply find the bike they want... in their own garage???

Mary, you should try a Wing sometimes!!!

Forget the Wing, in a couple of months, swap around again with the VFR in the mix. New bikes all around and it never leaves the family.

[huxtablejones]

LOL - naw the VFR is up for sale. Jeff, you need a sharper blade for the local roads, eh? ;)

Ya, I had ridden it before(the ST) and took note of the quicker handling - but I liked the ridiculous power the FJR had. Whenever I'd ride through Danbury and lament the somewhat soggy handling I'd roll on the gas and feel all better...that's why I got the VFR to start with, was for better handling.

Nope, Mary had never ridden the feejer. I guess she was intimidated by the power, even though I had told her it was a *****cat until you jerk its chain.

This all started when we were cleaning them up in the basement and she sat on it - was able to flat foot it. I said "you should try it out one day". It was all downhill from there.

I dunno, I'm not sure I can say the ST is my soulmate at this point...but it gets a bit closer every time I ride it. I still have one eye on the new connie, but that's a couple years out.

No, really. :)

I wish I could get the FJR engine in the ST frame - maybe a welding class is in order LOL

Shrug. I freely admit to being a bike whore.

[chazs_peanut]

Yeah, Jeff, believe it or not I had never tried the FJR. It wasn't that I was intimidated by anything Charles said about the power, it was more I'm fairly intimidated to ride a bike that is not mine. But the more I thought about it the more silly that seemed as the last 3 bikes I've owned, I've just simply gotten on them and ridden them home (steep gravel driveway and all :eek: ). I thought it couldn't be worse than when I brought home the ST. I got on that, it had a Corbin seat so it sat high and I could just barely tip-toe the bike, and it didn't have the wonderful FPR on it so it was EXTREMELY twitchy with throttle movement. And I did ok on that so I figured how bad could it be? :shrug2:

I had admired the ST for sooooooooo long that I couldn't believe I would actually like another bike better, too. So I can't possibly ride a Wing, can't afford to get one right now.:D Besides, I actually went LIGHTER this time instead of gaining more weight like I've done with my past bikes. This is a first!

[chazs_peanut]

You can still ride with us.......um if we ever ride again. :rolleyes:

We got to wake up the Southeastern group.

Yeah we do all need to get together again. Charles & I are riding to TN this weekend. Unfortunately life has been CRAZY hectic since Charles got his new job and I'm essentially a single mom during the week now.

[Pred8tor]

Mary, I'm actually riding your way Saturday - Walter and I are going thru Walnut Cove and on up into Va to catch the BRP, then we'll ride back south to Blowing Rock and head home on 321.

We'll shed a tear for your defection as we pass thru WC. What's really sad is that you still won't try a "road sofa". <sigh>

[Tarheel_Rider]

Mary, I'm actually riding your way Saturday - Walter and I are going thru Walnut Cove and on up into Va to catch the BRP, then we'll ride back south to Blowing Rock and head home on 321.

We'll shed a tear for your defection as we pass thru WC. What's really sad is that you still won't try a "road sofa". <sigh>

Is Walter still on his Sportster? I would have thought you'd gotten him upgraded to the ST by now. Have fun!

[Tor]

Charles - I know you rode the ST once in a while.... NOW you prefer THAT over your formerly beloved FJR?

:D

Of course he does,,,,,its a better bike,,,:)