Would You Buy It?

[fontanaman]

My 17 FJR has 68500 miles and is running just fine. I have thought about getting a newer FJR with low miles.

Would you buy a 2023 FJR with 9000 miles for about $13900 if it was previously a rental bike? The bike is in pretty good condition with a couple of very minor scuffs on the saddle bag(s). It includes saddle bags and one key, otherwise it is stock aka no farkles.

Update. It costs $900 to ship the bike home.

[Hppants]

My current 2021 was purchased from a dealer, but I know that the dealer purchased it from a rental company. Bike had 10K miles on it. I test rode the bike with the dealer rep (on a different bike, of course). I told him that I wanted to put it through the ropes and to my pleasant surprise, we took a good 10 mile test ride that allowed me to check what I wanted to check.

Absolutely NO regrets what so ever.

Hope this helps.

[Toter]

I would not. Rental bike would scare me, especially one as quick as the FJR. I think back to how I treated rental cars when I was younger. You may not be getting a bike in as good condition as the one you have. Maybe trade for a new 2024? Your 17 with that many miles may be difficult to sell these days. I know, being an FJR, it has a ton of life left, but, at this stage in my life, I would not purchase a used bike with that many miles. It's too easy to find lower mileage bikes. I was going to trade my 21 GS on a new 24 GSA with low suspension, but ran across a 22 GSA low, with 3,600 mi., and all the BMW cases. I purchased the 22 and am very happy with it. Still have not sold the 21 GS, with 15,800 mi., and perfect condition. May have to be spring before it sells. Just my opinion. YMMV

[extrememarine]

I keep circling back to this question. My '09 is sitting at over 106k on it, and is "just right" in every way - Ohlins suspension front and rear, etc. etc..

There's a '15 "a" model at the local Triumph dealer with 28k miles on it for $9k. I like the color.

But the '09 ran without a hiccup in 2024 from the TOH start in April through everything else I subjected it to (I've never babied this bike...).

[wheatonFJR]

My 17 FJR has 68500 miles and is running just fine. I have thought about getting a newer FJR with low miles.

Would you buy a 2023 FJR with 9000 miles for about $13900 if it was previously a rental bike? The bike is in pretty good condition with a couple of very minor scuffs on the saddle bag(s). It includes saddle bags and one key, otherwise it is stock aka no farkles.

You have about 100000 miles left on that FJR. If yer worried about saving money I would just keep it and ride the hell out of it.

If money isn't the issue, look for that very slightly used standard suspension bike you can modify as you wish.

[Cav47]

I voted "yes" with the assumption that the final price is negotiable. $13,900 plus TTL and anything else the would tack on is too high (for my comfort level) With that said, you know the FJR well enough to find anything obvious and if flaws are not obvious, then they likely do not exist on a platform as robust and reliable as the FJR. I am assuming it is an ES model that you have not really been a huge fan of. I am sure you already thought of how that could sway your opinion.

[fontanaman]

I am assuming it is an ES model that you have not really been a huge fan of.

Huge understatement.

The trouble is shaft drive motorcycles with large displacement is Truimph 1200 (defective camshafts) or BMW (the only service shop in Spokane is sketchy along with the shaftdrive. ) So that leads me back to the undersprung FJR as that is the FJR's only negative.

[Toter]

I am assuming it is an ES model that you have not really been a huge fan of.

Huge understatement.

The trouble is shaft drive motorcycles with large displacement is Truimph 1200 (defective camshafts) or BMW (the only service shop in Spokane is sketchy along with the shaftdrive. ) So that leads me back to the undersprung FJR as that is the FJR's only negative.

Undersprung is pretty much true of all new Japanese motorcycles if you are over 150-160 lbs, probably other makers as well.

[D-Eagle]

I voted no, just because I think you can do better on price finding a gently used one owner FJR. For me, the rental is a negative, but Pants' story has been a good one so far. I just think most owners treat their bikes better than the people renting them.

MSRP $18,300. Purchase $13,900. Difference of $4400, then less shipping of $900 leaves a discount of $3500. That is not enough discount for a rental bike, especially one that sounds like is not close so still unseen in person? I would pay the extra $3500 for a new one....and a new 2024/2023 you can probably get as a leftover for well under MSRP, so that shrinks the difference even more. Or go used at a better price from some old fart that babied his bike.

It's not a horrible deal, I just think it could be better.

[SkooterG]

NO!

[Festus]

There’s a police bike on cycle trader with less than 2,000 miles. That doesn’t have the ES suspension, does it?

[SkooterG]

Too much $$$ for too many miles for a rental.

Be patient. Better deals will come. Your current FJR has plenty of life left.....

Here are some other examples:

- '24 FJR w/2,600 miles dropped for $11k. Negotiate down to $10k and spend max $1k to fix the damage: https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/mcy/d ... 96511.html

If I didn't already have too many FJRs I would consider the above....


Are you on FB Marketplace? If not, you should be. Assuming this one is still available:

- '23 FJR w/980 miles. $13,400. A couple of farkles: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 702058b04d

[SkooterG]

There’s a police bike on cycle trader with less than 2,000 miles. That doesn’t have the ES suspension, does it?

That depends. Most didn't. Some did.

'Police FJR' can mean one sold by Yamaha as a police FJR model, or a normal one converted. Pick your poison.....

[SkooterG]

I keep circling back to this question. My '09 is sitting at over 106k on it, and is "just right" in every way - Ohlins suspension front and rear, etc. etc..

There's a '15 "a" model at the local Triumph dealer with 28k miles on it for $9k. I like the color.

But the '09 ran without a hiccup in 2024 from the TOH start in April through everything else I subjected it to (I've never babied this bike...).

Well shoot. That one is too expensive. Market is soft right now. Just a few days ago I sold one. (Yes! I actually SOLD one!). It was a 2013 but dressed up in the '15 fugly grey only a mother could love color. 7,600 miles for $8,000.

[raYzerman]

No. Nothing to be gained but spending money on the '23. Keep what you got and send your rear shock to EPM to get a Hyperpro spring. First, I understand they have two different ones, you may want the HD one? See if you can ride CraigReg's now that he's got one. Anyway, ride the '17 until it dies.

OTOH, if getting rid of the '17, you're certainly at a tipping point, and lots of lower milers out there still coming up and shocking me how Gen2's haven't been ridden much...... now if the '15 Wayne's talking about were a better price, I'd go for that if you want to ditch the '17. Superior 5 speed and low miler.......

[escapefjrtist]

NO!

I'll even up it...HELL NO!

~G

[fontanaman]

I am in Scottsdale Az enjoying some sun. I head home on Monday. I decided on golfing on Saturday and Sunday to get away from buying a '23, at least for now.

The reason I am not buying it? The price, the fact it is a rental, my 17 will go 100,000 more miles if I choose, the task of transferring all the farkles from the '17 to the '23, having no room in the garage for another bike, selling the '17 in a poor market, and I have the same damn thing in Cobalt instead of Raven. I also considered in 5-7 years I my want something different.

Hey SkooterG I PM'd my phone number to you.

[Hppants]

Just to clarify - my previous post on this thread was in support of buying the rental, not necessarily on the value of the price. The price I paid for my bike at the time was fair. I didn't steal it, and I didn't pay too much.

Having been through this (FJRs) quite a few times, Jim's "dilemma" is familiar. Of course I know that bike will go 150K miles (and more). But when you get to 90K-100K, the possibility of some kind of nit picky crap presenting itself (clutch, stator, brake master cylinder, wheel bearing, _____, ______) gets stronger. And for me, as sure as I am writing this, that issue will happen when I'm 1,500 miles from home.

Now - like Jim, I'm retired. I've got all the time in the world, and TONS of friends strategically housed all over this country. If (when) that breakdown happens, I'm in good hands and the world won't end. But the last thing I want to do on a tour is fix a motorcycle, especially if I'm riding with friends. Now at best, I'm inconveniencing them as well.

Does that justify spending $10K or more on another motorcycle? For me, probably so. Not at 67K miles, but closer to 100K.

[SkooterG]

Of course I know that bike will go 150K miles (and more). But when you get to 90K-100K, the possibility of some kind of nit picky crap presenting itself (clutch, stator, brake master cylinder, wheel bearing, _____, ______) gets stronger. And for me, as sure as I am writing this, that issue will happen when I'm 1,500 miles from home.

You worry too much. 226k on one FJR and none of those things happened. 212k on another and none of those things happened. 148k on yet another and none of those things happened.

Ride more, stress less.

[FJRoss]

Of course I know that bike will go 150K miles (and more). But when you get to 90K-100K, the possibility of some kind of nit picky crap presenting itself (clutch, stator, brake master cylinder, wheel bearing, _____, ______) gets stronger. And for me, as sure as I am writing this, that issue will happen when I'm 1,500 miles from home.

You worry too much. 226k on one FJR and none of those things happened. 212k on another and none of those things happened. 148k on yet another and none of those things happened.

Ride more, stress less.

Agreed, with the possible exception of wheel bearings. What is repair vs what is maintenance on a bike? I might expect stuff like fork seals/bushings and shock replace/refurbish - especially on an "A" model. Brake seals/master cylinder are maintenance items but will last a good long time. Clutch is solid unless you abuse it. Stator is rarely an issue.

I don't think that buying a previous rental would bother me if there were decent maintenance records available and there wasn't much physical evidence of abuse. 9,000 miles is hardly enough time to do serious damage unless someone was deliberately running the snot out of it. On the other hand, your bike could be considered to be quite considerably less than middle age - 200,000 miles without pouring money into it is not a stretch.

Perhaps you might consider what you could get for your bike. Figure out the difference and see if that is worth it (to you) for the 60-ish thousand miles difference on the clock. As mentioned, sometimes better the devil you know...