Trade in FJR for 1100 EVO – should I?

[joeR6]

Been contemplating trading in my ‘06 Yamaha FJR 1300 for the new 1100 EVO. Looking for something new and exciting that handles great but won’t be too agonizing on the interstate. I’d love to add the duc as a stable mate but with a newborn in the home the finances won’t allow it, so only one stallion can occupy my garage. I’ve been drooling over the hyper ever since it came out. I love the looks and sound of the duc so much that I’m considering trading in my tried and true Yamaha. I love that the hyper is like a sport bike with an upright seating position. I used to have an R6 but that killed my wrists on long hauls on the super slab – one of the main reasons I got the FJR.

First off I live in Chicago (where its not fun to ride any kind of bike) so for decent twists and turns on a sport or sport touring bike it’s a good 3 hrs on the super slab (and 3 hrs back) to make it to SW Wisconsin. At least once a year I’ll ride or trailer the bike to the Smokey mtns and enjoy the dragon and blue ridge parkway/cherohala skyway for about a week. Other than that I’ll tool around town on the occasional Sunday morning when traffic is light. Most of my riding I’ll average a few hundred miles a day but 800 miles in a day is not unheard of. For me, the glory of motorcycle riding is in the turns – the problem is getting there (if I lived in socal, like many on this board, the hyper would be a no-brainer.) Like many riders I hate riding on the interstate but unfortunately it is a necessary evil. I’m averaging about 6k miles a year on two wheels. No track days for me.

My FJR has been great at keeping me comfy on the super slab and believe it or not handles the twisties (I prefer sweepers as opposed to hairpins) with ease despite its weight. I know I’m comparing apples to oranges with the Hyper vs. FJR but nevertheless I have to know what I’m gaining and giving up. I know the Hyper won’t be as comfy on the interstate as my FJR, question is how bad is it?

Here are some pros/cons I see b/w the two bikes:

FJR pros
- big 6.6 gallon gas tank
- lots of luggage capacity (two removable/lockable hard bags); side compartment with power outlet
- wind protection (electronic adj. windscreen)
- All day Comfy (had to get custom seat)
- low maintenance (shaft drive; 26,600 miles b/w valve adj)
- ABS

FJR Cons
- heavy
- bulky
- not as cool as hyper

Hyper pros
- SEXY!
- Lightweight
- Slim
- 2 year warranty – I’d probably buy new
- Sounds awesome

Hyper cons
- puny gas tank (3.3 gallons - Really? – I’d most likely get the big gas tank if it fits the new 1100EVO)
- no luggage
- no wind protection
- high maintenance intervals compared to FJR
- no power outlet
- non-abs

Questions for all Hyper owners:
- Can the Desmo motor handle a 500 mile drone on the interstate? I figure it can b/c it’s the same motor the old multistrada used
- How bad is a constant 80 windblast on the hyper, say compared to a traditional sport bike? Buffeting? Or more like a constant rush of wind?
- How does it handle compared to a traditional sportbike?
- Any reliability issues? Leaking oil? Bolts/fasteners vibrating off? Electrical?
- Any bothersome vibration? The FJR has some buzziness through the handlebars at interstate speeds.
- What mods would you make to the hyper so its easier on the body to cover long distances?


Common sense says don’t do it but I just can’t get over the looks of the hyper! I guess my real question is will I be happy with this bike for the type of riding I do. So, any feedback regarding my dilemma would be appreciated.

Thx
joe in Chicago

[Decreasing Dave]

Originally Posted by joeR6

Questions for all Hyper owners:
- Can the Desmo motor handle a 500 mile drone on the interstate? I figure it can b/c it’s the same motor the old multistrada used
- How bad is a constant 80 windblast on the hyper, say compared to a traditional sport bike? Buffeting? Or more like a constant rush of wind?
- How does it handle compared to a traditional sportbike?
- Any reliability issues? Leaking oil? Bolts/fasteners vibrating off? Electrical?
- Any bothersome vibration? The FJR has some buzziness through the handlebars at interstate speeds.
- What mods would you make to the hyper so its easier on the body to cover long distances?


Common sense says don’t do it but I just can’t get over the looks of the hyper! I guess my real question is will I be happy with this bike for the type of riding I do. So, any feedback regarding my dilemma would be appreciated.

Thx
joe in Chicago

Hi Joe,

I'll be your first.....whoa...umm....nevermind.

I roadraced an R6 for several years. I road R1s and CBR1ks on the streets and I've been a street kneedragger (spelled S Q U I D) for 23 years. A front tire washout ended the life of the CBR and put me in the hospital for 4 days with a multitude on injuries, the most lingering being my L1 and L2 vertibrae. I can't ride a long time on straights hunched over the tank of a sportbike anymore.

In comes the Hyper. I too lusted over this bike since it first came out. After my accident, I rode a KTM 690SM up and down the Cali coast for MotoGP. We did some 12 hour days and the only thing that hurt was my ass, but after 12 hours, I don't care what you're riding, your ass will hurt. This is what told me that it was time for the Hyper. The riding position is the same and I can run with, and in most cases embarrass, most sportbikes and I'm still comfy. I did change the seat to the racing seat and there is a "comfort seat" with gel too.

The windblast is constant. I "cruise" at 80 to 85 EVERYWHERE and I'm not bothered by the wind AT ALL. I haven't lost any fasteners yet and no reliability issues. Although, my bike is still pretty new.

I say go for it. the one thing I do know about riding on straight roads with either bike is you will definitely have more fun on the Hyper than on the FJR if you're not opposed to a little hooliganism.

Dave

[stryder]

You simply cannot have it both ways. Make up your mind as to what your priorities are, and then choose the horse for the course. Just the fact that you are even contemplating a Hyper when you have a FJR speaks volumes as to which direction you're priorities may be shifting. FJRs are very decent bikes, (had one) but they aren't much fun other than blasting through smooth sweepers are they?

If super slabbing is *really* your priority, I think you already know what a 500 mile ride at 80 mph will be like on a virtually naked bike. But if a change to Ducati is what you really want, who could blame you for wanting a sexy and fun machine?, then maybe you should look at a new/used Multistrada, or late model ST, 2 very different Ducatis that are MUCH better suited for longer distant high speed cruising, albeit at a higher maintenance cost per mile which all Ducatis feature, by way of their fairings and the ultility of their locking side cases. The ST has the more sporting position, but the MS is better in the twisties.

But, if a HM has caught your attention, (nice bikes) then buy one, and take the car on the highway, and keep the Hyper for fun rides.

[Chouch]

There's no Hyper cons...

TBH, I could find millions of cons on this bike, but the fun and smile it's giving me when I ride it is THAT good, makes me forget about all the cons.

[Revelstoker]

Not to be a buzz kill but if there is one thing the Hyper doesn't excel at, its long straight stretches or super slab running. Sure, it can do it butt (intended) you will most likely not enjoy the experience. The hyper likes twisty back roads or running around town. Play bike activities.

Wind blast on the chest isn't really noticeable until around 75mph and then your speeding in IL. The little windshield helps a bit, just a bit. The stock seat sucks for more than 30 minutes at a time and some have posted that the Sargent or Ducati Comfort seat make a huge difference for extended saddle time. Baggage and tank are limited but CA-Cycle works sells a 6.4 gallon tank that can solve your fuel issues.

I too bit the bullet, got all excited about the dirt-bike riding style of the Hyper and bought one without putting more weight onto my riding realities. At this time, I am really torn. The Hyper is a total blast to ride and every time I take it out for a ride, I curse myself for ever thinking of selling it. But after riding for an hour and only finding 4 turns per square mile, I start to think of sport tourers, adventure bikes or dedicated track bike.

[minusone]

I had an FJR and it became boring.
That cannot be said of the Hyper which I ride almost every day.

I consider V Twins the utimate in relation to motorcycle riding enjoyment, and now own 3 to cover different styles of riding.

The Hyper is not a slab top tourer and it would be a waste to use it in such a way. My Hyper is an avenue to adventure in the urban environment. I find myself getting up at daybreak and hooning around the city canyons, when the roads are all mine. Need to change those mirrors though as the originals are not good cop watchers.

[Antigrav]

Looks like you did your research, thats smart...

I do not ride the Hyper for anything but twistys and the track... with that being said I have ridden about 5 times about 150 miles in straight lines... and he Hyper does fine just less wind protection, but what the hell its a naked bike.

But the bottom line is when I walk in the garage even with the 2 other bikes that I prefer to ride more (dirt bike and sm bike) my eyes look at the Hyper and I always I say to myself " damn, that bike just looks bitchen". If I don't see it for a couple days I do it again... This bike will stir your soul everytime you go into the garage. That feeling is priceless.

[ps1k]

sounds like you might like the new multi

[HyperCrestKook]

i dont know why anyone would want one of these things cause all i read about them on here is how nothing works right, the suspension isnt good enough for all the moto gp level riders that are on here and how it doesnt have enough power to back it in on all the turns in your favorite canyon (cause everyone can do that with the right bike)

[Revelstoker]

Originally Posted by HyperCrestKook

i dont know why anyone would want one of these things cause all i read about them on here is how nothing works right, the suspension isnt good enough for all the moto gp level riders that are on here and how it doesnt have enough power to back it in on all the turns in your favorite canyon (cause everyone can do that with the right bike)

The hyper is a total blast to ride and does what its intended to do, really well. Its a light weight, torquey machine that is easy to throw around and play with. For many, its a grown up version of the bikes we rode in our childhood. As such, it brings back all those "happy, happy, joy, joy" memories.

Using a bell curve analogy, the Hyper and its components are just fine for the majority of riders. Guys in the tails (short, tall, heavy, racers,...) are probably the ones that frequent the forums looking for solutions to suit their individual needs/desires.

Short guys find the hyper too tall, tall guys like myself find it too short. Heavy riders find it under sprung and light riders find it too stiff. I could go on but these issues are common with most bikes and I read the same complaints whether I am reading about CBRs, Gixxers or Wide Glides.