Endless power, relentless torque, instant throttle response – the twist-grip seems to be directly wired to the speedometer, and with that torque, engine braking as well means that you can dial in a speed, up or down,  and the bike obeys instantly.

The other week on my weekly commute home, just out of Olnley on the A509 there is a roundabout at the edge of the town leading to a ½ mile up hill NSL straight followed by  90 degree right then left bendsa.  In front of me was a Golf Gti behind a Fiesta.  As the Golf cleared the roundabout, I could hear the gearbox drop a gear as he floored it past the Fiesta – I was behind him on the FJ  as he pulled back in, and the ease with which the FJ just cruised past him was hilarious! - in 5th gear and with the Krauser K2’s laden with my weeks work paraphernalia and  dirty laundry .The look on the twenty-something’s face was a picture.  I simply continued on my way, not even trying to race him, but a few minutes later, on a long wide straight, I had settled down to cruise at a sedate 90, sheltered by the adequate fairing, and he came steaming up behind, headlights on, obviously mightily pissed!
(You know how you can sense ‘body language’ from the way a car is driven?)

That sums up the FJ for me.  It’s an excellent compromise of sports and touring.  That impressive engine gives instant performance, the handling, while I am sure I not in the same league as an R1/Fireblade/9R, is none the less up to the job, while the ABS adds a touch of reassurance should you have to hit the anchors in a hurry.   I’ve scraped the undercarriage a few times with a mate’s 13 stone adding to my own similar bulk, but I’ve also encountered a severe ripple almost the size of a speed bump while well  cranked over at 80+mph which the suspension took in it’s stride.

I bought the bike in July 2001, trading in the Radian against it plus 1900 in cash for a J plate in good condition (one or two minor scratches on the R/h fairing) and the full Krauser K2 luggage was a bonus! (I even got the original indicators and panels, should I ever want to remove the Krauser carrier)

The exhaust was blowing slightly from the collector box, and the fork seals were shot, but these were rectified with full service as part of the deal.  The bike also came with a 4-1 and a Renegade end-can – one day I will get around to trying this out, but the dealer said it sounds LOUD

I have to say that this bike is the best bike I have ever owned! – not to say it’s also the biggest bike I’ve ever owned!  In the  2 months since I got it I have covered over 4,000 miles, mostly my weekly commute from Notts to Dunstable plus commuting and ‘playing’  while I’m there. (having a wife, 3 kids and a mad Springer Spanniel at home means I get little chance to play the weekend warrior )

Moving up form the Radian was inevitable for me really.  The little 600 was a nice and capable machine, but the limited tank range (70 to 80 miles to reserve) and the lack of weather protection and luggage capacity was becoming  a bit tiresome.  The FJ is not as agile as the Radian by any means, but it makes up for its (comparatively) truck-like dimensions with its power and composure at very silly speeds.  The Krausers are not a problem in traffic either, being only a hole in a bug’s nadger wider than the bars, so lane 2a on the M1 is just as feasible as on the little ‘un.

Lesley finds the pillion very comfy, and we are presently hatching various schemes to off-load Ross & Michael somewhere so that we can head off to France on it.