5 years ago I had to bite the bullet and grow up a bit. I had been riding ‘supersports’ bikes for most of my life. The last few bikes I had owned were a Suzuki BKing, Turbocharged Hayabusa and a Nitrous injected V-Max. I begrudgingly sold the V-Max and Hayabusa before moving to France but kept the Bking for many years until the French insurance company refused to insure it any longer. We discovered re registering a motorcycle in France is nearly impossible and very expensive, so off to the UK it went, to be sold. The other reason it had to go was the Two Brothers exhausts that exited below the pillion seat got a bit ‘flamey’ when the engine was made to work and in turn burned wifey’s bum.

So what to buy? Unfortunately my budget had been cut back due to other household commitments so the BMW S1000RR or H2 were out of the picture….and they are made for people with, lets say, a more lithe figure than myself. So what did I fancy as my 15th bike? The rise of the Adv bike was only just beginning but we were mainly doing 2 up touring on tarmac so that really didn’t feature despite everyone saying the BMW RS was the most comfortable ride in the World. I did really seriously look at the Kawa ZZR1400 – too long. Honda VFR – too old. Suzuki V-Strom – naa. Yamaha MT09 – too small. Triumph anything – didn’t give me any spark. Plus I didn’t like the styling of anything ‘modern’. So looking at retro styling I really liked the Z900 – the new one, but it just didn’t look right. I have always wanted an XJR. Maybe with custom exhausts and spoked wheels, but anything custom was not going to pass the new upcoming French CT test. And then I found that the FJR was widely available and at decent prices that wouldn’t break the bank.

I have always loved the lines of the FJR – even the FJ that preceded it. There was a time that I toyed with the idea of buying and FJ, lowering it, turning the cylinder head round, routing the exhausts under the seat and shoving a supercharger on the front…but I digress. The French Police used to use FJRs, so if it was good enough for them…. Also FJRs generally came with luggage, something I had not considered on any of my previous bikes, and it looked the part. Together with the everlasting stainless exhaust and a motor that could effortlessly pull a train….and my fat ass up a mountain this I decided would be the next ride of my life.

We found one quite quickly in very good condition with low mileage for a 2003 example. Riding it home I found it quite tame and well behaved despite my ‘ride it like you stole it’ mantra….quite boring really. However after riding it up hill and down dale for the last 5 years 2 up, the torque and reliability are the things I now appreciate. It is a mile muncher and handles like a dream round the curvy routes wifey plans in advance. Now I would not swap it for anything…not even an S1000RR (I can’t afford the servicing).

Happy riding folks and don’t forget ride it like you stole it or as fast as she’ll let you at least.

List of motorcycles (owned) Yamaha TY50 (78) Yamaha DT50 (81) 70mph teeny screamer Yamaha DT 175 Twin Shock (83) first proper bike. Yamaha DT 175 Monoshock (84) first favorite bike Yamaha RD 400 (84) not technically mine did 110mph easily. Yamaha RD 250LC (85) first racey bike - loved it. Yamaha TDR 250 new (89ish) first new bike. commuted to London on it a bit. Honda 400/4 (96) Borrowed from a mate - lovely retro ride. Yamaha VMAX new (91) (Nitrous) The bike i am still known for. Nitrous drag race monster. Honda CRF450 R new (03 ish) An absolute bastard. Injured me bad just trying to start it. A beast. Suxuki TL1000R new (2001) A lovely bike with quirks - too small. Suzuki Hayabusa new (2002) A missile. Nothing like it! 200mph+ Suziki Hayabusa new (2004) Turbo - A turbocharged missile. One of the most powerful bikes in the World. 200bhp+ measured. This bike after substantial mods went on to with a young lady to set UK records. Suzuki Bking (2010 ish) - A lovely bike…probably the best handling superbike I had had the pleasure of riding. Fantic 403 1987 a project in the garden - i will get there one day. Will be good in our woods. Current: Yamaha FJR1300-03 model (2020-now) The classic sports tourer - ideal for hauling our fat arses around the Pyrenees 4 or 5 times a year. Bikes not owned: several RD 250/350 proddy racing bikes. I did briefly ride these on the road – spectacular. Russ Collins tuned GS1000 – a fire breathing monster rebuilt in my bedroom at mum and dads house. Honda 400/4 – a real cutie classic. Lovely sound. Lovely ride.

I used to run a motorcycle tuning shop in the UK for 2 years until it broke me financially. We had a rolling road and I would ride all the bikes for MOT for our engineer. Great days. Many rides.