2016 Yamaha Fjr1300

2016 YAMAHA FJR1300

IGNITION

CW FIRST RIDE

A sixth speed and more for the supersport-tourer

Brian Catterson

At one point during the press introduction for the 2016 Yamaha FJRl300, talk turned to how time flies. And how, as we get older, events that seem like just a few years ago in fact transpired a decade or more beforehand.

That’s sort of how it is with the Yamaha FJR1300. Now 15 years old, the bike is something of a senior citizen in motorcycle terms, despite Yamaha having updated it numerous times to keep pace with the competition. This year the Japanese manufacturer continued that tradition, outfitting the FJR with a sixth speed, Assist & Slipper clutch, and LED lighting.

The first of those changes is more complicated than it sounds, as to fit inside the existing engine cases the transmission had to be completely redesigned. Thus the gears are now helical instead of straight-cut. First and second gear are taller, while fourth and fifth are shorter. Meanwhile, sixth is a very tall overdrive that equates to a 10-percent reduction in rpm at cruising speeds.

The FJR has never been a buzzy motorcycle, but shifting into sixth gear it’s so smooth that it’s eerie.

This is aided by the fact that the engine is barely turning 3,500 rpm while cruising at 75 mph.

The FJR’s riding position is “just right” and only a bit cramped from seat to peg for long-legged riders— easily rectified by raising the seat to its higher position, which takes mere seconds. The seat itself is plenty comfortable, an important consideration on a bike with a 6.6-gallon gas tank.

Despite weighing 635 pounds dry (642 pounds with electronic suspension), the FJR handles very sportingly. It’s only when you push it hard into a corner that you’ll sense its heft and slight lack of cornering clearance.

At $16,390 for the base A model and $17,990 for the ES (electronic suspension) model, the FJR costs quite a bit for a 15-year-old motorcycle, never mind how many times it’s been updated. And while it uses an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to control the cornering lights now available on the ES, that IMU is not integrated with the antilock brakes or traction control, meaning there’s still room for improvement.

Until then the FJR1300 will remain somewhat dated, awaiting further refinement. As the bike’s own dash display says when powering down, “See you next time.”

2016 YAMAHA FJR1300 A/ES

ENGINE TYPE Liquid-cooled DOHC inline-four

DISPLACEMENT 1298cc

SEAT HEIGHT 31.7 or 32.5 in.

FUEL CAPACITY 6.6 gal.

CLAIMED WET WEIGHT 635/642 Ib.

PRICE $16,390/$17,990