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New Models
BIKES: 2013 Yamaha FJR1300A First Ride
Motorcycle USA reacquaints itself with a familiar favorite, riding the revamped Yamaha FJR1300 sport-tourer in Northern California.
The sport-touring segment has grown to be a bigger share of the dwindling sportbike market. (Photo: Brian J. Nelson)
The curvy backroads of Northern California are an ideal locale to catch up with an old riding partner. In my case, the old acquaintance is Yamaha’s sport-touring platform, the FJR1300 - one of my all-time favorite bikes. So when the Tuning Fork brand announced a refresh of its venerable ST mount earlier this year, getting some seat time on the 2013 FJR before the riding season turns to rain and cold was a top priority. Thankfully, an invite arrived and we headed south to Sonoma County for a first ride evaluation this fall.
The FJR is far from a ground-up redesign, but the updates do prove more significant than supposed at first glance. Styling changes, while sportier and more modern, more or less retain the understated lines of its predecessor. The front end has been cleaned up, to be sure, with the one piece cowling the best upgrade in our estimation. It replaces a three-piece cowling that looks dated in retrospect. The windshield and headlights are different too. Yes, the FJR looks better, refreshed but not wildly different by any means.
It’s the changes you can’t see on the FJR that make the biggest impression, starting with the engine. Fire up the Yamaha and riders are greeted by the familiar tones of its Inline Four. Internal dimensions of the 1298cc mill, including its 79mm bore and 66.2mm stroke are unchanged. However, engineers updated the cylinders to a sleeveless design and source new piston rings. The claimed benefit is reduced friction, improved heat dissipation, lighter weight and better performance.
Indeed, the engine can boast performance gains of three horsepower and three lb-ft of torque. But that boost is credited to a redesigned exhaust, which looks quite similar to the previous one – the two mufflers plain and, thankfully, not grotesquely oversized (unlike many of the latest new emissions-compliant cans). The exhaust is longer, however. It’s also lighter too, having consolidated from four catalyzers down to one pair.
Throttling up the FJR remains invigorating, but modest power gains aren’t the critical update to the Inline Four. The big ticket upgrade is the new Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle. The YCC-T tech first debuted on the 2006 R6 supersport, and has since trickled down throughout the Yamaha lineup. The system incorporates a motor and throttle position sensor to meter out fuel delivery. A fly-by-wire system, the YCC-T also allows for cruise control, as well as variable engine maps through Yamaha’s D-Mode selector – offering two settings, Sport and Touring.
Beginning our test ride, smack dab in the heart of wine country, it’s clear the YCC-T is the highlight on this new FJR. Fueling is remarkably precise, straddling the fine line between crisp and abrupt. Throttle response is seamless, with zero lag. And our favorite characteristic comes on deceleration, where even sudden roll offs lack a herky jerky response – only smooth decel. Throttle feel is particularly refined in Touring mode, our favorite engine map for that reason.
For the rest of this article please visit MotorcycleUSA.com
The FJR is far from a ground-up redesign, but the updates do prove more significant than supposed at first glance. Styling changes, while sportier and more modern, more or less retain the understated lines of its predecessor. The front end has been cleaned up, to be sure, with the one piece cowling the best upgrade in our estimation. It replaces a three-piece cowling that looks dated in retrospect. The windshield and headlights are different too. Yes, the FJR looks better, refreshed but not wildly different by any means.
It’s the changes you can’t see on the FJR that make the biggest impression, starting with the engine. Fire up the Yamaha and riders are greeted by the familiar tones of its Inline Four. Internal dimensions of the 1298cc mill, including its 79mm bore and 66.2mm stroke are unchanged. However, engineers updated the cylinders to a sleeveless design and source new piston rings. The claimed benefit is reduced friction, improved heat dissipation, lighter weight and better performance.
Indeed, the engine can boast performance gains of three horsepower and three lb-ft of torque. But that boost is credited to a redesigned exhaust, which looks quite similar to the previous one – the two mufflers plain and, thankfully, not grotesquely oversized (unlike many of the latest new emissions-compliant cans). The exhaust is longer, however. It’s also lighter too, having consolidated from four catalyzers down to one pair.
Throttling up the FJR remains invigorating, but modest power gains aren’t the critical update to the Inline Four. The big ticket upgrade is the new Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle. The YCC-T tech first debuted on the 2006 R6 supersport, and has since trickled down throughout the Yamaha lineup. The system incorporates a motor and throttle position sensor to meter out fuel delivery. A fly-by-wire system, the YCC-T also allows for cruise control, as well as variable engine maps through Yamaha’s D-Mode selector – offering two settings, Sport and Touring.
Beginning our test ride, smack dab in the heart of wine country, it’s clear the YCC-T is the highlight on this new FJR. Fueling is remarkably precise, straddling the fine line between crisp and abrupt. Throttle response is seamless, with zero lag. And our favorite characteristic comes on deceleration, where even sudden roll offs lack a herky jerky response – only smooth decel. Throttle feel is particularly refined in Touring mode, our favorite engine map for that reason.
For the rest of this article please visit MotorcycleUSA.com
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