Having owned the FJR for a little more than two weeks I figure it’s about time to write out my initial impressions of what may well be the perfect sport-touring motorcycle. I’ve yet to get it out in the really twisty stuff, but plans for a few mega-rides are in the works. My confidence is high that these rides will be even more fun than they were on the SV. At the very least, my back and knees will not be begging for mercy at the end of the day.

First thing first. The FJR is just one good looking machine. Yamaha did it right when they styled this motorcycle. It still maintains a sporty look even with the hard cases mounted, not really letting on that it has two comfortable seats and a cockpit that easily accommodates both aggressive and upright riding positions. It’s just one good looking motorcycle. I’m going to post a bad photo to illustrate, and eventually I’ll get around to taking a real photo of the bike.

Yamaha FJR1300A

Yamaha FJR1300A

Next up I’ve got to mention the engine. Coming off a 650cc v-twin, this 1300cc inline-four is absolutely monstrous. I had a dyno-tuned Power Commander, and full exhaust on the SV650S and it put down 73hp and 45 lb-ft of torque. The FJR doubles the horsepower and more than doubles the torque. What it does not do, is double the weight, so this thing moves at warp speed when you crack the throttle open. While I’m a staunch advocate of riding like a sane person on public roads, and don’t appreciate people that treat public roads like their own personal racetrack, I’ll have to put the power into perspective a bit. On the SV were I to find myself stuck behind slow moving trucks on a two-lane highway, not a safe place to be on a motorcycle given the large solid objects these vehicles tend to launch towards you, I’d simply click down into third gear and launch around them. Usually this would see me go from 50mph to maybe 90mph before the pass was complete. Having piloted the SV over 24,000 miles, this had pretty much become a matter of reflex. I did it on the FJR, and was going more than twice the posted speed limit before I passed the second RV.

That point brings me to another praise of the FJR. Doing over 120mph was not unsettling in any way until I noticed that’s how fast I was going. There were no shakes. There was no buffeting. The FJR was just gobbling up pavement like that’s exactly what it was designed to do. The FJR is not a light motorcycle by any means, but it doesn’t wear you out. Balance is pretty superb, and even u-turns are quite easy (with a passenger too). Now, it doesn’t balance as amazing at low speed as say the GL1800 does, but it also doesn’t have as low a center-of-gravity. In any case, the FJR handles well at every speed I’ve brought its way. The bike just feels solid at any speed. I like that, I like that a lot.

Now that I’ve gone through many of my likes (there are more, but I’m already getting long-winded) I’ll hit up a few minor dislikes.

Yamaha, this is a motorcycle with a 200+ mile-per-tank range. You’ve seen fit to equip it with an adjustable windscreen, factory hard cases with soft liner bags, and an adjustable driver’s seat. You even gave us a nice little glove box with a 12V outlet inside. In the spirt of touring, you’ve even given us the worry-free joys of shaft drive. Where in the world is the cruise control? With four throttle bodies to hold open, the spring tension on the right grip is nothing at which one should scoff. It’d be nice, for those boring bits of road, to have a cruise control from the factory. If liability is the concern, limit the top speed at which the cruise control will function. Aftermarket solutions are available, but future FJR’s ought to just have it straight from the factory.

Heat is really my only other complaint, and come the “winter” months (I’m from Texas, people) this might not even be a complaint. Riding down the highway when the air temp gauge reads 104°F makes my ankles feel like they’re being cooked. The heat coming off the engine and exhaust is a bit ridiculous. Granted, I know there’s really not much that can be done about that issue. I’ll put up with it, but I seriously hope I never slip and touch the pipes on this machine. That would hurt quite a bit.

All in all, I love this motorcycle. I bought it with 7500mi and I’ll be surprised if it has less than 15,000mi on it by this time next year.