Sport-Tourer.com

Yamaha has made an indelible mark in the sport-touring motorcycle world with its well-crafted FJR1300.  This is a “purpose-built” sport tourer, meaning it comes factory-equipped with shaft drive, saddlebags, a large gas tank and a fairing.  Here in the USA it comes in two flavors: the FJR1300A and FJR1300AE.

The “AE” version is unique in the big motorbike world with its semi-automatic transmission, which Yamaha calls YCC-S (Yamaha Chip Controlled-Shift).  What that means is you get a 5-speed manual gearbox with a computer-controlled clutch so that no clutch lever use is needed by you or I.  Whether you or I actually need such a gizmo is another story.  Regardless, having ridden a few of these FJR 1300s with, and without, the electric shifting, I can say that the electric gizmo does indeed make shifting easier - although I have no immediate desire to put that on my motorcycle wish list of desired features.  (Call me old-fashioned, but I’ve been using a clutch for so long that by taking it away it, well, it just doesn’t seem to me like that’s the way a motorbike ought to be).

Regardless, with or without the electric shifting, this is fine bike.

When the FJR1300 was introduced in 2001, it was only available in Europe.  (I don’t quite know why manufacturers do that, but the FJR is not the only bike to make its debut overseas).

Anyway, we in North America were able to see the FJR in 2002 (with the 2003 model year).  It was initially available without ABS.  It made a splash that year with Motorcyclist magazine, which named it the 2003 “Motorcycle of the Year.”

With the 2005 North American model year came an option for ABS (and no other revisions).

Other than 2005, for most model years Yamaha has made some minor revision to the bike.  (At least up to the 2008 model year).

However, if you are considering the purchase of a used FJR, one important improvement you should be aware of is that in 2006 Yam resolved some complaints of overheating the rider by including better insulation under the tank and better ventilation around the motor to direct the heat away from the rider.  Hence, if you are looking for a used FJR 1300, you would be better off if you grabbed any one manufactured for the 2006 model year or later.

I have ridden both the 2008 FJR1300A and FJR1300AE models and, as mentioned above, although I find the electric shifting on the “AE” intriguing, my preference is the standard “A” model.