Why This Forgotten Yamaha Touring Bike Still Looks Like It Can Cross Continents

Progress means that things get better. In the automotive world, that means more power, lower emissions, and more features and performance. However, too often this comes with added cost and complexity that isn’t needed. Sure, we could all use some more safety, but the ‘advancements’ seem to be getting out of hand. This is especially true in the field of touring motorcycles, since they’re becoming true cost alternatives to small cars.

With this in mind, it might be a real option to pick up something that is slightly older but has enough tech and safety to still get the job done. The age means that maybe refinement and features might not compete with the best in the business right now, but the worth of a motorcycle is not judged by how many gadgets it has, right? Here is one touring motorcycle that has made a comeback in the US market, and we’re happy it has.

The Yamaha FJR1300ES Is A Forgotten Touring Bike That Still Looks Like It Can Cross Continents

Price: $18,299

Yamaha Powersports

The definition of ‘sport tourer’ has evolved over time. Today, manufacturers would have you believe that a sport tourer is something that looks like an adventure-tourer, but with 17-inch alloy wheels and sticky tires designed for tarmac. They’re sometimes called crossovers for clarity. While these are definitely tourers, and they’re obviously more sporty than adventure bikes, a sport tourer used to be a slightly less aggressive sport bike. Today, only a few remain: the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ is one example, the Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX, another.

However, in the past, manufacturers used to put real thought and effort into designing a sport tourer. They weren’t merely cobbled together from bits already available to the marque, they were bikes that had genuine comfort and speed out on an open road. They were imposing, a pillion would want to come along for the ride, and they’d tackle apexes with aplomb, pillion, luggage and all. The FJR is from the old school, with its large-displacement near-1,300cc inline four with an even firing order, and shaft drive that requires no maintenance on a ride. Its combination of features and performance is what makes it the forgotten bike that still looks like it can cross continents.

Yamaha FJR1300ES Notable Features

• Electronic suspension
• Shaft drive
• Large-displacement even-firing inline four engine
• Possibly the last of its kind

Yamaha FJR1300ES Engine

No Crossplane Shenanigans Here

Yamaha

The FJR1300ES has an inline four engine, but as far as Yamaha is concerned, it seems to be moving away from the format. This doesn’t even have the crossplane crankshaft that the YZF-R1 has; this is an old-school even-firing I4 with a lot of performance near the top of the rev range. Well, we say ‘top of the rev range’, but the peak horsepower figure of 146 horsepower arrives at just 8,000 RPM, while the 101.8 pound-feet of peak torque arrives at 7,000 revs. That isn’t high at all by motorcycle standards, so that gives you an idea of how easygoing this engine is.

This might be an old model, but it isn’t short on features; Yamaha’s YCC-T by-wire throttle allows for two ride modes, cruise control, and traction control. There isn’t a six axis IMU, so cornering functions aren’t available. The six-speed gearbox is similarly functional without any excess features or functions; it is a six-speed manual unit with an assist and slipper clutch. A shaft sends the power to the rear wheel, which is what truly distinguishes the FJR. Zero adjustment and maintenance on that continent-crossing ride sounds great, doesn’t it?

Yamaha FJR1300ES Engine Specifications

Yamaha FJR1300ES Chassis

Putting The ‘Sport’ In ‘Sport Touring’

Yamaha

The FJR1300ES has a surprising amount of features at the chassis end of things. It starts with the aluminum diamond chassis. This keeps the weight down without sacrificing strength. Then there is the suspension. The ‘ES’ at the end of the FJR’s name stands for ‘Electronic Suspension’. The hardware consists of inverted front forks and a single rear shock. The front has electronically adjustable rebound and compression damping, while the rear adds electronically adjustable spring preload to it. You can select from four preload settings, three damping presets, and seven granular damping settings at the touch of a button.

The brakes are also more advanced than you’d think; the twin front calipers aren’t radially mounted, but they are mated to substantial 320 mm discs. They use four pistons each, while the rear uses two pistons. All three calipers are fixed calipers, which is unusual for the rear outside a premium sport bike. The brakes have ABS and are unified as well, meaning actuate either lever, and braking force will go to both brakes.

Yamaha FJR1300ES Chassis Specs And Dimensions

Yamaha FJR1300ES Features

More Than You’d Expect

Yamaha

The FJR1300ES hasn’t really been updated for three years now. However, if you want your sport tourer to provide everything you need, then the FJR will have you covered. The three-pod instrument cluster has a large analog rev counter on the left, and the central LCD speed, fuel level, the ride mode, and a clock. It also houses the warning lamps at the bottom. On the right is a gear indicator, a visual indication of the suspension mode, and both tripmeters and the odometer are all displayed at the same time, which is a novelty.

The headlamps are all LED and light up corners as the FJR leans. Other standard features include heated grips, an electrically adjustable windscreen, a standard seat that has a range of 0.8 inches of height, and a handlebar that can be put in one of three positions. There is also a glove box in the upper fairing with a 12V socket, and the luggage is quick release and can be locked or unlocked with the ignition key.

The large 6.6 gallon fuel tank ensures decent range between fill-ups. Today, there really isn’t a sport tourer with a final shaft drive unless you opt for the expensive BMW R 1300 RT or K 1600 series, which makes the FJR1300ES a unique choice if you want to cover truly large distances on trips.

Yamaha FJR1300ES Notable Features

• Analog/LCD instrumentation
• Unified brakes
• Shaft drive
• Two ride modes
• Traction control
• ABS with unified brakes
• Standard heated grips
• Lean-sensitive cornering LED headlamps
• Electrically adjustable windscreen
• Adjustable seat height
• Adjustable handlebar position
• 6.6 gallon fuel tank

Yamaha FJR1300ES Competition

Nothing Like It Today

Suzuki

The FJR1300ES is one of a dying breed of motorcycles. It is easier and more cost-effective today to build crossovers based off adventure bikes, give them street bike wheels and tires, and call them sport tourers. The FJR is one of the last of the true sport-touring motorcycles. However, the competition has changed. We will have to mention the Honda NT1100 DCT ($11,899), Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX ($13,699), Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ ($14,299), KTM 1290 Super Duke GT ($20,499), BMW R 1300 RT ($22,495), and BMW K 1600 B ($23,395).

The BMWs are closest in concept but are much more expensive whereas the KTM isn’t relaxed enough. The Honda is underpowered, although it does have an automatic gearbox that helps it become a much better city bike. The Kawasaki and Suzuki are contenders, but they need to be discarded because they both have siblings that match up better price and feature-wise with the FJR. If you’re feeling patriotic, the latest Pan America, the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 ST, will also make for a great sport touring bike on a budget.

BMW

That brings us to the three relevant competitors with four inline engines. The Suzuki GSX-S1000GX+ is a crossover with electronic suspension, a six-axis IMU, and an engine that is more powerful than the Yamaha’s, but is down on displacement. It really needs to be revved to extract performance out of it. The Versys 1100 goes the other way; it chases torque, and it eschews a six-axis IMU, so it might just be the closest in concept to the Yamaha. If you want something truly quick, the BMW S 1000 XR will do you well – but you’ll need to spec it with a couple of thousand dollars’ worth of upgrades to give it a premium features set.

Yamaha FJR1300ES Vs Rivals