Yamaha FJR 1300 AE

Built:2013-21201320142015201620172018201920202021

Photos: Dietmar

Boah, a lot of motorcycle is that. The Yamaha FJR 1300 is a tourer without any sport before. Designed for the long journey, durable, solid, heavy and comfortable. What else is important is clarified by the test.

Consistently model-maintained

She is a true cross-country skier, and that does not even mean the universally confirmed durability. No, Yamaha has been selling the FJR 1300 almost unchanged since 2001. Okay, new colors have been added and in 2016 finally a sixth gear. But otherwise? All good, why change something?

This is especially true because tourers, similar to the sports tourers, have come under a little bit of pressure. The enemy lives in his own bed, as the trendy adventure bikes of course also come from Yamaha. But it is still well sold, the Yamaha FJR 1300. It is not only one of the old-school bikes because of its long service life on the market, because it looks in parts as if milled from one piece. Although the electronics have always been kept up-to-date, it is no longer completely fresh.

By the way, the FJR 1300 has been voted "Motorcycle of the Year" seven times in a row since its publication in the reader's choice of the Motorcycle Magazine. Okay, the last time (2008) was a bit ago, but nevertheless: such a motorcycle can't be bad.

Calm and power

The four-cylinder engine, which fetches 146 hp from just under 1300 cubic metres, has also been further developed. So far, so inconspicuous. That will remain the case throughout the test, as the Yamaha simply pulls away. The engine never pushes itself to the fore, it is there and does what it is supposed to do. Hardly ever has the optionally offered two-flood Akra sports exhaust system for a pudious 1800 euros been more superfluous than here. By the way, you are usually faster than you thought – the FJR looks overweight, but it is fixed.

In the way, you are – what a surprise – long curves like they are native on country roads or on the motorway. Serpentines go, but this tourer can do without it. What his crew doesn't have to do without is comfort. This starts with the comfortable bench and does not stop at the lavish space. The driving comfort is also good to very good. Here the high weight is an advantage, Yamaha dispensed with a trendy and tight tuning. You still want one? No problem, the electronic chassis can be adjusted in many ways.

So you travel with the FJS relaxed through the area and enjoy the excellent straight-running. The voices of the test team to the windshield are a bit different. Cool feature: It is electrically adjustable while driving. While the actual wind protection works well, other vortices and the actual always present wind noise complain.