FJR 1300

[Proeliator]

FJR 1300, Yamaha's sporty sister shaft driven bike to the Super Tenere. I've had a short demo ride on one of the newest gen (2016?) years ago and really liked it. Comfortable, fairing and windscreen seem to offer decent wind protection, pulls like a freight train, maybe a little hefty but fun. Anyway I'm looking hard at them recently, even went to a local dealer to check out a nice used one, but it had sold.

It seems like many owners of both bikes have experience with the other so I wanted to ask those who have put in some miles your opinions.
So putting the versatility and off road capability of the Tenere aside...
How does the sport handling/sport touring character, and wind protection of the FJR, compare to a flashed S10 (or stock S10) on sporty road rubber?
Also, how they are to live with for day rides and around town?

 

[Donk]

Have owned both. Have a lot of miles on FJR including numerous IBA rides.. Great bike, stone reliable. Plenty fast and handles great once you learn how to ride it. Much easier to ride fast than the S10 with a lot less pucker moments. Both FJR and S10 trade having some extra weight for wheelbarrow like reliability. It's a good trade off imo. S10 has more leg room but both are comfortable. FJR has better weather protection and is less affected by crosswinds and headwinds. You do not want to take an FJR off road period! Compare to a flashed S10, you can't. They are too different. Both are good at their intended role but the FJR would leave an S10 for dead. It's like comparing a pack mule to a Thoroughbred and I mean no disrespect to the S10. I happen to really like mules!

 

[Sierra1]

Donk is right about everything. I have an '86 FJ, and my youngest son has a '14 FJR. Mine is fast, his is faster. I think it was CW that coined the acceleration as "turbine like". True. Pretty much anywhere in the rev band. I was fortunate enough to get my son's on a racetrack. At slow speeds the front end feels heavy. At higher speeds it's much lighter, but rock stable through corners. I'll never get rid of my FJ, but if I were to buy another bike it would only be an FJR. If something happens to my Tenere, and can't find another, it will be an FJR. It's my second favorite bike ever.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Echoing Donk and Sierra, I've had an FJR since '04 model year. Fantastic machine(s) (on my 4th now), reliable as an anvil and it's still my pick if I need to get from point A to B. Like Donk, I've done several IBA rides on mine including a B2B Insanity. I'll always have one. Both my FJR & Tenere are flashed, no comparison on speed and sheer acceleration...FJR will leave a Tenere in its wake. They're great bookends to a stable!

Edit to add: Two great forums are FJRForum and FJRiders. FJRForum has been around for almost 20 years so the depth of technical information is fantastic.

~G

 

[Sierra1]

FJR: InterContinental Ballistic Motorcycle

 

[Donk]

I've been fighting off the temptation to pick up another FJR all winter. My sister still lives in Massachusetts and I need something to run out and visit her with. Can't think of another bike I would prefer more for that ride.

 

[Sierra1]

I'd get the one with the 6-speed trans.

 

[Boris]

Have owned both. Have a lot of miles on FJR including numerous IBA rides.. Great bike, stone reliable. Plenty fast and handles great once you learn how to ride it. Much easier to ride fast than the S10 with a lot less pucker moments. Both FJR and S10 trade having some extra weight for wheelbarrow like reliability. It's a good trade off imo. S10 has more leg room but both are comfortable. FJR has better weather protection and is less affected by crosswinds and headwinds. You do not want to take an FJR off road period! Compare to a flashed S10, you can't. They are too different. Both are good at their intended role but the FJR would leave an S10 for dead. It's like comparing a pack mule to a Thoroughbred and I mean no disrespect to the S10. I happen to really like mules!

Pucker moment/s is a term that has now entered my motorcycling chat vocabulary.

 

[Gerard]

I had two FJRs, a 5 and 6 speed and absolutely loved them. A fantastic bike on the open road with an unparalleled turbine smoothness. Can be a bit of a handful on the tight twisty back roads though because of its weight. Particularly the down hill sections. I have taken them on dirt roads and as long as it is dry and not too sandy or gravely its not too bad.

 

[Donk]

I'm not sure if it's a function of the shaft drive, the weight, or the chassis geometry but I found that if you stay on the throttle and trail brake a little with the rear brake the bike handles great. Seems to keep the front end light(er). Worked for me anyway and I got to lovin the FJR in the twisties. I'm no racer boy ymmv

 

[ncpkwyrider747]

I had a 2015 FJR and now own a 2023 S10. Both fantastic machines but so different from each other. The FJR is infinitely more powerful but I find the S10 to be far more comfortable (for my aging body) and powerful enough. I know the weight difference isn't much but the S10 "feels" much lighter when I'm riding it. I did a good bit of long distance touring with the FJR and it was a fantastic bike for that. I lived in the western NC mountains when I owned the FJR and it handled beautifully in the twisties for a big bike (I rode the Tail of the Dragon several times and could keep up with most other bikes). IF I could have 2 bikes in my garage, I'd have the S10 and that nice new blue FJR sitting at the local Yamaha dealer.

 

[Sierra1]

100% agreement.

 

[cyclemike4]

I own both bikes now. My FJR is a 05. First gen. I really dont have any experiance with the newer ones. Mine had a terrible windscreen for me. Could not ride it on the interstate at all. Changed that and wow! If i didnt look at the speed i couldnt tell 70 from 90. Beautiful on the big runs. Around town it was a perfect bike. For me easy to handle and so responsive and it almost did what i was thinking even before i put input in to do it! Absolutely incredible. The bad is my bike used me for a heat sink! It is without a doubt the hottest bike i have ever owned. The bike never got hot or overheated but i some how wound up being the radiator! On a 90 degree day after sitting in the parking lot all day i could turn the key on and the water temp was showing at run temp before it was ever started. The tank was so hot it burned my legs and wasnt even started. Other than the heat it is a wonderful machine! I have rode it in gravel and jeep roads. I have a much easier time finding traction with it than i do on my super t. Of course you really have to baby it so not to destroy the fairing and pipes. My super t i can bang along at a faster speed so it is definitely safer and easier there. Both of my bikes are stock and the FJR is a rocket compaired to my super t. I actually find the super t has better weather protection for me. On the upper body with the wind screen i have on the FJR it is better but my legs and feet really catch rain and such. My super t has a stock wind screen it does a good job and my legs and feet are a little better protected. Really like both bikes but i pretty much only ride my super t. Oh i always put my bikes on calibrated scales at work just to see what kind of heft they have. My super t is over 20 some pounds heavier than the FJR with the things on the bike i carry everyday. Both are heavy.

 

[Mr. BR]

I’ve had my ’05 FJR for 10 yrs now and my ’12 Super Tenere about 18 mos. I’ve always been a one-bike rider mostly due to lack of garage space but the Super Ten was a deal I couldn’t pass up (so I made room).
The FJR is smooth and fast with very good wind and weather protection. Love that engine and I’ve always been 4 cyl/inline fan. Ergos are a little cramped but I’m extra tall and it’s a minor issue.
The ST is much roomier for me with decent wind protection and some modest off-road capability and I wanted to expand my riding. I’ve never been a fan of twins (parallel, V, boxer, etc) and in 40+ yrs of riding, this IS my first twin cylinder bike. It certainly has enough power, but it in no way compares to the smooth FJR, nor did I expect it to… so I’ve learned to enjoy what it has and I like having a choice of what to ride. I ride mostly local stuff and both bikes are fine for that but for extended freeway riding, the FJR is my choice.
Regards,
Mr. BR

 

[scott123007]

My FJR is a Hayabusa!

 

[Sierra1]

My FJR is a Hayabusa!

Like this one?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

My '05 had the same heat issue already mentioned. My God that was a hot, sweaty bike. Later generation models took care of that problem.

I only had the FJR for about a month. No doubt it was superior at getting through the twisties much more effortlessly than the S10. That's ultimately what got me to sell it so quickly. I had to ride it so fast to get any excitement out of it that I sold it for self presentation. I didn't want to ride that fast.

It is a masterpiece of engineering from Yamaha. It was just too good for me. I need a bike that requires a competent rider. The FJR can make everyone good.

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . I didn't want to ride that fast. . . . The FJR can make everyone good.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you have to. And I just can't see how that's a bad thing.

 

[escapefjrtist]

I've been fighting off the temptation to pick up another FJR all winter. My sister still lives in Massachusetts and I need something to run out and visit her with. Can't think of another bike I would prefer more for that ride.

Resistance is futile...'23s are on sale now! Look around and you can find new for ~$15k. Killer deals out there!

~G

 

[Sierra1]

So, my kid brought his FJR over today since he's moving Thursday. He showed me that he had lost a panel off of the cowling. Has anybody else had that happen? I can't see how it loosened on its own.