Old Bike Australasia — Issue 68 2017

OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA: 101

YAMAHA FJR1300AE

Our steedwas the latest incarnation
of Yamaha’s flagship sports/tourer,
the FJR1300AE, the last two letters
denoting the addition of electronically
controlled front and rear suspension.
The FJR has been around in much the
same form since 2001, but subtle
refinements over the years have kept it
at the cutting edge of its class, and this
latest version is no less impressive.
By the time we hit the road both
panniers and top box were full, as was
the accessory DriRider tank bag, and
with the rider and pillion the FJR was
toting quite a few kilos over its claimed
290 kg wet weight. But this bike just
does not feel heavy. The seat height
(805mm on the lowest of two settings)
adds to the feeling of a very low centre
of gravity. You can plant both feet firmly
on the ground and the whole plot feels
like it could stand up by itself. Fully
loaded, the electronic controls came
into play, and once the suspension
load was adjusted the FJR assumed a
perfectly balanced attitude. There are
two engine modes, for touring or sport,
and I selected the former and left it
there for the duration. The entire
process of ride mode and suspension
setting is achieved very simply via the
handlebar switches and is clearly visible
on the instrument panel.
Our route from Sydney took us down
the M31 highway as far as the turnoff
to Wagga, and the FJR simply surged
along, turbine smooth. The tempera-
ture was bracing to say the least, but
with the screen in the fully upright

position (it is electronically adjustable

up and down), not much of that frigid

air reaches the occupants. Even the

forward-mounted mirrors seem to be

positioned in a way that deflects the

airstream over the rider’s hands. I had

attached by trusty TomTom Rider GPS,

which was just as well because the FJR

speedo is wildly optimistic – at a GPS

checked 110km/h it is showing 120.

At the legal 110 limit, that big engine

is ticking over at just 3,600 rpm.

We hadn’t made too many plans

beyond heading into the Riverina,

but by the time Wagga Wagga was

reached, and with the crisp, fine

weather holding, there was no thought

of doing anything other than keeping

on truckin’. Not even the sublime

manners of the FJR could make the

vastness of the Hay Plain anything but

boring, but at least when the odd vehi-

cle was encountered it was simply a

case of opening the throttle (without

the need to downshift) and squirt past

with ease, then hit the cruise control

again. The all-new 6 speed gearbox

itself is impeccable in operation, as is

the clutch, which has a slipper function

to smooth out down changes on the

overrun.

damp feet, there was nothing to

complain about. The fairing simply

flings the water off in all but torrential

downpours, which thankfully

happened to us only in the last hour.

This was just the latest in a series of

encounters with the FJR1300. Our

previous ride, three years ago on the

non-electronic suspension model, took

us around New Zealand’s South Island,

and prior to that, I had a few days on

one in Tasmania. In fact, I like to

believe that the FJ1100, an altogether

brilliant and bullet-proof motorcycle

that I owned for 10 years, is of the

same DNA, and that makes the 2017

FJR1300 a bike with a 32 year pedi-

Linking up with some friends at

Balranald, we motored into Adelaide

on Day Two, none the worse for wear,

and unwound for a couple of days

with trips to the Adelaide Hills,

McLaren Vale, and finally the Barossa.

We’d left ourselves two days to get

back to Sydney, which we did via

Mildura and Hay, but on the final leg

the weather finally caved in and it

was a grey, wet and cold run for the

last half day. Still, the aerodynamics

of the FJR came through with flying

colours, and apart from the inevitable

gree. There are few other motorcycles

out there that can make a similar

claim, and fewer still that can offer

such a superbly refined and brilliantly

executed package. 

The fairing simply flings the water off in all

but torrential downpours, which thankfully

happened to us only in the last hour.

2017 Yamaha FJR1300AE

Off-the-shelf

ENGINE Liquid-cooled, transverse

four cylinder, DOHC,

4 valves per cylinder.

BORE X STROKE 79.0 x 66.2mm

DISPLACEMENT 1,298cc

TRANSMISSION 6-speed, multiplate

assist-and-slipper clutch.

FINAL DRIVE Shaft

WHEELBASE 1524mm

SUSPENSION Front: 43mm Kayaba

fork, electronically

adjustable damping,

135mm travel

Rear: Single shock,

electronically adjustable

damping, 125mm travel

BRAKES Front: 2 x 320mm

Rear: 1 x 282mm with

ABS.

SEAT HEIGHT 805mm/825mm.

WET WEIGHT 291kg.

FUEL CAPACITY 25 litre

COLOUR Tech Graphite

PRICE $27,995

The dashboard display

is a delight to behold.

It all happens

from here.

After a long trip across the Hay

Plain, refreshment was needed.