Yamaha FJR 1300 AE

Review: Yamaha FJR 1300 AE (Baujahr 2019)

A ship will come

imagePhotos: 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.

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Quite thick

And a heavy piece of it, because almost 300 kilos want to be moved. Manoeuvring is logically not the supreme discipline of Yamaha. Comfort rather, as the easily adjustable seat height helps further (805 or 825 millimeters). After all, you need a firm stand, because if she flips, there is little that could stop her. This applies to all FJS, as they are available in three variants: as AE for 19,595 € compared to the standard A (16,400 €) with ESA & USD, suitcase, curved light, finally as AS (20,600 €) with switching machine.

The sitting position is a bit unfamiliar at first. Upright yes, that's not the unusual thing. Slightly wide-legged, due to the massive construction and above all the tank. After all, 25 litres of capacity have to go somewhere.

We don't want to tip, we want to drive, so let's go. But before the heavy ship is dropped, there is a small problem: check the weight, because the payload of the Yamaha is often too low at 186 kilos. With two full-grown people and luggage, it gets tight.

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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.

Reliable Tourer

You have to be able to afford it, the Yamaha, which costs around 20,000 euros in better equipment. For this you get a luxurious and mature looking companion for the good and bad days in the life of a motorcyclist. Compared to the adventure bikes, you have to do without the indicated off-road suitability – but probably no one has complained about it yet. That's right.

Choose the destination and have confidence: if it doesn't happen with the circumnavigation of the world, it's not up to Yamaha.

The test bike was provided to us by Tecius & Reimers in Hamburg-Eidelstedt.

Price / Availability / Colours / Years of Construction

  • Price: 19.595€
  • Used (3 years old): 12.500€
  • Years of construction: since 2001
  • Availability: good
  • Colours: blue, silver, grey
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Zubehör für die
FJR 1300 AE

  • Moneta
  • Polo
  • Amazon

Pro & Kontra

  • Comfort
  • Processing
  • Pulling force
  • Long-distance suitability
  • Weight

New registrations of the FJR 1300 AE

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Von unserem Team geprüft:

General

Type
Sport tourers
Eia
€20,094

Dimensions

Length
2,230 mm
Height
1,450 mm
Weight
275 kg
Seat
805 mm
Wheelbase
1,545 mm

Driving Performance & Range

Tank contents
25 l
Highest-speed
250 km/h

Motor & Power Transmission

Engine design
Number
Number of cylinders
4
Cooling
liquid
Displacement
1,298 cc
Hole
79 mm
Hub
66.2 mm
Performance
144 HP
Torque
134.4 NM
Number of gears
5
Drive
Cvd

Suspension & Brakes

Frame
Bridges
Brakes in front
Double disc
Brakes rear
Disk