I bought my 2005 FJR with 44K on it six months ago for £3000, my first tourer, always had sports bikes before this. I don't get many compliments on group rides... at first... but as the day progresses and we pull up after the first hundred miles, it suddenly gets more attention - you get that lovely smug 'I know better feeling' ;) Plus, on the roads, a good rider can keep with most things on this - brilliant bike!
my Father has done 78,000 miles on an '04 FJR1300, he's done a few mods and loves it, sadly he's just replaced it with a Fazer600, good news is the FJR is mine now and is a truly amazing bike, feels brand new even after so many miles!
actually the 5 th gear on FJRs is an overdrive so 4 speeds in commuting reality...that said I found that it is a very comfortable bike even in town...so comfortable that it fits my 6'9" frame 40" inseam perfectly...electric shield all the way up...I was amazed by its comfort (it reminded me my of old 2006 GSA)...the bike I tested had an Ohlins shock and it rode very well...
In the last year on the new version I've done two up to the MiIlau Bridge in France, another trip across Spain to the Pyrenees, two up to Wales and 2000 miles around the UK and Scotland on my own (one day was 498 miles) and I can't believe how well the new one handles compared to my 2001 version. the new suspension, frame upgrade and electronics including cruise for those long motorway (traction control already saved me from an off on a diesel smothered roundabout) This bike is amazing and so fast, however in Scotland I took it to Eddie at ERS Racing at Knock Hill and after he did a suspension set up it transformed the bike much better handling - this is really a sports bike but just happens to be perfect for touring fully loaded two up you can still do amazing speeds down the A 483 and you don't even realise there is a passenger on the rear seat. Yes the new seat is firmer but less slippy you can always upgrade the seat, even so we go 4 hours at a time without any back or bum ache - 498 miles with one stop should say it all - I love this bike . PS I'm 60.
I have an 07 And I can't believe people think these bikes need a 6th gear. 5th is about the same overall ratio as a Hayabusa in 6th. I really think 5 speeds are almost overkill with the torque this bike has!
I bought my 2015 FJR brand new in November 2014. Today (August 2018) she has over 67,000 miles and has taken me all over the US -- including an Iron Butt 50CC Challenge and 12 of the 17 US cities named Atlanta. It does NOT need a sixth gear, and is precisely as described at 2:45: A proper sports bike with touring luggage.
roseroyceGHOST I had an FZ1 and sold it to buy a 2006 FJR. The Fz was amazing but the FJR kills it on long rides. With that said, the FZ1 was no slouch either. Basically, the FJR is more comfortable and stable on the highway. I would say the performance is comparable, but the FZ was more agile.. at least it felt like a much lighter bike. I don't regret my trade up at all.
Its Not Chalk and chese ..the FJR truly is a great bike ... slight mods and new things wont change the basic qualities of this iconic machine .. a new one is 4 times the price i paid for my FJR ..can it be justified...No ..not a chance .. i also own a BMW E36 325i coupe..29 years on ..is a new 4 series worth 12 times what i paid ..no .. in Short ..well engineered quality and design stands the test of time ..newer isn't necessarily better !!!!
Michael I bought an 05 FJR for great price. It only had 18 thousand miles on it and it runs great. And the price I got it at I just can't tell you. This is a quality machine from beginning to end.
The new one it's very good looking and has some nice gizmos, but the old ones were already great(both generation I and II). So the improvement can't be as big as from the FJ to FJR. I love my '03 FJR...
After 25k miles over the past two years, including an epic 24-day Atlanta to Portland, Or and back excursion, I don't know why anyone would want a sixth gear. The FJR makes plenty of low-end power and the extra gear would just be for fashion IMHO. I also have a Yamaha FZ1 and I'm glad it has six gears, but the two engines are like night and day. Bottom line: Don't let the lack of a sixth gear scare you away from the FJR. It's an amazing motorcycle.
Who can tell me what Ohlins Suspension upgrades the guest tester ( Steve Manning ) has made to his machine? I definitely notice the sluggish feel of the suspension as mine is a 30000 mile example with standard suspension.
Suspension and maintenance. Best advice. Don’t waste cash on loud pipes. Upgrade your suspension. The difference is incredible. Great bikes. Love the FJR.
To all of those who were commenting, we in the 'States run the side bags and the top box all the time no worries. 100k+ miles loaded. Have a couple isolated bikes had some small subframe cracks... yes. Rare. That's the yamaha lawyers speaking in the owners manual to tell you not to run both.
I got to test one at my local Yamaha shop, love the added cruise, but the electronic throttle is hard to get used to after using cable driven throttles. I still prefer the Conccours because of the tank shape, I feel like I am straddling a barrel on the FJR, and really how hard would it be to put a 6th gear on it?
I want to buy a fjr but my friends telling me to choose the between the 2003-2004-2005 models ,because of the 22kg less weight than the 2006 + models. what do you think? have you had a test on the 03-05 modesl? is it that 22kg a big different ? from the other hand the 2006 + models has a lot of changes ,brakes,new ABS, better fairing and more.what do you think ? Regards
George GR Gen 1 FJR is quicker 0-60mph, 0-100 mph and 1/4 mile.. do to gearing. They are a bit lighter also... I love my Gen 1. The later bikes are still quick, but the gen 1 is quite a bit quicker 0-100 (less than 7 seconds with a light accomplished rider)
George GR i think gen 1 has chain, so if thats your thing then go with that... i like less maintenance so i have an 08... but you have to ask yourself how much/hard you are gonna push it and how long the trips are gonna be... i would say if you are taking trips that are less than 6 hours i would say to go with a smaller sport tourer... so less than 6, you might want something smaller. also depends on how far or if you will commute... i have a 50 minute freeway or highway (depending on the time of day) commute to/from work, the highway has a 4 mile spot of crazy awesome twisty roads and i am scraping pegs almost daily... i dont drag race it a lot or try to do wheelies either so if you want that then get a get 1... in a nutshell- it depends on the rider, not what is "better" personal opinion... i hate having my bike in a shop and i hate being uncomfortable. so i like my 08... and unless you wanna do wheelies and race other bikes im happy with mine... i just dont like the heat that thing puts off in the summer... it gets HOT and its not very fun to ride it around town... its definitely made for the mountains and speeds faster than 50mph
I was looking for a VFR when I came across an ad for the FJR at a price I couldn't pass up. Best thing I ever did I love this bike this thing is amazing. I don't think I'll ever buy another motorcycle.
that 6th gear "problem" I found to be a trait on all other 5 geared Yamaha motorcycles. TRX 850, XJR1200/1300. on my R6 not a problem. think they should've upgraded the 'box to a 6 speed one. cost cutting measure...?
That's true, I'm talking about the reviews in general. I'm a fan of MCN along with being a fellow rider. I just wish that MCN would be a bit more critical about the machines reviewed. Lately it's seemed like no matter what a manufacture toss's at you for a review it's getting high marks. Almost like MCN fears that honesty will hinder what they are offered to review in the future. But if that's the case then your cheating your followers. Have a good one & just trying 2 help by saying what I c
David Holbrook i feel like it would be... i have an 08... wide seats soft (when you want) suspension... it just gets hot in the summer... so if you have a well "trained" person on back it would be super fun in twisties, but... for freeway for a whole day will be a little painful. and by little, i mean not much but that is compared to a more tour tour bike... depends on what you and your +1 want
My wife rode pillion on a 2,200- mile long weekend during the 2016 BMRx (archive.bigmoneyrally.com/bmrx2016/?author=428) It needs a custom seat for anything over 6 hours ... but that's true for any bike.
WTF? How can MCN motorcycle reviews be taken seriously by anyone? After all EVERY bike they are given for a test ride/review get's the same damn ( It's greatest thing since sliced bread.) review in the end.
Tae Jo Kim No. the FJR is way too much bike for a beginner. This is just my opinion though... it would definitely depend on the rider, some folks it would be fine, I am sure.
What is the difference between the fjr1300 and fz1???....I had a 2006 fz1 and Im trying to decide which one to buy. Another fz1 or fjr1300 or vmax. Thx
roseroyceGHOST the v-max has a 4gal gas tank and will only get 100 miles on a tank of gas! The FZ1 is a lighter 1000cc inline 4cyl Standard sport bike with a chain drive not very comfortable for the long haul ! The FJR1300 has the about the same performance as the FZ1 but much better comfort and has a 6.6 gallon tank that can get you close to 300mile range the 2013’s plus all come with cruise control very reliable gets about 42-48 mpg and will easy reach 200,000 miles . I have a 2014 and love it ! One of the most durable bikes on the rode does the quarter mile in 10.8’s and a top end of 154 mph!
I would think, one compares bike to bike. I consider myself a rooky, only riding for the last 7 years. But in that period of time I marked over 200,000 on the three bikes I have owned, that is about 30,000 per year... so 42K is barely broken in.
Thanks for the comparison. I looked at a 2003 model, but then decided to look for a 2006 up model. I think that the best bang for the buck will be to go for the 2003.
1:18 "...There's no better person to help us decide ..." Yes there is, there's me! Had my FJR 2008 since 2009 as an ex-demo and have done 49,000 miles on it! Send me the next FJR Review please! :)
Because the rear subframe is still not strong enough to take the load. They never strengthened it even on the updated bike. Speak to Yamaha, this is their directive...
mcn needs to say this thing is lacking in every way for what it is sold to do/be /type of bike ... if they are all good mcn why do they not sell and need total changes ...
Rode one. Not impressed. RPM level in 6th compared to 5th on previous models is barely noticeable. All Yamaha needed to do was to change the ratio of 5th and it would have accomplished the same thing! The 6th gear is just another one to have to shift thru. Worthless.
Yes just remember to slow down on the curves & look up ahead as you see metal spark's .... that's the handling kicking in & the pegs hitting the ground at double your speed ( double )
I bought my 2005 FJR with 44K on it six months ago for £3000, my first tourer, always had sports bikes before this. I don't get many compliments on group rides... at first... but as the day progresses and we pull up after the first hundred miles, it suddenly gets more attention - you get that lovely smug 'I know better feeling' ;) Plus, on the roads, a good rider can keep with most things on this - brilliant bike!
my Father has done 78,000 miles on an '04 FJR1300, he's done a few mods and loves it, sadly he's just replaced it with a Fazer600, good news is the FJR is mine now and is a truly amazing bike, feels brand new even after so many miles!
@Steveness stiffler I swapped it for a Tiger 800, neither of us regret it. The FJR is a great bike though if you are going to tour enough on it.
actually the 5 th gear on FJRs is an overdrive so 4 speeds in commuting reality...that said I found that it is a very comfortable bike even in town...so comfortable that it fits my 6'9" frame 40" inseam perfectly...electric shield all the way up...I was amazed by its comfort (it reminded me my of old 2006 GSA)...the bike I tested had an Ohlins shock and it rode very well...
In the last year on the new version I've done two up to the MiIlau Bridge in France, another trip across Spain to the Pyrenees, two up to Wales and 2000 miles around the UK and Scotland on my own (one day was 498 miles) and I can't believe how well the new one handles compared to my 2001 version. the new suspension, frame upgrade and electronics including cruise for those long motorway (traction control already saved me from an off on a diesel smothered roundabout) This bike is amazing and so fast, however in Scotland I took it to Eddie at ERS Racing at Knock Hill and after he did a suspension set up it transformed the bike much better handling - this is really a sports bike but just happens to be perfect for touring fully loaded two up you can still do amazing speeds down the A 483 and you don't even realise there is a passenger on the rear seat. Yes the new seat is firmer but less slippy you can always upgrade the seat, even so we go 4 hours at a time without any back or bum ache - 498 miles with one stop should say it all - I love this bike . PS I'm 60.
Thanks!
Do you have a channel?
Interested in the suspension set up details and 2 up in general.
frame upgrade?
I have an 07 And I can't believe people think these bikes need a 6th gear. 5th is about the same overall ratio as a Hayabusa in 6th. I really think 5 speeds are almost overkill with the torque this bike has!
I also have a Black Cherry 2007. I agree, 5th is all you need. Its plenty fast for anyone!
I bought my 2015 FJR brand new in November 2014. Today (August 2018) she has over 67,000 miles and has taken me all over the US -- including an Iron Butt 50CC Challenge and 12 of the 17 US cities named Atlanta. It does NOT need a sixth gear, and is precisely as described at 2:45: A proper sports bike with touring luggage.
Im not an instructor but my 07 has 53k miles now, and it still feels like te first day every time
just bought an 05 with 75k miles, it runs like a beast! it has all the mods and i only paid $2500
Just bought an 05 with 18,000 miles on it for $2,500.
@@patrickdecambra2219
You stole it!
@@travelinben1966 I feel it was a great purchase and I really love this bike. I was looking for a VFR LOL
@@patrickdecambra2219
Definitely a great purchase and not even broken in yet! Ride safe!👍👍
@@travelinben1966 I've had it 2 year s so far the only work I've had to do on it are routine oil changes. This is a really good bike
Got an '05 that I bought new and I still love it and it runs like new. Awesome bikes.
Is it hot
@@brianyoung4863 Only when in idle traffic or temps over 90 degrees.
roseroyceGHOST I had an FZ1 and sold it to buy a 2006 FJR. The Fz was amazing but the FJR kills it on long rides. With that said, the FZ1 was no slouch either. Basically, the FJR is more comfortable and stable on the highway. I would say the performance is comparable, but the FZ was more agile.. at least it felt like a much lighter bike. I don't regret my trade up at all.
Its Not Chalk and chese ..the FJR truly is a great bike ... slight mods and new things wont change the basic qualities of this iconic machine .. a new one is 4 times the price i paid for my FJR ..can it be justified...No ..not a chance .. i also own a BMW E36 325i coupe..29 years on ..is a new 4 series worth 12 times what i paid ..no .. in Short ..well engineered quality and design stands the test of time ..newer isn't necessarily better !!!!
Michael I bought an 05 FJR for great price. It only had 18 thousand miles on it and it runs great. And the price I got it at I just can't tell you. This is a quality machine from beginning to end.
The new one it's very good looking and has some nice gizmos, but the old ones were already great(both generation I and II). So the improvement can't be as big as from the FJ to FJR.
I love my '03 FJR...
What the comparison between the new fjr and a gtr1400? Is the power gap improved over the gen 1 fjr?
Excellent review thanks. I'm buying the new FJR next year, I previously had an 08 one which I loved.
thumbs up, just for the fact you were able to get Vale to do the intro :)
i use an 05 fjr everyday and it keeps a smile on my face... i like the new one though and totally agree with the review ... ;)
I have ridden the old one. Lovely bike. Looking at buying a bike. Might take a look at the new one.
After 25k miles over the past two years, including an epic 24-day Atlanta to Portland, Or and back excursion, I don't know why anyone would want a sixth gear. The FJR makes plenty of low-end power and the extra gear would just be for fashion IMHO.
I also have a Yamaha FZ1 and I'm glad it has six gears, but the two engines are like night and day.
Bottom line: Don't let the lack of a sixth gear scare you away from the FJR. It's an amazing motorcycle.
Who can tell me what Ohlins Suspension upgrades the guest tester ( Steve Manning ) has made to his machine? I definitely notice the sluggish feel of the suspension as mine is a 30000 mile example with standard suspension.
Suspension and maintenance. Best advice. Don’t waste cash on loud pipes. Upgrade your suspension. The difference is incredible. Great bikes. Love the FJR.
What year is old and what year is new?
To all of those who were commenting, we in the 'States run the side bags and the top box all the time no worries. 100k+ miles loaded. Have a couple isolated bikes had some small subframe cracks... yes. Rare. That's the yamaha lawyers speaking in the owners manual to tell you not to run both.
I got to test one at my local Yamaha shop, love the added cruise, but the electronic throttle is hard to get used to after using cable driven throttles. I still prefer the Conccours because of the tank shape, I feel like I am straddling a barrel on the FJR, and really how hard would it be to put a 6th gear on it?
I want to buy a fjr but my friends telling me to choose the between the 2003-2004-2005 models ,because of the 22kg less weight than the 2006 + models. what do you think? have you had a test on the 03-05 modesl? is it that 22kg a big different ? from the other hand the 2006 + models has a lot of changes ,brakes,new ABS, better fairing and more.what do you think ?
Regards
George GR Gen 1 FJR is quicker 0-60mph, 0-100 mph and 1/4 mile.. do to gearing. They are a bit lighter also... I love my Gen 1. The later bikes are still quick, but the gen 1 is quite a bit quicker 0-100 (less than 7 seconds with a light accomplished rider)
George GR i think gen 1 has chain, so if thats your thing then go with that... i like less maintenance so i have an 08... but you have to ask yourself how much/hard you are gonna push it and how long the trips are gonna be... i would say if you are taking trips that are less than 6 hours i would say to go with a smaller sport tourer... so less than 6, you might want something smaller. also depends on how far or if you will commute... i have a 50 minute freeway or highway (depending on the time of day) commute to/from work, the highway has a 4 mile spot of crazy awesome twisty roads and i am scraping pegs almost daily... i dont drag race it a lot or try to do wheelies either so if you want that then get a get 1...
in a nutshell- it depends on the rider, not what is "better"
personal opinion... i hate having my bike in a shop and i hate being uncomfortable. so i like my 08... and unless you wanna do wheelies and race other bikes im happy with mine... i just dont like the heat that thing puts off in the summer... it gets HOT and its not very fun to ride it around town... its definitely made for the mountains and speeds faster than 50mph
Chain? No. It's all good. Enjoy!
the more i hear about the fjr the more i know i will get one, it sounds perfect to me
I was looking for a VFR when I came across an ad for the FJR at a price I couldn't pass up. Best thing I ever did I love this bike this thing is amazing. I don't think I'll ever buy another motorcycle.
Only downside really is the weight :/
that 6th gear "problem" I found to be a trait on all other 5 geared Yamaha motorcycles. TRX 850, XJR1200/1300. on my R6 not a problem.
think they should've upgraded the 'box to a 6 speed one. cost cutting measure...?
That's true, I'm talking about the reviews in general. I'm a fan of MCN along with being a fellow rider. I just wish that MCN would be a bit more critical about the machines reviewed. Lately it's seemed like no matter what a manufacture toss's at you for a review it's getting high marks. Almost like MCN fears that honesty will hinder what they are offered to review in the future. But if that's the case then your cheating your followers. Have a good one & just trying 2 help by saying what I c
Is this bike comfortable for "two up" riding?
David Holbrook i feel like it would be... i have an 08... wide seats soft (when you want) suspension... it just gets hot in the summer... so if you have a well "trained" person on back it would be super fun in twisties, but... for freeway for a whole day will be a little painful. and by little, i mean not much but that is compared to a more tour tour bike... depends on what you and your +1 want
My wife rode pillion on a 2,200- mile long weekend during the 2016 BMRx (archive.bigmoneyrally.com/bmrx2016/?author=428) It needs a custom seat for anything over 6 hours ... but that's true for any bike.
Have to use either a topbox or its panniers. Still not safe to use both together sadly...
WTF? How can MCN motorcycle reviews be taken seriously by anyone? After all EVERY bike they are given for a test ride/review get's the same damn ( It's greatest thing since sliced bread.) review in the end.
Another useful real-world review. Thanks Gents.
Is this bike a good beginner bike? ive ridden the honda hornet when i took the licence and my dad got a cbf1000 which i borrowed from time to time.
Tae Jo Kim No. the FJR is way too much bike for a beginner. This is just my opinion though... it would definitely depend on the rider, some folks it would be fine, I am sure.
would you buy a well maintaned fjr with 100.000km or it is too much?
My mates has done 308,700 km and hasn't missed a beat...
42,000 miles on the odo, is a high mileage?
What is the difference between the fjr1300 and fz1???....I had a 2006 fz1 and Im trying to decide which one to buy. Another fz1 or fjr1300 or vmax. Thx
roseroyceGHOST the v-max has a 4gal gas tank and will only get 100 miles on a tank of gas! The FZ1 is a lighter 1000cc inline 4cyl
Standard sport bike with a chain drive not very comfortable for the long haul ! The FJR1300 has the about the same performance as the FZ1 but much better comfort and has a 6.6 gallon tank that can get you close to 300mile range the 2013’s plus all come with cruise control very reliable gets about 42-48 mpg and will easy reach 200,000 miles . I have a 2014 and love it ! One of the most durable bikes on the rode does the quarter mile in 10.8’s and a top end of 154 mph!
ive seen one of these blast an R6 to 100 mph
Why?
50K is nothing. Got 150,000 on my BMW K1100 and still going strong!
Kinda like comparing Sophia Loren to Janis Joplin...
I would think, one compares bike to bike. I consider myself a rooky, only riding for the last 7 years. But in that period of time I marked over 200,000 on the three bikes I have owned, that is about 30,000 per year... so 42K is barely broken in.
That's a bit unfortunate.. Still a great bike though. Hard decision between a second hand FJR and a Pan Euro Honda...
I couldn't agree more.
Thanks for the comparison. I looked at a 2003 model, but then decided to look for a 2006 up model.
I think that the best bang for the buck will be to go for the 2003.
check your audio
You must mean the pre-2005 models, Kawasak's have the smoothest, most responsive engines around.
So the new one is slightly better than the old one...who knew ?
1:18 "...There's no better person to help us decide ..."
Yes there is, there's me! Had my FJR 2008 since 2009 as an ex-demo and have done 49,000 miles on it! Send me the next FJR Review please! :)
Great 👍
Is yours a 6 speed ?
Quite high, generally cars go significantly farther than bikes
Because the rear subframe is still not strong enough to take the load. They never strengthened it even on the updated bike.
Speak to Yamaha, this is their directive...
Wicked vid.
It is, next to the GTR1400, the FJR is as sporty as it gets for a tourer. Still a good bike, but a shame.
200.000 km on a fjr is a common thing.
Even if they can be critic to FJR, they will never be critic toward Triumph Torophy.
mcn needs to say this thing is lacking in every way for what it is sold to do/be /type of bike ... if they are all good mcn why do they not sell and need total changes ...
to be a fair comparison, the test should have been against an older bike without the ohlins suspension upgrades. poorly thought out test
2016 model new transmission with 6th gear!!!
Rode one. Not impressed. RPM level in 6th compared to 5th on previous models is barely noticeable. All Yamaha needed to do was to change the ratio of 5th and it would have accomplished the same thing! The 6th gear is just another one to have to shift thru. Worthless.
No, he said 42,000 miles.
Not high at all..No reason modern bikes cant do 100k without major work.
My favorite Valentino Rossi
Wish I new what year the old one is.
2003 according to the registration plate, mate. Newer one is 2012/13
sound qualllityy :(
Then they can re-pass you after your bike grenades and puts a con-rod through one of it's cylinders, as so many of them do! ;)
I don't envy any man. Except maybe V. Rossi.
Not an informative review due to lack of specific information…might try selling ladies footwear instead of motorcycle reviews…
FJ riders please move over or pull to the side of the road when you hear me rip thru my gears on my concours 1400.
Yes just remember to slow down on the curves & look up ahead as you see metal spark's .... that's the handling kicking in & the pegs hitting the ground at double your speed ( double )