2013–2015 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Continent Miles, Zero Drama
The FJR1300A is Yamaha's flagship sport-tourer. This generation puts a full long-distance toolkit around a very serious engine. The 1298 cc inline-four makes 144 hp and 102 lb-ft, drives the rear wheel through a shaft and sits in an aluminum twin-spar frame. Cruise control, traction control, ride modes, heated grips, an electrically adjustable screen, a center stand and a luggage system all come from the factory. The suspension is adjustable at both ends. In a class judged on how commandingly a bike covers ground, the FJR carries its size with authority, and its build quality feels made for the long run.
It rides the way a big mile-eater should. It stays settled and smooth at highway speed and well beyond, up to a 154 mph (248 km/h) top speed. Its strongest card is reliability, and it ranks with the most durable machines in the category. There is one well-known chore: the rear shock linkage bearings can seize if nobody greases them, which makes the ride harsh and can upset the handling. Put it on the service list. The honest caveat is mass. At 637 lb (289 kg) wet it is no featherweight, and you get a 5-speed box and conventional suspension. It suits riders who measure trips in states, not hours.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 144 hp (106 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 102 lb-ft (138 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1298 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Seat height | 31.7 in (805 mm) |
| Wet weight | 637 lb (289 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.6 gal (25 L) |
| Top speed | 154 mph (248 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 34 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
This one isn't my ride impression. It's the sum of what riders have told me over the years: paddock talk, club nights, conversations at fuel stops, and the messages owners send me directly. For the FJR1300A the pattern is unusually settled, with the praise and the gripes landing in the same places year after year.
Ask owners what surprised them and the answer tends to be the steering. They describe it as light and crisp, a bike that turns willingly and wants to be pushed on a good road rather than droned down the interstate. The other thing they raise unprompted is range: around 34 mpg (6.9 L/100km) and a genuine 200 miles between fills, which means fewer stops on a long day.
The screen draws the most complaints. Taller riders say coverage is down on the earlier bikes and the shorter fairing lets buffeting through; plenty have fitted an aftermarket shield to settle it. A smaller group raises the front end: the steering is easy, but they get little back from the front tire, and on broken pavement that thins their confidence as the pace rises.
Shock linkage bearings prone to seizing
The suspension linkage bearings can seize if not regularly lubricated, causing a harsh ride and potentially affecting handling. This is a well‑known wear item on FJRs; periodic greasing is recommended to prevent expensive repairs.
Where this Yamaha FJR1300A pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the FJR1300A is actually built for.
For 200 to 400 mile days on the Blue Ridge or Highway 1, this bike is in its element: smooth, stable and loaded with the gear that keeps you fresh for the last hour.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Long hauls to Going-to-the-Sun or Beartooth are what the FJR does best. It's reliable, shaft-driven and ready for luggage. Just keep the shock linkage greased.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
It flows happily through Blue Ridge sweepers, but on the Dragon's tight stuff 637 lb (289 kg) is a lot to flick around. It's great for getting there and not the sharpest tool once you arrive.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Yamaha FJR1300A. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2016–2020
Turbine Stability At Highway Speed
Competitor · 2015–2018
Luggage King, Reliable Miles
Roughly $2,800 cheaper used than this bike at 11 yr
Competitor · 2018–2026
Two Hundred Horses, Long Roads
Competitor · 2014–2018
The Wethead Boxer, Done Right
Roughly $1,900 pricier used than this bike at 11 yr
Competitor · 2002–2013
V4 Silk Road Workhorse
Competitor · 2021–2025
The Connected Long-Haul Standard
Same Platform · 2013–2021
A Hundred Thousand Mile Machine
Roughly $2,300 pricier used than this bike at 11 yr