2016–2020 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Turbine Stability At Highway Speed
This is Yamaha's sport-tourer in its most complete form. At its center sits a 1298 cc liquid-cooled inline-four making 145 hp and 102 lb-ft, sent through a six-speed box with a slipper clutch to a maintenance-free shaft drive. The aluminum twin-spar frame rolls on 17-inch wheels at both ends. The standard kit is serious: traction control, ride modes, ABS, cruise control, heated grips, an electrically adjustable screen, adjustable suspension at both ends, a center stand and LED lighting. In a class that demands authority under load, the FJR clears every bar I set without breaking a sweat.
It ages the way few bikes do. Reliability is outstanding, routine maintenance is easy on the wallet and the nerves, and at highway speed the chassis stays calm no matter how long the day runs. This bike is for the rider who measures a trip in states rather than hours, often with a passenger and a full load aboard. Now the honest part. At 635 lb (288 kg) wet it is heavy, and it rarely stirs the soul the way the Yamaha badge promises. Tech is strictly old-school too: no TFT, no USB port, no cornering ABS. Electronic suspension only comes on the optional-spec version.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 145 hp (107 kW) @ 8,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 102 lb-ft (138 Nm) @ 7,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1298 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 60.8 in (1545 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.7 in (805 mm) |
| Wet weight | 635 lb (288 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.6 gal (25 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
This picture comes from years of listening: paddock conversations, owner chats on club nights, and the emails and messages riders send me directly. Taken together, FJR1300A owners describe a bike made for covering big distances with a passenger. Their complaints come back to three things: its heft at walking pace, a reserved personality and a screen that doesn't suit tall riders.
Range comes up again and again. Owners routinely see 300 miles or more from the 6.6 gal (25 L) tank, so there are fewer stops on a long run. Riders say the chassis feels carved from granite in sweepers and shrugs off crosswinds and broken pavement. The engine earns credit for a strong top-end rush that makes passing easy. Passengers get their own praise too: a plush seat and generous room keep 500-mile days free of fatigue.
The most common gripe is heft at walking pace. Shorter or less experienced riders describe tip-over scares while shuffling the bike around tight lots. Some owners find it so drama-free that it turns clinical at legal speeds. Riders over 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) report turbulent, noisy air hitting the helmet from the stock screen, and many end up fitting a taller aftermarket one.
Second gear failure recall (NHTSA 20V813000)
The second pinion gear may crack or break under high-speed loads, potentially locking the transmission and rear wheel. Yamaha recalled 2016-2020 models to replace the main axle and drive axle assemblies with stronger forged parts and reprogram the ECU.
Saddlebag decorative decal peeling
The right-side hard pannier’s ‘Yamaha’ decal may detach over time, a cosmetic nuisance observed on some early RP28 units.
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
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the FJR1300A is actually built for.
For 200 to 400 mile days on Highway 1 or the Blue Ridge, this is a natural fit. It covers ground smoothly and leaves you fresh at sunset. Just don't expect it to feel light in the tight stuff.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Two-up and fully loaded over Beartooth, it stays calm and strong, and it's close to unbreakable. Budget for the optional cases, and verify the second-gear recall work before you buy.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
It'll get you to the Dragon in comfort and run the Blue Ridge nicely, but 635 lb works against you in tight, repeated switchbacks. Choose it if the ride there matters as much as the corners.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2013–2015
Continent Miles, Zero Drama
Compare to the previous model →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.
Competitor · 2019–2021
Supercharged Continent Devourer
Roughly $2,600 pricier used than this bike at 6 yr
Competitor · 2014–2018
The Wethead Boxer, Done Right
About the same used price as this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2013–2017
Triple-Powered Long-Haul Lugger
Roughly $4,100 cheaper used than this bike at 10 yr