By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Yamaha XJR 1300 (RP10) vs Suzuki GSX 1400 (K5/K6)
Yamaha XJR 1300 vs Suzuki GSX 1400: which one's easier to live with every day.
At a stoplight, the Yamaha XJR 1300's teardrop tank and round headlight are what's pulling the looks. Beside it, the Suzuki GSX 1400 squats over a fat rear tire in blue-and-white paint. On green, it surges hard from low revs.
So which one do you buy?
The XJR 1300 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
A touch ahead: XJR 1300
On the way to work, the XJR 1300 asks a little less of you. Most of that is simpler maintenance. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
Keeping running costs low
Narrow edge: XJR 1300
Running costs lean slightly toward the XJR 1300. A well-kept example of either matters more.
The GSX 1400 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: GSX 1400
The GSX 1400 is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. Just a touch.
What makes each one tick
XJR 1300
There's tractor-like shove in the XJR 1300's long-stroke four, and the throttle answers with a velvet swell that's happiest at a lazy pace. It doesn't hunt for apexes. The deeply padded seat and upright perch hold two people for long miles. Under the brake lever, the heavy steel frame stays steady.
GSX 1400
Where most inline-fours scream, the GSX 1400's exhaust thrums low, and the engine's silky under load. A bump gets swallowed by the plush suspension before it reaches the broad seat. In the garage, it's a heavy push.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The GSX 1400 makes more peak torque: 94 lb-ft (128 Nm) vs 80 lb-ft (108 Nm).
- The GSX 1400 has the larger engine: 1402 cc vs 1251 cc.
- Front Suspension Adjustable: standard on the GSX 1400, not offered on the XJR 1300.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Neither one is built for long-haul comfort. For big miles, look at a proper tourer or sport tourer.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both fall short
A first bike should forgive mistakes, and these two don't do that well enough. Come back to them later.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
XJR 1300
What owners say
Strengths
- Classic muscular styling
GSX 1400
What owners say
Strengths
- Classic retro styling with strong road presence
- Comfortable long-distance cruiser
- Immense low-end torque
- Smooth, refined engine with a low burble
- Surprisingly capable handling for its size
Trade-offs
- Considerable weight hampers low-speed maneuvering
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Power
- 106 hp (78 kW)
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| XJR 1300 | GSX 1400 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.3 in (795 mm) | 31.1 in (790 mm) |
| XJR 1300 | GSX 1400 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1251 cc | 1402 cc |
| Cooling | Air-cooled | Oil-cooled |
| Torque | 80 lb-ft (108 Nm) | 94 lb-ft (128 Nm) |
| XJR 1300 | GSX 1400 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (21 L) | 5.8 US gal (22 L) |
| XJR 1300 | GSX 1400 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gearbox | 5-speed | 6-speed |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 190/50-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| XJR 1300 | GSX 1400 | |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
