The Yamaha FJR1300 is a sport touring motorcycle built around a 1,298 cc transverse inline-four engine and shaft drive. It was introduced in Europe in 2001 and remained in production for two decades, developing through three generations.
Yamaha FJR1300 at a glance
| Maker | Yamaha Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Class | Sport touring motorcycle |
| European launch | 2001 |
| North America | 2002, as a 2003 model |
| Engine | 1,298 cc transverse inline-four, four valves per cylinder |
| Gearbox | five-speed, six-speed from 2016 |
| Final drive | shaft, enclosed in the swingarm |
| Rear suspension | mono-shock with remote preload adjustment |
| ABS and linked brakes | standard from 2006 |
| Semi-automatic version | FJR1300AS / AE with YCC-S |
| Electronic suspension | FJR1300ES from 2014, AE/AS outside America |
| Discontinued in Europe | 2020 |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Yamaha FJR1300
The FJR1300 reached Europe in 2001 and North America in 2002 as a 2003 model, at first without ABS. The 2003 model collected several sport-touring awards from magazines. For 2004 North America received both a non-ABS version with blue brake calipers and a new ABS version with silver calipers, along with revised suspension rates, larger 320 mm front discs in place of 298 mm items and a fairing pocket.
The 2006 model, known as Gen-II, brought bigger changes: a revised trailing arm, a new final drive ratio, a curved radiator with more surface area, new instrumentation, a stronger alternator and work on airflow to reduce engine heat. Adjustable vents let the rider direct air towards or away from the body. ABS and Yamaha’s Unified Braking System became standard, and the FJR1300AS appeared with the YCC-S semi-automatic transmission, sold as the FJR1300AE in the United States and Canada until 2010.
The 2013 Gen-III update replaced the front bodywork, added a faster windscreen mechanism, LED position lights and a revised dash, and introduced ride-by-wire with D-Mode, traction control and cruise control. In 2014 the range split into the FJR1300A and the FJR1300ES with inverted forks and electronically adjustable suspension. A December 2015 revision for 2016 added a six-speed gearbox, an assist and slipper clutch, LED headlights and taillights and, on the auto-shift and electronic-suspension models, cornering lights. The FJR1300 was discontinued in Europe in 2020 but was still sold in Asia, North America and Australia in late 2025.
Design and features
- Inline-four tourer: a 1,298 cc engine with shaft final drive and a relaxed riding position.
- YCC-S: an electrically actuated gearshift and automatic clutch on the AS and AE versions.
- Comfort updates: adjustable vents in 2006, heated grips standard from 2012.
- Electronic suspension: the ES and later AE/AS models offer adjustable damping and preload.
Yamaha FJR1300 versions
- FJR1300 (2001–2005): first generation, ABS optional from 2004.
- FJR1300 Gen-II (2006–2012): ABS, linked brakes and revised cooling and bodywork.
- FJR1300AS / AE: semi-automatic YCC-S transmission; the AE left America after 2010.
- FJR1300 Gen-III (2013–2015): LED lighting, D-Mode, traction control and cruise control.
- FJR1300A and ES (2014–): standard and electronically suspended versions.
- 2016 update: six-speed gearbox, assist and slipper clutch, LED lights.
The FJR1300 belongs with other Yamaha tourers such as the TMAX scooter and the XJR. More models are in the Yamaha collection.
Sources
- Yamaha FJR1300, English Wikipedia: history, generations, engines, equipment
