Chaser
Member
The comparo couldn't have been released with better timing. Once I saw the 2013 FJR's new features and engine improvements the idea of considering a Sport Tourer went from a distant interest to a reality. But the comparo left me with some uncertainties regarding the FJR. It seems like the article left the BMW with its expected accolades and the C14 received another (of many continuing) stamps of approval based mostly on its "ZX-14" sport bike engine character. But its my opinion that sport touring riders don't necessarily want to ride their motorcycles like sport bikes to be able extract the majority of it's power. Sport Tourers are concerned more about top gear passing power without having to jockey the transmission while on the open highway to access it. Also the C14 is the only one of the four without cruise control.
Where Yamaha states the '13 FJR gained only 3HP from the engine improvements one could ask what new piston rings, coated sleeveless cylinders, new throttle bodies and ignition, and a less restrictive exhaust did. I believe the the comparo's dyno charts, in particular the torque curves seem to reveal more. The -13's curve shows a significant amount of low end torque and also the 60-80 top gear passing time was one of the highest second to the BMW. It would have been useful if the comparo had listed gear ratios.
My conclusion is it seems to me that Yamaha design engineers gave the '13 FJR the engine characteristics and features that a sport touring motorcyclist would value the most. While most automobile comparos provide final rankings of 1st, 2nd and 3rd the Motorcyclist comparo seemed vague after the BMW with it's conclusions -except for the "off the record" comments of the riders where it seemed the FJR received more positive feedback than all the others. As I eluded to before I feel the C14's main accolade of "high end" power is running a little long on the tooth. Most sport tourers aren't looking for 83+ ft/lbs at 6500 RPM. Except for maybe sport riders that happen to write the ocassional sport touring review.
Where Yamaha states the '13 FJR gained only 3HP from the engine improvements one could ask what new piston rings, coated sleeveless cylinders, new throttle bodies and ignition, and a less restrictive exhaust did. I believe the the comparo's dyno charts, in particular the torque curves seem to reveal more. The -13's curve shows a significant amount of low end torque and also the 60-80 top gear passing time was one of the highest second to the BMW. It would have been useful if the comparo had listed gear ratios.
My conclusion is it seems to me that Yamaha design engineers gave the '13 FJR the engine characteristics and features that a sport touring motorcyclist would value the most. While most automobile comparos provide final rankings of 1st, 2nd and 3rd the Motorcyclist comparo seemed vague after the BMW with it's conclusions -except for the "off the record" comments of the riders where it seemed the FJR received more positive feedback than all the others. As I eluded to before I feel the C14's main accolade of "high end" power is running a little long on the tooth. Most sport tourers aren't looking for 83+ ft/lbs at 6500 RPM. Except for maybe sport riders that happen to write the ocassional sport touring review.
