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[SIZE=14pt]Jet-powered Tourer : YAMAHA FJR1300[/SIZE]
Yorkshireman Mick Tonks tooks away plate of black poodin' and straddles Yamaha's big sports tourer which he finds has muscle a-plenty to shift his monstrous bulk...
Having already clobbered the likes of Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki taking Top-Spot in the sport-bike classes with their superb, all conquering R1 and R6 sports-bikes. Yamaha have now seriously entered the Touring market with a worthy contender, the FJR1300, a stunning and purposeful looking piece of kit.
The first thing I noticed about the bike, apart from its striking looks was the length of the bike. The FJR looks and is quite lengthy, actually longer than Honda's Pan-European, a much larger looking bike. Usually longer wheel-base motorcycles have greater straight-line stability, with often slower steering characteristics, I'm quite sure Yamaha know what they're doing.
The styling of this bike and its slightly canted forward riding position, puts the FJR somewhere between a sports bike and a tourer, which makes it a "Performance Tourer," Yamaha's words not mine.
The fairing doesn't look as protective for instance, as the Pan European or BMW's RT and the riding position looks more semi-sports. The bike does look superb with its sleek lines and angular curves, but! the important question is, will it cut the mustard with the seasoned competition? Does it handle? Well actually, disguising the fact that the FJR weighs in at 237kg, plus luggage, it handles very well, much better than you could expect from a motorcycle built to tour.
I think the FJR thinks it's a sports bike and I bet plenty of VFR and Triumph Sprint ST riders would struggle to keep up with it. The twin spar aluminium frame comes with a pair of 48mm right way up multi-adjustable front forks, with a rising rate fully adjustable monoshock hung from the back. All this really means is the FJR goes around corners pretty damn good. The bike is very stable and comfortable at speeds well in excess of 100mph. I have a particular tendency to ride the front end of sports bikes, and strangely enough I found my-self doing the same with the FJR which I guess is encouraged by the riding position. I did notice at lower speeds that the steering has a tendency to tip in slightly, especially on slow roundabouts or junctions.
The two x 298 mm front brake discs, fitted with four piston caliper's and 282mm rear disc fitted with a 2 piston caliper, will scrub off speed at remarkable pace while feeling controlled and predictable. ABS or linked brakes are not fitted to the FJR at the moment, leaving braking balance to the rider which is much better for the thinking biker.
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The drive-way from my mansion in Barnsley down to the road is a quite steep gravelled road, littered with chop bones, Ferret and Whippet droppings and bits of black pudding, (eee by gum - Ed), so the only safe way to brake is with the back brake, any braking on the front end could end in disaster! Try that one Mr Linked Brakes!
Lets talk about poke. The FJR has got has got poke by the bucket load, and more grunt than Orwell's Animal Farm. Have you ever watched a Billy Connelly video and had to turn it off, while you regained your composure? Well that about sums up the FJR's performance. If you have never experienced the grin factor whilst riding a bike, then get your leg over the FJR, let me assure you, this bike sets new standards, better than sex, well it would be at my age, and the FJR doesn't give any sarcastic comments, when you've finished riding! Joking apart, the FJR is a missile, mission control in Houston would be proud to put their stamp on this bike. The thing just flies, but in a controllable and enjoyable way. If you want to get from A to B in rapid time, and if A to B are a thousand miles apart, I don't see anything beating the FJR. OK the FJR has got a 1298cc sixteen-valve, fuel injected, four- cylinder engine, churning out a claimed 145bhp with a top speed of over 150mph, so it is going to perform a bit, the FJR simply exceeds all expectations, FUNFUNFUN!
Will it tour? The FJR does suffer a little from the more petite fairing, weather protection is slightly impeded by the lack of bubble space, (element free space behind the fairing) that is the price of compromise unfortunately, you can't have your handling cake and eat it. You may need to wear wet weather gear if it's raining heavily, but only to protect the extremities, not really a problem, I don't know why I mentioned it. Like most top quality tourers these days the FJR comes with the almost obligatory electrically adjustable screen. They're a bit like mobile phones really. I managed for donkey's years without one, and would rather loose a testicle now than my mobile. Having the ability to alter the wind or rain in your face is an absolute must on a serious mile cruncher, I wouldn't spend my dosh on a tourer without one. Isn't technology a wonderful thing. Sitting comfortably sir? Well actually no, after two hours in the saddle my back-side was starting to complain a little, perhaps a few more centimetres of seat padding would have been advisable, and my wrists could do with a rest. Having finally found something to moan about a cup of coffee and a bun later, the circulation was back to normality, and I couldn't wait to get back on the road....
[SIZE=14pt]Jet-powered Tourer : YAMAHA FJR1300[/SIZE]
Yorkshireman Mick Tonks tooks away plate of black poodin' and straddles Yamaha's big sports tourer which he finds has muscle a-plenty to shift his monstrous bulk...
Having already clobbered the likes of Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki taking Top-Spot in the sport-bike classes with their superb, all conquering R1 and R6 sports-bikes. Yamaha have now seriously entered the Touring market with a worthy contender, the FJR1300, a stunning and purposeful looking piece of kit.
The first thing I noticed about the bike, apart from its striking looks was the length of the bike. The FJR looks and is quite lengthy, actually longer than Honda's Pan-European, a much larger looking bike. Usually longer wheel-base motorcycles have greater straight-line stability, with often slower steering characteristics, I'm quite sure Yamaha know what they're doing.
The styling of this bike and its slightly canted forward riding position, puts the FJR somewhere between a sports bike and a tourer, which makes it a "Performance Tourer," Yamaha's words not mine.
The fairing doesn't look as protective for instance, as the Pan European or BMW's RT and the riding position looks more semi-sports. The bike does look superb with its sleek lines and angular curves, but! the important question is, will it cut the mustard with the seasoned competition? Does it handle? Well actually, disguising the fact that the FJR weighs in at 237kg, plus luggage, it handles very well, much better than you could expect from a motorcycle built to tour.
I think the FJR thinks it's a sports bike and I bet plenty of VFR and Triumph Sprint ST riders would struggle to keep up with it. The twin spar aluminium frame comes with a pair of 48mm right way up multi-adjustable front forks, with a rising rate fully adjustable monoshock hung from the back. All this really means is the FJR goes around corners pretty damn good. The bike is very stable and comfortable at speeds well in excess of 100mph. I have a particular tendency to ride the front end of sports bikes, and strangely enough I found my-self doing the same with the FJR which I guess is encouraged by the riding position. I did notice at lower speeds that the steering has a tendency to tip in slightly, especially on slow roundabouts or junctions.
The two x 298 mm front brake discs, fitted with four piston caliper's and 282mm rear disc fitted with a 2 piston caliper, will scrub off speed at remarkable pace while feeling controlled and predictable. ABS or linked brakes are not fitted to the FJR at the moment, leaving braking balance to the rider which is much better for the thinking biker.
MAG Ad
The drive-way from my mansion in Barnsley down to the road is a quite steep gravelled road, littered with chop bones, Ferret and Whippet droppings and bits of black pudding, (eee by gum - Ed), so the only safe way to brake is with the back brake, any braking on the front end could end in disaster! Try that one Mr Linked Brakes!
Lets talk about poke. The FJR has got has got poke by the bucket load, and more grunt than Orwell's Animal Farm. Have you ever watched a Billy Connelly video and had to turn it off, while you regained your composure? Well that about sums up the FJR's performance. If you have never experienced the grin factor whilst riding a bike, then get your leg over the FJR, let me assure you, this bike sets new standards, better than sex, well it would be at my age, and the FJR doesn't give any sarcastic comments, when you've finished riding! Joking apart, the FJR is a missile, mission control in Houston would be proud to put their stamp on this bike. The thing just flies, but in a controllable and enjoyable way. If you want to get from A to B in rapid time, and if A to B are a thousand miles apart, I don't see anything beating the FJR. OK the FJR has got a 1298cc sixteen-valve, fuel injected, four- cylinder engine, churning out a claimed 145bhp with a top speed of over 150mph, so it is going to perform a bit, the FJR simply exceeds all expectations, FUNFUNFUN!
Will it tour? The FJR does suffer a little from the more petite fairing, weather protection is slightly impeded by the lack of bubble space, (element free space behind the fairing) that is the price of compromise unfortunately, you can't have your handling cake and eat it. You may need to wear wet weather gear if it's raining heavily, but only to protect the extremities, not really a problem, I don't know why I mentioned it. Like most top quality tourers these days the FJR comes with the almost obligatory electrically adjustable screen. They're a bit like mobile phones really. I managed for donkey's years without one, and would rather loose a testicle now than my mobile. Having the ability to alter the wind or rain in your face is an absolute must on a serious mile cruncher, I wouldn't spend my dosh on a tourer without one. Isn't technology a wonderful thing. Sitting comfortably sir? Well actually no, after two hours in the saddle my back-side was starting to complain a little, perhaps a few more centimetres of seat padding would have been advisable, and my wrists could do with a rest. Having finally found something to moan about a cup of coffee and a bun later, the circulation was back to normality, and I couldn't wait to get back on the road....
