2005 Yamaha FJR 1300 ABS

At age 59, I've been riding motorcycles for 40 years (arrgh!) and owned quite a few bikes. Worst bike? Has to have been that old Harley Davidson Sprint... may it rest in pieces. Best bike? No contest; it's my 2005 FJR1300A.

I still dream about my first bike, a Honda 305 Scrambler. ... Still remember the compliments on my '76 Triumph Trident ("Nice bike, man!") and the perfect reliability of a beat up Honda 550-4, while I was in grad school. But the FJR looks beautiful, runs to 60 in 2.97 secs, packs up like a mule, and can pucker the pavement on a canyon sweeper. Nice ergonomics, electric windshield and doesn't look like it's being parted out, when you remove the roomy saddlebags. The FJR's torque is extremely satisfying in any gear and at darn near any rpm. The horsepower, at 145, is capable of puckering more than pavement, even on seasoned riders, especially when you pass 6K RPM.

The FJR saddle is comfortably contoured, but can start to gall the glutes after about 300 miles. Never fear, a sheepskin saddle cover can make all the difference in the world. At 5'8", with a 30" inseam, I'm very comfortable on the height adjustable seat, in its lower position, with flat-footed stops never a problem.

It's a small thing, but I always appreciate the positive stop on the shifter, when you're in first gear. Riding my Honda, I find myself compulsively trying to downshift a dozen times, as I roll up on a red light, because the blasted shifter doesn't communicate, "OK, I'm in first gear, now!" It's the little stuff, the nice touches, that persistently tease you into good humor.

I own three nice bikes, now, but this is the one that always nudges me first, when I squeeze through the garage. "Oops, is that your throttle, or are you just glad to see me?"

Received the bike in July '04 and have not been tempted by another bike yet. For me, this bike has it all. With some after market accessories, the FJR is close to being a perfect fit. Like the other reviews state, the "heat" issue is a $5 fix. I haven't had anything go wrong...yet. Thank you ... Yamaha for getting it right.

The FJR1300AT is fun to ride and there are many options available. Many of the past issues have been resolved by Yamaha after we all complained. Not sure about the new automatics, just enjoy riding. Tip: Spend the money for a custom saddle, it's worth the extra money.

What a great bike. The stated heat problems was an easy fix by just blocking some spots, the new versions fixed from teh factory. Many ways to customize to each individual. Very Fast, great handling.