2006 Yamaha FJR 1300A

Here on German motorways you can really step on the gas. And even beyond 200 km/h it cuts a very good figure. Absolutely stable even at higher speeds.

I have been riding bikes for 40 years, always Hondas, my last bike was a Blackbird, At 61 years of age I decided to go for a bit more comfort, the FJR was my choice and I'll never regret it, what a superb machine. I am 6'1" tall and nearly always ride 2 up, this bike is perfect for long hauls and ... at a fairly quick pace and here in Tasmania we have a lot of winding roads, the FJR handles the corners very easily.

As an owner of a 2006 FJR, this bike exceeds all expecations from reliability, handling and everyday , functionality. For the price and options, with other bikes in this category, this is the right bike.

Speed, power, handling, comfort. Just finished a 3 day, two up trip in rain and shine. This bike gives you the confidence to handle whatever comes your way. This past March, I traveled 6 hours in 33 degree rain trying to get home and it was surprisingly comfortable. Good gear was a big factor ... but riding through city traffic in these conditions can be interesting and I felt confident all the way.

Purchased used at the end of Aug. 08. 25,000 km on it. Coming from the '00 Honda VFR 800, I wanted a more touring, with all the "sport", but was understanding there would be tradeoffs. The shaft drive definitely makes a difference (floats somewhat, making it seem like the bike might let go) in ... the corners, and I accept this as a tradeoff for a more comfortable ride in the long haul trips. What I am dissappointed in is the windscreen. I am 6 feet tall and when on the hwy, with the windscreen all the way down, the wind hits my helmet at the bottom of the visor. This creates an incredible amount of dirty air around my helmet and thus lots of noise. I recently purchased a Shoei x-eleven helmet to reduce noise, but this was not the solution. Of course, putting the windscreen up to the top position (or anywhere in between) was not much more helpfull as far as wind goes. The wind then caught me just above the visor (in the top position). the only benefit to having the windscreen up would be to protect me from rain.

Having said that, I must say the power of this shaft drive, for a sport tourer is quite superb. My friend has a VFR 800 and doing some riding around, I found them equal in power capabilities. The specs show the FjR 1 mile an hour faster than the VFR!

I will be doing an extended tour at the end of June and will report back after that. (A 10 day jaunt to Yellowstone)

The FJR is the perfect sports-touring bike. It has power, handling, and comfort. I have done several 800 mile days with no complaints. Being 65 years old and riding for 50 years on several different bikes makes this bike very special. I wouldn't trade this bike for any other on the market. Try ... one out and see what why I'm so happy with this bike.

Stay two up,

Bubber Collins

Don't waist your money on the Yamaha version. The first was called back for possible cracks to the mounting area on the bottom of the truck. The fix was replacing the trunk and a new mounting plate. Well, this was done and my new top case was received. About a month ago I was washing my FJR and taking ... the opertunity to inspect everything while I was drying. The base of my second top case was cracked in the same place as my first. Went to the dealer and said that it wouldn't be covered. Called Yamaha customer service and got the same story. Do yourself a favor. If you buy an FJR and want a top case, buy a GIVI. Better quality and cost less. Yamaha customer service to say the least was not impressive, their attitude towards my problem has made me realize that there are other manufactures that probably want my money a little more. Buy the Kawi 1400

The FJR1300A is really a great all around bike. You can stay close dragging the pegs with just about everybody and then throw the bags back on with a weeks worth of clothes assundry items and tour with comfort. The heat problem that was a concern with the 2005 and earlier bikes is gone. The throttle ... is very touchy off idle but with a minor modification that too can be handled. Anybody over 6' will probably want a taller windscreen as the stock one just doesn't quite give enough protection. I don't know why Yamaha didn't provide any helmet locks for the bike but the aftermarket companies have stepped up and make quite alot of intelligent offerings.

There isn't one bike that does everything for everybody but if I had to choose just one street/touring bike, this would be the one.

I have had my FJR for about a year and a half, and have ridden it about 12,000 miles since buying it new. This motorcycle is absolutely the best motorcycle for my riding that I have ever ridden. It has excellent power, great agility but with correspondingly fantastic stability, incredible brakes, ... etc. Also, most of my riding is two-up, and with quite a lot of luggage. I simply place the rear suspension lever in the stiffer position when riding loaded, and the stability is still great, and the agility is not bad for all of the weight it is carrying. I corner the bike when fully loaded until the pegs touch down, and I have never had a problem with the handling. The only small nit-picking complaints could be a small hesitation in throttle response off idle, a little lash in the drive train when suddenly opening the throttle at low engine speed, the seat is not real comfortable, and limited capacity of the side bags and optional top case. Generally, I still think this bike is the best that I have ever ridden, and I definitely don't see any reason to want to change to amother.

James Close