Yamaha Fjr1300 Review

Used Buyer Review

The FJR1300 is one of those bikes that makes you wonder why you ever rode anything else. Yamaha built this thing like a tank — the 1298cc inline-four pulls hard from idle and keeps pulling until your licence is genuinely at risk. Buy a pre-2006 carbed version if you're handy with spanners and want to save money, but honestly the 2006+ fuel-injected bikes are where the sweet spot lives. Electronic suspension on the AE models changes the game completely. Here's what nobody tells you upfront: check the shaft drive splines religiously. Neglected examples seize and the repair bill will ruin your week. Also budget for a new seat if it's got high miles — the stock unit is punishment after three hours. Shaft lash develops on tired bikes, so take it for a proper ride before handing over cash. The fairing plastics are expensive to replace if cracked, so inspect every panel. These things are bulletproof when maintained, and most FJR owners are exactly the kind of meticulous riders who service them properly. Find a documented example and you're buying a sports tourer that'll outlast almost anything in its class.