2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike Review Specs Price

The 2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike epitomizes a sport-touring motorcycle: as youthful as a pair of pleated Dockers, yet sporty enough for aggressive canyon carving and comfortable and sophisticated enough for interstate cruising. With a 1,298cc inline-four engine, the FJR’s soundscape and smooth ride quality are as tried and true as the Sport Touring class, which is still a stand-in. Its outstanding features is the fact that it is considered suitable for Police Bike.

While its $18,299 MSRP may come with sticker shock since the FJR1300 was last updated in 2016, the FJR still boasts several helpful features, such as an electronically adjustable suspension, cornering LED lights, attached anti-lock brakes, an electrically adjustable windscreen, and two Throttle response modes. Still, seven years is a long time in the motorcycle development business, and especially recent Kawasaki and Suzuki models offer more contemporary electrical assistance and are much less expensive.

We’d like an updated FJR with a quick shifter, a TFT screen, lean angle-sensitive traction control, and ABS. Premium features like blind spot detection and adaptive cruise control are appearing on newer Tourers. However, for some riders, the FJR’s essential features, like a comfortable seat, warm grips, a nearly maintenance-free driveshaft, and integrated rugged gear, outweigh the latest technology.

2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike – Features and Specs

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

A 1,298cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder engine powers the 2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike. To increase versatility, Yamaha swapped its five-speed gearbox for a six-speed one in 2016. A tall sixth gear lowers highway cruising rpm by 10% to improve fuel economy. The engine’s exceptional power makes first and second gears easily accessible, and their close spacing minimizes awkward gearshifts better than 2022 Yamaha FJR1300ES.

However, the fourth and fifth gears are slightly shorter for better acceleration due to the same close spacing. While the 2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike has never been a cowardly motorcycle, something is disconcerting about how easily it shifts into sixth gear. It is made possible by the engine’s low 3,500 rpm while cruising at 75 mph.

Chassis/Handling

The 2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike features an electrically adjustable suspension system, a shaft drive, and an aluminum twin-spar frame. Even at 642 pounds (wet), it has exceptionally sporty handling characteristics. Once you force it into a corner, you will notice its weight and slight lack of cornering clearance.

The electronically controlled suspension has three damping settings, seven damping adjustments, and four preload settings. Electronic adjustability is a helpful feature, but the technology seems dated compared to the semi-active electronic suspensions we’ve been using.

Brakes

Along with Neeson calipers, the 2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike can measure up to two 320mm discs at the front and a 282mm disc at the rear. Standard ABS is attached.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

For the 2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike, there are currently no accessible fuel economy figures.

Ergonomics: Comfort and Utility

For long-legged riders, the 2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike’s riding position is “just right” but a bit cramped from seat to peg. This can be quickly fixed by raising the seat to its highest setting, which only takes a few seconds. The comfort level of the seat is an important factor to consider on a bike with a 6.6-gallon gas tank. Thus making it one of the Best Touring Bike in the World.

The FJR’s windscreen is electronically adjustable with a range of 5.1 inches, the handlebars are tunable to three settings, and the seat adjusts by 0.8 inches—Integrated hard luggage, cruise control, heated grips, cornering lights, movable fairing that directs airflow. Other valuable features include side panels and a glove box integrated into the fairing with a 12V outlet.

Electronics

The 2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike features two throttle response modes, essential traction control, and a ride-by-wire system. However, it still needs improvement, as it uses an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to regulate the cornering lights. It is not integrated with traction control or anti-lock brakes. The FJR1300 will remain relatively primitive as it awaits additional improvements. Despite looking dated, the analog and LCD dashboards are still quite useful.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

One-year limited factory warranty is available for the 2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike.

Quality

Yamaha is known for its reliability. The FJR’s driveshaft makes long-distance travel easier, requiring almost no maintenance compared to a chain final drive, which requires frequent maintenance.

2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike – Price

The new 2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike is available at $18,299 only.

2023 Yamaha FJR1300ES Sports Touring Bike – Technical Specifications

Engine

Suspension Brakes and Tires

Dimension