All Duels – Pan-European Duel Vs FJR 1300 2013: GT on the road! – The city, by default

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Duel Pan-European Vs FJR 1300 2013: GT on the road !

All Duels - Pan-European Duel Vs FJR 1300 2013: GT on the road! - The city, by default

With these two motorcycles, it is not only two generations of GTs that clash, but two driving philosophies. Which one of the FJR sportswoman or the valiant Pan-European will win over the kilometers? ? Answers in our essay.

The city, by default

Like any motorcycle, these two GTs can of course venture into town. But given their imposing size, especially with suitcases, they will not be the most talented to navigate through traffic jams. !

In this exercise and despite its handicap of nearly 40 kg, the "old" Honda literally buries its competitor Yamaha. Here we find the extraordinary facility specific to the machines of the world’s leading manufacturer..

The Pan-European shows incredible ease for such a motorcycle. Everything comes together to make your life easier: an ultra-smooth V4, a precise gearbox and a smooth, progressive clutch. Add to that a light, neutral front end and you’ll quickly find yourself sneaking around – almost! – like a courier !

Going down the Pan, it feels like a weight training exercise going up on the FJR in town. Its front axle is much less agile at low speed and hardly encourages slalom…

We also regret a very firm hydraulic clutch handle, which calls for a hell of a grip. Finally, the in-line 4-cylinder is almost too nasty and brutal in Sport mode. We prefer the Touring mode, more relaxing because almost anemic…

This picture may seem a little harsh for the FJR and the many owners who drive it daily in town will certainly be offended. Nevertheless, we note that the latter often remove the side cases in favor of a top-case and are generally not small jigs … (questionable)

As soon as we have a little space, we can finally take full advantage of the FJR. We raise the windshield a little, we select the Sport mode, and forward the music !

This 2013 vintage is much more full at low and mid revs than the previous ones. The sound of the 4-cylinder is aggressive at will. With regard to the dynamic behavior of the motorcycle, we find the features of the old model, namely an imperturbable heading, to the detriment of a certain liveliness.

In arsouille mode, the FJR remains very physical to take. You should not hesitate to exaggerate your effort on the counter-steering, while firmly using your thighs and feet to swing it from one turn to another.

With a lower center of gravity, the Pan-European can be carried away with disconcerting ease. Its suspensions, favoring more comfort than handling, invite more to the ride than to attack. And that’s good, because its engine is to match.

The V4, monster of pleasure and flexibility, is not made to be martyred but still offers very correct raises and accepts to start again very low in the towers. This very coherent engine-frame assembly offers a very pleasant motorcycle for tourist use..

If, by chance, we let ourselves be overtaken by events, our two big GTs prove to be good brakes. One would think that the Honda, at the top of its ten years of age, would be outdated, but it is not. With its combined braking "Dual C-ABS" (coupling from front to rear and vice versa), the Pan brakes very well, very hard and flat !

The FJR can however boast of a bite and a more precise feeling of the front brake. Their two ABS do their job well: they are forgotten and do not trigger all the time despite the delicate conditions of our test.

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