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Tour comparison

Transalpine Express

Where is Yamaha’s new FJR 1300? Tourer? Sports Tourer? Right in between? MOTORRAD went on a search for the truth and rushed over the burner.

“The suitcases are there!” There are sentences that have the effect of starting a 100-meter run. Everyone was waiting for it ?? and yet the hectic pace starts. The cases: These are the ones from the FJR 1300. At first, Yamaha was unable to deliver for an indefinite period of time ?? and still has difficulties now. But ours are suddenly there. Simply hang it in the integrated mounts, done. You don’t need an extra key because, unlike the cases (1390 marks), the lock cylinders are part of the standard scope of delivery. Unfortunately, the procedure on the CBR 1100 XX is a bit more complicated. Honda does not offer suitcases for the sports tourer. But we want to tour, see where the Yamaha compares to the established competition. So the Krauser K5 system? Side carriers and case cost 983 marks ?? Installed. Fortunately, it works quickly and easily. The BMW K 1200 RS has practically grown together with their suitcases, even if the Bavarians, including the holder, charge an extra 997 marks. So now we can start. Everything in the case, on to the location determination.
First stage. Autobahn, from Stuttgart to Fussen. Actually a domain of the Doppel-X, that former high-speed flyer who mutated into a serious sports tourer over time? and still trumps in paper form. 278 km / h top speed (without case). The others (247 km / h BMW, 250 km / h Yamaha) cannot keep up. And stay tuned anyway, because the Honda hurries for a short time using its full performance potential, but top-speed boiling beyond the 250 with this eternally wide storage space and strapped luggage roll leads to unrest in the otherwise very stable aluminum framework. So rather a little slower, especially since the BMW and, in a weaker form, the Yamaha are not immune to fickleness, but can digest speeds on this side of 220 km / h without complaint and the train going south easily passes as an express at this speed.
Another parallel to the train: there are different classes. Accommodation on the FJR 1300 is almost a premium offer. It offers generous space at the front and back and a very comfortable bench seat even after many hours. In addition, thanks to the height-adjustable screen at the push of a button, there is the best wind protection in the field, even if the turbulence in the helmet area always reminds you that you are on the motorcycle and the suction suggests tailwind in higher speed regions. A fallacy that the Honda driver cannot ride. Here it blows from the front, and strongly. Although the seating position on the CBR, with its low handlebars, is much sportier than on the Yamaha, but still qualifies as 1st class in terms of comfort, the narrower window here only effectively protects those riders who hunch down, which is not typical for tours.
A subservience that is not necessary on the K 1200 RS because it also has a height-adjustable disc. But this also exhausts the similarities with the Yamaha, because BMW counteracts the Japanese belief in the servomotor with solid craftsmanship. Disc up, disc down: on the Bavarian a question of muscle strength and ?? beyond 160 km / h ?? also one of trust in the chassis quality. Then the desire for more wind protection because of the wind pressure can only be achieved with both hands. The optionally available cruise control (575 marks) does in this case? and anyway ?? good service.
This only applies to a limited extent for the raised pane. Although it almost frees the upper body of the wind pressure, in return it delivers violent turbulence to small and large drivers alike, which does not exactly increase the joy of traveling, while the seating position for driver and pillion is quite comfortable even on long stretches of motorway. However, the BMW does not come close to the comfort of the Yamaha.
Just as little as in their performance, because the compact Nippon 1300 speed change makes it a very short-term matter regardless of the current speed. The sovereignty with which the FJR accelerates in the last gear degrades the fellow campaigners to extras, is only slightly below the level of a much stronger Suzuki Hayabusa. This pulling power ?? which makes overtaking maneuvers into almost the most beautiful minor matter in the world, especially with a Sozia ?? It would still be wrong to just credit the engine, because the short secondary translation is at least as responsible for it. With the side effect that the vibrations, which are always present despite two balance shafts, cannot be dealt with by reducing the engine speed, especially in the upper speed regions.
A problem that the Honda driver is not familiar with because the drive system is much more sophisticated. The 1100 runs so silky smooth that it can be used as a sedative and these good manners quickly hide the fact that it has it all under the valve cover. The potency becomes particularly clear when the double X engine really starts cheering and playfully moves into speed regions in which the FJR ?? and the BMW anyway ?? Has long since run out of breath.
In view of the new Yamaha range, the Munich four-cylinder looks a bit old, because although it is still good at music up to 7000 rpm, it only continues to rotate slowly and with 124 HP cannot hold a candle to the competition in terms of performance. In combination with the high weight of the K 1200 RS, this results in a considerable acceleration deficit and ?? much more important in civil motorcycle life ?? the subjective impression that the only BMW in-line four has to make an effort all the time.
This applies to a certain extent on the motorway and even more so on the country road. Especially when gradients are involved. Fernpass, old Brennerstrabe: Italy and spring are calling. But before that, the weather god placed the alpine snow landscape. With their charm? and their pitfalls. The latter category includes insidious, meter-wide meltwater runoffs. Tour fate? No, because the BMW strikes back. Because the Bavarians oppose the Japanese braking fatalism with modern technology. Composite brake system, brake booster ?? and especially ABS. Once the pilot has internalized that in the worst-case scenario, the electronic helpers reliably prevent the wheels from locking, the winter aftermath loses much of its horror, while the pilots on Honda (with composite braking system) and Yamaha (without any) only experience such hardship To be able to face constant “watch out”.
But the FJR has other properties that have an antispasmodic effect. Despite her ?? absolutely seen ?? With a very considerable weight of 275 kilograms with a full tank, the Yamaha tourer impresses with unexpected agility which, in combination with the exemplary relaxed seating position, defuses even tricky situations. With a feeling of being in control of the situation at all times, which is not a matter of course on large motorcycles, the FJR circles sharp rock ledges as neutrally as long arches, does not let itself be disturbed by hard heels or bumps and also spoils you with the best suspension comfort, because the The mighty, fully adjustable 48 mm telescopic fork and the central spring strut, which can be adjusted in terms of spring stiffness, respond finely and even when fully loaded and occupied by two people, have sufficient damping reserves.
The CBR 1100 XX is by no means uncomfortable in this regard, but is designed to be more rigid with regard to its non-adjustable damper units. A fact that, like the more compact seating position, is only noticeable when you switch from the comfortable Yamaha and at first feel as if you are on an athlete. But after the first few turns, the advantages of such an orientation become clear. The Doppel-X requires even less effort than the Yamaha, and is much more precise and, above all, easier to handle when the pace is accelerated thanks to its lower weight. Another advantage: its finely adjustable compound brake system, whose slight tendency to overbrake the rear wheel is no longer significant when fully loaded and which requires far less manual force than the equally effective, but difficult to dose FJR double disc system.
Arranged in this way, the CBR driver almost inevitably starts to alpenglow. Forget the suitcase, forget the roll of luggage. Really fast around the corner, spring fever. Then a look in the rear-view mirror: the Yamaha is still there. Not because their pilots were overcome with indomitable ambition, but because his pedestal also naturally pours the brisk pace out of the cornucopia of his fat cylinder capacity reservoir. Just open the gas, close the gas? the shift foot still has a break, while the footpegs that touch down quite early are noted as fun on the side.
On the K 1200 RS, on the other hand, having fun is such a thing, because the speed range in which the BMW is unrestrictedly enjoyable is much more narrowly defined. Comfortable rolling, for example, she acknowledges with a pronounced wobblyness that messes up the line in tight turns. If things are going really quickly, the pronounced tendency to oversteer bothers the large distance between the seat and the adjustable handlebar, which is too far away even in its highest position and in combination with a full 295 kilograms of weight, changing curves or course corrections in quick arcs hard work.
D.But you can’t really use it on a leisurely motorcycle trip. You need sun, leisure, spring? As always, you can rely on Lake Garda. Take a cappuccino in comfort right by the lake, talk about gasoline. Marvel at the Yamaha, which can accommodate luggage, accommodate two people, cover long distances with ease, is very easy and, if necessary, can also be driven very quickly. Hats off to the Honda, which traditionally emphasizes the sporty aspect of the vacation tour, but cannot offer the comfort of the Yamaha and consumes too much fuel. Be divided compared to the BMW, which offers a lot of long-distance comfort and optionally almost everything for the big tour, but whose basic solutions are not always convincing. And then go home in peace, because work and bad weather are waiting at home. A realization that suddenly even this Transalpine Express cannot be slow enough.

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Tour comparison

Tour comparison
Transalpine Express

2nd place – Honda CBR 1100 XX

She is used to victories. But now she has found her master. Close, but still. Not because the double X has lost some of its quality. Stable, agile, strong as a bear ?? the Honda is a balanced motorcycle. However, it does not achieve the long-distance travel qualities of an FJR in terms of wind protection or comfort, and in terms of sporty gait it offers little more. The result is respectable in any case, even if an ABS in conjunction with the composite braking system would do you good.

1st place – Yamaha FJR 1300

A debut made to measure. But it doesn’t make determining your position any easier. The FJR is a great tourer, no question about it. But also a great sports tourer. With a well-tuned chassis, a cardan with almost no annoying reactions and this brute engine, it does splendidly in almost all respects. Only two things are really annoying: the lack of ABS and a current delivery bottleneck for the suitcases. Both things that go well with tourers and sports tourers.

3rd place – BMW K 1200 RS

The K 1200 RS ?? the eternal third. Despite good long-distance comfort. Too heavy, too sluggish, plus points of criticism such as a single-sided swing arm hardening under tension with pronounced load change reactions or the turning circle of a small truck. The G-Kat doesn’t help either because the competitors have upgraded. But the thing with ABS is and remains exemplary, and the integral brake system with brake booster also has a future, despite slight weaknesses in terms of controllability.

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