Road – Click, roll! – Used YAMAHA

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Click, roll !

Road - Click, roll! - Used YAMAHA

After five years of good and loyal service, the Yamaha FJR 1300 is back in a new version which swaps its clutch handle in favor of a semi-automatic gearbox. So, marketing gimmick or real innovation ?

It is not a revolution but an evolution. Yamaha, which had however accustomed us to daring choices in the past (TDR 250, TDM 850, GTS 1000, etc.), did not want to be the manufacturer by whom the "fully automatic" arrives! The new FJR 1300 AS therefore adopts a semi-automatic gearbox called YCC-S, for Yamaha Chip Controlled Shift.

Thus, the pilot retains control over the choice of gears, but no longer cares about the left lever which disappears altogether. No doubt that die-hard bikers will see it as an intolerable piloting assistance….

But does a machine have to be hard to drive to be a "real" motorcycle? Huge debate! The overriding question for the biker who buys a GT motorcycle at this price is first and foremost whether the YCC-S further enhances driving pleasure..
Paris, 12/04/2006 – Sporty Touring "with the finger and the eye" with the FJR 1300 AS Video Site.

Appeared in 2001, the Yamaha FJR 1300 leads a relatively discreet career in the shadow of the more expensive BMW 1150 and 1200 RT but whose sales figures are still surprising. But thanks in particular to its big four-cylinder 147 hp, it has managed to retain a clientele of sports-GT enthusiasts.

The big Yamaha road bike has undergone some changes by perfecting over the years its finish and the protection of the rider who were somewhat fishing on the first models. The FJR adopted ABS in 2002. Available as an option until 2004, it has been fitted as standard since 2005 as well as the handy side cases.

"Official" look

Our test bike comes in a very nice navy blue dress with two gray stripes. This paint, without being pearly, offers magnificent shades that are very different depending on the ambient light. The presentation is classy and even if we are far from the blue gendarmerie, this FJR is very "official vehicle".

A feeling reinforced by the two side cases: the finish is remarkable. At first glance, the Yamaha really invites you to travel. We immediately want to load the suitcases, pick up Madame at the end of work and leave … far away !

The driving position is very natural and can also be fine-tuned thanks to the adjustable handlebars in three positions, which can slide back and forth over 11 mm. The saddle which offers a high level of comfort, both for the rider and the passenger, is also adjustable in height from 800 to 820 mm.

The equipment is quite complete with heated handles, a storage compartment containing at the bottom a 12 V socket – which locks as soon as the ignition is switched off – and an electric windshield.

The dashboard, clear and readable, is not as generous in information as those of its European competitors. In addition to the gauge and engine temperature, there is still the outside temperature, a gear indicator engaged, a clock and average consumption. Even if it is clear and pretty, especially at night, we would have preferred a speedometer with digital display and not analog.

Indeed, taking into account the excellent protection of the fairing and the performances of which the 4-cylinder is capable, it can be decisive – and beneficial for the license – to be able to raise its speed in a precise and fast way … Because we have very quickly to find oneself at largely prohibited speeds without realizing it! And even if the Yamaha is very "law enforcement" (read), it unfortunately does not have all the prerogatives…

The FJR is equipped as standard with deep, sturdy and well-finished side cases that are easy to use. They are of equal capacity and can each accommodate a full face helmet or a large bag.

Norman wardrobe

Once in the saddle, maneuvers with the engine off must be anticipated and reduced to their simplest expression! In particular, be careful not to park in a corner of a sidewalk with a slope in the wrong direction, because it is a blow to stay there…

Indeed, with almost 300 kg in running order and above all a fairly high center of gravity, the FJR requires a certain circumspection. As far as I’m concerned, it’s downright with humility that I approached one or two half-turns at a walk, on an incline, with Madame behind, full suitcases and a loaded tank bag … It is true that thus harnessed, our crew had to flirt with the half ton !

How it works ?

It must also be recognized that the famous semi-automatic gearbox is not of much help in such a case: and this is undoubtedly its main fault. So, "how’s that maaarche", would ask Michel Chevalet before cutting all suspense short: "well it’s very simple!"

First of all, you have to brake to start, from the front or the rear, it doesn’t matter, scooter style. Then, if you want to use the foot switch, the FJR AS can be used exactly like a conventional machine … without a clutch. With one detail: the first is at the top with the other gears, and not at the bottom like on a "normal" motorcycle.

The neutral point is therefore at the very bottom. But this is not very important because in use, we no longer use the foot at all, which at least has the advantage of no longer marking the leather of the boots. !

All at the left index finger

The foot switch is in fact assisted by a trigger positioned with the left handlebar controls. To activate it, you must press a button, which lights up a green diode. From then on, we can upshift with the index finger and lower them with the thumb.

In use, the thumb, which more often finds the horn than the selector, is no longer useful: after half an hour of driving, we find ourselves driving this big motorcycle with the tip of the left index finger … on the trigger, we go up a gear, a flick by pushing it back and we downshift !

The electronics perfectly manage these speed changes. And the shorter the flick, the faster and smoother the operation! The YCC-S also allows you to go up gears while remaining fully open throttle, which provides really muscular acceleration if you push the gears. !

Downshifts and engine braking are also perfectly managed and the electronics prevent any untimely blocking. Thank goodness these calculators are very discreet and only remember you fondly in extreme cases. The electronics will purely and simply refuse any action if it is asked to downshift in over-revving, or on the contrary to go up a gear in under-revving.

Box efficient, pleasant, easy but…

The driving pleasure provided by the YCC-S is therefore very real and this system in no way affects the pleasure of driving. We assimilate the operation in less than half an hour and we are really comfortable after about two hours.

Paradoxically, it is in town that the semi-auto box requires the greatest time to adapt. Indeed, the pilot has a tendency to knit the trigger with the index finger and no longer know very well what gear he is on. Fortunately, the gear indicator engaged and the engine torque make it possible to make up for these little messes. !

However, this system is not without reproach: the main concern posed by the YCC-S is its lack of smoothness at startup. The absence of a handle means that the clutch cannot be waxed and thus correctly dose the acceleration in first gear.

When maneuvering at very low speed, already penalized by the height of the center of gravity and the weight of the machine, it is also necessary to deal with the sudden arrival of power … Very delicate when you start a half tour like the one mentioned above !

This problem gets even worse when the bike is cold and the injection grazes a little when starting, generating very unpleasant jerks which can cause you to lose your balance if you are maneuvering….

Endurable in the city, imperial on the highway

As long as we remove its suitcases, the FJR 1300 AS performs city trips with a certain goodwill! Of course, it’s not a supermotard, but its good turning radius, its reassuring balance and the smoothness of its engine make the exercise possible..

But the Yamaha GT is above all made to cut the road, far, long and for two! The motorway stages are only a formality: once the windshield is raised – annoying, it goes back down to the low position each time the ignition is switched off – the driver and passenger both benefit from excellent protection..

Be careful, however, because the windshield in its highest position (+ 12 cm) creates an unpleasant depression which pushes the pilot forward when he is driving solo. Protection is also excellent on the bust and legs, with adjustable fairing sides of 30 mm spacing.

The average consumption of 7.3 l / 100km is relatively reasonable, given the size and performance of the machine. And the 25-liter tank makes it possible to lengthen the stages: we only go into reserve between 250 and 300 km.

The road whistling

However, the pleasure of motorcycling is neither in the city nor on the motorway, but rather on our nice secondary network! On this type of road, the FJR almost manages to forget its size. She is safe, easy and able to adopt all kinds of rhythms.

In a good GT, it loves a ride where the driver can take advantage of the large torque available at all speeds. The engine, smooth and available in all circumstances, is not a lightning bolt in the 100 hp version, but it obeys all demands..

In addition, he suffers from very slight injection jerks when the gas is reset and when the gas is cut off. At this senator’s pace, daydreaming while looking at the landscape, you can be surprised! No problem however since the FJR brakes hard and runs !

Thanks to the ABS and the combined front-rear braking, the braking is really impressive for such an imposing motorcycle, even in duo. The bike remains stable and does not undergo too much mass transfer.

More GT than sporty

With its powerful 4-cylinder, the FJR also offers almost sporting skills and is quite capable of keeping up with a high pace on small roads. The wide handlebars offer sufficient leverage to swing the machine’s 300 kg with disconcerting ease.

With its new swingarm that is 35mm longer, the Yamaha shows very reassuring angle stability. Even if this is not its primary vocation and despite its murderous restraint in France, the 1300 cc 4-cylinder is also appreciated in high revs..

The semi-automatic gearbox also adapts very well to muscular use. However, sport riding is not really in the nature of this bike and this type of use should remain occasional. The FJR is above all a Grand Touring made for traveling, with the advantages and the limits of this type of machine: the weight remains significant, the ground clearance will be limited by the central stand and the cardan is more made to roll up than to be manhandled.

Like good wine, the FJR 1300 has therefore improved over time. More practical, better finished, better equipped, the Yamaha has been able to erase its small imperfections of the past to come back to us more homogeneous and pleasant than ever..

In this AS version, it pushes the driving pleasure a little further … while making it pay quite a bit: more € 1,400 compared to the standard version, ie a price of € 16,990. That’s the price of innovation, but is it worth it? It’s up to everyone to see in relation to their finances and the care they take for their shoes….

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