My wife Ellen and I had the opportunity to test ride a 2005 Yamaha FJR1300A ('A' stands for ABS) this week.You can visit the site here http://www.yamaha-motor.com/products/unitinfo/2/mcy/27/180/0/yamaha_fjr1300.aspx I think she was more excited than I was about putting some miles on the sport-touring machine. She has a CBR600F4i and rarely rides on the back of my GSXR1000 because she hates the passenger seat of the gixxer. The FJR was recently bought by a good friend of mine Lanny Zuenges owner of Cumberland Cycles in Cumberland Maryland, 301-777-3614. ( Have to plug the ones who support our habbit.) He gracously offered to let Ellen and I take it for a day because we are kind of in the market for another bike. We have traveled to Canada and have done many long rides on our current bikes but, something a bit more confortable would be nice. Ellen will be doing an article From the Passengers Seat with her opions of bikes from the back. As you know these are our opinions and we are not professionals by any means, meaning we do not get any money from the bike industry which makes us unbiased. Anyway on to the meat of things........

The FJR was equipped with some nice options such as the tail pack which doubles as a padded passenger backrest. Also was the larger windscreen, both are offered by Yamaha. I love the looks of the bike it seems to be just what we are looking for, a sportbike with hard bags. Also included on this bike is the ABS which I never really got to a position were I could tell any difference.

The bike fired up quite easily and pulled us double up with no problems at all, motor is smooth and powerful. Riding position is nice, not much weight on my wrists and the seat it pretty comfortable. Gauges are laid out well and all the handlebar switches are where you expect for Japenese brand motorcycle. The electric height adjustment on the windshield is nice because you can change it on the fly with the push of a button. Which is actually turns out you need more than you think, every time you shut the key off the windshield returns to the standard position. I am sure the after-market will find a cure for ruining your perfect height adjustment. The other complaint about the windshield is distortion, when switching from looking over the shield to through it or vice versa the difference is very distracting. I suppose you would get used to it after a while although I did not in 200 miles.

The motor had pleanty of power, even though it was still in break-in mode and I did not run the RPM's up above 5 grand. It had no trouble pulling Ellen and I from any RPM above 1800. I am sure the power really comes on in the upper part of the rev range where I was not able to explore on this trip, oh well maybe later.

Handling was good on the highway and sweeping back roads but, I never did get the feel for this bike in slower tighter turns. I suppose I never felt planted, my GSXR has got me very spoiled in that department. anything below 30 MPH just did not flow with me. Faster than that the bike was flawless.

In conclusion, would I put down $12,899 ABS model or $11,799 for the standard, probably not.
I suppose when you are trying to be a sport-tourer, you have to be kind of sporty and also be part touring which are at odds at each other. Sport bike needs suspension that makes you feel the road and a touring bike is suppose to hide the road to a degree, makes the middle ground not wonderful in either area. I think I would buy a touring bike for touring and a sport bike for sporting and try and stay away from things that try to do both. If I was on the fence between a standard and touring this would be the bike I would purchase.