The motor gets new cylinders, ignition, rings, throttle bodies, as well as new traction control, exhaust and ECU settings. The bike looks much the same as last years, but has a huge number of detail improvements. So Yamaha wanted to improve comfort and convenience features, increase touring capability, make the bike feel lighter and more sporty and “offer the latest technology.” ST buyers are slightly more affluent, slightly older-but also more frugal, demanding more versatility from their rides. Yamaha wanted us to know that market conditions have changed a little since the last update. Yamaha summoned me from the drab horrors of my everyday life to ride the re-worked 2013 FJR in Northern California’s wine country, and how could I refuse? The promise of 300-plus miles on great roads on an improved version of one of the best sport-tourers made was enough to keep me motivated through the short tech presentation. A capable bike for sure, but in an era when a two-year-old smartphone is ready for “Antiques Roadshow,” it was time for another mid-cycle update. Many long-distance records have fallen beneath its radial-shod wheels, including the mind-boggling 86-hour, 5645-mile Prudhoe Bay to Key West blast of John Ryan in 2009. That’s because it’s a good motorcycle-fast, smooth, comfortable, good-handling and reliable. Now in its 13th model year, Yamaha’s FJR1300A is the longest-lived sport-tourer on the market.
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