“Whatever the reason, twisting the right grip with Drive-mode in Sport is answered with a primal growl from the drivetrain and an instantaneous forward thrust…Even in top gear, the acceleration often is stronger than what some bikes can manage in any gear.”

“Visually, the FJR has more-aggressive styling with a new fairing that features ‘cat’s eye’ headlights partially surrounded by a ring of white LED running lights, with tall, thin turnsignals, also LEDs, integrated into the leading edge of the bodywork.” 

—Cycle World

“Recently, Yamaha hosted a two-day ride for the media in Northern California’s wine country to show off its new FJR1300A and we’ll tell you right now that we came away even more impressed with the FJR than we already were.”

“Our first riding impression of the new FJR1300A was a good one and left us wanting more—a lot more. Many things quickly stood out for us, but probably none more so than the FJR’s just plain good handling.”

—Cycle News

“My short two-day experience with the new 2013 FJR1300 left me very impressed with the upgrades Yamaha instilled into its sport-touring flagship.”

“The new fairing/windscreen is a major improvement over the previous unit, especially when the screen is raised to its highest position.”

—Sport Rider Magazine

“Modernized instrumentation and switchgear really enhance the 2013 FJR1300 riding experience, with a customizable trip computer display and electronic control for the heated grips.”

“Ample power, comfort, capacity and improved handling along with lots of handy new features make the 2013 Yamaha FJR1300 even more ready for the big leagues, and big miles.”

—Rider Magazine

“...Traction control is impressive, too, as whacking the throttle open on wet pavement from a stop produced hardly noticeable intervention. In fact, if it wasn’t for the flashing light on the dash, I wouldn’t have known.”

“In its own right, the new FJR1300 is a fantastic sport-touring rig. The engine updates combined with the long-distance comfort are sure to please, no matter which side of the S-T category you stand on. Standard heated grips, traction control, ABS and cruise control make the FJR an ideal machine to tackle all situations encountered during a long ride.”

—Motorcycle.com

“After two days on a variety of roads—from divided superhighway to tight, bumpy two-laners—I can say the changes are noticeable and well done.”

“Long-distance comfort is impressive. The two-position-adjustable seat, clad in a new seat cover with Nubuck-esque ‘high quality’ side trim, is wide and supportive.”

“Aided by the specially-developed Bridgestone BT-023F tires, the FJR turned easily and felt planted and secure, even on cold, slippery downhill turns.”

—MotorcycleDaily.com