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Yamaha XJR 1300

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Make Model

Yamaha XJR 1300

Year

2015 - 16

Engine

Four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder

Capacity

1251 cc / 76.34 cu-in
Bore x Stroke 79 x 63.8 mm
Cooling System Air Cooled
Compression Ratio 9.7:1
Lubrication Wet sump
Oil capacity 4.2 Litres / 0.28 qu
Exhaust 4-2-1 matt black

Induction

Fuel Injection

Ignition 

Digital TCI 
Starting Electric

Max Power

106 hp / 77.3 kW @ 6000 rpm

Max Torque

108 Nm / 80 lb-ft @ 6000 rpm
Clutch Wet, multiple-disc coil spring

Transmission 

5 Speed
Final Drive Chain
Frame Steel double cradle

Front Suspension

Telescopic fork, Coil spring/oil damper
Front Wheel Travel 130 mm / 5.1 in

Rear Suspension

Swingarm, ÖHLINS Coil spring/gas-oil damper
Rear Wheel Travel 120 mm / 4.7 in

Front Brakes

2x 298mm discs 4 piston caliper

Rear Brakes

Single 245mm disc  2 piston caliper

Front Tyre

120/70 -ZR17

Rear Tyre

180/55-ZR17
Rake 25.0°
Trail 100 mm / 3.9 in
Dimensions Height 1115 mm / 43.9 in
Length 2175 mm / 85.6 in
Width 765 mm / 30.1 in
Wheelbase 1500 mm / 59.0 in
Ground Clearance 132 mm /  5.2 in
Seat Height 820 mm / 32.2 in

Dry Weight

222 kg / 489 lbs

Wet Weight

240 kg / 529 lbs

Fuel Capacity 

14 Litres / 3.6 US gal

 

Yamaha has debuted with the Yamaha XJR1300 and Yamaha XJR1300 Racer. Based around Yamaha’s 1,300cc air-cooled inline-four engine (98hp / 80 lbs•ft), the XJR1300 and XJR1300 Racer take on the lines of the classic “naked bike” aesthetic — building upon Yamaha’s previous offering.

Yamaha says that it has worked closely with motorcycle customizers to update the 2015 Yamaha XJR1300, and the result is an addition to its “Sport Heritage” line, with a decidedly sporty twist coming from the 2015 Yamaha XJR1300 Racer, which has carbon fiber bodywork and clip-on handlebars.

Of note are the Öhlins rear shocks, and the front forks with their diamond-like coating (DLC). Other points of interest include the 4-2-1 exhaust, and the 3.8 gallon fuel tank. The 2015 Yamaha XJR1300 Racer comes with an Akrapovic exhaust and various Rizoma goodies.

Built in collaboration with Wrenchmonkees and Deus Ex Machina, the Yamaha XJR1300 was built with the customization crowd in mind. As such, Yamaha has a bevy of parts available to mold your XJR1300 into your own desired form.
 

 

Review

Yamaha has turned the XJR1300 in a retro-style café racer, inspired by the likes of Roland Sands and Deus. They’ve left the basics alone, like the engine and chassis and given it a facelift. It has a smaller tank, a black exhaust, a cleaner subframe design and a smaller café racer-style headlight. Not only does it look great, it’s smooth, fast capable and cracking value for money. 

The XJR1300 continues with the same tubular steel frame and aluminium swingarm. It weighs a hefty 240kg, but this is a muscle bike and the extra weight flattens-out the bumps and gives an impression of invincibility. The lower subframe rails have been chopped to give the back end a cleaner look.

Twin Ohlins rear shocks are adjustable for preload and rebound damping. Fully-adjustable fork stanchions have a ‘Diamond Like Coating’ to reduce station. It has new three spoke wheels, shod with Dunlop D252 tyres, twin 298mm front discs and four-piston monobloc radial brakes. 

It takes everything you throw at it in the corners, despite its weight, so long as you brake, turn and accelerate gently. Steering is on the slow side of neutral, there’s plenty of ground clearance for the road and there’s good feedback through the suspension. 

Straight line and cornering stability is superb and braking power isn’t a problem, either, but grip from the OE Dunlop D252 tyres is as retro as the looks, especially in the wet. Fit a set of the latest-generation sports or sport touring rubber and you’ll improve the handling massively. 

Weighing a sturdy 240kg, the Yamaha is about as far from a ‘super naked’ as you can imagine and it’s 18kg heavier than the BMW R nineT, if you want to compare retros. But the extra weight actually serves to give the XJR1300 Racer a solid, indestructible feel and a magic carpet-like ride around town and along motorways. 

Yamaha has shrunk the fuel tank from 21-litres to 14 (it’s now plastic, not steel), in the name of styling. The engine sticks out from the under the tank now, which is the current café racer thing to do, but your knees now rest on the rocker covers and boy do they roast your thighs in traffic. 

Engine 4 out of 5

Yamaha has stuck with thee XHR1300’s grunt-packed original 1250cc air-cooled, inline-four-cylinder motor. It makes 97bhp and 80ftlb of torque and has a new-style black 4-2-1 exhaust. It’s a peach of a thing and packed with so much grunt you can crawl through town in top gear without any dramas. The power delivery is smooth and seamless all the way from tickover to the 9500rpm red line and the fuel injection lets you accelerate from a closed throttle without any hiccups or snatches. 
Gears slice home with typical Yamaha precision, but like the FJR1300 sports tourer you’re always searching for the sixth gear it hasn’t got, so the XJR can feel a bit revvy in top. 
Although ultra-refined and free from vibrations the Yamaha engine lacks character compared to a twin or triple. There’s little airbox growl, or roar from the new 4-2-1 pipe at low revs, but it has a nice zing to it when you give it some at high revs. 

Build quality is superb and the standard components are all top-drawer, the paint finish is flawless, controls smooth and those yellow-sprung Ohlins twin-shockers give the Yamaha a racy look. The mirrors are clear and sturdy, as are the two analogue instrument dials. The XJR’s digital display remains, but only shows fuel range and time. There are no reliability problems with the previous XJR1300, so this model should be no different. 

 

Source MCN