Yamaha's FJR1300 was introduced in 2003, and the big bore sport tourer amassed a loyal fanbase as the years wore on. The bike was redesigned in 2006 and enjoyed mild updates for the 2011 model year, but in the context of up-to-the-moment motorcycle fashion, the FJR remains a relatively dated design.
To find out how the 2011 FJR1300A performs over the long haul, I piloted one from Los Angeles to Monterey, a sweeping roundtrip that covers some of the twistiest roads that lace through the mountains separating the central valley from the coastline.
How did the FJR handle the six-day, 1,121 mile challenge? The answer lies in the next few pages.
