Under acceleration, gear shifts are seamless even if you never release the throttle. Electronics do a perfect job of controlling everything. The quicker you pull the lever, the quicker and smoother the shift will be. Engine brake is perfectly calibrated when downshifting, the YCC-S system preventing any rear wheel lock.

It all takes a short time to get used to; personally, I felt totally at ease after two hours. The riding experience is just as fun even though reaccelerations are a tad slower.

Under acceleration, gear shifts are seamless even if you never release the throttle.

This transmission delivers genuine comfort thanks to its smoothness and rider-friendliness. Again, you have to be careful when starting, riding in the city and edging your way through dense traffic. Wait till you're fully confident before venturing into overcrowded places.

In my opinion, the Yamaha FJR1300 AS is more suited for those after a smoother, more comfortable GT bike than for novice and inexperienced riders. The high center of gravity and significant weight of this machine must be skilfully dealt with, especially when riding with a passenger.

Mechanical masterpiece
Yamaha's full-size GT model is primarily designed to ride thousands of kilometers on winding roads while offering a good dose of excitement to the rider and passenger. That's why engineers created this 1,298-cc, DOHC 4-cylinder. Highly effective at all engine speeds, it generates plenty of low- and mid-range torque, which is awfully rare for a straight engine.

This mill produces 143.5 horsepower at only 8,000 rpm and max torque at 7,000 rpm. It's also uncommonly smooth, with no unwanted vibrations felt through the handlebars or footrests, even after a full day of riding. During my spirited road test, the FJR1300 only burned 7.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, which translates into a range of about 300 kilometers -- impressive for such a high-caliber steed.

Engineers created this 1,298-cc, DOHC 4-cylinder powerplant so as to offer a good dose of excitement.