Yamaha XJR1300 (1998-current)

I have had all sorts of different bikes in the last 5 years,never went for Sports bikes because I'm too creaky tried most others though. I can't believe the XJR has slipped under my radar for so long. I bought this one new at a good discount. This bike has just about everything I need. Plenty of smooth up and go, good looking big bike that is more agile than it looks, rides like a magic carpet, good comfort on both seats and plenty of street cred. I'd like a sixth gear and a gear indicator and that would be about it. Reliability and build quality will have to be continued at a further time but look good so far.

My first encounter with one of these bikes was when I went round our drummer's house, and there this beast was in his drive. Three years later I had bought one and I haven't been disappointed. Ok, I bought mine when you could buy them cheap (£4K for a 1 yr old bike, bargain), and I haven't stopped grinning since. It has a lorry load of torque in any gear and hits the national speed limit briefly before waving it bye bye :-) It is a proper big muscle bike, a bruiser and badged as a worthy street bike. I love it to bits, even though there may be faster bikes, even bigger ones, but none compare to the aggressive look and that big old headlight comin down the road atcha! I'm 47 yrs old. I should be in a reclining armchair wearing a pair of M&S finest slippers smoking some pipe, reading a sermon, but no, I'm a rock guitarist riding a big, brash, heavy black XJR. Nothing better!

Good looking bike with a beautifull torquey engine , the handlings stable on bendy "A" roads but requires a bit more input on backroads but this adds to the fun !Its very comfortable to ride and my daughter says the pillion seat is one of the most comfortable places she's ever sat!Fuel consumptions good for a big bike 145 miles to reserve 39mpg , then a gallon left after that . Overall its a great bike !

As i said earlier had mine 11 yers never ever lay dwn on me , all over europe n the uk n ireland, original sp 1 of 98, best but not the last,

I bought my'ne when it was a year old off a guy who said "It scared him to death" and that "I wouldnt have it long before I got shut of it too". Well ya puff I've had it for 6 great years. Its a great cruiser and looks good washed and shiney parked up in any bike meet area. My wife loves the pilion on long rides as the seat is comfy as owt. It aint a race bike and bounces around. You have to treat it with respect when riding at speed. Its not called amuscle bike for nothing. Buy one of these and I can asure you of one thing, all day long biking fun.

This Bike is 100% Fun! Easy to ride smooth as a blackbird stops like an R1 What more do you want.It Handles very well at legal speeds with none of that rear wheel twitch ive had form single shocks,sits on the road lovely with very little movement from side winds unlike its competitors .The best bit, crack open the throttle and feel the force luke!the tourqe is addictive!The engine started its life well over twenty years ago but wow what an engine its so simple you will be skipping away from the service bay!Dont worry about the build quality its the same as all the others! Go get one you wont regret it.

Ive an 04 xjr with plenty of mods, dyno stage 1, 36y inlets, K@n, igniton advancer, bespoke carbon race cans etc, but easily the best mod ive done was to the handling by fitting a billet jack-up kit, raises the back end by 40mm making the steering angle steeper thus making it turn sharper. Totally transformed the handling, felt flat-footed b4 now feels as its if on the balls of its feet ! (190 rear tyre too)

I’ve had my XJR for just over a year now, bought it at seven months old with just 2000 miles on the clock and I’ve done 10,000 since then. It’s one of the first with fuel injection, so has a single huge exhaust on the right-hand side. All in all I’m pretty pleased with it – hankering after a change, but that’s me, not the bike. In town it’s great, really controllable in all weathers – including some unexpected sheet ice I found myself riding over. On the open road it’s brilliant fun in good weather provided you’re not after flat-out speed – much more than the NSL and the windblast and handling start to get in the way. Crosswinds don’t bother it in the slightest, but of course you’re pretty exposed when it rains – I fitted a fly-screen which helps a bit. I commute daily, 10 miles each way in 30 limits and I’ve been getting nearly 40mpg out of it – hardly a CG125 but not bad. I also do some longish runs quite regularly and I’ve been known to get 50mpg with no effort – though that involved sticking below 80 on the motorway. In general it’s not that expensive to run, though it does get through rear tyres – the original Dunlops (D208 I think) gave me less than 4000 miles, the Metzeler Z6s I’m running now look like lasting 6000 to 7000 which isn’t bad. The finish isn’t up to winter riding – loads of ACF50 and regular washing help, but inevitably it’s showing some corrosion – though I expected worse. The paint on the tank is thin – sneeze and it rubs off – but the engine seems to be standing up well apart from flaking on the generator cover. I’ve had faults fixed under warranty. First the clutch slave cylinder started leaking – new seals would probably have been enough but they replaced it. This has always been an XJR weak point apparently, probably because it gets covered in filth thrown up by the chain, but it’s a cheap fix and extremely easy. I also got an error from the engine management, which needed a pair of sensors replacing – worrying, as I don’t know how long the replacements will last. Now it’s out of warranty I’ve started servicing it myself, and it really is easy – no plastics to remove for a start, lifting the tank’s easy once you know how! I sometimes find myself looking for sixth gear; it doesn’t need it to be honest, but the difference between fourth and fifth isn’t great – fifth could benefit from being more of an overdrive. For daily use you need a topbox – there’s virtually NO storage space, even under the seat. Strengths: Engine, brakes, looks, comfort Weaknesses: Clutch slave cylinder, finish, no storage, no ABS option

On what you really want in a bike, i did just short of 50 miles and i was very impressed in the bike. heavy and sluggish with a very un sporty riding position, i was worried that the first 100BHP+ bike id ride would be too zaney, but as i found out, it was polite and quite merciful. the engine is one of my faves i think, with all the torque and power from halfway up the rev range, the drive away is smooth and controlled. twin ohlins, although its questionable at what grade on the rear do give great feel with a sturdy planted factory set up for the thin to the big guys. any major gripes are held over the bars (too high and close together) and maybe the resale value. these bikes never sold as many as Yamaha would of hoped, its target market generally get suckered in for the wow and show-off factors of american cruisers like hardly davidsons. but at 22, i liked it, apart from the bars hurting my shoulders (im used to a sv position!) it was a good call, i was often thinking of a ZRX1200 before the sv, maybe i should of, but then again, these arent really what ill want for at the end, but if its a big bike thats got handling to match the heady mix of old school ego and twin rear shocks, XJR is a very good option indeed. fellers.

I bought mine second hand in 2005 from a dealer in South London. Paid a bit over the top but thought the bike felt smooth and rode well having had an FJR1200 for four years. The bike looks great, handles really well on A roads (though the suspension can't keep up with the engine) and through traffic and has been rock solid riding through two Winters. Finish a bit flaky but buffs up well and though it's a cruiser and not a bruiser it's been perfect fun for riding across London and its surrounding green lanes. Top bike.