2013 Yamaha FJR1300A FIrst Ride Photo Gallery

The 2013 Yamaha FJR1300 benefits from a styling refresh, as well as improved engine power and touring amenities.

See photos of the 2013 Yamaha FJR1300A in action in the 2013 Yamaha FJR1300A FIrst Ride photo gallery and read more in the 2013 Yamaha FJR1300A First Ride motorcycle review.

The FJR is far from a ground-up redesign, but the updates do prove more significant than supposed at first glance

The sport-touring segment has grown to be a bigger share of the dwindling sportbike market.

Wet roads and a 660 pound bike calls for extra caution. Thankfully, the FJR's traction control system add a layer of safety.

The FJR managed to shed five pounds from its curb weight for the 2013 model year.

It’s the changes you can’t see on the FJR that make the biggest impression, starting with the engine. Fire up the Yamaha and riders are greeted by the familiar tones of its Inline Four.

The 2013 Yamaha FJR1300A benefits from engine updates courtesy of the YCC-T fly-by-wire system.

Getting familiar with the new FJR on wet roads, the YCC-T allows for variable engine maps as well as traction control.

The FJR engine can boast performance gains of three horsepower and three lb-ft of torque.

FJR now utilizes an independent damping fork, with new internals and springs. Three-way adjustment remains up front, but compression and rebound is handled in the right fork leg only.

Internal dimensions of the 1298cc mill, including its 79mm bore and 66.2mm stroke are unchanged. However, engineers updated the cylinders to a sleeveless design and source new piston rings. The claimed benefit is reduced friction, improved heat dissipation, lighter weight and better performance

Charging through the corners or cruising on the freeway, it’s easy to pile on the miles aboard the Yamaha. An upright riding position mates with a comfortable seat and peg configuration.

The new FJR comes with heated grips standard, with the instrumentation benefiting from a redesign.

Cruise control is another boon for the 2013 FJR, and standard kit nowadays for a legit touring mount. Yamaha’s system is effective and intuitive.

The starter button/kill switch toggle on the right control is excellent – a simple and elegant consolidation of switchgear functionality.

The new windscreen is improved. It sports a taller and wider shape, which we didn’t notice, but we did take note of its faster adjustment functionality.

The FJR exhaust is longer and lighter too, having consolidated from four catalyzers down to one pair.