Sad to say, the wonderful big cruiser from Yamaha is no longer sold into Europe as it cannot meet the latest set of over the top Euro XYZ noise and emissions regulations, The FJR was manufactured in Japan and like all bikes Made in Japan the quality is fantastic, UK and European sales stopped in 2022 and in the USA just last year.
In the UK these bikes are used by many of our Police forces as well as by the Blood Bikes organisation and have an excellent reliabity record. Since they are no longer available new any decent used FJRs are snapped up as they come onto the market, so good recent ones are becoming very difficult to find!
Recently Martin at the Best Bike Shop In The World (Alf England of course) called me to tell me the they had just taken in a 2018 FJR in perfect condition so I transferred the money to him straight away and then between my purchase and collection the bike was in his shop, he told me that he could have sold it at least 10 times! So I was very lucky, full service history and only 18k kilometres in 7 years. And this one is the AE which has electronic suspension too.
I collected her 2 weeks ago in the typical British weather (sunny periods and showers) and headed to Cambridge and then back to Amalfi via Dover, DFDS ferry to Dunkirk and home via Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Switzerland into Italy and night stop in Fiorenzuola. Next morning home.
I honestly cannot think of a better bike for long distance cruising. She has shaft drive (so no messy chain maintenance), 25 litre petrol tank good for 400 kms, plus cruise control and about 140 horses which are PLENTY for fast cruising. Yes she weighs almost 300 kilos which you feel at low speeds but not when out of town or on main roads and motorways. WHAT a great bike!!
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