In 2003, Yamaha launched the FJR 1300, a sport-touring machine that packed great comfort with massive power and torque backed up by top-end onboard equipment and lots of superbike-derived technologies.
The 2003 Yamaha FJR 1300 received another title from the Cycle World magazine at its debut in 2003 as the "Best Sport-Toring Bike" and they said, "Combines cruise-ship comfort with a motor that would probably propel an ocean liner at a good clip, all wrapped in a classy-looking silver package."
The 2003 model got a taller adjustable power windshield and storage pocked in the fairing for small items, but it also came with saddlebags as standard equipment, a shaft drive, a thick dual seat, and a 1,298cc engine tuned to deliver low-mid power and torque.
Also, the bike took its thrust from a 1,298cc four-stroke four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine used as a stressed member by the rigid, massive, lightweight aluminum frame and delivered an output power of 145 hp at 8,500 rpm and 125 Nm (99 lb-ft) of torque at 6,000 rpm.
The sport-touring machine was set in motion by a five-speed manual transmission with a shaft drive that spun the rear wheel to a top speed of 249 kph (155 mph).
For braking performance, the bike packed two 298 mm discs with four-piston calipers on the front wheel and a 283 mm disc on the rear wheel squeezed by a two-piston caliper.