Yamaha XJR1300

Sometimes in life, your reasoning for buying something doesn’t need to be fancy or smancy. Sometimes there’s one major reason for a purchase – an area of the item so strong that it easily out-weighs any reasons not to buy. And that’s the case with Yamaha’s perennial muscle bike, the XJR1300.

Even Stevie Wonder can see the purpose of this bike. Bulging out of the frame rails like the muscles on a giant bull, the engine dominates the look and performance of this bike. If you’re looking for a stablemate for your V8-powered car, the XJR’s as close as you’ll get on two wheels.

There are no fancy electronics, turbo-trickery or supercharged spell cast over the cylinders. No, the XJR’s all primo beef – a 1251cc Waygu steak.

Turn on the gas and the XJR’s ready in an instant. The original model (launched in 1995 and sporting an1188cc engine) ran a bank of Mikuni carbs, these now replaced by fuel injection and they’re about the most modern items on this true retro blaster.

All the neat yesteryear styling and cool new paintwork are forgotten as soon as you roll up to the first set of lights. The exhaust noise at idle gives no indication of the torque fest about to be unloaded as the clutch whips out and lets the engine do its thing. And its thing is propulsion. Not the front-wheel-heading-to-the-moon type kick, but more of a being-shoved-in-the-back-by-a-Mack-truck feeling.

With the bike’s quarter tonne of weight keeping the launch earth-bound, the XJR fires off the line and just keeps on driving hard until you run out of gears, bottle or licence. It’s literally a blast at every lights, owning the road in a very black and moody way. Which is great, as it all gets a bit squirrelly after that.

They say that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and the engine’s chest-pumping unleashes the suspension’s control. Or lack of it. It’s nowhere near as bad as naked bikes from the ’70s and ’80s, but the fancy-looking suspension struggles to get a real handle on the weight and torque carnage going on between the frame rails.

Yamaha owns the Ohlins brand, so it’s no real surprise to see a pair on the back of the XJR, however these aren’t the very top-spec units the company is famous for. Nevertheless, they’re a heap better than previous incarnations on this bike.

So what’s a ride like? Swing a leg over the wide and flat saddle and it’s like a visit to your local settee shop. The saddle is vast and made for sitting on for long distances, the rubber-topped footpegs add to the comforting feel, and the bars seem to flow back from the top yoke to greet you.

So even before the engine’s woken, the feel is relaxed power. There’s no fancy electronic display when you turn the key, just the speedo and tacho bullet pods waiting silently for the madness to begin.

With the cylinders pumping, it’s just a pull on the light-ish clutch lever and a sweet snick into first before the action commences. With a handful of gas and a let go of clutch, you’re moving, probably faster than all those around you.

Work through the smooth box up to fifth gear (top) and the engine lays on dollop upon dollop of thick, creamy torque – it easily becomes an addiction that you’ll crave at every lights.

On the wrong type of roads however, it’ll be the suspension that takes over your thoughts. Not enough to worry the rider, but enough to slightly spoil the brew. It’s not the big bumps that confuse the XJR; it’s the smaller ripples that have you feeling the ride could be firmer.

The brakes reign in the bulk well enough, although expect front dives when grabbing a handful of front lever.

The 2011 paint scheme gives this older model a fresh look. Not as flash as previous schemes (yellow with speed blocks was my fave), but it looks a lot classier than the bland no-stripe versions.

The style upgrades include de rigueur clear indicator covers, LED taillights and a cleaner looking tip to the muffler – all welcomed additions. As is the new price.

At $13,999, the 2011 Yamaha XJR1300 is over $700 cheaper than the ’10 model. It’s a move designed to give the ageing rocker a further roll of the dice. And with a successful nip ‘n’ tuck and the allure of that engine, there’s plenty more hits left in this heavy metal belter.

Visit the XJR1300 in Bike Showroom.