Yamaha XJR 1300 (2005)

XJR 1300 (2005)


A simple round headlamp and dual, chrome-encased analogue instruments add a very retro vibe to the XJR 1300. This bike from Yamaha is a strapping, naked bike with exposed powerplant packaged within an old-fashioned frame. In fact, most of the details on this bike like the shiny chrome handlebar, massive fuel tank, straightforward seat and even twin gas-charged Ohlins rear shocks follow a classic theme. The 2005 XJR 1300 we rode used a beefy, parallel configuration, four-cylinder, 1251cc motor that faithfully sticks with oil-cooler assisted air-cooling, and carburettors.

The big-bore motor churns out 104.73bhp at 6500rpm, and delivers this in a seamless manner through five evenly-spaced gear ratios. At low speeds, you can hear a throaty rumble from the twin silencers, however, once the speed increases; all you will hear is the wind with the only sound from the motor drowned into a reassuring hum. At speeds over 150kph the rider sits completely exposed to the harshness of wind blast as the bike does not have a fairing.

In a straight-line the muscular XJR is a bike that stays steady thanks to its weight, but the same ensures it can become a tad heavy to manoeuvre around corners. The brakes on the X work brilliantly and it stuck to the road like glue when I once hammered the levers while making an emergency stop and brought the bike down to a standstill from around a 100kph. The 2007 model XJR 1300 sells with fuel injection and a single silencer as standard.