Yamaha has given us the first glimpse of the 2015 models of the XJR1300 and the XJR1300 Racer classic motorcycles ahead of their debut the 2014 Intermot Show in Cologne, Germany. A part of the Sports Heritage Range of the Japanese manufacturer, the XJR1300 motorcycles might be the last models to use air-cooled large displacement four-cylinder engines.
The XJR1200 was the original Japanese cafe racer of the early 90s which was made to compete with the high powered naked bikes like the Honda CB1000. The current generation XJR1300 and the XJR1300 Racer are powered by a 1,300cc inline-four engine which churns out a healthy 98bhp and 108.5Nm of torque.
The XJR1300 Racer gets a lightweight carbon fibre cowling and front fender which gives it the distinctive cafe racer look. It also gets a port styled solo-seat design to complement the narrow fuel tank, and an altered riding position for a genuine cafe racer feel. In line with the motorcycles’ classic image, both the XJR1300 and the XJR1300 Racer come with conventional dual Öhlins suspension at the rear and telescopic front forks. It also gets a 4-2-1 Akrapovic exhaust system.
With the XJR1300 series, Yamaha has targeted the offbeat customisation crowd and as such, is available with a host of personalisation options. Yamaha has priced the XJR1300 and the XJR1300 Racer at EUR 10,395 (Rs 8.14 lakh) and EUR 11,590 (Rs 9.08 lakh) respectively. It is available in three paint schemes- blue, matte grey and black and for now, will be sold only in Europe. It competes with the other Japanese classic motorcycle- the Suzuki GSX1400 and the Honda CB1100.
