Yamaha XJR 1300 60eme anniversaire 2016 — Specifications

Who would have thought that the 1980s would send such a message, three decades later? In an age of omnipresent electronics and aseptic liquid cooling, here is Yamaha serving us a true declaration of love for the past, almost a provocation. The XJR 1300 60th Anniversary is more than just a limited edition. It is a manifesto on two wheels, an air- and oil-cooled 1251 cm3 engine block that loudly proclaims that pure, mechanical character is priceless. With its 98 horsepower and 108.9 Nm of torque, it doesn't play in the yard of hyper-powerful super-nakeds. Its strength lies elsewhere, in this generosity from low revs, in this deep rumble that tickles your intestines more than your molars. You get on it, and time seems to have stopped.

Its look is a perfectly mastered exercise in style. The famous yellow and black "Speed Block" on the tank is not just a sticker, it is a strong tribute to the brand's history, to the King Kenny era. It is beautiful, it is proud, and it doesn't do things by halves. The yellow Öhlins shock absorbers confirm that, beneath this retro patina, you also have the right to serious components. The steel double cradle frame, the classic 43 mm fork, the massive and reassuring silhouette… everything here breathes authenticity. To the point that you almost come to curse electronic injection, secretly nostalgic for the stumbles and random settings of carburetors of yesteryear. This is the paradox of this machine: it celebrates the past with the tools of the present.

But do not be fooled, behind this mechanical romanticism hides a demanding motorcycle. At 240 kg all fueled up and with a tank of only 14.5 liters, it is not made for transcontinental road trips. The 83 cm high seat and the imposing weight make it rather static in the city, reserved for connoisseurs who know how to maneuver a noble mass. On a winding road, it delivers solid and predictable sensations, carried by its omnipresent torque, but it doesn't have the agility of an MT-09. It imposes its rhythm, a majestic ride rather than a nervous attack. The braking, with its two front discs, is correct without being lightning-fast, perfectly in phase with its relaxed grand touring temperament.

So, who is this modern cougar for? Certainly not a beginner, who would be overwhelmed by its weight and price – 8999 euros, that's a considerable sum for a machine that openly admits its distant origins. It targets the mature rider, who has experienced the golden age of characterful Japanese bikes, or the young enthusiast in search of raw authenticity, tired of the clinical perfection of current engines. Faced with a Triumph Thruxton or a Kawasaki Z900RS, more modern and balanced, the XJR 1300 60th Anniversary assumes its role as a collector's item, a motorcycle event. It doesn't seek to be the best, but simply the most moving. And in that area, with its 1251 cm3 heart beating to the rhythm of the 1980s, it wins its bet hands down. It is an object of passion, a last vibrant tribute before the curtain finally falls on a bygone era.