First ride on "clutch-less" Yamaha FJR1300AE

During our ride on Sunday, January 16, 2022, longtime (20+ year) riding buddy Steve asked me if I wanted to try out his "clutch-less" 2007 Yamaha FJR1300AE. I said, "Yes!"

I used to own a FJR1300A. I bought mine new back in 2006. My FJR was the regular clutch, manual transmission version. After 45 years of riding every type of motorcycle, my current bike is a 2016 Honda NC700XD. Like Steve's FJR, my NC has no clutch lever. It has a 6-speed DCT transmission that I can use in 1 of 4 modes (economy to high-rev sport), and I can also manually change using left handlebar paddle shifters.

Steve and I stopped in the Crystal Cove (Newport Beach) shopping center, where I sat on his bike and listened to his important "pre-flight lecture about its "clutch-less" shifting system. (I had forgotten that the FJR1300 weighs 644 lbs... much heavier than my 510 lb. NC700X.

So Steve hung out in the parking lot while I rode a few miles north on Coast Highway, u-turned and rode more miles southbound, before returning safely.

With no clutch lever, I quickly got the hang of up- and down-shifting using only the left foot lever. (The FJR1300AE has 5 gears, unlike the 6 gears on my NC700XD.) Unfortunately, I was so excited that I forgot to try out the left handlebar paddle shifters! Aargh! Oh well... Steve told me to use 2nd gear (not 1st) as the low/starting gear, so I followed his instructions. Steve later told me he simply power-shifts, and does NOT de-throttle, but I found it more "pleasant" to reduce throttle input a bit while shifting.

The FJR1300AE is powerful! (145 horsepower, 99 lb.ft. torque.) Its 60-to-80mph acceleration was insane! It was also nice using the FJR's electrically-adjustable windshield to manage cockpit heat and airflow.

Big "thank you!" to Steve for trusting me enough to offer me a spin on his fun FJR!