2023 FJR Predictions, speculations, heard it thru the grapevine....

[D-Eagle]

There is always a thread on the future of our FJR around this time. So let's get started....

My prediction: With the powersports industry still dealing with the chip shortage and other supply chain issues, Yamaha will put their focus on their most profitable offerings first as they are selling almost everything they make anyway. My guess is we will have another year of the same FJR in blue, gray, or black. I know, not the most shocking prediction. Even a color change would be interesting (white, burnt orange, root beer, etc).

What I would like to see (which is different from what you all want to see): Larger engine, larger bike, more suited for 2 up. The Tracer has given people the lighter touring version many wanted and is very popular and selling very well. The Yamaha Venture seems to have tanked (I have seen exactly 2 in the wild since it debuted), so maybe there is room in Yamaha's touring lineup for a larger bike. I'm not holding my breath.

Purely speculation. Throw out your thoughts or rumors.

(Wayne, I probably posted this on a work break)

[DesignFlaw06]

ALL THE COLORS!


I thought the rumor is that the FJR is dead. EU standards are the cause of death I thought. If it isn't, then I imagine it will still be on the horizon so they will use existing stock so probably no color change if the days are still numbered. I'd like to see them do something a bit more extreme like they did with the 14.

I wouldn't mind a larger sport tourer, but I doubt it would be called an FJR. I don't need a Goldwing either. But so far, there's no reason for me to trade-in my 06.

[Spininprop]

When looking for a 22 ES, i was told by one of the many dealers i called (no, can't remember which) that next year, 2023, is the last prod year. Time will tell.

[Hppants]

Nothing last forever.

Except the pain in a man's back, and a well maintained Yamaha FJR.

[D-Eagle]

People have been calling for the "last year of the FJR" for 10 years. One of these years they will be right.

I've always thought you need to refresh the bike once in a while to get people interested and looking again, and get the cycle mags to do reviews to put it back in the spotlight.

^^^^^^Nice job on the color Tim. Could ride that one in lots of parades.....not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Festus]

I'm holding out for the rocket power....

[bill lumberg]

Same as every other year. Zero indication they won’t make it. Zero indication they will make it. Won’t announce until we’ll past when they should have, like every year.

Whether it’s ‘23 or ‘33 for the last year of this version, I’m guessing we will see an ultimate edition the last year.

I see more FJR’s than I ever have, and we had more new folks at EOM than we have at the ones I’ve been to before. But I’m sure cheaper, smaller bikes sell in far higher volume.

I don’t consider the tracer to be competitive with an fjr. The versys SELT is closer, but no shaft drive keeps me away.

I don’t have any real changes I’d like to see. A different display with CarPlay and stuff would please some. But I pretty much get all the functionality of a TFT from my garmin xt already. An optional heated seat would be okay.

[fontanaman]

I predict 22 is the end of the line for the FJR.

[SkooterG]

I predict 22 is the end of the line for the FJR.

I predict that your prediction is predicated on false assumptions.

[SkooterG]

When looking for a 22 ES, i was told by one of the many dealers i called (no, can't remember which) that next year, 2023, is the last prod year. Time will tell.

Similar to what I posted recently in one of the other sandboxes....

My not-so-humble opinion? Nobody knows squat! Not dealers and not anybody working for Yamaha even. Yamaha, like other Japanese OEMs is very secretive with their future plans and products. And the very FEW people at Yamaha USA who may know something about future products want to keep their great job and keep their mouth shut! So don't believe anything a dealer or even a Yamaha sales rep will tell you. It is just their guess! They don't really know!

A VERY smart feller I know not too long ago told me that Japan doesn't tell Yamaha USA shit about future FJR plans. Yamaha USA doesn't know if it coming or not until not too long before it is publicly announced in late fall every year. He did say that he is confident there will be no FJR replacement after it is discontinued here as Yamaha seems to be putting effort and $$$ into developing and refining the lightweight sport-tourer class, a-la the Tracer 9GT.

My own personal SWAG? There will be no updates to the FJR ever again. The last year that the FJR is available here we will see the Black/Gold edition that they have offered in the only markets they have discontinued FJR sales - Europe and Japan. As for when that happens. My guess is 2023 or 2024. That opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it.

[Dale_I]

When looking for a 22 ES, i was told by one of the many dealers i called (no, can't remember which) that next year, 2023, is the last prod year. Time will tell.

Similar to what I posted recently in one of the other sandboxes....

My not-so-humble opinion? Nobody knows squat! Not dealers and not anybody working for Yamaha even. Yamaha, like other Japanese OEMs is very secretive with their future plans and products. And the very FEW people at Yamaha USA who may know something about future products want to keep their great job and keep their mouth shut! So don't believe anything a dealer or even a Yamaha sales rep will tell you. It is just their guess! They don't really know!

A VERY smart feller I know not too long ago told me that Japan doesn't tell Yamaha USA shit about future FJR plans. Yamaha USA doesn't know if it coming or not until not too long before it is publicly announced in late fall every year. He did say that he is confident there will be no FJR replacement after it is discontinued here as Yamaha seems to be putting effort and $$$ into developing and refining the lightweight sport-tourer class, a-la the Tracer 9GT.

My own personal SWAG? There will be no updates to the FJR ever again. The last year that the FJR is available here we will see the Black/Gold edition that they have offered in the only markets they have discontinued FJR sales - Europe and Japan. As for when that happens. My guess is 2023 or 2024. That opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it.

My opinion? You could be right...
or may be wrong...

[extrememarine]

I'm closing in on 100k miles on my '09. An official, "last year of production" anniversary, bells and whistles model may nudge me enough to find a newer one to put in the garage, but probably not.

Wishlist type thoughts for a refresh or last model year would include (for me) - updated dash panel with Android Auto / CarPlay integrated for Google Maps / WAZE and Spotify / iHeartRadio support. The Garmin Zumo 595 had a working Spotify / Pandora integration for short period of time - a firmware / software update killed it.

[raYzerman]

The 2022 Canadian version is black with gold wheels, with gold logos on the black side panels and the front fender.... Yamaha calls it the 20th Anniversary edition since the FJR made its debut in 2002. So.... why didn't the US get a 20th Anniversary edition?

I predict there will be no updates except colour...... now if they'd just bring back the 5 speed.......

[gixxerjasen]

ADV bikes have killed the ST segment. Those bikes can go the distance like an FJR, carry as much as an FJR, have 99% of the ability to carve like an FJR, dependent on tires of course, and they can go places you can't (shouldn't) take an FJR. If my FJR crapped the bed I'd be hard pressed to not go the ADV route myself. My only issue would be where the FJR has an advantage and that's in seat height, damn my short stubby little legs. But there's a few out there that can even handle that.

[DesignFlaw06]

ADV bikes have killed the ST segment. Those bikes can go the distance like an FJR, carry as much as an FJR, have 99% of the ability to carve like an FJR, dependent on tires of course, and they can go places you can't (shouldn't) take an FJR. If my FJR crapped the bed I'd be hard pressed to not go the ADV route myself. My only issue would be where the FJR has an advantage and that's in seat height, damn my short stubby little legs. But there's a few out there that can even handle that.

Adv bikes also all look hideous. I get the function over form argument, but I'm vain enough to want a bike that looks good too.

[gixxerjasen]

ADV bikes have killed the ST segment. Those bikes can go the distance like an FJR, carry as much as an FJR, have 99% of the ability to carve like an FJR, dependent on tires of course, and they can go places you can't (shouldn't) take an FJR. If my FJR crapped the bed I'd be hard pressed to not go the ADV route myself. My only issue would be where the FJR has an advantage and that's in seat height, damn my short stubby little legs. But there's a few out there that can even handle that.

Adv bikes also all look hideous. I get the function over form argument, but I'm vain enough to want a bike that looks good too.

I ride an FJR in nasty ugly silver, so clearly aesthetics isn't a priority for me.

[Hack]

Perhaps it'll go the way the KLR650 did...?
Discontinue production for a couple of years then bring the model back...

[Atrious]

When the information came out about the cutbacks of model productions, I remember seeing the FJR on this 'list' that was apparently leaked. However, this information was obviously not verified. An article out of Asia (asia.nikkei.com) States that, like the Goldwing, Yamaha "will stop selling two models from its flagship FJR1300 series of tourers".

Unlike Yamaha though, information is available that Honda is only cutting one version or "model" (as the article puts it) of the Goldwing. It turns out that Goldwing will no longer offer the manual base (non-tour) model but will continue to sell the manual tour model and a DCT version of the base model and the Tour model.

I'm not sure how many FJR "models" are available in other places but I'm pretty sure there is only one model in the US.

This article was referenced by TopGear while discussing how brands like Honda will Electrify all models by 2040s and Yamaha says it will be 55% plugged in sometime in the 2030s.

[Hack]

Honda will Electrify all models by 2040s and Yamaha says it will be 55% plugged in sometime in the 2030s.

Thankfully I'll either be too damn old to ride or dead.

[Atrious]

Honda will Electrify all models by 2040s and Yamaha says it will be 55% plugged in sometime in the 2030s.

Thankfully I'll either be too damn old to ride or dead.

Thankfully, we all know that most current gas FJRs are going to outlast most of us anyway.