Yamaha Alps-Eater Bound For U.S.!

YAMAHA ALPS-EATER BOUND FOR U.S.!

You asked for it! Yamaha is bringing the previously Europe-only FJR1300 sport-tourer to these United States as an early-release 2003 model. Available late this summer, the 145-horsepower, fuel-injected, 1298cc inline-Four is equipped with YZF-R1-style triple-disc brakes, shaft drive and an electrically adjustable wind screen. For the moment, silver is the only color, but the bike will come equipped from the factory with matching hard luggage. As for price, a Yamaha spokesman says the FJR will retail for "less than $12,000." If that's true, it will undercut BMW's k1200RS and newly uprated R1150RT, as well as the forthcoming Honda ST1300, by thousands of dollars. Hey, who says letter-writing campaigns don't work?

Matthew Miles