This sounds very obvious- can you precise it?
Komatsubara: Yes - we implemented sports elements, light handling and a high torque engine, to enable the rider to enjoy a sporty ride even with a passenger or luggage. This sound also obvious at first, but I can tell you, it required lots of detail attention and lots of testing too. We had to determine the best balance between stability in straight line and handling on small country lanes. Our target was quite severe. The bike had to be stable at 250 km/h with side bags including load and a passenger! At the same time it had to perform with superb handling on secondary roads. It was a real tough job!

Are you satisfied with the result?
Komatsubara: By nature I am a critical person and things do not easily satisfy me: but I was reassured by many of my staff and the product planners, that FJR 1300 has reached a level, that hardly a real touring machine ever reached before. You can take the bike out on a highway and if there is no speed limit you can really go very fast in straight line and the bike runs like a Shinkansen train (Japanese high speed train). Once you leave the highway and you go on small country lanes, the FJR metamorphoses into a sports bike. It is as easy to go in and out of corners, and you imagine to ride a sportbike.

What were the main technical key elements to reach this?
Komatsubara: First of all weight. The FJR is extremely light for its class. Only 237 kg dry weight. A few years ago this was the weight of "something called supersports". Second the frame layout and geometry: With the latest generation of tires and our long standing knowledge, we could realize a geometry with relative short trail of 109 mm and a caster of 26°. This also were specifications of sports machines a few years ago. And as I told you, the bike is at the same time still stable at high speed and with load!

And last not least the engine: To enjoy power from low to high engine rpm we needed a high capacity 4 cylinder engine. With the experience we gained during development of the R1 power-plant, we were able to design a 1300 cc engine which delivers high power output of 145 HP at only 8000 rpm and a breathtaking torque of 125,5 NM at 6000 rpm. This means, you can ride FJR even with load and passenger in top gear and still enjoy a fantastic acceleration even from lower speed. This is great on secondary road, when overtaking! Just pull the throttle and the engine does the rest!

You talked a lot about sports and fun. What about the touring capabilities?
Komatsubara: Well- of course seat comfort both for rider and passenger allows long distance rides. We have shaft drive and optional side panniers and all the little details like trip meter etc. which make live easier when on tour. However one of the biggest efforts we made in aerodynamics. A good cdA (wind resistance scale) provides high speed stability as well as perfect wind and weather protection. We did real intensive studies with scale models in the wind tunnel. The result is seriously good protection and a low drag resistance at the same time. Also we decided to use a electric operated windscreen, which one can adjust during riding depending on each riders preference.

How did you decide on priorities of technical solutions?
Komatsubara: We did the obvious- since most of us are bikers ourselves, we took a bunch of comparable machines and embarked on a weeks trip in Europe. We simulated a typical European touring holiday and traveled from Holland to Germany and then to Switzerland, Austria, Italy and France. We tested all bikes on highways at high speed in Germany and also on pass-road in the Alps as well as in city traffic. It was a great experience for all of us. The team, including engineers, designers and Japanese and European product planners formed a common opinion after the tour and did lay down the important factors like speed range, level of protection and comfort, level of sportivity and so on. After the tour we had a pretty good idea of what we had to consider the "ultimate fun tourer". And we all had one common goal: increase the fun of riding on touring machines! And I am sure, motorcycle enthusiasts will enjoy our new tourer concept too.