FJR1300 vs ST1300 vs Concours 14

RiderCoach Lar · Nov 10, 2007

Just pulled the December issue of Motorcycle Consumer News out of the mailbox and what do I discover? In a shootout between the '07 FJR1300, the '07 ST1300 and '08 Concours 14, the most respected motorcycle magazine in the world declares that...

[SIZE=12pt]"The FJR1300 remains undefeated. Its handling prowess, high speed stability and real world performance characteristics combine with enduring comfort, planted suspension and strong brakes" [/SIZE]

The real surprise is that overall, the ST beat the Concours! Probably not the kind of press Kawasaki was hoping for

Wolfhound · Nov 10, 2007

Sounds like real world information ! :fan_1:

War Machine · Nov 10, 2007

RiderCoach Lar said:
Just pulled the December issue of Motorcycle Consumer News out of the mailbox and what do I discover? In a shootout between the FJR1300, the ST1300 and Concours 14, the most respected motorcycle magazine in the world declares that...
[SIZE=12pt]"The FJR1300 remains undefeated. Its handling prowess, high speed stability and real world performance characteristics combine with enduring comfort, planted suspension and strong brakes" [/SIZE]

The real surprise is that overall, the ST beat the Concours! Probably not the kind of press Kawasaki was hoping for

I agree it is surprising that the ST beats the Concours, but when you think about real world sport touring the Honda is probably the most well balanced sport tourer. It is powerful, comfortable, reliable. I have spent extended time riding my buddy's ST & it is all that. That is what Honda does best it makes user friendly bikes right out of the box!

Does that mean I like the St better? Absoulutely not! My FJR suits my taste of sport touring seasoned exactly the way I like my sport touring served! A little hot, a little spicey! The vanilla flavor of the ST does not sit well with everyone. A set of Staintune exhausts turns that vibeless motor into vanilla fudge at least.

My 06 FJR had a stiff throttle (fixed by unwinding the spring 2 turns) & a twitchy throttle due to too lean a factory CO setting (fixed by a barbarian mod & +7 CO setting) into the perfect sport tourer! As to quote the Sport Touring shoot out in Motorcyclist "the FJR is the most compact & athletic package of our foursome contends best in the twisty bits"...describes the reason I got into sport touring 20 years ago.

The FJR nails it...for me. Since joining the crash club & totalling my 06, I can't wait until my 08 is delivered!

NEW MEMBER!

RiderCoach Lar · Nov 10, 2007

For those who don't have easy access to the article, here are the rankings in ten categories:

Engines FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Transmissions & Drivelines FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Suspension FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Brakes ST1300 1st, FJR1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Handling FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Ergonomics FJR1300 & ST1300 Tie for 1st, Concours 14 3rd

Riding Impressions FJR1300 & ST1300 Tie for 1st, Concours 14 3rd

Instruments & Controls FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Attention To Detail ST1300 1st, FJR1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Value FJR1300 1st, ST1300 & Consours 14 Tie for 2nd

Bottom Line FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Wicked Webby · Nov 10, 2007

RiderCoach Lar said:
For those who don't have easy access to the article, here are the rankings in ten categories:
Engines FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Transmissions & Drivelines FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Suspension FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Brakes ST1300 1st, FJR1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Handling FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Ergonomics FJR1300 & ST1300 Tie for 1st, Concours 14 3rd

Riding Impressions FJR1300 & ST1300 Tie for 1st, Concours 14 3rd

Instruments & Controls FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Attention To Detail ST1300 1st, FJR1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Value FJR1300 1st, ST1300 & Consours 14 Tie for 2nd

Bottom Line FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Thanks Ridercoach Lar,

I had been waiting to hear what a true unbiased side by side comparo would bring.. I figured MCN would be the one to bring it. I must say I suspected this was coming!! Advertising hype seems to be the American way with our motorcyle magazines... Sad BUT true. I still loved my FJR even when the other money grubbing sell out magazines were bashing it in attempts to create hype about the new kid on the block.

WW

madmike2 · Nov 10, 2007

Thanks, Larry, mine is always a week or more behind the Eastern guys.

Transmissions & Drivelines FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

That surprises me. USUALLY the Honda has a smoother (easier, quieter) transmission and drive train. The results are not in line with the other reports of a "smooth" transmission on the C-14.
Dare I say, what a difference is made when writers are not trying to impress and appease advertisers? I'd bet the differences between the ST and the FJR are not that great. I can't wait to get my copy and read the article.

It just makes the ST market "curiouser and curiouser". I'm glad my decision was made a few years ago and I wasn't trying to wade through the articles and opinions right now.

Bob Hughes · Nov 10, 2007

I agree with the MCN riders. The FJR is just a great bike in every way.

keithaba · Nov 10, 2007

Hmmm.... Concours was dead last in every category. I can't really understand how it was rated last in Engine????

Really surprised. Maybe Mammy Yammy gave them a little extra incentive. Black FJR's for all the reviewers!

Badcat · Nov 10, 2007

MCN just confirmed what I have known since I got my FJR, it is a great bike and continues to get better.

madmike2 · Nov 10, 2007

keithaba said:
Hmmm.... Concours was dead last in every category. I can't really understand how it was rated last in Engine????

I have to agree with you, last in every category seems slightly brutal. I haven't received my copy to actually READ their opinions and the basis of their rating system. MCN is usually fair in their assessment. My supposition would be, since they are riders who put lost of miles on their bikes, they considered some of the issues like "lack of response-roll on passing" and "engine heat" more egregious than other writers might. Since they are generally "more mature" (Yes, "older") they may not have appreciated or rated the previously reported "sportbike-like" qualities of the C-14.

Wolfhound · Nov 10, 2007

I would think the overall wider torque band of the FJR won it's spot as a better touring type motor over a peakier connie . . .JMO

shokdimn · Nov 10, 2007

Bob Hughes said:
I agree with the MCN riders. The FJR is just a great bike in every way.

Here, here.

madmike2 said:
The results are not in line with the other reports of a "smooth" transmission on the C-14.

Copy that mm, and in my experience, not in vibes either. Although, I’m not sure which category they would place rider-felt vibes in.
Bearing in mind, my experience on a C14 is less than extensive... and ...exhaustive

which, amounts to riding a little over eight miles. IMO the C14 I rode had the least noticeable vibes in the foot pegs and handgrips, while in 6th gear, at a local interstate speed, of any of the SST bike that I’ve ridden.

:bike:

MCRIDER007 · Nov 10, 2007

I haven't had the opportunity to spend a lot of time on the C14 but think I have a pretty good idea of its capabilities and some of MCN's rankings are off the chart unless they had a total lemon for a test bike. This test also confirms my position for the last 15 years that MCN is little more than junk mail. I have subscribed several times in the past hoping that MCN would improve and live up to its hype but so far it just hasn't happened.

Trivia Test: What was the name of MCN when it was still a motorcycle magazine and who was the managing editior who brain farted and created MCN?

sonicspeed · Nov 10, 2007

MCRIDER007 said:
I haven't had the opportunity to spend a lot of time on the C14 but think I have a pretty good idea of its capabilities and some of MCN's rankings are off the chart unless they had a total lemon for a test bike. This test also confirms my position for the last 15 years that MCN is little more than junk mail. I have subscribed several times in the past hoping that MCN would improve and live up to its hype but so far it just hasn't happened.
Trivia Test: What was the name of MCN when it was still a motorcycle magazine and who was the managing editior who brain farted and created MCN?

road rider

fred rau and bob carpenter

Bounce · Nov 10, 2007

5 parts in JPG form

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Bounce · Nov 10, 2007

Transmissions & Drivelines FJR1300 1st, ST1300 2nd, Concours 14 3rd

Click to expand...

That surprises me. USUALLY the Honda has a smoother (easier, quieter) transmission and drive train. The results are not in line with the other reports of a "smooth" transmission on the C-14.

they go into detail and there's clearly more to that category than "smooth".

MCRIDER007 · Nov 10, 2007

sonicspeed said:
MCRIDER007 said:

I haven't had the opportunity to spend a lot of time on the C14 but think I have a pretty good idea of its capabilities and some of MCN's rankings are off the chart unless they had a total lemon for a test bike. This test also confirms my position for the last 15 years that MCN is little more than junk mail. I have subscribed several times in the past hoping that MCN would improve and live up to its hype but so far it just hasn't happened.
Trivia Test: What was the name of MCN when it was still a motorcycle magazine and who was the managing editior who brain farted and created MCN?

Click to expand...

road rider

fred rau and bob carpenter

Give that man a cigar. MCN used to be RoadRider and Bob Carpenter was the guru who decided that MCN was the way to do more with less. I don't know if Fred Rau was even on the staff when MCN was created but Bob Carpenter went on to other things shortly thereafter.

sonicspeed · Nov 10, 2007

MCRIDER007 said:
sonicspeed said:

MCRIDER007 said:

I haven't had the opportunity to spend a lot of time on the C14 but think I have a pretty good idea of its capabilities and some of MCN's rankings are off the chart unless they had a total lemon for a test bike. This test also confirms my position for the last 15 years that MCN is little more than junk mail. I have subscribed several times in the past hoping that MCN would improve and live up to its hype but so far it just hasn't happened.
Trivia Test: What was the name of MCN when it was still a motorcycle magazine and who was the managing editior who brain farted and created MCN?

Click to expand...

road rider

fred rau and bob carpenter

Click to expand...

Give that man a cigar. MCN used to be RoadRider and Bob Carpenter was the guru who decided that MCN was the way to do more with less. I don't know if Fred Rau was even on the staff when MCN was created but Bob Carpenter went on to other things shortly thereafter.

yep fred was on staff then

JETSET · Nov 11, 2007

After all the hub bub about the KZ and the article comparo in Motoscyclist I'm shocked.NOT! Lets put it this way my first off KZ brand after 10 KZ's was a Suzuki Hayabusa.I wanted the ZX-12 but the BUSA was a MUCH better choice.As I look at the styling and like the beef of the C-14 I say I'm going back to KZ.I have 20,000 miles in the seats of an 04 and 07 FJR and with no disrespect I wouldn't give up my FJR unless it was for another FJR!As far as an all around do everything bike on the asphualt I can't even think about another bike.The BUSA has serious comp. :yahoo:

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