2015 Kawasaki Concours 14 Review
- Thread starter Blind Squirrel
- Start date
Help Support Yamaha FJR Motorcycle Forum:
ndivita
Well-known member
It is a great review of a great bike. I will stick with the FJR however.
I feel certain the C-14 is a nice ride and I would be proud to own one. But if you're buying new, why would there be no factory cruise control on this platform in the 15th year into the 21st century?
Why? Makes no sense to me. Honda's ST1300 has the same (and other) questions associated with it. Seems penny-wise and pound-foolish from the standpoint of the market but what do I know?
Frankly, if the C-14 had factory cruise it would have been a very close call when I bought a new (2014) FJR just in the past two weeks. I can live without traction control and drive modes. But one must have cruise control if doing any LD riding at all, and I have done my share of it without cruise on Blackbirds and a Gen I FJR.
Yamaha could have been and was asked the same questions before the Gen III was released.
And I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and yes it is shallow, but the FJR's simpler, cleaner lines stand out compared to the busier, somewhat overdone looks of the C-14.
The fact is, I have had a FJR for most of the last nine years and it is the bike I know and have relied on. Certainly, many if not most C-14 owners feel the same way.
I feel certain the C-14 is a nice ride and I would be proud to own one. But if you're buying new, why would there be no factory cruise control on this platform in the 15th year into the 21st century?
Why? Makes no sense to me. Honda's ST1300 has the same (and other) questions associated with it. Seems penny-wise and pound-foolish from the standpoint of the market but what do I know?
Frankly, if the C-14 had factory cruise it would have been a very close call when I bought a new (2014) FJR just in the past two weeks. I can live without traction control and drive modes. But one must have cruise control if doing any LD riding at all, and I have done my share of it without cruise on Blackbirds and a Gen I FJR.
Yamaha could have been and was asked the same questions before the Gen III was released.
And I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and yes it is shallow, but the FJR's simpler, cleaner lines stand out compared to the busier, somewhat overdone looks of the C-14.
The fact is, I have had a FJR for most of the last nine years and it is the bike I know and have relied on. Certainly, many if not most C-14 owners feel the same way.
OldButNotDead (sockpuppet)
Squashed Sockpuppet
Not all that impressed with the review. Knowing C++ has nothing to do with anything relating to motorcycles. The reviewer's cutesy comments on technology were in my opinion just babel. The C14 is a good bike and very similar in many ways to an FJR. The cruise issue is the one item that would be a deal killer for me. The other is, from riding with friends who have C14's, they suck gas. The comments on the changing world of sport touring shows a lot of opinion not based in fact. Just take a look at Iron Butt rally standing and show me how gee whiz tech has had its impact.
Geezer
Parsimonious Curmudgeon
I've sat on a few of them over the years, including the newest one. I just don't like the way it fits me. And, I don't like the way it looks, especially the ribs on the saddle bags.
Last edited by a moderator:
roger dodger
Well-known member
Even when I ride w/ COG organized rides, the FJR seems to be more popular.
Maybe the older FJRs are just less expensive, but I think COGgers are typically cheap, and know a great value when they ride it.
Maybe the older FJRs are just less expensive, but I think COGgers are typically cheap, and know a great value when they ride it.
I have never ridden one, I am sure they are great bikes. I may just test ride one someday and see.
The ribs on the saddle bags do not bother me at all, but I wonder why they are there at all though.
Cruise rules.
The ribs on the saddle bags do not bother me at all, but I wonder why they are there at all though.
Cruise rules.
RadioHowie
I Miss Beemerdons!
ionbeam
2 FUN
I wouldn't mind the extra ~15 hp at the rear wheel but after that what are the other real advantages and what are the drawbacks? Even though the C-14 is old school without all the fancy stuff like cruise control it still isn't lighter than the FJR. It is probably fractionally quicker and faster. My pillion tried the rear foot pegs and said, "HELL NO". Maintenance gap in both time and ease, advantage FJR. Here in New England heated grips am good. Cruise is good to get to the fun stuff and takes the pain out of lloonngg rides. By the time I pay for and install farkles on a C-14 to bring the features up to the standard equipped FJR the price gap begins to narrow and even at that the items are added on and not integrated in. In the end it is just about a coin toss, if it's heads you win, but if it's tails, you still win.
Last edited by a moderator:
teerex51
The Italian Scallion
I have owned both a C-14 (MY 2008) and two FJR1300's (MYs 2003 and 2005).
The C-14 had better brakes and a smoother shaft drive. And that's all she wrote.
Both my FJRs had outstanding low-end grunt, while the C-14 had a big black hole instead. On a German Autobahn (riding south from Rosenheim to Innsbruck) I raced my C-14 against a buddy's
2007 Feejer and he beat the living Scheisse out of me, my extra ponies notwithstanding.
Of course, here's an old timer talking about older versions of both bikes and YMMV as always.
The C-14 had better brakes and a smoother shaft drive. And that's all she wrote.
Both my FJRs had outstanding low-end grunt, while the C-14 had a big black hole instead. On a German Autobahn (riding south from Rosenheim to Innsbruck) I raced my C-14 against a buddy's
2007 Feejer and he beat the living Scheisse out of me, my extra ponies notwithstanding.
Of course, here's an old timer talking about older versions of both bikes and YMMV as always.
Last edited by a moderator:
Warpdrv
Well-known member
Does the Kawi not have Fly By Wire that would give it cruise and traction control..?!?!?!
That is what has/had held back the FJR for all these years to get those features available to us....
I don't care for the looks of the concourse, and I have actually never even driven or needed to test drive one - since in all honesty =----- I am a Yamaha Fanboy through and through....
That is what has/had held back the FJR for all these years to get those features available to us....
I don't care for the looks of the concourse, and I have actually never even driven or needed to test drive one - since in all honesty =----- I am a Yamaha Fanboy through and through....
OldButNotDead (sockpuppet)
Squashed Sockpuppet
Your right, it does have traction control and it "should" have cruise but does not. If any of you are familiar with TuneBoy out of Australia who have programmed Triumph's, Aprilla's and other ECU's, they make cruise controls that are directly tied to the computers in Ducati's. Wow, I just looked at the Kawasaki website. That green color makes you want to look for the Vlasic pickle sticker. It's flat ugly.
Spud
Well-known member
I saw one in me re-views once and i's surpized cuz normally no onze there and finally he pass me and i finally let him go cuz i git scared over one thirdy in da forest cuz I dint wanna die so yea they got motorz.
I think Spud is off his meds.
To me, the lack of integral cruise is pretty big. It was one thing I wanted on my next bike after our vacation trip last summer.
If the Kwak has fly-by-wire, why no drive modes? That is the simplest feature possible?
I've never, and I mean going way back, been a fan of Kawasakis. I don't know why... it has always just seemed like a cheaply engineered machine in comparison to the other 3 Asian marquees. And I have one of each of the other three in the garage right now, so I guess that counts for something.
Nail in the coffin: No ES on a Connie and only a thousand to enter that dance on the FJR. Game, set, match: Yamaha
Last edited by a moderator:
Warpdrv
Well-known member
My Buddy had kawi's and they always had carb issues... Always mucked up any trip we were on... He eventually got uninvited to our adventures
MCRIDER007
Well-known member
Lets see if I can throw some gas on the fire since I have owned 4 FJRs, a GEN1 (05), GEN2 (08), and GEN3 (13 and 14ES)....and 2 C14s, GEN1 (08) and GEN2 (10). If you compare a FJR to a C14 straight of the showroom floor, the C14 offers more for the $$$ as long as you are comparing the same generations and a C14 with upgraded suspension on both ends is really a sweet ride (and why I put 50K miles on my 2010 model in three years which was 4X times the mileage I rode the FJR during the same time period).
However, time marches on and the C14 doesn't have a GEN3....which it needs....because even my highly upgraded C14 is not as good of all around performer as either of my GEN3 FJRs....which do not have/need any significant upgrades. The C14 has the motor but it needs fully adjustable and upgraded suspension to go with a re-designed frame that flattens the seat and lowers the center of gravity. It already has 6 gears but needs a lower 6th gear ratio that you can actually use most of the time and....a cruise control that works as good as the FJR's.
However, time marches on and the C14 doesn't have a GEN3....which it needs....because even my highly upgraded C14 is not as good of all around performer as either of my GEN3 FJRs....which do not have/need any significant upgrades. The C14 has the motor but it needs fully adjustable and upgraded suspension to go with a re-designed frame that flattens the seat and lowers the center of gravity. It already has 6 gears but needs a lower 6th gear ratio that you can actually use most of the time and....a cruise control that works as good as the FJR's.
MCRIDER007,
Do you feel the C14's 6th gear is too tall? I've read the various reviews over the years and have seen more than once that roll-on does suffer a little and 5th is really needed for quick passing. I'm ok with that as I'll trade roll-on for fewer revs most of the time (my '05 FJR has a re-geared FD
regards,
Mr. BR
Last edited by a moderator:
MCRIDER007
Well-known member
Absolutely, the 6th gear is so tall that it reduces gas mileage. The overdrive 6th works great on a downhill or a tailwind but about 80 percent of the time I can get better gas mileage by riding in 5th.....which is lower geared than the FJR's 5th gear.
If you want to compare gear reduction ratios, 6th gear is 3:40 and 5th gear is 4:08........ 5th gear on a GEN2/3 is 3:92. I think a 3:70 would be a good ratio for 6th.
supertankerm60a3
Well-known member
I think they look pretty good and the new '2007' Concours was the reason I pestered my wife until she gave me permission to get a new motorcycle when I returned from deployment. Well deployment savings plan was too short to justify a new bike and even 2007's were more than cash would buy so I ended up on EBay and bought Allriders '03.
Best luck I ever had.
'Silver' now has 135,000 on it.
Best parts FJR runs on gas that is .20 a gallon cheaper and I only have to shift 4 times to get to top gear.
Best luck I ever had.
'Silver' now has 135,000 on it.
Best parts FJR runs on gas that is .20 a gallon cheaper and I only have to shift 4 times to get to top gear.
At first I thought: "That's the point of a sixth gear 'overdrive', to be tall" and wondered how it was actually hurting gas mileage. Makes sense though as the C14 engine tune is biased more for upper RPM HP than low and mid range torque so it's 'lugging' a bit at 65mph. I wonder what speed the Kawa engineers had in mind when figuring the ratio? Autobahn?
Similar threads
