Any Concours 14 owners miss their FJR?

[150Fuelie]

Had an 09 non ABS in red that I just didn't like for some reason. It did everything well but seemed cheap in comparison to my previous 06 FJR. Sold it and went back to an FJR and now find myself missing the little bit bigger concours. I'm 6'3" and seemed to fit the concours better. Anyone else make the switch either way (FJR to concours, Concours to FJR) with any comments?

 

[Falko]

I'm the same height as you and find my lower body compressed into the FJR, and I have a long torso. My friend's C14 feels better for fit, but that is about where the feel better ends.

 

[Road_Runner]

I rode a Connie last year at a Kawi ride campaign before purchasing the FJR. Seem to recall that the Connie's ergos felt about he same as the FJR. Like the FJR stock seat better as it seems that the Connies seat sloped more.

At https://cycle-ergo.com/, after adjusting the numbers for the high position of the FJR seat, and a 6'3" rider with 34" inseam, the ergos are pretty close to the same.

 

[moto2wheelin]

Yea, I have had an '03, '05, and '07 FJR! Loved them all. I have had an '08 and now riding a '10 C14. I like the 2nd gen of the Kawi better than the first. I wouldn't buy another '08 or '09 myself... I think the changes made to the 10 and up are much better and cost very little more right now used. With both stock, I prefer the FJR in regards to seat and bar position, angle. I now have this blue one in pretty good shape. It is probably a little more fun to ride in the mountains than any of my FJR's have been which if the roads aren't crooked, I don't plan on riding! I prefer to look at the FJR though by far. I love the lines, how much more compact it looks, and the position of the bags. Both are as good as it gets for the type in my opinion.

 

[Road_Runner]

Yea, I have had an '03, '05, and '07 FJR! Loved them all. I have had an '08 and now riding a '10 C14. I like the 2nd gen of the Kawi better than the first. I wouldn't buy another '08 or '09 myself... I think the changes made to the 10 and up are much better and cost very little more right now used. With both stock, I prefer the FJR in regards to seat and bar position, angle. I now have this blue one in pretty good shape. It is probably a little more fun to ride in the mountains than any of my FJR's have been which if the roads aren't crooked, I don't plan on riding! I prefer to look at the FJR though by far. I love the lines, how much more compact it looks, and the position of the bags. Both are as good as it gets for the type in my opinion.

So moto2wheelin,

If you were to go riding with the BMW or Goldwing club, which would you choose to take?

Conversely, if your riding buddies were adorned with and R1 and a CBR1000 and asked you to go sport-riding with them, which would you choose to take?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[moto2wheelin]

Yea, I have had an '03, '05, and '07 FJR! Loved them all. I have had an '08 and now riding a '10 C14. I like the 2nd gen of the Kawi better than the first. I wouldn't buy another '08 or '09 myself... I think the changes made to the 10 and up are much better and cost very little more right now used. With both stock, I prefer the FJR in regards to seat and bar position, angle. I now have this blue one in pretty good shape. It is probably a little more fun to ride in the mountains than any of my FJR's have been which if the roads aren't crooked, I don't plan on riding! I prefer to look at the FJR though by far. I love the lines, how much more compact it looks, and the position of the bags. Both are as good as it gets for the type in my opinion.

So moto2wheelin,

If you were to go riding with the BMW or Goldwing club, which would you choose to take?

Conversely, if your riding buddies were adorned with and R1 and a CBR1000 and asked you to go sport-riding with them, which would you choose to take?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Good question!! I would probably ride a standard of some type or the ST bikes we are discussing here. I am too big to ride a full on sport bike, but have always actually found a standard to be more comfortable in stock form than even the concours or fjr. I just go back and forth between hating having to fool with the chain at the campgrounds and the ease of pushing the button to raise and lower the shield! So, I would ride neither of the sport bikes you mentioned due to the reason above, but would ride one of my picks and have a hell of a time doing it! I have been a COG member for 11 years, and just 35 years old so you can see that I was one of the youngest probably meeting at the rallies with a C10 back in the day. I just love motorcycles!! Check out some of my interests below:

https://community.webshots.com/user/concoursbdh

 

[Road_Runner]

Yea, I have had an '03, '05, and '07 FJR! Loved them all. I have had an '08 and now riding a '10 C14. I like the 2nd gen of the Kawi better than the first. I wouldn't buy another '08 or '09 myself... I think the changes made to the 10 and up are much better and cost very little more right now used. With both stock, I prefer the FJR in regards to seat and bar position, angle. I now have this blue one in pretty good shape. It is probably a little more fun to ride in the mountains than any of my FJR's have been which if the roads aren't crooked, I don't plan on riding! I prefer to look at the FJR though by far. I love the lines, how much more compact it looks, and the position of the bags. Both are as good as it gets for the type in my opinion.

So moto2wheelin,

If you were to go riding with the BMW or Goldwing club, which would you choose to take?

Conversely, if your riding buddies were adorned with and R1 and a CBR1000 and asked you to go sport-riding with them, which would you choose to take?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Good question!! I would probably ride a standard of some type or the ST bikes we are discussing here. I am too big to ride a full on sport bike, but have always actually found a standard to be more comfortable in stock form than even the concours or fjr. I just go back and forth between hating having to fool with the chain at the campgrounds and the ease of pushing the button to raise and lower the shield! So, I would ride neither of the sport bikes you mentioned due to the reason above, but would ride one of my picks and have a hell of a time doing it! I have been a COG member for 11 years, and just 35 years old so you can see that I was one of the youngest probably meeting at the rallies with a C10 back in the day. I just love motorcycles!! Check out some of my interests below:

https://community.webshots.com/user/concoursbdh

Looks like all but two of your previous rides had saddlebags! I am too big for sportbikes also, but suffered for several years until I figured that out. My previous ride was a Triumph Sprint w/bags, and I think I am done with chains also.

 

[Road_Runner]

Had an 09 non ABS in red that I just didn't like for some reason. It did everything well but seemed cheap in comparison to my previous 06 FJR. Sold it and went back to an FJR and now find myself missing the little bit bigger concours. I'm 6'3" and seemed to fit the concours better. Anyone else make the switch either way (FJR to concours, Concours to FJR) with any comments?

So you gong back to the Connie now? How about an RT, GT(L)1600 or Trophy?

 

[150Fuelie]

Had an 09 non ABS in red that I just didn't like for some reason. It did everything well but seemed cheap in comparison to my previous 06 FJR. Sold it and went back to an FJR and now find myself missing the little bit bigger concours. I'm 6'3" and seemed to fit the concours better. Anyone else make the switch either way (FJR to concours, Concours to FJR) with any comments?

So you gong back to the Connie now? How about an RT, GT(L)1600 or Trophy?

Not sure. Weighing my options. Missed a killer deal on a 2012 Connie all farkled out with 1,200 miles for $10k but it sold before I got there

 

[moto2wheelin]

Yea, I have had an '03, '05, and '07 FJR! Loved them all. I have had an '08 and now riding a '10 C14. I like the 2nd gen of the Kawi better than the first. I wouldn't buy another '08 or '09 myself... I think the changes made to the 10 and up are much better and cost very little more right now used. With both stock, I prefer the FJR in regards to seat and bar position, angle. I now have this blue one in pretty good shape. It is probably a little more fun to ride in the mountains than any of my FJR's have been which if the roads aren't crooked, I don't plan on riding! I prefer to look at the FJR though by far. I love the lines, how much more compact it looks, and the position of the bags. Both are as good as it gets for the type in my opinion.

So moto2wheelin,

If you were to go riding with the BMW or Goldwing club, which would you choose to take?

Conversely, if your riding buddies were adorned with and R1 and a CBR1000 and asked you to go sport-riding with them, which would you choose to take?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Good question!! I would probably ride a standard of some type or the ST bikes we are discussing here. I am too big to ride a full on sport bike, but have always actually found a standard to be more comfortable in stock form than even the concours or fjr. I just go back and forth between hating having to fool with the chain at the campgrounds and the ease of pushing the button to raise and lower the shield! So, I would ride neither of the sport bikes you mentioned due to the reason above, but would ride one of my picks and have a hell of a time doing it! I have been a COG member for 11 years, and just 35 years old so you can see that I was one of the youngest probably meeting at the rallies with a C10 back in the day. I just love motorcycles!! Check out some of my interests below:

https://community.webshots.com/user/concoursbdh

Looks like all but two of your previous rides had saddlebags! I am too big for sportbikes also, but suffered for several years until I figured that out. My previous ride was a Triumph Sprint w/bags, and I think I am done with chains also.

Yea, they have all had bags of some type while I have owned them. I have to have the luggage for the trips I try to make each year. When I go back to a standard, I normally fit htem with the SW Motech adapters and Givi bags for the ease of removal/installation.

 

[Bounce]

If you were to go riding with the BMW or Goldwing club, which would you choose to take?

Since you dind't ask me, let me answer.

BMWs:

Since most of the BMW riders I know ride very loosely associated groups where people know the destination and may keep each other in sight, I wouldn't have a problem with either the FJR on Conk14 except for once I got to the gathering and "those people" (you know which ones) decided you hadn't spent enough on your bike/gear/espresso machine.

Goldwings:

After more than 10 years and 3 different Gold Wing Designs, I moved to the '03 FJR. I continued to ride with my Chapter for some time afterwards. At one time I was on 2 different CD staffs, was the original Webmaster, was a Master Tour Rider in their safety program, did ERCs every other year, etc. That's just to let you know it wasn't a casual association.

When I got the FJR it was like a light switch. There were people who I had considered close friends for years who instantly went "cold". On the riding side, I also found the close formation riding more constricting and the wide variety of skills either risky or a point for driving down the entire ride to the lowest common denominator. Part of that had to do with a CD change that brought in a "standard" GWRRA mindset to the chapter that had, in previous years, been something the Chapter had worked to avoid (exclusionary, no longer divided large rides into smaller groups based on fast/medium/slow preferences, etc.).

Where's this ramble going? What's the point of above?

I'd not ride either bike with most Wingsters. It will frustrate them and bore you.

Sport Bike Riders:

Regardless of what bike I owned, borrowed, or rented, I'd not ride with the typical sport bike group. Far too much **** measuring, 99+% riding on public roads, jockeying for position, etc. for me. The risks are far too high for my comfort. I'd find where they're going and be there to hang out if I so wanted.