FJR vs. C14 Perspective (only)

[Wicked Webby]

I am trying to figure out why the folks that no longer own FJR's for one reason or another must tell us all about their new Connie, ZX14 or whatever on an FJR board. It would be different if the bike just came out & everyone wanted to know about it. This is about the 3rd or 4th post that I've seen on just this same subject... & it gets left in FJR discussion?

Kinda a Troll thing ....

That and the fact that somewhere deep down, they regret not getting another FJR instead and come here to not only try to convince us the C-14 was a good choice , but to try and get us to convince them...

KM

+1,000,000 KM and Luvtoride,

The C14 is a decent bike BUT it comes down to preference. The FJR has all the right things already figured out(larger gas tank, adjustable seats and handle bars, fully adjustable front suspension, no heat problems, better gas mileage even though it is a 5 speed, way longer valve adjustment intervals and cheaper to do when you have to do them... ect..ect)! The looks are a personal preference.. I thought I might really like the looks of the C14 too.. Until my first personal view.. It just doesn't do it for me.. The extra maintenance cost is WAY over the top.. The actual performance difference between the bikes (in stock form) is literally splitting hairs. As most of you know, a set of slip ons and some elbow grease turns the FJR into a MONSTER!! See my HP/TQ Recipe if you doubt this!

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...hl=wicked+webby

I ride regularly with a good Friend who has the C14. I won't talk crap about his bike because it goes good! Almost as good as my FJR.. His C14 has a slip on too(the TBR pipe). Here is Gramps video of us hitting the twisties.. Watch close because we take off pretty quick.. Neither bikes, my FJR(leading) or the C14 (following) have any issues with high speed power or handling...

https://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1150063498220424101

If your interested in the C14 only because you read it out performs the FJR.. You will be disappointed.. Don't fall for some of the motorcycle magazines hype.

Both bikes have AWESOME power and handling.. Buy whatever you like. You will love either choice.

WW

 

[madmike2]

Both bikes have AWESOME power and handling.. Buy whatever you like. You will love either choice.WW

Yep! Buy the bike that makes your heart "sing" and ride it. They all come to the Sport-Touring table from slightly different angles. One of the salesmen at the local Yama-Kawi-Zuki dealer bought a C-14. In conversation he admitted it suits him as he's coming from a sportsbike (A 750) but his girl wanted to be a bit more comfortable and take longer trips (Nice choice in a girlfriend, huh!?!?). He also confessed the leg/seat position is more aggressive than the FJR and he has already noted some engine heat....and the daily temps are in the high 70s and low 80s. It will be interesting to have a report when the thermometer reaches mid-to-high 90s on it's way to the Summer temps of 100+.

Never-the-less, ALL sport touring bikes are quality machines, their differences are less than their similarities. I believe it is a burgeoning market that has yet to have its potential exploited. More sport-bikers are making the transition as their S.O.s and wife-units want to ride along, with a little more comfort and the ability to pack extras for weekend trips. Its all good!

 

[Parkerspop]

in comparing the looks of the two in my humble opinion the FJR is a much sexier look than the Connie. In fact my first thought when I see the Connie is that are trying too hard with all the scalloping ( I think that is the right term) especially on the bags. It reminds me of when Pontiac changed the grand am and prix by adding those bumps on the door to make it look better, personally was a turn off. After a month of owning the black cherry FJR, I still find myself hiding in the garage just to stare and I do my best to keep the drool off, especially just after a wash day.

 

[Vstar2FJR]

12 posts in and nobody had a comment on the link Primate provided??? Freakin hilarious!

Oh, and my less than 4 year old '05 FJR with over 66K on the clock will continue to do just nicely for me for a long time to come. I know, not the mileage leader of the class, but she don't stay in the garage very long.

John

 

[madmike2]

12 posts in and nobody had a comment on the link Primate provided??? Freakin hilarious!
John

Probably because its "old news". TWN posted it in the "jokes" section a couple of weeks ago. You must have missed it.

 

[zorkler]

dam both bikes . I like the HOOKER part !!!!!!!!!!

 

[JRO]

12 posts in and nobody had a comment on the link Primate provided??? Freakin hilarious!

Yeah, I got a comment to make about it. As a former BMW rider, I take exception to that video...

I wish I'd seen it, the day it was made. Not only is it hilarious, I wholeheartedly agree with everything in it.

 

[TahoeBound]

Width: Compared side to side in shop and tried to measure. Very close although seemed like FJR sidebags stick out past mirrors and used to skin them quite a bit splitting. Have not experienced this on the C14 perhaps because of mirror placement.

That is surprising to me, because I looked at them in the showroom side-by-side also and the C-14 looked much wider than the FJR. I didn't measure them so maybe it was just an optical illusion...but the C-14 looked like a bus from the front compared to the FJR.

The C-14 is as wide as a Wing ~43 inches. The FJR is ~37 inches. That makes a BIG differences when trying to lane-split here in Prunieville. Talking to my local dealer he said 3/5 C-14 returned because of some malfunction [too old can't remember what!]. Anyway, heat, width, QA problems - NOT a C-14 for me.

 

[Bounce]

i read that the c14 has a lot of unpainted, grey plastic on it to help keep the cost down and that the fairing fit-and-finish is not what you would expect for the price. since i've only heard it from that one place, is it true?

 

[Wicked Webby]

I will try not to bash here.. I will say the C14 is nice and a good performer. Just not really nice.

Here is why I say this:

Kawasaki did a lot of cost savings to make up for the re-design of the VVT motor. I don't care for the way the bike looks without the bags(preference here). I don't like the bikes tail section...Or lack of (here is a good example of cost savings). I don't like the style grooves in the bags(preference).. The C14 is way too wide for me and the bags sit up way too high(they did this to make room for the 4/2/1 HUGE exhaust can..another cost savings). Kawasaki also went cheap on the front suspension, not fully adjustible(why do that?). The exhaust is absolutely hideous and ridiculous! I will be willing to bet that the next generation C14 will have some major updates(it should).

The C14 does come with good HP, a nice tire pressure monitoring system, a sweet gear box and a standard 3 year warranty!! They have definiately raised the bar for Yamaha's Gen III FJR! THANKS KAWI !!!

If Kawasaki did the following; The Gen II C14 would be my next bike:

-Add Dual exhaust (to lower the bags) and balance the look of the bike.

-Dump the problematic Kipass system.

-Design the tail section to reduce the width of the bike and have some actual painted tail pieces.

-Iron out the grooves on the bags.

-Give the front suspension re-bound dampening adjustments.

-Give it a larger gas tank.

-Update the valve train system to allow for longer valve interval adjustments/checks.

-Design a better engine heat/air management system to reduce the heat.

HECK! I guess I will just keep my Gen II Yamaha FJR1300. As it already has all of this! And with my simple and inexpensive HP/TQ mods, it rolls into light speed faster than a piped C14.

WW

 

[03HiYoSilver]

HECK! I guess I will just keep my Gen II Yamaha FJR1300. As it already has all of this! And with my simple and inexpensive HP/TQ mods, it rolls into light speed faster than a piped C14.

WW,

Nice deduction and remarks...just like Mark Twain said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

[Wicked Webby]

HECK! I guess I will just keep my Gen II Yamaha FJR1300. As it already has all of this! And with my simple and inexpensive HP/TQ mods, it rolls into light speed faster than a piped C14.

WW,

Nice deduction and remarks...just like Mark Twain said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

03HiYoSilver.. My thinking exactly,

I will roll with my Gen II FJR1300 until a year after the Gen III 6 speed dual fuel Hybrid FJR1500 hits the floor in 2010!!

WW

 

[ShawnKing]

I will roll with my Gen II FJR1300 until a year after the Gen III 6 speed dual fuel Hybrid FJR1500 hits the floor in 2010!!

I bet that one won't have Cruise Control though.