FJR vs Concours--Follow UP...

[charismaticmegafauna]

When I was looking at both, my wife preferred the FJR by far. She said about the Concourse "Thats the ugliest thing I have seen,...she said I should buy an FJR cuz it was "pretty"

Today I showed S.O. a 'net photo of the Silver/Grey '08 Ducati Sport Classic GT1000 (modern retro) I saw in a dealer's used line-up, recently.

She said, "Looks like a pile of parts."

Of course, she's right -- it's supposed to (I guess?), it's retro...

 

[Roadstar]

My wife hates the look of the FJR , and prefers HD`s (got to love her though)

 

[bikerkash]

The 2010 C-14 has been greatly improved according the MC mags. If Best speed is a big issue the C-14 wins hands down, it's the faster than Beemer GT which is 2nd and FJR 3rd. Overall my experience with the 4 FJR's I have owned as been excellent. Lots of performance, great handling and lots of comfort. The FJR is starting to show it's age, it needs to be upgraded but it does not appear Yamaha has that in their plans any time soon. I have over 65k on FJR's and still get a big thrill everytime I ride so I think that says something very good about these bikes, at least for me.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Check out this month's edition of MCN. There is a comparison of the FJR, the Connie and Honda VFR.

How ironic, that on the next page, they mention another bike that came along on the test ride. and was actually preferred by all of the testers. In a road test of sport tourers, and adventure bike took top billing.

 

[norcal1]

The rumor is that Yamaha is doing a makeover of the FJR right now. According to Cycle World.

 

[na1g]

On a somewhat related note, watching the Tour de France on TV, I keep checking the motorcycles that follow the cyclists. The overwhelming majority are Kawa C14s - they seem to be the race officials. The camera bikes mostly are older BMW K bikes. But there are a couple of FJRs in use, too, in some official capacity. Almost look like police bikes. No ST1300s or VFRs. Kawasaki must have a deal to provide their bikes - yellow with a big "K" logo covering the windshield.

These m-c riders are all excellent, staying out of the cyclist's way while scooting ahead and dropping back, and making pretty good speed on the long downhills. The guys on bicycles are darn good too and achieve amazing cornering speeds, considering the tires are about the size of your thumb.

If you haven't been watching the TdF (Versus channel) give it a look.

pete

 

[frito1]

<snip> here's Dagwood talking about a C-14 AND an FJR, both new, both under $10K, in his neighborhood. So Dagwood, where the hell IS this magical land where bikes are so amazingly cheap? I admit, it's a '10, but my local dealer has a pretty silver one on the floor and the tag reads over 16 freaking thousand dollars! You better buy one of them puppies.

$16K? Wow, I thought the '10 I looked at in Union City TN was a litle high at $13.3 WTF do I know. I'm not too far from Dagwood and have been pricing an '09A, an '08AE, and an '08C14 for $11.5-9.5K (first offered price, no haggling), new bikes all three. I just can't commit to buy, got a kid starting college in the fall and the current bike runs just fine.

 

[RavFJR]

I'm too short for the C-14. In fact, I had to lower the FJR... Both are nice bikes, but I do like my FJR.

 

[wabill]

On a somewhat related note, watching the Tour de France on TV, I keep checking the motorcycles that follow the cyclists. The overwhelming majority are Kawa C14s - they seem to be the race officials. The camera bikes mostly are older BMW K bikes. But there are a couple of FJRs in use, too, in some official capacity. Almost look like police bikes. No ST1300s or VFRs. Kawasaki must have a deal to provide their bikes - yellow with a big "K" logo covering the windshield.
These m-c riders are all excellent, staying out of the cyclist's way while scooting ahead and dropping back, and making pretty good speed on the long downhills. The guys on bicycles are darn good too and achieve amazing cornering speeds, considering the tires are about the size of your thumb.

If you haven't been watching the TdF (Versus channel) give it a look.

pete

I'd really like to see a magazine article or tv show about the motorcycles of the TdF. I've been wondering if they've altered the gearing to give them more flexibility at the low speeds they are running. And what about the cooling issue. I'm not that good at ID'ing the m/cs but I think you got it right. Just found this old story

https://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/07...12049MWECYK.htm

 

[zenwhipper]

On a somewhat related note, watching the Tour de France on TV, I keep checking the motorcycles that follow the cyclists. The overwhelming majority are Kawa C14s - they seem to be the race officials. The camera bikes mostly are older BMW K bikes. But there are a couple of FJRs in use, too, in some official capacity. Almost look like police bikes. No ST1300s or VFRs. Kawasaki must have a deal to provide their bikes - yellow with a big "K" logo covering the windshield.
These m-c riders are all excellent, staying out of the cyclist's way while scooting ahead and dropping back, and making pretty good speed on the long downhills. The guys on bicycles are darn good too and achieve amazing cornering speeds, considering the tires are about the size of your thumb.

If you haven't been watching the TdF (Versus channel) give it a look.

pete

I'd really like to see a magazine article or tv show about the motorcycles of the TdF. I've been wondering if they've altered the gearing to give them more flexibility at the low speeds they are running. And what about the cooling issue. I'm not that good at ID'ing the m/cs but I think you got it right. Just found this old story

https://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/07...12049MWECYK.htm

Here is the story on the 2010 bikes in the TDF. (Just happened to scroll down a bit more... )

https://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/fr...ome-figures.htm

 

[xcsp]

Check out this month's edition of MCN. There is a comparison of the FJR, the Connie and Honda VFR.

Noticed MCN states the FJR uses Premium fuel, news to me.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Check out this month's edition of MCN. There is a comparison of the FJR, the Connie and Honda VFR.

Noticed MCN states the FJR uses Premium fuel, news to me.

If they can't get the simplest facts correct...? what else, if anything, is of any value in their rag...?

 

[NMRoadRunner]

Connies have 6 gears, because they need 6 gears. FJR's just need to roll the throttle to pass other vehicles! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

 

[ahchiu]

I don't like the C-14 side bag location, the upsweep of the bags blocks part of the rear view mirrors, BTW did anyone notice in MCN that the picture of the FJR dash is backwards? the LCD display is on the left. thats the new change for 2010?

 

[cruppelt]

If one of the two does not have ABS as you say the specific Concurs does not, then that would be the decision for me. I would never buy another bike again without it.

Just last Friday on my morning commute a doe with her two little ones decided to jump out of the woods to cross the road right in front of me in a long sweeper curve. At a good clip of 50 mph I hit the brakes for all they were worth, ABS singing it's high pitch song, working on getting the bike fully upright, and was able to stop about a couple of inches from the first faun, which was frozen in fear just staring at me. Since it was in a curve, I would have ended up in the trees without ABS - Either from the bike sliding out under me or from the impact with the deer, take your pick. The other thing that saved my bacon was the Advanced Rider Training class I just took a couple of months back, showing me how to separate braking from cornering for traction.

Either way, good luck with your decision.

 

[Mighty Joe]

ABS for me! Wouldn't buy a moped without it!

Buy the Feej! But you better hurry, thats a great price!

MJ

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

...50 mph I hit the brakes for all they were worth, ABS singing it's high pitch song, working on getting the bike fully upright, ...Since it was in a curve, I would have ended up in the trees without ABS - Either from the bike sliding out under me or from the impact with the deer, take your pick. The other thing that saved my bacon was the Advanced Rider Training class I just took a couple of months back, showing me how to separate braking from cornering for traction.

I would've thought your " Advanced Rider Training class" (if successful) would've taught you to separate cornering/swerving from braking (one or the other, but not both -- at the same time)?

And I doubt the class's instructor would approve of: "I hit the brakes for all they were worth"? A controlled progressive squeeze of the brake lever is what's usually called-for...

ABS for me! Wouldn't buy a moped without it!

Don't you guys want to learn any motorcycling skills...?

How many electronic 'nannys' do you want on your motorcycles...? :huh:

 

[RadioHowie]

How many electronic 'nannys' do you want on your motorcycles...? :huh:

This is the FJR forum....GPS, cruise control, heated clothing and grips, wireless communications, etc.

Kind of a silly question you asked, if you think about it.

 

[Scythian]

And I doubt the class's instructor would approve of: "I hit the brakes for all they were worth"? A controlled progressive squeeze of the brake lever is what's usually called-for...

So that you don't lock up the anti-lock brakes?

I doubt the class' instructor knows anything about using anti-lock brakes.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

And I doubt the class's instructor would approve of: "I hit the brakes for all they were worth"? A controlled progressive squeeze of the brake lever is what's usually called-for...

So that you don't lock up the anti-lock brakes?

I doubt the class' instructor knows anything about using anti-lock brakes.

You're probably right...?

In deed, with the industry-wide promotion of and public acceptance of (nay, demand for) electronic/computerized control of what were once rider-control functions -- the motorcycle instructor may/will become an anachronism?

With ABS (computerized brake operation); the FJR AE's computerized clutch control; electronic cruise control -- and it's successor, automatic traction control; Dynamic Vehicle Control and 'Ride-by-Wire' engine power control -- motorcycles are becomming "crash proof".

In the 'Brave New World' of 21st century motorcycling, do anything you want: go ahead, yank the throttle WFO; mash on the brakes whenever, wherever, and as hard as you want; buy a 150 HP M/C for your 1st bike -- nothing bad will happen -- you've got (electronic) protection.

The computerized, so-called, safety devices are not "safety" -- knowledge and training are safety. They're merely 'band-aids' and (maybe?) false/misplaced security?