Motor Cyclist ST Comparo

[BkrK12]

Motor Cyclist magazine has produced a rather lengthy ST, 4 bike comparison. The big news isn't that the Kawasaki Concours 14 won. The big news is the four bikes were: BMW K1300S, Honda VFR1200F, Kawasaki Concours 14 and Triumph Sprint GT. I haven't read the article. But, I did scan it and found no explanation of why the FJR was left out.

I really don't know a thing about this magazine. The little girl across the street was selling subscriptions to benefit the school and it was the only motorcycle magazine they had. It is a little difficult to figure out why the FJR didn't at least rate an explanation about why it wasn't included.

 

[Roger55]

Maybe the figured it wouldn't be fair to the other bikes.

Motor Cyclist magazine has produced a rather lengthy ST, 4 bike comparison. The big news isn't that the Kawasaki Concours 14 won. The big news is the four bikes were: BMW K1300S, Honda VFR1200F, Kawasaki Concours 14 and Triumph Sprint GT. I haven't read the article. But, I did scan it and found no explanation of why the FJR was left out.

I really don't know a thing about this magazine. The little girl across the street was selling subscriptions to benefit the school and it was the only motorcycle magazine they had. It is a little difficult to figure out why the FJR didn't at least rate an explanation about why it wasn't included.

 

[ionbeam]

There was another recent bike magazine ST comparison, also sans FJR. The mag said that they would have included the FJR but Yamaha did not supply them one for the test.

 

[MCRIDER007]

I think it was just a matter of comparing the winner of the last ST comparison against some new competition...but the K1300S and VFR1200 are not comparable bikes to either the C14 or FJR.

 

[Crash Cash]

People still read "Motorcyclist"? I think it's just a piece of trash. Basically a mouthpiece for their advertisers. I'd assume Yamaha didn't provide a bike free, or that they didn't buy that much ad space this quarter.

 

[RaYzerman19]

I just wonder how they consider a K1300S and VFR 1200 in the sport touring category.....

 

[Fred W]

People still read "Motorcyclist"? I think it's just a piece of trash. Basically a mouthpiece for their advertisers. I'd assume Yamaha didn't provide a bike free, or that they didn't buy that much ad space this quarter.

Yeah. I still get it and skim through it.

Now, I have to say up front that I haven't paid anything for the magazine, ever. I originally got it "free" (sort of) many years ago for some expiring airline miles, and although I have never renewed it, but it just keeps showing up every month. I think they just keep me on as one of their "subscribers" as the inflated subscription rate helps them sell advertising.

You'll come to realize that anything that the "senior editor", Brian Catterson, has his hand on is completely self-aggrandizing BS. But, every once in a while they have an entertaining article written by one off the other flunkies. And then there are the ads.

I also get "Cycle World", to whom I do send money for the privilege of reading. Mostly for the Kevin Cameron articles, but I also like to read Peter Egan's ramblings.

As to why no FJRs in any recent magazine ST comparisons, I think it has the ring of "what have you done lately", rather than any actual shortcoming on the part of the Feejer. Bike magazines like to write about all the new models. They aren't very much like Consumers Reports, who likes to extol the virtues of Honda cars over the competition year after year.

I just wonder how they consider a K1300S and VFR 1200 in the sport touring category.....

The Honda is technically an ST bike, albeit considerably different than an FJR or Connie. Not sure about the Beemer. I guess since BeeEmmVay invented the category, anything they make qualifies? :huh:

 

[sportsguy]

*spoiler alert - I mention the comparison winner, so if you want to read the article to know who won, stop reading this post now.*

I was very disappointed. After reading the article, they don't even mention Yamaha, as if the product doesn't exist or wouldn't be suited to this competition. I get the Honda and BMW being in there, the Connie looks good, and frankly I'm glad it won. With the mods its had done, it's a much better bike. Heck, it flashed through my miond to trade in the FJR for a new Connie, then I came back to reality...

Unlikely I'll be renewing my subscription with them. Not because of the slight to the FJR, but more because of other things noted in the above post - quality of content, huge number of ad pages to flip through, and frankly, I just don't feel like I get that much good reading. I also note a disappointing number of the items they test and rate seem to score very high marks. I mean, maybe it's great that all those products being sent in rate so highly, but I can't get past the cynic in me that feels the ratings are somehow tied to money somewhere...

 

[timk]

Dropped my subscribsion, told them I knew EVERYTHING I ever want to know about Ducatti.

 

[SLK50]

Dropped my subscribsion, told them I knew EVERYTHING I ever want to know about Ducatti.

Likewise. I totally agree. When Minton was around it was "Everything HD".

Now, its "All the Ducati that fits".

I still miss Cycle World, sniff.

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

Cycle World still exists, with Peter Egan, Kevin Cameron, etc. It's Cycle that bought the farm.

 

[wheatonFJR]

...It's Cycle that bought the farm.

Yeah, first magazine I ever had a subscription to...when I was 15. Miss that Mag.

Loved the long distance comparos from 1974: R90/6, Goldwing, Z1, RE5 rotary, Sportster...

 

[Fred W]

Unlikely I'll be renewing my subscription with them.

If my experience means anything, it doesn't seem to matter. You may continue to get the rag after you drop them.

Dropped my subscribsion, told them I knew EVERYTHING I ever want to know about Ducatti.

I disagree. One can never know too much about Ducatis. But they aren't the ones to tell you anything new.

 

[Tree Doc]

Dropped my subscribsion, told them I knew EVERYTHING I ever want to know about Ducatti.

^^ THIS! :rofl:

Oh my God...page after page, month after month, Ducati this, Ducati that...I could just puke! :bad:

Ducati, the NEXT Hardley Davidson.

I read it because I get it free. It has a special place right next to the *******. I have received it for free for probably 3 years now on a special sign up I was directed to Compliments of RoadGear.

 

[SLK50]

Cycle World still exists, with Peter Egan, Kevin Cameron, etc. It's Cycle that bought the farm.

You're quite right,of course. My mistake.

FWIW, I also miss Cycle Guide.

About the only "old" rag worth reading anymore is Rider,

and even they are trying too hard to please everyone.

Gawd! How I miss Denis Rouse.

 

[FJR Flyer]

I let my Motorcyclist subscription lapse, as well. The whole idiocy with the helmet articles, lack of good articles, and the redundancy with other mags. Luckily the Iron Butt mag was waiting from me when I got home from my trip.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

There was another recent bike magazine ST comparison, also sans FJR. The mag said that they would have included the FJR but Yamaha did not supply them one for the test.

Does it seem like Yamaha is trying to "distance itself" from the FJR...?

Looking for the 'next big sales bike'...?

Didn't want to bring it to America in the first place...?

The "AE" didn't go over well...?

Too much trouble for too little profit...?

 

[scubatech]

There was another recent bike magazine ST comparison, also sans FJR. The mag said that they would have included the FJR but Yamaha did not supply them one for the test.

Does it seem like Yamaha is trying to "distance itself" from the FJR...?

Looking for the 'next big sales bike'...?

Didn't want to bring it to America in the first place...?

The "AE" didn't go over well...?

Too much trouble for too little profit...?

My thought is that in a very low couple years for profit and an aging platform to compete with they may not want to play. Especially when the attitude is so negative about finishing lower than first place! I don't think Yamaha wants to update the FJR and the competition is very tuff right now. The racing programs will sell far more R1 & R6 motorcycles!

 

[SkooterG]

My thought is that in a very low couple years for profit and an aging platform to compete with they may not want to play.

Dude, you been drinking? Or are your thoughts always undecipherable?