Need help with choice

[eddiefebuary]

Ok everyone, I need help in making the choice between a new Connie and a new Yamaha FJR.

Putting aside initial purchase price, riding comfort, etc. I want to gather opinions on which is easier/cheaper with regards to maintenance.

I'm no wrench by any means but I can change the oil and do some things with a manual in front of me. Which is easier to work on and of the things I need to have the dealer do, which is bike is cheaper, which bike will need more frequent service, etc.?

 

[FJRMGM]

even the "newest" Connie still have technology that is 15 years older than the FJR.

Get the FJR and get 21st century suspension, brakes, handling and power.

 

[PTP]

Ok everyone, I need help in making the choice between a new Connie and a new Yamaha FJR.
Putting aside initial purchase price, riding comfort, etc. I want to gather opinions on which is easier/cheaper with regards to maintenance.

I'm no wrench by any means but I can change the oil and do some things with a manual in front of me. Which is easier to work on and of the things I need to have the dealer do, which is bike is cheaper, which bike will need more frequent service, etc.?

There is no comparison for the questions you're asking. Buy the Connie. Extremely easy to work on and parts will be readily available and cheap until the end of time.

The big question is the type of riding you plan on doing...the Connie is not up to snuff when it comes to "sport" mode like the FJR. Looking at the two bikes as a whole, you're comparing apples and oranges.

PTP

 

[RonBB]

Had a Concours for 4 years & over 30K miles. Have had an 05 FJR ABS over 2 years & 21K miles thus far.

My general maintence impressions are:

The Concours required a valve adjustment, I think it was every 6K.

The first one required for the FJR, is I believe, scheduled for 26K. The FJR generally requires a Throttle Body Sync. I think it is every scheduled sevice. I don't recall the mileage as I exceed factory manual scheduled maintenace requirements. The FJR seems to need tires a bit more often although they seem to be more of a standard size.

Other impressions are:

Concours-better weather protection, more affected by cross winds, a good value for the money.

FJR-more nimble handling, quicker, better brakes, less effected by cross winds, feel much more heat from the engine. More "fun factor" to ride. There is a very noticeable performance difference. A good value for the money.

I have done 700 mile days on both bikes & found both need (for me anyway 6'3", 34" inseam) a taller windshield. I personally think many folks could be happy with a Concours (I was)......that is unless or until they ride an FJR. I also think that almost everyone could be happy with an FJR even if they rode a Concours first. Like any debate I'm sure others may have varying opinions. Best of luck with your decision regardless of which you end up with.

 

[Toecutter]

Ok everyone, I need help in making the choice between a new Connie and a new Yamaha FJR.
Putting aside initial purchase price, riding comfort, etc. I want to gather opinions on which is easier/cheaper with regards to maintenance.

If I was making this choice, at this point, I'd wait until the '07 models are announced. However, ease and cost of maintenance aren't the deciding factor of which bike I want to ride.
In your case, you should be calling service departments to get the answers you seek.

 

[Timbo2015]

The posted question does not make a lot of sense to me. How can you put aside the initial purchase price, and then be concerned with normal maintenance costs? Also, if cheap is your goal, you should probably be looking at a good used Concours for around $4000. Why would you even consider a new bike if annual maintenance costs might be a deal breaker?

Nonetheless, as a former Concours owner I can offer my opinions:

-The Concours is supposed to have a valve adjustment every 6000 miles, which for me meant every fall before storing it away for the winter. It was a bit of a pain, especially putting the valve cover back on without the rubber casket coming off. If you would need to have a dealer do this, the Concours would probably cost more annually than an FJR, but certainly not enough to offset the maybe $6000 more you would spend on an FJR.

-The FJR oil change is much easier.

-If you only care about cheap, get a used Concours and don't look back.

-If you appreciate power, suspension, handling, (ABS) brakes, etc., don't ride an FJR first, or you will not be able to settle for a Concours. I could never go back.

 

[FJR Gary]

Or you could wait and see if Kawasaki is really going to produce a new Connie/GTR1400

https://www.motards-online.com/motorcycle-t...i-GTR-1400.html

A local Connie rider I know already has put down a deposit for the GTR :huh:

 

[panthercity]

FJR is easier to spell correctly…

:blink:

 

[bramfrank]

Or you could wait and see if Kawasaki is really going to produce a new Connie/GTR1400
https://www.motards-online.com/motorcycle-t...i-GTR-1400.html

A local Connie rider I know already has put down a deposit for the GTR :huh:

That very badly photochopped picture aside, what legitimate dealer can possibly accept a deposit in good faith for a motorcycle that hasn't been announced or even intimated by the manufacturer? A new level of slime.
Kawasaki may put bags on a ZX-14 and call it a tourer (they tried to do that with the ZZR-1200 - what a wonderful succcess THAT turned out to be). You could do that today anyway - mounting bags isn't complex - and all you'd really need is to order in a center stand from Europe and bolt it on (the mounts are in place). You couldn't get the Euro ABS brakes, but then is it all that important if you're willing to accept a chain drive tourer with almost sport bike ergos and no weather protection?

 

[v65]

Sell the house in Palm Beach and move to Alabama - I think a football team there is looking for a tutor. By both bikes with the money you saved

Being of a somewhat nontechnical nature don't be to surprised to find your thread moved when the admins catch you.

 

[FJReady]

What Timbo said. Answer is spot on with my thoughts. I owned 3 connies before buying my FJR. I do my own wrenching- FJR is easier- especially the routine stuff, oil etc. In my opinion both offer excellent value for the money. If I never heard about the FJR I'd still be happy tooling around on my Concours.

Good luck with your decision

Oh, forgot to say. If you want different answers go over to the www.concours.org forum and ask the same question.

 

[Fred H.]

I have owned three Concours (Concouri?) as well as the 06 FJR, and while the Concours (Connie) is a great value, there is one really BIG difference between them.

ABS linked brakes on the FJR. No ABS or linked on the Concours.

The Connie is famous for locking the rear wheel even with slight brake application. Which is one of the reasons I got rid of mine. After an accident from a locked rear tire on the Concours, I never want another bike without ABS. That alone makes the extra money for the FJR worth it (how much do skin grafts go for these days anyway?)

Not to mention, you get fuel injection, stronger more powerful 4 pot brakes, more engine hp, electric windshield, better suspension with more adjustability, smoother engine, better headlights.

For me it is a no brainer. This also appears to be the last year for the Concours, so that is just another reason to move on to something else.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Okay, eddiefeb....I think FJRMGM pretty much nailed it as well as PTP.

Technically speaking, the Concours is at least one generation back in m/c technology -- historically. Steel frame and carburators are two significant technologies that date the bike. Not that it can't be good for you -- if all you want to do is get down the road?; a Concours will do that just fine. I've owned two (both iterations); put 122k mi. on the first one. If, otoh, you need a serious Sport-touring bike?, the FJR fills that need much better (most here'll agree...). The Kawi does have a better alternator..... :blink:

 

[SilveradoSlick]

As far as ease of maintenance, it's a wash. Oil change easier on the FJR; valve adjustment easier on the Connie. Connie parts are not cheap, probably just as expensive as the FJR. The big savings is the purchase price - 2/3 new and less than 1/2 used.

Well-ridden, the Connie is 90% of an FJR. But it's easier to ride an FJR well. As Japan's first sport-tourer, the Connie is an amazing bike. It's still a good, solid bike. The FJR is sooo much sweeter and more refined. Enjoy the bike you purchase.

 

[FlyingLow]

There's a lot of upsides to both bikes, and you really can't go wrong either way. Try flipping a coin.

 

[chornbe]

Ok everyone, I need help in making the choice between a new Connie and a new Yamaha FJR.
Putting aside initial purchase price, riding comfort, etc. I want to gather opinions on which is easier/cheaper with regards to maintenance.

I'm no wrench by any means but I can change the oil and do some things with a manual in front of me. Which is easier to work on and of the things I need to have the dealer do, which is bike is cheaper, which bike will need more frequent service, etc.?

Dear God.... just buy the FJR. Concours = day is over.

 

[SkooterG]

As an ex-Connie owner, my advice is...............

[SIZE=24pt]GET THE FJR!!!!!!!!!!!![/SIZE]

 

[chornbe]

As an ex-Connie owner, my advice is...............


[SIZE=24pt]GET THE FJR!!!!!!!!!!!![/SIZE]

I repeat - Dear God, yes!

 

[RadioHowie]

That very badly photochopped picture aside, what legitimate dealer can possibly accept a deposit in good faith for a motorcycle that hasn't been announced or even intimated by the manufacturer? A new level of slime.

Actually, it's not all THAT bad a PhotoShop job.

And you're being a bit harsh on the dealer for taking that deposit. Hop in the WayBack machine with me for just a second, would ya?

April, 1983...my ex-brother-in-law and a couple of his buddies show up at my workplace one night while I'm pulling the Midnite-to-6 shift and haul off my 1980 Z1R Turbo. Color me pissed when I go out to the parking lot the next morning to go home.

Long story short, I stop by my local Kawi dealer to drop a $3200 insurance check on him for a new ride. Unfortunately, in 83, Kawasaki is on a cruiser kick with every form of LTD available for sale. No more Z1R. The Eddie Lawson Replicas (the "real" S models) have been gone for a year and nothing remotely "sporty" is in the showroom.

However, the dealer has heard rumours of a killer sportbike coming out sometime in mid '84 and I hand over my insurance check in complete good faith that he'll treat me right. Stop by every paycheck and drop some coin on him, building up my balance.

Jump ahead to March '84. My dealer calls me up "I've got something I'd like to show you."

Drive over to his shop...anticipation about to make me explode...and guess what's waiting for me?

1984 GPZ900R, frame # 00003, already paid for. A dream come true.

Wish I still had it.

Back on subject, though...taking that deposit was based on MY good faith in the dealer, not in BAD faith on the part of the dealer as you imply. The Connie IS long overdue for a MAJOR overhaul, or outright replacement, and betting a few dollars of interest on money left in the bank rather than left with a dealer as a deposit is not a bad bet on being first in line IF a GTR1400 comes to reality.