RIDER Review of the 2014 Electronic Suspension

[MCRIDER007]

RIDER magazine's February 2014 issue also has a review of the FJR's Electronic Suspension. Nothing really new (except that they highlighted that the forks do not have a preload adjustment) but they did express the opinion that the 21 different damping options did not actually cover that large of damping range and some riders might find that full firm is not firm enough and others may find that full soft is not soft enough. They also thought the inverted fork was an improvement but had not ridden the "A" and "ES" back to back to compare the forks' performance.

Overall, it was a very favorable review and they thought the ES was easily worth the extra cost.

 

[gbrmksmith]

Just got back from my first long ride on my new 2014 FJR1300ES. I'm coming from riding my 2005 FJR and find the ride of the new bike to be much better, more composed and comfortable. I just did 1,300 miles down the Oregon coast and back.

 

[dcarver]

Just got back from my first long ride on my new 2014 FJR1300ES. I'm coming from riding my 2005 FJR and find the ride of the new bike to be much better, more composed and comfortable. I just did 1,300 miles down the Oregon coast and back.

Nice. Tx for the update.

 

[RaYzerman19]

I thought the front forks in fact have a preload adjustment, via the traditional manual adjuster on top of the fork. The electronic version just adjusts fork damping. Also in other threads, once one dials in the suspension to your preferences, are you really likely to be playing with the electronics much or are you going to set it and forget it?

 

[MCRIDER007]

I thought the front forks in fact have a preload adjustment, via the traditional manual adjuster on top of the fork. The electronic version just adjusts fork damping. Also in other threads, once one dials in the suspension to your preferences, are you really likely to be playing with the electronics much or are you going to set it and forget it?

That's what I thought until I read that article but a fork preload adjustment is not visible in the pictures and its not listed in the specifications (in either Rider or Motorcyclist).

We need an ES owner to answer the question.

 

[Eric L]

I am wondering how much Yamaha pays to advertise in these magazines.

Its always been the problem with all sorts of mags that review products when their income depends upon advert dollars.

 

[MCRIDER007]

I am wondering how much Yamaha pays to advertise in these magazines.

Its always been the problem with all sorts of mags that review products when their income depends upon advert dollars.

I have had subscriptions to RIDER, CycleWorld, and Motorcyclist (and several others that went out of business) for over 30 years and the reviews/evaluations have certainly evolved over time. I can remember when the reviews were so critical and nit picky that they didn't have that much value to today's articles that sometimes appear to be written from the manufacture's literature. There definitely is more of an attempt to say something positive than reporting the negatives and obvious shortcomings. I usually get the most value from the comparisons because then they are forced (most of the time) to pick a winner.

 

[SkooterG]

I am wondering how much Yamaha pays to advertise in these magazines.

Its always been the problem with all sorts of mags that review products when their income depends upon advert dollars.

I have had subscriptions to RIDER, CycleWorld, and Motorcyclist (and several others that went out of business) for over 30 years and the reviews/evaluations have certainly evolved over time. I can remember when the reviews were so critical and nit picky that they didn't have that much value to today's articles that sometimes appear to be written from the manufacture's literature. There definitely is more of an attempt to say something positive than reporting the negatives and obvious shortcomings. I usually get the most value from the comparisons because then they are forced (most of the time) to pick a winner.

Hence why the only publication I subscribe to is MCN, which doesn't take advertising dollars, and imho does a better job of calling it as they see it.

 

[LKLD]

I read it yesterday, not much different than the one for the '13 they did. This isn't an in-depth review, more of an overview, and I don't understand why.

If this was a newspaper article, then yeah, it would have been appropriate, but to have a motorcycle mag put the teaser on their cover, you would think they would have shown more about what the newest model brings to the table. Play with it, adjust it to all possible combos, and then an opinion on how it worked. Really, take it for a week and put it through a work out.

I'm letting the Rider subscription run out, just too generic. Don't get me started on product reviews, it appears everything works great nowadays.

 

[MCRIDER007]

I am wondering how much Yamaha pays to advertise in these magazines.

Its always been the problem with all sorts of mags that review products when their income depends upon advert dollars.

I have had subscriptions to RIDER, CycleWorld, and Motorcyclist (and several others that went out of business) for over 30 years and the reviews/evaluations have certainly evolved over time. I can remember when the reviews were so critical and nit picky that they didn't have that much value to today's articles that sometimes appear to be written from the manufacture's literature. There definitely is more of an attempt to say something positive than reporting the negatives and obvious shortcomings. I usually get the most value from the comparisons because then they are forced (most of the time) to pick a winner.

Hence why the only publication I subscribe to is MCN, which doesn't take advertising dollars, and imho does a better job of calling it as they see it.

MCN certainly does a better job than most of calling it as they see it, the problem I have is with the qualifications and experience of some (not all) of the unpaid volunteers that are making those calls. I have subscribed to MCN several times over the years but never 2 years in a row, I just found too many technical errors in the reviews of the bikes that I had a pretty good knowledge of.

 

[gbrmksmith]

Too late for my road trip, my Larry's Motorcycle highway pegs arrived. Mounted them today. Still need top bag. Had the factory top bag on the 2005. Anyone with suggestions/recommendations on other brands?

 

[Allen_C]

Too late for my road trip, my Larry's Motorcycle highway pegs arrived. Mounted them today. Still need top bag. Had the factory top bag on the 2005. Anyone with suggestions/recommendations on other brands?

I had the OEM on my '08 but sold it after selling the bike and bought the Shad 45 in matte black and their FJR mounting plate. Compared to the OEM, the box is far less expensive, holds more, seals better and doesn't require a key to close but you can use one to lock it.

 

[gbrmksmith]

Thanks, I'll check that out.

 

[Full House]

I am wondering how much Yamaha pays to advertise in these magazines.

After reading the article, I noticed none of the major motorcycle manufacturers are listed in the advertising index!

 

[Jack D]

MCN certainly does a better job than most of calling it as they see it, the problem I have is with the qualifications and experience of some (not all) of the unpaid volunteers that are making those calls. I have subscribed to MCN several times over the years but never 2 years in a row, I just found too many technical errors in the reviews of the bikes that I had a pretty good knowledge of.

I am in agreement with the number of technical errors. Fuel requirements could be obtained from the owner's manual as one example. I am debating whether to renew my subscription.

 

[roger dodger]

Rider is my fav of the big mags, but they practically give them away to increase circulation. Then they make their dough from Corporate Ads, not from us. MCN is still the truest of the rags, and YOU have to pay for it, 'cause THEY don't.

Rider said the range of adjustment is smaller on the ES, and we could only confirm or deny this if we compared an A model back to back w/ an ES. So I thought 'why didn't you do a back to back' in order to differentiate the newest upgrades? I want sporty firm AND touring soft so maybe I should buy the A model and have more flexibility, just not ES.

Maybe only MCN will do the definitive comparison of both models to educate us all (on the best rag).