BuilderBob
Well-known member
Went and test rode the BMW K1200GT and the Kawasaki Concours 1400 this morning with the plan that if either was significantly better that the FJR I would buy one or the other. My evaluation follows:
K1200GT
Lots of nice gadgets on this bike. It had cruise, electronically adjustable suspension, heated grips and seats. Very nice package. Attention to detail is top notch. Everything is very well thought out. Low speed handling is very good and it seemed to generally turn better than the Feejer. You get the feeling that you are sitting IN the bike as opposed to the FJR, which you sit ON. There is a big engine case cover that sticks way out on the right side that occasionally interfered with my boot while applying the brakes. Wind management is better, with no back pressure with the shield all the way up. Throttle response is instant with no hesitation.
On the road, it took a little getting used to. The clutch engages way out at the end of the lever's travel. The tank (if it is a tank) is very narrow where it meets the seat and is harder to grip with your thighs. The seat is shaped such that it keeps you away from the tank, making it a bit of a reach for me to the bars. As with other bikes, seems the seat itself is a sore spot (pun intended) with many GT owners and is replaced with an aftermarket piece.
The engine was sooth, but not as smooth as most would have you believe. To my feet, there seemed to be as much vibration at the pegs as there is on the FJR. Power is good, but I don't think it has anything on the Feejer. 6-speed transmission keeps you busy.
I was especially interested in driveline lash, as so many FJR owners, me included, complain about it, especially in low speed turns. Turns out the Beemer has it too, although slightly diminished compared to the FJR.
Price quoted was 22K+. In my opinion, it's just not 10K more bike than the FJR. I would like to have the Beemer's cruise control, however.
Concours 1400
Longer and heavier than the FJR. Seat has no adjustment and was a little high for me. I didn't like the instrument cluster. Just looked cheap (FJR is better than both bikes in this department, IMO). Nice looking package. The big muffler didn't bother me.
On the road, the bike is very stable. Again, low speed maneuvering is better than the FJR. The thing goes like it is on rails at speed. To me, it didn't seem to have very quick handling. You have to plan your turns further in advance than on the FJR.
Wind management is inadequate due mostly to the undersized shield. It didn't perform well in any position. It would be one of the first things I would replace.
It's a bit more of a reach to the bars. As far as I could tell, they're not adjustable. The seat is OK. I'm sure that there will be a huge aftermarket in replacement seats for the Connie as well.
The engine is very smooth. Smoother than the BMW. Has a nice sound too. Again, not as vibration free as all the magazines proclaim, although less than the Feejer. Power is very good, however, my butt dyno failed to register much more power than the FJR has.
Driveline lash here as well. I guess it's just a fact of life with shaft drive. We all have to live with it.
Can't close this without mentioning the Connie's mirrors. This should be one of the first things changed by the factory. As everyone says, they give you an excellent view of the of the side cases and not much more. Dangerous, in my opinion.
So, in closing, the BMW and Kawi are nice bikes. The Beemer has some nice gadgets and legendary BMW quality, but it's not worth the premium. The Connie is a very nice platform for Kawasaki to build a world class Sport Tourer on, but they're still figuring it out. Give them a few years.
In the meantime, I'll keep and appreciate my FJR. It is a very nice Sport Tourer that equals or exceeds the competition where it counts.
But, Yamaha, please give me cruise control. Please.
K1200GT
Lots of nice gadgets on this bike. It had cruise, electronically adjustable suspension, heated grips and seats. Very nice package. Attention to detail is top notch. Everything is very well thought out. Low speed handling is very good and it seemed to generally turn better than the Feejer. You get the feeling that you are sitting IN the bike as opposed to the FJR, which you sit ON. There is a big engine case cover that sticks way out on the right side that occasionally interfered with my boot while applying the brakes. Wind management is better, with no back pressure with the shield all the way up. Throttle response is instant with no hesitation.
On the road, it took a little getting used to. The clutch engages way out at the end of the lever's travel. The tank (if it is a tank) is very narrow where it meets the seat and is harder to grip with your thighs. The seat is shaped such that it keeps you away from the tank, making it a bit of a reach for me to the bars. As with other bikes, seems the seat itself is a sore spot (pun intended) with many GT owners and is replaced with an aftermarket piece.
The engine was sooth, but not as smooth as most would have you believe. To my feet, there seemed to be as much vibration at the pegs as there is on the FJR. Power is good, but I don't think it has anything on the Feejer. 6-speed transmission keeps you busy.
I was especially interested in driveline lash, as so many FJR owners, me included, complain about it, especially in low speed turns. Turns out the Beemer has it too, although slightly diminished compared to the FJR.
Price quoted was 22K+. In my opinion, it's just not 10K more bike than the FJR. I would like to have the Beemer's cruise control, however.
Concours 1400
Longer and heavier than the FJR. Seat has no adjustment and was a little high for me. I didn't like the instrument cluster. Just looked cheap (FJR is better than both bikes in this department, IMO). Nice looking package. The big muffler didn't bother me.
On the road, the bike is very stable. Again, low speed maneuvering is better than the FJR. The thing goes like it is on rails at speed. To me, it didn't seem to have very quick handling. You have to plan your turns further in advance than on the FJR.
Wind management is inadequate due mostly to the undersized shield. It didn't perform well in any position. It would be one of the first things I would replace.
It's a bit more of a reach to the bars. As far as I could tell, they're not adjustable. The seat is OK. I'm sure that there will be a huge aftermarket in replacement seats for the Connie as well.
The engine is very smooth. Smoother than the BMW. Has a nice sound too. Again, not as vibration free as all the magazines proclaim, although less than the Feejer. Power is very good, however, my butt dyno failed to register much more power than the FJR has.
Driveline lash here as well. I guess it's just a fact of life with shaft drive. We all have to live with it.
Can't close this without mentioning the Connie's mirrors. This should be one of the first things changed by the factory. As everyone says, they give you an excellent view of the of the side cases and not much more. Dangerous, in my opinion.
So, in closing, the BMW and Kawi are nice bikes. The Beemer has some nice gadgets and legendary BMW quality, but it's not worth the premium. The Connie is a very nice platform for Kawasaki to build a world class Sport Tourer on, but they're still figuring it out. Give them a few years.
In the meantime, I'll keep and appreciate my FJR. It is a very nice Sport Tourer that equals or exceeds the competition where it counts.
But, Yamaha, please give me cruise control. Please.
