swapped fjr for a connie ride

[Big Daddy]

well my friend cam over and he has a new connie, so we tossed the question which is better? well we swapped and to start the kawi 2 step buttiflies suck, i've been know to lean a bike over far, as on my FJR there are no chicken stripes, but the connie seem to fight you. You get to a certain degree, and it feels like it is pulling you back up. It was a hard line to push especially since it isnt my bike. But anyway we make a turn my fiend leading on my bike and bam he is gone. I had to push the connie to catch him, again the 2 step sucks. now hypothetically if i had to say in the fake world of make believe of a closed track he was up to 3 didgets, and the connie was catching into 6th. but the FJR has more bottom end and mid range. so when we came back from the world of make believe, we both agreed on the plus'es of the FJR and the minus'es of the connie. Dont get me wrong it is a great bike and cruises nice. but i will sleep well on my decision for the FJR.

 

[fjrb0]

Interesting, thanks for the review. I test drove a new C14 at BBBBQ in Fayetteville a couple of weekends ago. Could not really stretch it out on a group ride with an escort leading and trailing. Overall impression was a very nice bike, liked some of the ergonomics, computer readouts, and the six speed gearing. Did not have the throttle response of the FJR, but then again, I sometimes wish the FJR was not so "jumpy" at 70 to 100, but then again, I do like that turbine being ready as soon as I nail it. My problem is I bought my FJR for the right price in Allybama and IMO simply no other bike comes close to it on price, performance, reliability, etc. Plus, I got all those farkels on it now, and was looking at the Connie thinking that bitch would suck the rest of the money out of the account faster than Monica Lewinsky....

 

[Big Daddy]

Interesting, thanks for the review. I test drove a new C14 at BBBBQ in Fayetteville a couple of weekends ago. Could not really stretch it out on a group ride with an escort leading and trailing. Overall impression was a very nice bike, liked some of the ergonomics, computer readouts, and the six speed gearing. Did not have the throttle response of the FJR, but then again, I sometimes wish the FJR was not so "jumpy" at 70 to 100, but then again, I do like that turbine being ready as soon as I nail it. My problem is I bought my FJR for the right price in Allybama and IMO simply no other bike comes close to it on price, performance, reliability, etc. Plus, I got all those farkels on it now, and was looking at the Connie thinking that bitch would suck the rest of the money out of the account faster than Monica Lewinsky....

LOL Ya monica was a real sucker

I wasnt crazy about the dash display, it seem to busy. Six speed would be nice, but i wouldnt trade the FJR for nothing. it also felt like i had to wind the connie out to find the power. I can tell you it doesnt feel anything like the FJR we winded 4-5 gears out, the fjr is much better. But at that point the 6th gear is nice. overall feel was good, position was nice, clutch was weak, almots spongy.

 

[madjackdog]

Big Daddy, that was not very nice of you. Your friend comes over, and I'm sure he's all excited about his new bike, and you let him swap and ride the FJR? What kind of friend are you? He can't be happy with his purchase for even a few days before you not so subtlety tell him his new purchase is Wayne Newton to your Frank Sinatra? C'mon Big Daddy. By the way, welcome from Southern California.

 

[JoBu]

Interesting...my experience with the C14 was quite different, in regards to handling. Perhaps you didn't take the time to adjust the suspension for your size/riding style?? I rode one 2-up and it went right over when asked without "falling into" the turns. I came away quite impressed with the Connie and my g/f said she liked it a lot better (much more comfortable for her). If it wasn't for the heat issues...

Cheers,

Joe

 

[teerex51]

<....> but the connie seem to fight you. You get to a certain degree, and it feels like it is pulling you back up. <....>

Big Daddy, I get the same impression. I own both an FJR1300 (2005) and a C-14 (long story there... ) and it takes a deliberate, heavy input to lean the Connie over. I've fiddled with the suspension settings endlessly, but the FJR remains way more "flickable" than the C-14.

Most users agree it's the tires. Funny that the OEM 'Stone BT021s that serve the FJR decently (apart from the short service life of the front) don't perform equally well on the Connie.

Stef

 

[Big Daddy]

Big Daddy, that was not very nice of you. Your friend comes over, and I'm sure he's all excited about his new bike, and you let him swap and ride the FJR? What kind of friend are you? He can't be happy with his purchase for even a few days before you not so subtlety tell him his new purchase is Wayne Newton to your Frank Sinatra? C'mon Big Daddy. By the way, welcome from Southern California.

Hey like old blue eyes said "That life LOL

JoBu
Interesting...my experience with the C14 was quite different, in regards to handling. Perhaps you didn't take the time to adjust the suspension for your size/riding style?? I rode one 2-up and it went right over when asked without "falling into" the turns. I came away quite impressed with the Connie and my g/f said she liked it a lot better (much more comfortable for her). If it wasn't for the heat issues...

Cheers,

Joe

sorry Joe, i dont want to fidle with the suspension for a quick ride. and as far as riding 2 up, when you almost draging knees someone on the back would fall off. LOL bottom line it couldnt lay down as far as the FJR. I agree on the heat issue, it wasnt to hot out and my nuts where sweating, he told me its horable on a hot day.

teerex51

QUOTE (Big Daddy @ Oct 6 2008, 10:35 PM)

<....> but the connie seem to fight you. You get to a certain degree, and it feels like it is pulling you back up. <....>

Big Daddy, I get the same impression. I own both an FJR1300 (2005) and a C-14 (long story there... ) and it takes a deliberate, heavy input to lean the Connie over. I've fiddled with the suspension settings endlessly, but the FJR remains way more "flickable" than the C-14.

Most users agree it's the tires. Funny that the OEM 'Stone BT021s that serve the FJR decently (apart from the short service life of the front) don't perform equally well on the Connie.

Stef

we actually have the same tires. i mean its a nice cruzier, but i think its a tour bike with a monster engine, that has crappy engine management. and the heat issue is a bitch. It also feels like you have to whine the crap out of it to keep up. Where as the FJR is a sport bike with big muscles that has tour capabilities

Bob

 

[luvtoride]

Ooh, another FJR VS C14 review!!! I never thought that I'd see this topic again! I am soooo excited!

Not!

 

[Big Daddy]

very happy to keep you entertained

not

 

[Phugedaboudet]

when the new Connie came out, I was parking my FJR at a friend's place when a guy across the street rolled into his driveway with one. We discussed the pros and cons of the "fob" security system (he'd already once had the bike shut off on him right before the end of his driveway b/c the fob was in the saddlebags he'd removed-good thing his driveway was long or it'd have cut off as he was turning onto the street) and he let me sit on the bike.

If you thought your feet had trouble reaching on the FJR, it gets worse on the C14.

I'm glad I *didn't* wait for the C14 and bought the FJR when I did. I simply am too short in the inseam to safely deal with the Connie. The FJR is a stretch but manageable as long as I'm always looking ahead to where I park or where I put my feet down, but with the C14 I'd have issues even at a level stoplight, and worse trying to back into a parking space with wet ground and even more bike weight with less foot-contact patch to maneuver. All the bells and whistles in the world wouldn't have made a difference after that revelation.