[passx]

When I was looking, I rode the st1300 and the C14 as they were what I was considering along with the fjr. I couldn’t get a test ride on a fjr which put it at the bottom of the list.

The ST1300 was a fine bike but I found the lack of a cruise control a problem, on the test ride it handled fine, nice bike but it was a 60deg day and after 15-20 min on the test ride my right leg was cooked from the heat, I wanted off. Add-in the dealers unwillingness to budge off of the msrp as a price along with the exhaust note of a fork lift and I moved on.

The C14 was also a fine bike but it was very top heavy and very tall, I was tippy toed on it. The dealer on it is simply the best imho who gave me a terrific price but the new 2013 fjr with cruise had just came out. Quite frankly if the C14 had cruise I would probably be on a kawasaki forum now, despite how tall & top heavy it was.

So not long after the c14 ride I went to a Classic Wing Club meet with a couple of friends on my 86 1200 Sei wing and on the way home my buddy who had a 2011 fjr swapped bikes with me and the 2014 red bikes came out so I was hooked...

Bottom line, the St1300 is definitely more touring oriented though it’s not lacking in the sport either. The FJR is more towards the sport side and there is definitely a weight difference with the ST heavier but it has a much lower Cg so it’s not as noticeable.

 

[passx]

Donk, you reminded me of another “issue” that I didn’t like on the st1300 besides the excessive heat on my right leg, the dealer had the seat setup high in the back & low in the front which caused my personals to constantly be pressed into the tank, not comfy at all.

I had very high hopes for the st1300 being a “Honda” guy at the time and it just piss’s me off that Honda did nothing to update or address the shortcomings, if they had I might’ve been riding an ST. Same with the C14 who also has done nothing and also cries that they aren’t selling, doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.

I asked one of the Kawi US execs about why they haven’t added a cruise to which he replied that they just aren’t selling, and suggested maybe I look at their new supercharged bike which has a cruise. I told him I had no interest in a sport bike being an older rider and maybe if they “updated” the C14 they might sell some & the throttle-by-wire thing is just bunk because my 86 Wing had a cruise with throttle cables that worked quite well. Not as good as the fjr but still pretty good.

Just stupid illogical thinking,,,,,, kinda like watching our (in the US) elected officials, kinda makes you wonder how they found their way to work! Looking at some of the new bike offerings makes me wonder if they ever ask any of their customers on what they want. I look at the new Wing and just think WTF ! Same basic envelope as the FJR just 200lbs heavier, less storage and 10k more expensive, but it sure has a lot of buttons & switch’s. WTF !!! Rant over