2013 Sport-Touring Shootout 1.0
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
- Since Yamaha was kind enough to revamp the FJR1300 for 2013, we thought it was high time to see how it stacked up against the Honda ST1300 and Kawasaki Concours 14 in a sport-touring shootout.
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I have a the 2008 Concours. I bought in 3 years ago (2020). How do I like it? I just bought the 2022 model. Reliable, comfortable, fast, a lot of power, beautiful design, I can put a full size helmet in the panniers, and virtually… no maintenance, other than oil changes, shaft drive oil change, air filter, … never had issues mechanically, or electronically. It looks mean, sexy and sporty! I love it!
I own a 2013 Fjr1300a . I bought it in May of 2013. Now have 48,000+ miles on it. I've done two long trips. First 5685 miles, over 10 days. Then 7835 miles over 20 days. I love my FJR. I added Heli-bar risers and a Sargent seat. Along with a Givi top box. The bike operates flawlessly. One of things I like about it, and this is related to the linked braking on the Fjr, compared to the Concours. If you're approaching and have to stop quickly, mashing the rear brake, does not upset the balance. The whole bike just squats slightly and stops quickly. The linked brake is very easy to modulate. I've purposely mashed the rear brake pedal, enough to get a reaction from the ABS, and the bike won't give you any unexpected surprises. Yamaha did a great job on the brakes. As far as comfort, well, let me put it this way. My 7835 mile trip, was from Atlanta, all the way up to Seattle, down the West coast to L.A., and through the desert southwest. I road through the Mojave in late August, middle of the afternoon, averaging over 70 mph. My temp guage never exceeded 186 degrees. The outside temp, hit 114 degrees. I was 56 years old, and road from Peoria, Il. to Rapid City, S.D. in one day. With detours.... 952 miles. It didn't wear me out, and I wasn't cramped and stiff. Yamaha made a winner with this bike. I'm currently thinking about buying a second one. Keeping my 2013, in case a friend wants to try it out and do a trip with me, and as a daily rider. Keeping the new one for long trips. My first trip took me to Jackson Hole(Grand Teton National Park). On the way back, I'd booked lodging near I-80 in Rock Springs, anticipating getting a jump the next day, to my travels down into Colorado. On the way to Rock Springs, I picked up some time, so I didn't have to be on the road at night, in Wyoming, as the pronghorn are thick. I covered 80 miles in 45 minutes. That's an average of 106 mph, on two lane blacktop. It felt like a walk in the park. My trip fuel mileage ranged from an average of 40-44 mpg. The concours won't do that, from what I'm told. High 30's.
Great info! Just bought a used 2013 (12,000 miles on it, garage kept and well maintained). I've had it a little over a month and have been taking weekend 3-4 hours rides on it. My hips start to get sore after about an hour (I'm 60). Been adding more stretches to my daily workout routine. It has the stock seat on it, and I'm wondering if that Sargent seat might help? Now thinking of checking out those Heli bar risers, too. Your opinion?
@@johntomasik1555I am much younger but I installed the Sargent seat. The stock one pushes you on the tank but the Sargent keeps you in place. The seat is a bowl and the surface has a good grip.
I recommend to buy it.
@@fortram Hmm. My stock seat doesn't really bias me into any seating position. Honestly, after riding this thing for several months now, I've gotten used to it, and the seat doesn't bother me. If I start to get a little stiff, I just drop it under 60, stand up, stretch my legs, then I'm good for awhile.
But thanks. Good to know people like their Sargent seats. I'll keep it in mind if I ever decide to change mine.
That's wonderful
@@johntomasik1555 My stock seat was not comfortable for me either. I don't remember my hips bothering me much, maybe a little at first. Amazing how much the bar risers made a difference in the ergonomics of the FJR.... Worth the money ! I hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine I've got over 76,000 miles on her now, and still looking forward to more trips. Much luck and be safe !
This was one of the videos that helped me decide. My 2014 FJR is the bike for me. Got her in 2021 and love it.
'07 ST1300 owner here...since December '15. Best bike I have ever owned, and I've had all types. The ST is amazing!
tell me about it I rode all kinds of bikes I now Own an st1100 pan European and let me tell you man.... I'm in love Sure big bike and whatever but you get used to it and it's really nicee.... never been so comfortable on a motorcycle before.
@@victortellez4987 I had ST1100 than switched to ST1300. ST1300 is much agile, but on the long range ST1100 more stabile at high speed. ST1100 is probably the most stabile bike in the same class. 180kmh even if there is a Wind it like a train on the tracks. On the other way ST1300 is opposite, the front gets slammed in every direction. Wheel axle distance is larger at ST1100 hence why so much stability. Any way ST1100 with ABS and Traction control is awesome bike. ST1300 does not have traction control, I'm not sure why Honda missed that. It is stable in a cornering still on a wet tarmac it would not be bad to have as a feature. My ST1300 has now 150.000km and it runs great.ST1100 is a great engine you can run it over 200k with no problem at all. Timing belt should be changed at 90k miles(150k km). ST1100 is also one of the most reliable bikes every made with V4 engine.
O7 ST1300 owner as of 3/6/21
I've had mine since 2004 new. Still can't fault it. It's a solid bike that just does what it's meant to do and does it well.
A friend has one. Well over 100,000 miles and still going strong. A great bike with that v4 Honda engine. I've ridden his and vise versa. I'll fight tooth and nail if ever Americans can't get these gas powered cycles, or they make them too costly to own. There's a lot of us dyed-in-the-wool motorcycle travelers in the country.
I have 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 and I just love it!! I wouldn't change it for anything!
In this test the ST1300 had the best weather and wind protection, the best mileage and range, was the most comfortable, and to top it off it was the best handling. Seems almost a clean sweep, yet the ST1300 was ranked last. I'm puzzled as to exactly what it is the Yamaha and Kawasaki do better to be ranked in front. Also, how about specs like saddlebag capacities, details that touring riders would be interested in. It would be nice to see motorcycles reviewed for their intended purpose once in a while instead of always being rated as sportbikes.
I agree. Seems like the gadgets and gee-gaws won it for the Yamaha. It's shame that the fundamentals which make motorcycling such a pleasure - handling, responsiveness, refinement - the things that create a oneness with the bike, can't win it. If testers are focussing on the number of bells and whistles you can get for your cash these specialist motorcycles will drift further from the core appeal of motorcycling and accelerate the change into a collection of appliances, like cars.
The honda is also the ugliest of the bunch, the heaviest, and the oldest.
People want to ride motorcycles and be comfortable. No one wants to pay $18,000 for a motorcycle that only has an engine and handlebars. We want an adjustable windscreen, cruise control, heated grips, and good looks.
Fake appellation
This is you personal choice. I own 2012 Honda ST1300 with adjustable windscreen. Awesome bike and very comfortable.And I love it.
Dan Hammack what you say is true. But I guess it comes down to their individual perspectives. I have an r6 but will eventually upgrade to an fjr1300 when I can. I'd like to retain just a tad more sport so this video applies to me.
Fake appellation You're just trying hard to come up with criticisms. The Honda is the best looking bike here. The weight doesn't matter because the reviewers have said it is the most nimble and the extra weight all but disappears when the bike handles well. And, who cares how old the design is if it works? This bike is a Legend. It is older than its competition and still it bests them in handling. The rest are just gimmicks. You can buy heated grips and cruise control as aftermarket accessories. As for the price, they were available heavily discounted at lots of dealers when I was looking for mine. You usually have to pay more for the best, anyway. Too many people who aren't serious Sport-touring riders get hung up on the fashion aspect of motorcycles. They seem unable to grasp that a good motorcycle evolves over time into a legend like the ST1300 has become. All they want is something new. The ST1300 is the clear winner here.
Overall I can agree with the findings here. I've had the early FJR1300 2002 model and just changed it for the 2013 version -the improvements are welcome and really take the FJR into the present day . The build quality and longevity here is important - we don't buy these bikes for the short term so they need to be reliable and the build quality and finish on the early model was exceptional - (apart from an annoying diff oil leak caused by using a steel oil seal instead of copper). On a trade in Feb 2014 I got 25% of the original price of the bike after 12 years - you won't get that on the others listed here. I came from a Suzuki sports bike background and wanted a compromise that could still give me the excitement of a sporty machine with the refinements of a tourer and the FJR delivered over all others I tried in my price bracket - now with their upgrade Yamaha have addressed many of the issues that the earlier model had or technlogy improvements it lacked (albeit a long time coming as their interim upgrades simply didn't cut it and were superficial or bare minimum requirements to keep just behind the pack like ABS). The only 2 disappointments with the new model is that they should have strengthened the frame more as handling has always been the key issue at low speeds with the FJR although the new model feels more nimble and planted (the earlier models had a tendancy to want to lie down on tight corners) this improvement could have enabled the use of a top box with panniers - I mean - come on Yamaha it's a tourer designed to chew up the miles two up . . .how can you do that if your partner can't pack four pairs of shoes, two dress options, hair dryer and makeup bag on a two week trip to the south of France? The second annoying area is that the upside down electronically adjustable forks which significantly improve handling are only available on the AS model. That apart, the FJR has stepped up to the mark and still thrills me on a weekend blast ( my son was recently shocked he couldn't shake me off his tail on his 1998 YZF 750) and it gets me to my far flung places effortlessly on a long tour with additional comfort with the likes of cruise control - I wouldn't trade my FJR for any of the others listed here and look forward to the next generation - The Yamaha FJR1300 is the equivalent of the Boeing 747 - and that went on for 40 years - if it ain't broke - don't fix it - but it must keep up with technological advancements that are a natural progression to improve what is already a great product.
Booooring engine in comparison to a ZZR1400 and probably the C14 which is almost the same.
These guys sound totally at a loss of what to say about these bikes. It seems none of them can speak with any confidence as to the attributes of the bikes and their application in real world touring. Like thier so geared to sport bikes anything else confounds them.
@M E Thanks....I own an ST and will not watch this vid
And eha...eha..umm...
I'm on my 2nd C14. The last one had 157,000 miles on it it when I sold it to a young guy a few blocks away - and it's STILL going strong 4 years later! I enjoy the reliability and the awesome amount of power - almost 50 hp less than my ZX14R! Its handles a but clunky, and I had to lower both of them, but it's C14s for life for me! If I want to be THAT disconnected/isolated from the ride, I have an old '06 Goldwing that's a road-going Barco-lounger!
157k miles??? Wow that's the most I've seen on 2 wheels.. I have a mint bone stock '11 Concours 14 with only 15k orig miles so nice to know it will last..😊
@@seatime674 ....157k is peanuts. Almost 1/2 of the Goldwing group I used to ride with had over 200,000 miles with one guy running up over 400,000 miles on his old 'Wing!
Lol ! That's what my dad used to call our basset hound.
Thanks guys! I was struggling between the ST and the FJ but you've helped me settle on the FJ! Don't like the BMs at all.
Ivan's ECU flash improves Throttle response and power to redline. I have the 2014 C14
So does Steve's from shouldabeen engineering, totally transformed my gtr
I fixed the linked brake problem by adding another brake line from the left ride to the right side and blocking off the hose from the rear brake to the front right brake. No more assist from rear braking to the front braking and no ABS lights. The front to rear link brake was livable so left it alone. Simply love it now! Also changed the shifter bolt out from the plastic sleeve to bearing one and awesome shifts now!!
@@markdorland2870 Mark, where did you purchase the shift Bearing? I like your linked brake modification, seems simple
I have the 2011 concours 14, and I agree the weight and fuel range could have been better but it is so nice and affordable.
Get the Shoodabeen MR flash, i get consistent 47-52 true MPG on regular- it has never complained in 148,000 miles.😙
Comparisons are entertaining at best. I have ridden all of these bikes. As standalone entities, they are all good motorcycles. The first one I rode was the ST1300. I rented it to ride around the Lake Tahoe area. Spent the whole day on it. It was a little high for me being 5'7". However, it got me around those hair pin turns. When I looked into buying one, I got sticker shock. Instrument cluster worked fine.
The next one I tried was the Concours. Not as comfortable as the ST, but had way more takeoff power. I also like the transmission the best out of all 3.
The FJR was cool and had nice handling. But the transmission was the worse out of the 3 for me. Despite the features, having to manage the shifting was something I would have to get used to.
I wound up buying the Concours. Best bang for the buck. Changing to Pilot Power 3 tires vastly improved the handling over the stock ones.
Again, I could live with and be happy with any of these bikes.
Actually the Concours is a little high as well but more manageable. Not flat footed, but not tiptoe either. Just lean it over slightly and I can get one foot flat on the ground. Not uncomfortable on stops once you gain confidence riding it.
As far as slower speeds, it depends on the profile of the tires. I use Pilot Power 3s on mine. They have a steep profile and great traction which makes it a dream to maneuver at slow speeds. The wide rear tire keeps a good contact patch at lean angles as well.
I totally agree. I traded a bike for a concours and finally removed the OEM tires at 2K and replaced with a set of Roadsmart III’s which has transformed this bike for me.
@SuperBullies1 LMFAO !!!!
Had all these for many years. ST1300 differs from the others with its special balance.
I love the ST1300 - crashed mine a few years ago and was gonna buy another one but found a deal on a Goldwing I could not pass up - I still want another ST though and will get another one again before long. I take long trips to and in mountainous areas - love the comfort, range and mileage of the ST, and when you are in the twistys it does very well.
mtb rider had the 1100 loved it, then BMW IS 1200 hated the service in London, then back to Honda with 2 1300 and I'm keeping it, never found a replacement need or valid option
had the St 1100 loved it, then BMW IS 1200 hated the service in London, then back to Honda with 2 1300 and I'm keeping it, never found a replacement need or valid option
I have a beautiful 2012 ST 1300 in black. 4700 miles on it. ABS. passenger and rider backrest, new Garmin removable GPS hardwired and installed between handlebars. New lowered foot pegs 1 3/8”. New full size trunk that fits two full faced helmets.. Bike is like new. It’s for sale in the NY area..
By any chance do you live near the Smoky Mountains ?
ihave to agree with most people here,owning a st1300 at 5"6' and 14 stone these bikes can be awkward. the st has a ajustable seat height- big difference- the missus loves being on the back, superior wind protection.plus the build quality and materials used seems much better than the others. i personally perfer analog gauges, and the only thing missing is cruise control but there are gadgets to overcome this,
To me the st was purpose build as a sports tourer, the others seem to be sports bikes with added panniers and looks like a after thought. just my opinion
foil34 You just nailed it..!
I love my st just wish it looked a little sportier
I would highly recommend the concours14. I also looked @ the FJR as well..definitely a nice ride. I settled on the concours cuz though it does weigh more, it can handle the extra weight. the FJR has a weigh limit of 340lbs with cargo and passengers. You can' t put a trunk on it with the saddlebags, it's either or. The kawai has the power and build to take much more weight, and it has adjustable rear gas shock to firm it up. I do luv Yamaha as well but the connie turned me on to kawasaki.
I ride a 2011 C-14, it's a great bike. Smooth, very quick, fast. It just eats the miles. Rode 200 and a bit miles today, no complaints at all.
Oh just a PS - I've never had an "Off " in all my years of riding on the road and the day I picked the new FJR up I took a familiar route dropped off the old bike and returned on the same route with my new pride and joy - the only difference being the torrential rain on the way back ! On the approach to a roundabout on a busy afternoon I pulled away on a reverse camber where I met with a diesel spill ! How embarrassing after three miles to have to take the bike back in bits - no so with the new Yamaha - the traction control cut in seamlessly, prevented the back wheel from spinning out - accurately and smoothly put me upright and on I continued - enough said !
WOW, even after 7 years that's an amazing story!
I’ve had a couple of ST1300s and I sure wish it had traction control.
This was an FJR commerical..
The concours is hands down better than these others.
Fun fact : a 2005 fjr rider contributed to the 122 changes in the 2006 model. The fold in mirrors to squeeze it into a hotel room , and the gear change. Just to name a few.
The same guy on the same day stated the layout of the c14.
Upper frame airbox, lowered gas tank, battery and abs pump below seat level, variable valve timing, and the top speed that was unknown for a tourer at the time.
I never got a dime. However i can proudly say i currently ride the bike i birthed and who else can say that?
Sport touring is where it's at!
C 14 Rules, no cruise but handles beautifully, ad the kaoko throttle lock is fine.Light steering and very fast, can't complain
I've always liked the FJR, it looks awesome, easily the best-looking bike in its class. Wouldn't mind the Concours either as I have a soft spot for Kawasakis even though I've never owned one (yet). The ST1300 looks like a big scooter and I would never even consider getting one, no matter how good tourers they might be. I need a bike in my garage that I can just go and admire in the long winter months, that is why I'll keep my red CBR1100XX for now, but when the time comes to switch to a more upright riding position, it's going to be replaced by an FJR.
I test rode a 2013 FJR1300 a few months ago. I really really liked it. The nly two glaring issues for me were the 5 speed transmission, and the fairing hits my knees (I'm 6'1"). Just my $0.02...
I'm 6'1" and had the same issue with the ends of the fairing. Also, the windscreen provides absolutely no wind protection. I'm still considering the bike, though.
There ya go man. My Ultra is the same way. Good for touring, ok for cornering but not sport touring by any means. It's happy running 85-90, set the cruise and roll.
The K16GT is definitely a sport-touring bike, but it's in a different class from these three. The engine is significantly larger, and more importantly, so is the price tag.
Its a tourer.
Not to mention the maint $$$ on the 1600.
The redesigned Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 GT8V is a really nice alternative to these. It's an awesome bike!
I agree! Would love to see the Norge included in some of these comparisons. I have a lot of test riding to do this summer!
I've watched a comparative review of the Norge, several years ago. I remember it was lighter than the competition, and the Guzzi's engines have a rep. for being reliable . when I was a kid, and I'm 63 now, I had a paper route. One of customers who was an engineer at Caterpillar Tractor Co. owned a Guzzi bagger. He rode it to work often. It had a lot of miles on it, and looked it. However even as a kid I was a gear head, and one Saturday morning that I was collecting for the news paper he was out washing it. He took me for a short ride down the street. I was hooked on motorcycles from then on.
I've ridden all of these -- a lot.Concourse has a fun engine, but eats tires and has crappy gas range. The FJR is sporty, but not as comfortable (for me at 6'2") as the Concourse or ST and the range is just so-so. The ST may not be the "sportiest" of the three, but it does handle great, is comfortable, and importantly, has incredible range. I ride mine as a daily commuter (in addition to weekend twisty fun) and love getting over 300 miles to a tankful of fuel. I hate stopping for gas!
for 2013 There was cruise but no 6th gear. Great bike, but the Kawasaki is my favorite. The bike is agile for it's size, fast an tractable. I have no complaints.
Kawasaki's have had a reputation for their slick transmissions.
The Concours is absolutely the best looking bike!
I bought the FJR for it's bulletproof motor. Aside from the somewhat uncomfortable, forward-leaning position required with stock bars, it's a great bike and I couldn't be happier for a sporty bike with long-mileage ridability.
I have the 2008 FJR 1300A. After testing the K1300, Concours1400, GSX1250 and the Pan 1300ST, I pipped for the Yamaha as it seemed to click for me despite the terribly soft rear shock (Replaced!) and strange rear brake caliper fracture at 35k miles.
One thing I would have changed is the speed dial and would have added cruise control but, thanking the Gods, they've done it! My ThrottleMeister bar-end is awesome but to have it integrated will be wonderful!
Happy safe riding everyone!
Great review! My dream is to ride that beautiful countryside. Bikes have come so far since my old husky 250 in the 70's. Just getting back to riding in my older days and really appreciate the review.! Keep up the good work, us older guys are listening! Be safe
Nice review! Thanks... I still like the Concours 14 more, though. It's just an awesome looking, great performing bike! (And I'm a Harley-Davidson rider) Bikes are my passion.
3:38 Go to a 55 profile rear tire (50 is standard equipment) to improve the handling.
I own a 2007 ZX-14. Bought it new. This predates the Concourse model. Not knowing what any of these three perform in the quarter mile, I know that the ZX-14 is Insanely fast. These sport tourers all would be a blast to ride, I'm sure. I think I'd go with the Yam.
You guys rock, best bike reviews out there. We just need MORE of them on RUclips.
I have the st 1300 and love it, but the other 2 look nicer and more up to date
Cool video guys, thanks for your reviews
Thanks for your input, I just bought a ST1300A
I have been sold on the connie for a while now, I guess I'm kawasaki biased...but I'm really liking the fjr with it's cruise control. I don't understand why it only has 5 gears though...
Kawasaki looks like a real bike, muscular n aggressive.!! Less technology the better
I just traded my 2010 FJR for the new GenIII FJR. What a difference!! Yamaha only now needs to add a 6th gear to it for it to be just about perfect.
You can download the owner's manual for the Connie from the Kawasaki website.
Overall nice video but would of loved more indepth details; what makes and breaks a sport-tour, practicality, and own-ability.
Ridden dirt all my life, for the most part. I did ride street and box stock race when I was 17-19, (bought the first year GPz550 at the time), but realized I was mentally incapable of throttle management and belonged off the street and on the dirt. I recently bought a used 2013 FJR, without doing much research. It looked and rode like a nice bike. Turns out it gets really good reviews. Looks like I lucked out. Anyway, been putting some miles on it, and I find little wrong with it. One thing they kinda missed is that it does carry its weight a bit high. So, low speed maneuverability I can feel it. The bike wants to turn in a bit more than it should. But, eh, it's no dirt bike, so I'm not sure how much that can be improved in a 650 pound bike. I am surprised how well it sticks to the road. Yesterday I took a ride in our mountains to get a quick spin up to Mount Evans. I got caught in a hail storm. Nothing big enough to damage the bike (it did sting a bit), luckily. The hail was sticking a bit to the road, but riding conservatively, it felt like I was on a dry road.
Looking forward to many more trips on the bike. Hoping my body adjusts to being in the saddle for 3-4 hours at a time. Been working on stretching more, but I'm still not quite there yet and get stiff probably more than I should.
For all day riding, handling, smoothness, refinement, fuel economy, comfort, practicality (the hard bags are the best by far especially when entering/exiting motels)...the ST1300 is awesome and a clear winner. Buy a well maintained used example...you will not regret it.
Totally agree. For a heavy bike it can do big miles without killing your back or rattling you to pieces. I’ve had two STs and done some nice big mile days. Three Iron Butt Rides with members of the Shreveport BMW club.
I have an FJR.. best bike on the planet.
NO! it only have 5 gears... only the 2017 up have 6 gears. you cannot do any real super long distance riding with 5 pathetic gears
I got the big bore Kwaka yesterday, 2007 Kawasaki GTR/ Concours shaft-drive did it for me.
The heavier weight handles the potholes better, and you can buy an aftermarket throttle-lock anyways.
Why don't any motorcycle review provide performance test data? Acceleration, braking, some kind of handling data??? Automotive magazine test provide test data for basic civics to ferraris, why none for bikes to compare?
Manufacturers wouldn't pay them. Customers don't understand specs and will buy the wrong bike because "numbers". Manufacturers wouldn't pay them. Did I already mention that?
I would love to see the Moto Guzzi Norge included in one of these comparisons. Cost wise, it's in the mix. Just not sure about the leg room. I'm torn between the FJR and the Norge.
FJR all day long, I’m on my 3rd one, it’s comfortable enough to sit on for hundreds of miles and nimble enough to give a few sports bikes a fright. 👍.
You guys are amazing, looking like y'all had a great time ridding those bikes. Agree with you guys, Go FJR. I have it's little brother FZ6. Can't wait till summer.
Both excellent bikes. Only tried the GTL but they should be somewhat similar. The R1200RT just tripped me out, fun bike.
First time I've watched these clips, cant get enough now lol
FJR is an all rounder, less weight, less fuel use.
More edge in the corners.
I got the 2009 model, couse of the weight and size, it’s a lot smaller then the rest. When taken off the bags and lower your windshield it feels like a fun bike!
One feature that should be in any comparison of sports touring bike is maintenance schedules / costs. If you're really putting on the miles, it matters!
they didn't include the bmw, doesn't really matter with these bikes
In 2011, I chose the Concours 14 over the ST1300 because it had more power, cruise control and was cheaper. Last fall I picked up a 2007 ST1300 for under $4500. Having short arms and legs, the higher bars and adjustable seat make it a nicer bike for me to just ride. The fuel capacity is amazing and doesn't disrupt the ride. The Concours has been lowered, has a lower custom seat and Heli-bars Horizon ST bars that bring the bars back a long way. Love them both. Haven't considered the FJR.
the concours doesn't have cruise control
@@CactusJack252 Sorry. I probably meant to say traction control. I added the MC Cruise from Australia. Perhaps, I left that out. Adding the cruise control was still cheaper than buying the ST1300 back in 2011. Now I have both and they are both great in their own ways.
Nothing can compete with the Concours right now!
I love my '04 ST. It is everything the riders said. Aftermarket seat and throttle lock level the playing field, IMO. Could benefit from some overdue upgrades.
If I had to pick out of the three I would pick the Yamaha
Amazing that the Honda is an older design yet it still beats out newer offerings from Kawasaki and Yamaha in what a Sport Tourer does best; handling and range. Personally I think it looks better than the rest, too.
It was ranked last I. This review
@@youngboomerragevictim8857 Six years to reply and you still missed the point. If you watched the video from 5:30 on you will hear them rave over the Hondas handling and range. Overall they ranked the Yamaha best after considering price and accessories but where it counts, the cushy ride, the handling, and the range, the Honda wins hands down. The ST1300 is a legend and I personally passed on several FJRs until I finally got my hands on my legend.
@@TechSavvy. glad u like your bike. I’ve owned them both and a gold wing and prefer the fjr now
I own a 2007 FJR & last year I rode a Honda ST for 1500+ miles around California''s twisty mountain & coastal roads. All of this was two up with luggage, which is something I often do with my FJR. The FJR handles way better loaded up, especially going uphill as the Honda's front end felt very vague trying to turn into hairpins. I have also tried the K1600GT & although this is a very competent bike it's just too damn heavy for me.
I think I'll stick with my old tuned FJR.
I toured Europe this year on a new Tracer 700 and I’m a heavy steady rider and I still came home to an Italian speeding ticket.
Never ridden the above which are great by the way but without a pillion they are possibly shear indulgence.
I have an ST1300 Honda although I’m 6ft 4” tall and when I extend the screen to its full limit it just deflects the turbulence down the back of my neck which is not good after a long trip. But as an all rounder Sport Touring bike it’s a great bike.
The only negative thing I think about the Honda after riding one for 6 months is the seat is a little stiff. I can go about 4 hours before I have to get off and it's my work bike so a lot of times I'm on it for 10+ hours straight. Getting some padded pants soon so I think that will solve the problem.
Lots of saddle bag room. I don't have the specs but I never fill them up, great gas mileage and range. 8 hours of riding on the freeway before I need to fill up again.
Great ergonomics for distances. The heated grips are not an issue for me and I ride in 30 degree weather. My hands get a little chilly but the mirrors seem to block a lot of the wind. The windscreen doesn't have bad buffer noise or feeling and I stay pretty warm because of it.
Like I said, it's my work bike but I am seriously considering picking one up for myself soon even though these haven't been made new in a while.
Airhawk. But needed a replacement while traveling and found the blow-up sleeping pad pillow works fine.
Great review. Seriously, one of the best you guys have done.
I think you are giving people wrong information. The ST1300 is quite stable at speed and is very safe. Unless you know the full details of the police position (and I do) you are making remarks with no substance. How many instances of St1300 machines showing unstability do you know?
Put brain in gear before writing
A review of Sport-touring bikes from 3 tools who don't ride or know anything about Sport-touring bikes.
Excellent.
Kawasaki all day long for me.
The looks of the Honda to me, are far superior. That is one pretty bike.
2018 Honda Gold Wing is next generation of Honda ST1300. New Gold Wing is hybrid of two modification of Honda(ST1300 and GL1800).This bike has everything,what rider need for riding: cruise control,heated grips,huge LCD monitor,speakers,adjustable wind screen, keyless entry,parking rear speed and much,much more. For now I'm stay with my ST1300,because my bike is still young,but if I have to replace it,I will replace only on new model of Honda Gold Wing for sure. This is my personal opinion,guys.Ride Safe and enjoy your freedom.
I have a Kawasaki 2008 Concours 14 et it is excellent. These three motorcycles are very good machines but I think that the Kawasaki is the closest one to the concept of "Sport-Touring".
Im on my 2nd Conny 14, but all 3 of these bikes are great bikes 👍, i would ride any of them...this is a great video...ofcourse now the FJR has a 6 spd, which is 100% better ....
Man, these moto journalists are not real world riders. especially on the concours
Going to do this same ride in May on my new Connie 14. Been doing the same ride every year, but on my Yamaha Royal Star Venture. As for Tonicro, I agree somewhat, but then again you could throw soft luggage on any sport bike and call it a sport tourer.
The Yamaha FJR1300 is the badest quickest , most advance of them all with lots of hp and six awesome torqued gears.
6'6", 220lbs. mid 40's, 13 bikes in 9 yrs., standard, cruisers and sport-touring. I have not had a chance to ride a true touring bike, but I have owned two FJ1200's and love there ability to to make my heart jump when I hit the throttle. ST1300 is very nice, but FJ is a little more aggressive in it's handeling in my opinion.
I'm actually in the middle of doing the valve shims on my '08 concours 14. 25k miles, no problems, easy to maintain for me. It didn't NEED the valve job, I just like workin on my bikes. Built well, and pretty mechanic friendly. Not hard to take apart. I don't have linked brakes TC or heated grips but the motor is the same and I can say that it's pretty much on the 'sportier' side which I like. I can smoke the majority of 600 rockets. Top speed of 168mph. Aftermarket exhaust, intake....
Everybody knows that you have to pull out the secondary butterfly on the Concourse to get rid of the delay on the off stop throttle.
I really like the ride on the Kawasaki
The only significant fault with the other 2 is LACK of Cruise Control.
Every bike intended for Touring should have it fitted as standard equipment and not as an option.
I owned a 2006 FJR for six months and sold it. The wife didn't like the jerkiness, wind protection poor and seat uncomfortable. I did own an ST1300, also 2006, for 4 years after that and what a difference. Much better wind protection, handled better, smoother, the paniers seemed to blend into the bike instead of looking like add-ons and those funky mirrors/turn signals gave great protection for the hands. I did add Honda heated grips and a throttle lock. I've now moved on to a Triumph Tiger Explorer and am very pleased. I think it will have similar touring comfort with bags and larger wind screen and give the opportunity for some unimproved road adventures.
No "jerkiness" in my 2008, very smooth.
No problems with wind protection either, you should have tried a different wind screen.
Yamaha all day baby! I have a Gen II and it is still a beautiful beast!
I own a 2013 Fjr1300a . I bought it in May of 2013. Now have 48,000+ miles on it. I've done two long trips. First 5685 miles, over 10 days. Then 7835 miles over 20 days. I love my FJR. I added Heli-bar risers and a Sargent seat. Along with a Givi top box. The bike operates flawlessly. One of things I like about it, and this is related to the linked braking on the Fjr, compared to the Concours. If you're approaching and have to stop quickly, mashing the rear brake, does not upset the balance. The whole bike just squats slightly and stops quickly. The linked brake is very easy to modulate. I've purposely mashed the rear brake pedal, enough to get a reaction from the ABS, and the bike won't give you any unexpected surprises. Yamaha did a great job on the brakes. As far as comfort, well, let me put it this way. My 7835 mile trip, was from Atlanta, all the way up to Seattle, down the West coast to L.A., and through the desert southwest. I road through the Mojave in late August, middle of the afternoon, averaging over 70 mph. My temp guage never exceeded 186 degrees. The outside temp, hit 114 degrees. I was 56 years old, and road from Peoria, Il. to Rapid City, S.D. in one day. With detours.... 952 miles. It didn't wear me out, and I wasn't cramped and stiff. Yamaha made a winner with this bike. I'm currently thinking about buying a second one. Keeping my 2013, in case a friend wants to try it out and do a trip with me, and as a daily rider. Keeping the new one for long trips. My first trip took me to Jackson Hole(Grand Teton National Park). On the way back, I'd booked lodging near I-80 in Rock Springs, anticipating getting a jump the next day, to my travels down into Colorado. On the way to Rock Springs, I picked up some time, so I didn't have to be on the road at night, in Wyoming, as the pronghorn are thick. I covered 80 miles in 45 minutes. That's an average of 106 mph, on two lane blacktop. It felt like a walk in the park. My trip fuel mileage ranged from an average of 40-44 mpg. The concours won't do that, from what I'm told. High 30's.
Of course. :) I have rode all of them several times. It has a lot of power, but for my money I would more happy on an RT.
I was hoping to hear some info about the amount of shaft jacking when accelerating through corners. This is important to me for emergency manuvers.
Both BMWs are well into the 20k price range, so it kind of puts them up on another level. The Trophy looks very promising, but it too, is priced much closer to 20k. The Concours and FJR can both be had, brand new, for under 16k.
I decide buy lightly used sport touring bike from Honda and bought 2012 Honda ST1300. Exactly same bike, same age and same color, like on this video. Awesome bike.Yes, its heavy,but I'm riding with my wife almost all the time and I doesn't feel that this bike is heavy. Honda ST1300 is more touring bike,than sport, FJR and Concourse-more sport,than touring. And this is difference between this three bikes.
I have driven my 2006 ST1300 for 74K miles and oh my...... she is something very special !!!!! and in 2024 the ST1300 looks the most modern ......
Extremely perfect bikes
I can't believe that you wanna compare BMW frame, with the frame of GTR, on it, is a piece of art, or the traction control or shift and trasmission or the power and reliability.. do you know that, when you travel with BMW you need more oil that gasoline in the engine, do you really travel with BMW, or you look at it in the box and enjoy? my friends on BMW spend more time in the assistence that on the road..
My buddy had a Honda ST1300. He said it was far to hot to drive, temp wise. Traded it in for a GS which he lives.
Fantastic Video! Thanks For Sharing!
Many times sport tourers like to install bar risers to take some pressure off the wrists. For the ST1300 which I own and love its an easy fix. At least for the pre 2012 FJR's I know you had to drill out the ignition assembly in order to install any risers. Something to think about? Heated grips lacking fro the Honda, they are an easy add-on, $200 as I recall.
How come y'all think Honda stopped with the ST1300? I think people would still buy them, even if they had not been changed since 2018.
Kawasaki C-14 with top box and side cases, (2) up - best bike for sport touring out of these three bikes. Six speed transmission, plenty of HP. Owned three beemers finally went over, price point and maintenance on the Kawasaki is so much better.
On a related tangent - FZ1 vs FJR. The FZ1 seems like the happy medium between the R1 and FJR. Any thoughts?
Had a FZ1 for a few years. It was amazing. Very, very comfortable riding position and a ton of power when you needed it. Handled very well through corners too. Excellent bike. Can't go wrong with a FZ1.
I have over 77k on my 2012 Connie now.. and still LOVE it, I have friends with the other two and whilst I agree that cruise would be nice, overall I still believe the Connie to be the best choice.
With all the plastic on the Kawasaki maintenance is a nightmare.
So hell no ..
Damn, you rode the shit out of it. What are you at now? lol
77k mi on a '21?? Good God you must awfully bowl legged😢
@@seatime674 Great catch of that typo!
I have to laugh at these guys talking about one bike having less power than another. At 1300+cc if you're not happy with the power you need to buy an airplane. Nice bikes, but they could do the same thing with less weight, a 750cc engine and a few less gimmicks. They started off right when they criticized the excessive weight of these machines, which makes them impractical in many ways.
Roadghost88 Impractical, unless you do touring !! That's where they excel. 600+ mile days are no probs. Lets see you do that on a sports bike !!
Roadghost88
what would you say would be a good commuter bike for around the city? Im 48 yrs old and like comfort.....
ron davis Any of the Honda Shadows, 500-600cc. It's a very comfortable, practical cruiser bike that looks good. There are the new Harley Davidson Street 500-750cc series bikes also. If MPG is an issue, look at the 250cc bikes like the Suzuki TU250, very lightweight, practical, fun, and safe to ride on big highways if you have to.
pentachronic There are a lot of bikes you can do that on with less CCs. Sure, those bikes are good on the interstates, but that's only because of the seats, fairings and other appointments. They're overkill on engine size, weight and the fuel mileage is generally poor.
Roadghost88 thanks, I'm a Honda man anyway....
Nice review, great bikes - thanks guys!