CDNolddude
04-11-2007, 07:12 PM
There are always lots of guys on the various boards asking should I buy this one or that bike etc. In fact, I was one of them asking that on a few different boards, so here are some personal thoughts/observations on comparing a 2001 Honda ST11000, 2003 Yamaha FJR, 2003 Kawasaki Concours, 2002 BMW R1150RT, & 2004 Honda ST1300a. I’ve read a lot of reviews and comparisons of these bikes which ended up confusing me more, so I had to ride them all myself. It is the only way. All of them are simply really good motorcycles, and I dont think you can go wrong with any of them.
2001 ST1100. This bike had an nice windshield with 'cats eyes' vents cut out, and was easy to see over for me at 5’10”. This actually was the quietest bike of the five as far as wind noise etc. The bars were too far forward for me to find comfortable, but I did sit on another one with risers and it fixed the problem just fine. The engine was very smooth and quiet and did sound like a turbine, even more so than the st1300. Weight and handling is where this bike came in last. It felt very heavy to me and was a bear to turn around on the country back roads. Power wise it was very good, but so linear and quiet it felt slower than it probably was. Overall another good Honda but one that did not stir any emotions at all in me. Reliable for sure, but just missing some of the excitement of riding a bike.
2003 FJR. This bike with the stock 03 shield was OK to sit behind but the wind noise was by far the noisiest at all settings especially full down with a roar and a strong wind hitting you chest high. This one also had the least amount of weather protection of all the bikes. The FJR was simply the fastest of the five. It was a rush to let it out on the back roads, with great power anywhere. The seating position really wasn’t bad at all with not much of a reach to the bars. It was better than the st1100 without risers. I did not feel any significant buzziness on this bike at all, even though that is a common complaint. I did not feel any of the early FJR heat problems but it was only about 60 degrees out.It was only slightly better than the st1100 for turning around at parking lot speeds. Handling was quicker than the st1100 but slower than the other two.I felt this particular one was set up on the soft side but then apparently there is a stiffer suspension on the newer models. Overall a nice to ride bike just not for me..
2003 Connie. First off I was initially more impressed with this bike than any of the others, however the stock shield caused such wicked buffeting that I could not stand it for more than 30 minutes. The engine noise was also terrible, and the vibrations through the bars wasn’t too bad while riding but afterwards my hands did not stop tingling for an hour or more. Power wise this is a strong engine that just begs to be let loose, and once on the cam at 6000rpm, hold on. Maybe because it was so loud, it seemed faster than it was but I don’t think so. It was rock solid on the hiway and really good in the twisties. Suspension also was set up very nicely on the one I took out. So much so that it was 2nd best next to the BMW It did not have a full tank of gas so the parking lot manouvers were fine.
2002 R1150RT The first one I road had a ceebailey windshield and I did not like it at all. The flip distorted the view and it was noisy to me. The second one had the stock shield and It was better. Still noisy enough that I NEEDED earplugs to be comfy. I think one of the other aftermarket shields that is slightly wider but with same contours should be much better. The seating position is simply the most comfy of the 5 bikes. It is the most upright with wider bars. These help in the low speed manoeuvres also, which put it second behind the st1300 however, the bike does seem to carry its weight up high at parking lot speeds but once going you can really notice how much lighter this bike is compared to the others. The RT seems like it can read your mind, as it handles effortlessly. It is the most fun in the twisties period. The suspension was the most plush of all the bikes yet it handled really really well. Power is down from all the others,but it isn’t a slow bike. The vibes are always always there but for some reason they don’t bother you much at all compared to the Connie which really put a tingle in my hands. I read everywhere how the surging on these bikes are annoyin but both bikes I road showed no surging at all. Overall this is a great bike and I could/would own one if I was more mechanically inclined.
ST1300 This bike so far is completely stock. I find the windshield to be second only to the one on the st1100, for windnoise, but with the adjustability it goes to the top. The seating postion isn’t bad at all but risers will the mcl risers that are on order, should make it even better. My butt was fine after two hours on the stock seat. This is a heavy bike, but so well balanced that as long the wheels are moving it sheds a lot of the weight, just like my old 85 wing. It is the easiest to manoeuvre at parking lot speeds despite the weight. Power wise it is not as exciting as the FJR or the Connie but it is deceptive. It pulls like a freight train. Handling is good..but you do have to consciously think and be deliberate in your moves on the road,compared to the BMW. I find the suspension on the mushy side so I will have to make some minor adjustments there. Right now this one has some vibes/buzz that the st1100 did not, which I was not expecting. Again hopefully just a minor counter balancer adjustment is needed. I know I will be happy with this one.
In the end it was a close call between the ST1300 and the 1150RT but I’m more comfortable owning a Honda and the lack of dealers, and maintenance costs and frequencies for the Bimmer sealed the decision. And when it comes down to it, I am a honda guy.
You really cant go wrong with any of these bikes. The one you are most comfortable with (and you will know which one that is after riding them)is the one that you’ll end up liking for the longest time and it is great that we all have a choice of 5 really good bikes.
2001 ST1100. This bike had an nice windshield with 'cats eyes' vents cut out, and was easy to see over for me at 5’10”. This actually was the quietest bike of the five as far as wind noise etc. The bars were too far forward for me to find comfortable, but I did sit on another one with risers and it fixed the problem just fine. The engine was very smooth and quiet and did sound like a turbine, even more so than the st1300. Weight and handling is where this bike came in last. It felt very heavy to me and was a bear to turn around on the country back roads. Power wise it was very good, but so linear and quiet it felt slower than it probably was. Overall another good Honda but one that did not stir any emotions at all in me. Reliable for sure, but just missing some of the excitement of riding a bike.
2003 FJR. This bike with the stock 03 shield was OK to sit behind but the wind noise was by far the noisiest at all settings especially full down with a roar and a strong wind hitting you chest high. This one also had the least amount of weather protection of all the bikes. The FJR was simply the fastest of the five. It was a rush to let it out on the back roads, with great power anywhere. The seating position really wasn’t bad at all with not much of a reach to the bars. It was better than the st1100 without risers. I did not feel any significant buzziness on this bike at all, even though that is a common complaint. I did not feel any of the early FJR heat problems but it was only about 60 degrees out.It was only slightly better than the st1100 for turning around at parking lot speeds. Handling was quicker than the st1100 but slower than the other two.I felt this particular one was set up on the soft side but then apparently there is a stiffer suspension on the newer models. Overall a nice to ride bike just not for me..
2003 Connie. First off I was initially more impressed with this bike than any of the others, however the stock shield caused such wicked buffeting that I could not stand it for more than 30 minutes. The engine noise was also terrible, and the vibrations through the bars wasn’t too bad while riding but afterwards my hands did not stop tingling for an hour or more. Power wise this is a strong engine that just begs to be let loose, and once on the cam at 6000rpm, hold on. Maybe because it was so loud, it seemed faster than it was but I don’t think so. It was rock solid on the hiway and really good in the twisties. Suspension also was set up very nicely on the one I took out. So much so that it was 2nd best next to the BMW It did not have a full tank of gas so the parking lot manouvers were fine.
2002 R1150RT The first one I road had a ceebailey windshield and I did not like it at all. The flip distorted the view and it was noisy to me. The second one had the stock shield and It was better. Still noisy enough that I NEEDED earplugs to be comfy. I think one of the other aftermarket shields that is slightly wider but with same contours should be much better. The seating position is simply the most comfy of the 5 bikes. It is the most upright with wider bars. These help in the low speed manoeuvres also, which put it second behind the st1300 however, the bike does seem to carry its weight up high at parking lot speeds but once going you can really notice how much lighter this bike is compared to the others. The RT seems like it can read your mind, as it handles effortlessly. It is the most fun in the twisties period. The suspension was the most plush of all the bikes yet it handled really really well. Power is down from all the others,but it isn’t a slow bike. The vibes are always always there but for some reason they don’t bother you much at all compared to the Connie which really put a tingle in my hands. I read everywhere how the surging on these bikes are annoyin but both bikes I road showed no surging at all. Overall this is a great bike and I could/would own one if I was more mechanically inclined.
ST1300 This bike so far is completely stock. I find the windshield to be second only to the one on the st1100, for windnoise, but with the adjustability it goes to the top. The seating postion isn’t bad at all but risers will the mcl risers that are on order, should make it even better. My butt was fine after two hours on the stock seat. This is a heavy bike, but so well balanced that as long the wheels are moving it sheds a lot of the weight, just like my old 85 wing. It is the easiest to manoeuvre at parking lot speeds despite the weight. Power wise it is not as exciting as the FJR or the Connie but it is deceptive. It pulls like a freight train. Handling is good..but you do have to consciously think and be deliberate in your moves on the road,compared to the BMW. I find the suspension on the mushy side so I will have to make some minor adjustments there. Right now this one has some vibes/buzz that the st1100 did not, which I was not expecting. Again hopefully just a minor counter balancer adjustment is needed. I know I will be happy with this one.
In the end it was a close call between the ST1300 and the 1150RT but I’m more comfortable owning a Honda and the lack of dealers, and maintenance costs and frequencies for the Bimmer sealed the decision. And when it comes down to it, I am a honda guy.
You really cant go wrong with any of these bikes. The one you are most comfortable with (and you will know which one that is after riding them)is the one that you’ll end up liking for the longest time and it is great that we all have a choice of 5 really good bikes.