the Multi is 100 lbs lighter than our bike (both without bags), but has a chain. The Connie definitely doesn't have more power than the Multi's 160HP at the crank. Plus has taller gearing, so something doesn't add up. Either Ducati lied about its power, or the Multi rider isn't very good . Don't think our bike has more than Duc's 100 lb/ft or torque either. I don't remember if Multis have a quick-shifter or not. Our bikes don't like rushed shifts, either clutched or clutchless, so that's not an advantage either. Weird, but glad to learn it hangs with it. And after seeing the basically unchanged FJR, I don't think Kawi is pressured to change the Connie yet. It's still the best sport-tourer IMO, especially with price included in the equation.
I think his weighs about 480 or so, my 2012 is about 680 (on a scale made for weighing trucks so ....). So we did it again, because it's fun. I got him a bit this time, he said he backed off when it wheelied in first. We started dead even at about 15 mph in first and I said, "3...2....1" in the headset and away we went. After 3 gears or so WOT, shifting at redline, I had him by 30 yards. I'm not sure how to quantify him as a rider but he has 5 bikes, has ridden for 30 years or more and has raced dirt bikes, is also the fastest guy I know. I can't keep up in the twisties unless I'm on my Speed Triple, the C14 has limits and his Multi's limits are higher. And did I mention he's better than me? Tires like a PR2 or Angel GT last about 4-5000 miles with him. We go to Arkansas and ride pretty hard all the time, no chicken strip on the rear and half inch up front for me, 1/4" for him. We've passed a lot of bikes and no one has ever passed us. It will happen, I have no illusions but we won't make it easy. It made no sense that my bike is just as fast as his but we've done it 4 or 5 times. He had his exhaust plug in yesterday when we did it. I notice mine wants to lift the front tire now at WOT and high RPM in 1st gear. It's a beast now. It wasn't slow before but it's better.
Every once in a while, I still get a really large clunk when going from off the throttle to on throttle leaving a corner, very frustrating. I'm not just whacking the throttle on, I roll it on. Steve, I'd love to supply some parameters to you on how to clean this up, if it's even possible. What are the inputs you need? I haven't tried to repeat it, maybe I can sometime. A guess would be a transition from off to on throttle, not rapid. 2nd or 3rd gear, maybe 5k rpm, 65F ambient temp, coolant temp nominal. I am not sure if it's trailing/partial throttle or completely closed throttle, but I do know I'm just opening it smoothly, not whacking it to WOT.
I suspect some of this is just drive train slack being taken up, but that happens every time you transition from off to on throttle. This doesn't.