That is way off base, and the motorcycle magazines seem to have a different opinion.
The BMW adds a bunch of fancy add ons and luxury items, which is really no different then a high end car.
Then you add in reliability between the brands, cost of ownership,
and finally dealer support and locations
Like I said before, I will be getting away from the big heavy bikes sooner than later, I did more than fine traveling the country on a Vstrom 1000.......and went places the C14 could not.
That is way off base, and the motorcycle magazines seem to have a different opinion. The C14 and the FJR have everything that 3/4 of riders want/need and are satisfied with. The BMW adds a bunch of fancy add ons and luxury items, which is really no different then a high end car. Then you add in reliability between the brands, cost of ownership, and finally dealer support and locations.......then you are right in it not even being close. Like I said before, I will be getting away from the big heavy bikes sooner than later, I did more than fine traveling the country on a Vstrom 1000.......and went places the C14 could not.
Have you given any thought to the Ducati Multistrada 1200? That's going to be my sport/touring/go wherever bike when I save up the cash. It's light, fast, handles great, and has some offroad capability, as well as very decent touring capability, if current owners are to be believed. The Skyhook electronic semi-real-time suspension on the 2013's seems like a really awesome addition.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...and still 20 grand.
I read somewhere that Kawi did ask customers of Gen1 C14 about improvments to make before launching the Gen 2.
Well, not sure customers asked for linked brakes but I though it was a good idea to relies on customers experiences to make sure they do changes.
Any process like that going on? If not, why don't we just feed them officially?
As for my C14 being superior to say a K16GT....ummm no, not even close unless you are arguing value.
As for BMW overpriced, that's pretty subjective, and I would not try to dispense that declaration as being fact.
Cost of ownership of the BMW K16GT/GTL is actually less than the Concours if you follow both manufacturer's documented maintenance schedules.
Value is a major consideration in any comparison. And the Concours performs and handles just as well (as has been discussed in several other threads).
Oh, I think it is fact When you compare what you get with the C14 at price X and what you get with the K16 at price Y, it doesn't jive at all.
All due respect, where are you coming from with this? Most if not all of the magazines acknowledge the K16 is the superior bike if in fact you use magazine articles as the litmus. The only debate generally has been how resoundingly the editors chose the K16 over the C14, and how to compare the value proposition of the two.
Exactly.
The K16 might be, overall, a few percent better, and everyone would and should rate it higher. But when it is 50% more expensive, is that justified? Add more cylinders and displacement but gain almost no more power (especially after a flash)? Adding cruise, HID, a heated seat and a few other farkles to better equalize the two isn't going to change that price gap by more than several more percent and you are still left with a big difference in price. And the user can decide if he even wants to close the feature gap or not (although I still think Kawasaki should consider throwing them in, since they really are NOT that expensive when added in mass production).
And with the good design, excellent dealership network, and great long-term and expandable warranty on the C-14, that price difference isn't eroded due to [sane] maintenance or service. If anything, the gap will just continue to get wider over time.
Please pick a lane First the K16 was not superior, now it is by a "few percentage points" whatever that means.
Moreover, the K16 makes notably more torque, which on a ST bike particularly when riding two up is what matters, not peak hp. To that end the K16 crushes my C14 in roll on power as illustrated in every test, and my own experience.
Value is in the eye of the beholder. The K16 does things the C14 cannot in many regards. It's up to the buyer to determine if that's something worth paying for.
Go add all the features a K16 comes with, many of which you couldn't, and I'll bet my first child you will be all too close to the $23K I paid for my K16.
Max, ya left out unlimited mileageAnd the K16 has a 3 year 36k warrenty, so if you put 2000 miles a month on the K16 the warrenty will only be good for a 11/2 years.
Max made the comments for me, and no the K1600 does not dominate the C14 or the FJR in "any" category. Yes it is the uber luxury version for a superb sport touring bike "especially 2 up", but go on a big trip and the BMW dealers are in fact scarce. You obviously have a raging hard on for BMW, but I still think some of it is the whole "I own a BMW thing". Price or ownership is a huge factor for many riders, hence why much fewer BMW owners are out there. The Multistrada is simply an amazing bike, maybe the all around best bike that is currently available, but once again the cost of ownership and dealer networks is a turn off for me. I will keep buying my inexpensive Japanese machines and just slowly add to them what I want that suits my needs. You love it and that is all that matters, ride what ya love and love what ya ride.
"Superior" is a much greater superlative than "better". I don't believe there is anything contradictory in what I said. I think it is a little (which is what I meant by "few percentage points") better, overall, not "superior". Chalk it up to semantics, but that is what I meant.
Yes, the heavier K16 does make more torque in lower RPM (and LESS than the C14 in higher RPM). But roll-ons in what gear? Most "roll-on" tests are in top gear, and that is hardly valid on a C14 which has a true overdrive. 5th and under is the only valid comparison.
Totally agreed. It is nice to have choices, and the K16 is certainly nice.
You really think it would cost $10K? I don't... at least not for what it is POSSIBLE to add. To touch on the things I could identify:
Good GPS + sound system + mounting: $400
Better seat + heated $500
Reflash ECU $350
Cruise $550 (rostra + install)
HID $100 (can't add adaptive, of course)
Mirror deflectors $75
Not even $2000. Did I miss anything important? I can't do much about electronic suspension, but that is optional- how about throwing in an entire 3 years more of warranty for $335