…the FJR is a mere 200 clams more than the Concours, but a whopping $6500 less than the BMW we tested. Our rudimentary math skills compute that to a 45% price premium! The Yamaha is far from 45% less a bike than the BMW, that's for sure. That said, in its fourth appearance, we must admit the FJR's luster…

…mount earlier this year, getting some seat time on the 2013 FJR before the riding season turns to rain and cold was a top priority. Thankfully, an invite arrived and we headed south to Sonoma County for a first ride evaluation this fall. The FJR is far from a ground-up redesign, but the updates do prove…

…The one constant throughout has been the strong showing of the Yamaha FJR, winning twice (2004 and 2008) and finishing second once (2006). The BMW K1200GT claimed the top spot in 2006, dropping to third in 2008.The all new Concours made its ST shootout debut in 2008 where it finishedsecond overall. 2004…

…-equipped version of the Concours rings in dead even with the ABS-standard FJR at $13,799. Choosing to forego the ABS shaves $900 off the MSRP, making the Kawasaki is a very tempting offer - an offer we're sure many riders will be glad they could not refuse. 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 Gallery Recent Touring…

…thing! Ghost of Sport-Touring Comparo's Past In the 2008 Sport-Touring Comparison the Kawasaki Concours 14 faired pretty well, just nipping the BMW K1200GT but finishing second to the mighty Yamaha FJR. The 2009 Comparison test is being written at this very moment. Unfortunately, the 2010 Connie wasn't…

…tight and narrow roads we took it on in Japan. Wheelbase is an inch longer than the Concours but the VFR felt more agile than the C14, mimicking more closely the turning characteristics of the ST or maybe the FJR to some extent. Unfortunately, we will have to wait to verify these theories in the upcoming…

…Better perhaps than most sportbike perches, the Suzuki seat is not amenable to high-mileage routes. There's no mistaking the purpose of the Kawasaki Concours 14, with its upright position, cush seat andhigh bars begging for long-distance jaunts. The Kawasaki, by comparison, feels like a veritable Barcalounger…

…horsepower engine. The uber Beemer touring platform now holds its own against the previously matchless Kawasaki Concours in the motor department. It also managed to overtake the surefooted Yamaha FJR in handling, at least in our test rider's minds. Stellar brakes and on-the-fly suspension adjustment from the…

…in 2004. We knew bringing back the Beemer and Yamaha, along the auto-shifting AE version of the FJR, was a no-brainer, but we had to see how the new kid on the Sport-Touring block, the Kawasaki Concours 14, held up. And if the much-hyped C14 was getting an opportunity to re-order the S-T food chain…

…and back sore but the other testers would owe me big time. The Yamaha would have worked too, and I definitely wouldn't have complained about the Concours engine heat during the chilly morning either. Then there was the BMW, with its heated grips, best wind protection and tempting on-road performance…