Yamaha Fjr1300 Vs. Kawasaki Concours 14

Sports touring bikes are great because when using them, you are killing two birds with one stone. You are enjoying the speed and power of a sports bike, and you can carry a lot of your gear and stuff, thanks to the touring style they incorporate as well.

So there is a lot on offer here, and you need to go for the best brands to get your money’s worth. Certainly, Yamaha and Kawasaki are two of the best in the world. So, we will compare Yamaha FJR1300 vs. Kawasaki Concours 14 in today’s post.

Both Yamaha FJR1300 (top speed: 124 miles an hour) and Kawasaki Concours 14 (top speed: 155 miles an hour) are sports touring bikes, and they are built for speed and can carry stuff for you too.

So, which one of them is better than the other? Keep reading to find all about it.

Industry History

Yamaha

Yamaha is one of the top brands in the world today when it comes to motorcycle manufacturing. Right from the beginning, the company has been well-known for its business philosophy of providing customers with multiple options for colors and trims.

When it comes to looks and aesthetics, Yamaha is a good choice to opt for. And you will always get the reliability and performance from a Yamaha engine.

Kawasaki

Being among the first international brands that entered the US market, Kawasaki has progressed leaps and bounds. This has happened not very long ago, and the company is already among the top producers of motorcycles.

Kawasaki has been participating in global race tournaments and championships and has won numerous accolades too. However, when it comes to power and resilience, Kawasaki is a top choice to go for.

Yamaha FJR1300 vs. Kawasaki Concours 14: An Overview

The FJR1300ES 2021

This bike is all about sport-touring and is exceptional when it comes to speed and performance. So, if you are looking for superb torque and acceleration that is unmatched, then rampage the roads while riding this sport-tourer. This bike is built for the highways, and you can ride it for as long as you want, thanks to its comfortable seat and ergonomic design.

The Concours 14 2021

When it comes to aerodynamics, there are not many sport-tourers available on the market that can beat the Concours 14. The 2021 model has a more streamlined design but still manages to provide you with plenty of storage space to carry your gear and stuff. In addition, the seats are pretty comfortable for long rides as this monster is built for longer rides.

Comparison Chart

Features	Yamaha FJR1300ES	Kawasaki Concours 14
Fuel and vehicle type	Petrol sports touring bike	Petrol sports touring bike
Gas tank capacity	6.6 gallons	5.8 gallons
Engine type	4-stroke, liquid-cooled, 4-cylinder, DOHC engine	4-stroke, liquid-cooled, 4-cylinder DOHC engine
Displacement	1298cc	1352cc
Gear transmission	6-speed w/ slipper wet clutch and multi-plate assist	6-speed w/ slipper wet clutch and multi-plate assist
Seat capacity and type	2, dual stepped	2, dual stepped
Seat height	31.7 to 32.5 inches	32.1 inches
Maximum power	141.4 HP @ 10,000 RPM	158 HP @ 8,800 RPM
Maximum torque	134.4 Nm @ 13,700 RPM	135.6 Nm @ 6,200 RPM
Front and rear suspension	Inverted fork w/ 5.3-inch travel and monoshock w/ 4.9-inch travel	Inverted telescopic fork w/ 4.4-inch travel and tetralever monoshock w/ 5.4-inch travel
Front and rear brakes	Dual disc and single disc w/ unified braking system and ABS	Dual and single floating disc w/ calipers and ABS
Front and rear tires	120/70ZR17 and 180/55ZR17	120/70ZR17 and 190/50ZR17
Wheelbase	60.8 inches	59.8 inches
Ground clearance	4.9 inches	4.9 inches
Weight	~642 lbs	~690 lbs

Engine

We will begin our discussion on this comparison between Yamaha FJR1300 vs. Kawasaki Concours 14 with the engines. The FJR1300 features a powerful DOHC engine that comes with a 4-cylinder liquid-cooled design. This engine comes with a displacement of 1298cc, and it is built for the highways and paved roads.

On the other hand, the Kawasaki Concours 14 is also equipped with a similar type of liquid-cooled 4-cylinder engine, but it comes with a more significant displacement of 1352cc. It means the Concours 14 can manage more horsepower and torque, and it also comes with a better top speed.

However, it can burn more fuel and has a smaller fuel tank too. Therefore, you will have to brace yourself for more frequent refills when riding your Concours 14 than the FJR1300.

Furthermore, in terms of power and performance, the winner of this round is the Concours 14. But if you are looking for utility and convenience, then the FJR1300 is the right option for you.

Weight

Let’s further discuss in this comparison of Yamaha FJR1300 vs. Kawasaki Concours 14. First, you will notice that despite having a bigger fuel tank, the FJR1300 is still around 50 lbs lighter than the Concours 14.

It means with all the accessories and add-ons, the Concours 14 is a much better sport-touring bike because it is equipped with all the storage compartments and can carry much more weight on it. The best part is, it still can produce plenty of horsepower and torque with all the weight.

But here’s a thing, handling the Concours 14 is a slightly tougher job because it weighs much more than the FJR1300. But keep in mind that both these bikes are pretty huge and will not be a good option to ride for a skinny person.

Besides, you need to have enough power in your body to hold these bikes while riding. But due to slightly lesser weight, you will notice that the FJR1300 is a bit easier to handle. So, this round goes in favor of the FJR1300ES.

Suspension and brakes

Now, let’s talk about the suspension and brakes in this comparison of Yamaha FJR1300 vs. Kawasaki Concours 14. The FJR1300 is the better option because it is equipped with an engine that can manage more displacement. Therefore, it needs to have better suspension and brakes on it.

But you will notice that there is only a little bit of a difference between both these bikes when it comes to brakes and suspension. The FJR1300 has an inverted fork system on the front and a mono-shock on the back. As a result, the front end can manage wheel travel of 5.3 inches, while the back end can manage 4.9-inch wheel travel.

On the other hand, if we talk about the Concours 14, it is equipped with an inverted telescopic fork on the front end to manage wheel travel of 4.4 inches. Its back end has a mono-shock and can handle wheel travel of 5.4 inches.

So, when cruising along, the FJR1300 is a better performer as it will handle bumpy roads very well. But with a better displacement and horsepower, the Concours 14 can undoubtedly speed up pretty fast. Hence, it will need a much stronger stopping power.

Hence, Kawasaki has equipped it with dual floating and single floating discs on the front and rear end. These brakes are better in terms of performance than the regular disc brakes on the FJR1300.

For the suspension, the FJR1300 is a better choice, while for more braking power at high speeds, the Concours 14 is the way to go.

Ergonomics

Now we will talk about the ergonomics in this comparison of Yamaha FJR1300 vs. Kawasaki Concours 14.As both these bikes are sport-tourers, ride comfort will not be a problem. But which one of these bikes is better in terms of ergonomics?

Of course, sport-tourers are great on long rides, so they need to have the proper ergonomics to maximize your ride comfort. However, both bikes are going to be pretty comfortable to ride on long rides. Their handlebars and footpegs are conveniently accessible as the rider sits in a nice and comfortable upright seating position.

Whereas the Yamaha comes with an adjustable seat height. You can comfortably adjust it between 31.7 inches and 32.5 inches according to your preferences and needs. Unfortunately, this feature is not available in Concours 14, and the seat height available there is only 32.1 inches.

So, the FJR1300 provides you with much more room for adjustment according to your preferences. And for that, it also wins this round and takes the lead over the Concours 14.

Looks and aesthetics

Now let’s chat a bit about the looks and aesthetics in this comparison of Yamaha FJR1300 vs. Kawasaki Concours 14. Of course, this topic is highly subjective, and different people have different choices and preferences regarding looks. Still, we will compare the bikes with one another because they are pretty much look-alikes with only minor differences here and there.

Both these machines are pretty slick-looking sport-touring bikes, and we are looking at two pretty modern designs. These models utilize the latest trims front he sports bikes and combine them with the touring features to provide you with a tough-to-beat combo. And to further complicate things both these machines are only available in black color.

But what we do like to mention here is that the Concours has a more aerodynamic style and streaks on it than the FJR1300. This is because this ride is built for speed. The FJR is a better performer when it comes to cruise control. So, it has a more ergonomic design to ensure better ride comfort.

Pricing

If you are going for the ergonomics, then, of course, you will have to pay slightly more, which is the case with the FJR1300. And if you prefer aerodynamics, then you can skip a few bucks and go for the Concours 14. However, with the FJR, you will have a bigger fuel tank as well, and the overall handling and maneuverability will be much more under control.

The Concours 14, on the other hand, is built for speed and agility, no matter how much stuff you are carrying with you. So, if you prefer a destination over a journey, choose Concours 14 and if it’s the journey for you, choose the FJR1300. The good thing is that both these bikes can be configured for various accessories and add-on as well.

Yamaha FJR1300 vs. Kawasaki Concours 14 – The Similarities

There are some similarities between these two sports touring bikes, and in this section, we will briefly explore them to get a better idea.

Fuel and vehicle type

Both these machines are sports touring bikes, and they both are powered by gasoline. The only difference is that the FJR features a much bigger fuel tank than what the Concours 14 has.

Engine type

Both these bikes come with liquid-cooled 4-stroke, 4-cylinder DOHC engines. So, maintenance is pretty much going to be the same on these bikes. The only difference is that Concours 14 features a much more significant displacement than the FJR.

Gear transmission

Both these sports touring bikes come with 6-speed gear transmission with a wet slipper clutch. The gearing transmission also features multi-plate assist as well.

Seating type and capacity

The FJR and the Concours both come with dual-stepped seating arrangements. And both are designed for excellent ride comfort for long trips.

Yamaha FJR1300 vs. Kawasaki Concours 14 – Pros & Cons

The FJR1300ES

Pros

Bigger fuel tank.

Excellent ride comfort.
Better ergonomics.
Relatively lighter.

Cons

Displacement could have been better.

The Concours 14

Pros

Better aerodynamics.
Wider wheelbase.

More baggage room.
Excellent fire speeds.

Cons

No seat height adjustment.

Conclusion:

In this head to head comparison roundup of Yamaha FJR1300 vs. Kawasaki Concours 14, the winner is the Concours 14. This machine might be heavier than the FJR, but it can certainly produce some speed. When you need to step on it, you can get all the power from its 1352cc DOHC engine.

All in all, you are looking at a comfortable sports tourer that will not break your wallet. Moreover, a sport-touring bike with this type of price tag is an excellent deal to get because the bike itself comes with plenty of features for your facilitation and entertainment. And what’s even better is, you can configure your bike with different add-ons and accessories too.