B12 vs C14 comparo

[Red01]

Posted in another thread:

this is off topic but I was just going to see if RED01 was doing a comparo after having the c14 this long. what he likes bout both.

I'm not gonna write a magazine style shootout, but in a nutshell:

Pro-B12:
~100 lbs lighter (and it shows in the twisties when tossing around)
Simple screw & lock nut valve adjustments
Less plastic to remove to get to stuff - like the battery
Beautiful Candy Velvety Maroon paint color - one of the nicest colors of red I've seen.  So fast, it was only offered one year.
Sweet looking old-school GSXR1100 based motor
Tubular handlebar
Runs on regular

Pro-C14:
No chain to lube (or muck up the rear wheel)
Factory luggage
6th gear (that really is an overdrive - not just an extra cog like the B12.5 vs the B12)
Better fuel economy, despite being heavier and more horsepower & torque. 
     (Even without resorting to the ECO mode!  In ECO mode, it'll beat the B12 by 10 mpg!)
Electrically adjustable windscreen
Fuel injection
Better headlights -with twist knob adjusters
Better OE suspension
Factory 12v accessory plug
Factory heated grips
ABS & Traction Control w/slipper clutch
Over 200 miles on a tank of gas without sweating bullets... well over - like 220-230, easy.
36 month warranty (vs 12 months on the B12 when I bought it)

I never did a drag race between the two, but going by my (fat-ass) seat of the pants dyno, both seem to have similar acceleration and top speeds.  I think the Kawi might be quicker and the B12 faster, but the differences aren't very big.  The differences might be greater (or not) by someone 100-150 lbs lighter than my 280 lbs.

I kept waiting, hoping Suzuki would join the Sport-Touring fray with something that could compete with the C14, FJR, ST13/VFR12, etc.  Perhaps something based from the Hayabusa, like the C14 is to the ZX14, or even going budget with a B1250/GSX1250 based bike with a shaft conversion (because that was a "must have" for me on my B12's replacement) and ST accessories & electronics (not simply factory offered aftermarket luggage not styled for the bike), but I got tired of waiting.  

And Suzuki still doesn't have anything.  

[sandy klock]

Thanks that was a great comparo. I think the extended experience on both nails it.

[Red01]

Of course, to be fair, all those extra plusses in the C14's favor come at the cost of a higher MSRP.

[gamewood]

just waiting for my 2009 BMW K1300S to be ...affordable

[banditv]

suzuki need to bring back the rf900 but with a detuned busa motor.
have ridden my dads rf and i love it.
nice big tank, nice suspension, heaps of torque
comfy for my 6 foot 5 frame, complete with bad back and knees
and it'll still do 140 mph with out breaking a sweat