10-20-2019, 02:34 AM
(10-20-2019, 01:00 AM)VLJ_imp Wrote: You probably won't notice much difference when you're just slowly cruising around in joyride mode. Ride each model hard on a proper twisty road riddled with bumps, however, and the difference will be obvious.
When I was 18 I had a Kawasaki KLE250 2 stroke--my very first bike--and took some twisty curves in nice hard mode, well I should say I took 4 curves just fine, but it was that 5th one where I got in some left over "sand-the-snowy-roads!" residual at the edge, bounced down left on the pavement, slid a fair number of meters, bounced up and over the still sliding motorcycle, tumbled a few times and ended up on the grass with still running bike a few inches from me. Ever since, I just get a tingly feeling down my spine when I get too spirited on the proper twistys...I always wimp out and back off. I know it's a mental thing, but at this point I'm comfortable with how I ride.
However, now that you mention "riddled with bumps" I do recall that the '14 seemed not to soak those up very well, and I haven't noticed the same on the '17. Again, I'm not doubting the suspension is better on the '17...but maybe some high percent of that is lost on me. Glad others appreciate it though!