01-25-2018, 04:33 PM
I already know it will. The suspension is clearly plusher, the bike turns much more easily, the handling is properly neutral, there is no drive lash to speak of, and gear changes are both faster and smoother.
Of those five differences, however, I do believe that four of them were specific to Eric's bike, as opposed to being common to all '14s. While I suspect that a '14 with new tires and a properly tensioned chain would turn, transition, and progress on and off the throttle and through the gears in a manner very similar to the '17, the one difference that I don't think any prior-year model can touch is the plushness and overall competency of the '17's suspension.
Of those five differences, however, I do believe that four of them were specific to Eric's bike, as opposed to being common to all '14s. While I suspect that a '14 with new tires and a properly tensioned chain would turn, transition, and progress on and off the throttle and through the gears in a manner very similar to the '17, the one difference that I don't think any prior-year model can touch is the plushness and overall competency of the '17's suspension.