Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: speedracersworld on August 10, 2021, 04:51:03 PM
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How many are missing & have lost the Saddlebag Latch Covers & the little plastic retainer pieces on their C14's?
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I have seen postings about it on the forum, but I think it is fairly rare. Hasn't happened to me (and my bags are always on, and I open at least one of them multiple times on every trip).
Are you just curious, or do you have signs of such a problem?
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Ive lost both sides with yhe last 6 months. There are some replacements on alibaba.
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Same here those bags are the worst part of the whole bike.
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i lost the left. i made a replacement out of sheet metal.
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I guess we need a poll. I will start one.
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The glue gets soft with age and heat, but I was able to discover the problem before they blew away. Both sides came loose within six months this past year (it's a '08 I got new). I used the old covers as a form and made some quick plates from CF, attached with non-hardening RTV.
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I have seen postings about it on the forum, but I think it is fairly rare. Hasn't happened to me (and my bags are always on, and I open at least one of them multiple times on every trip).
Are you just curious, or do you have signs of such a problem?
Yes, I had lost 1 on my first 08 then the other one came off after I sold the bike; that I ended up buying back. This other 08 is missing both sides. Couldn't find replacements then I saw some on Amazon for $55 each but remember buying a pair on Alibaba for $20 each a long time ago. I just ordered another set. If it's a common problem, maybe I should get more if anyone else is interested.
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The glue gets soft with age and heat, but I was able to discover the problem before they blew away. Both sides came loose within six months this past year (it's a '08 I got new). I used the old covers as a form and made some quick plates from CF, attached with non-hardening RTV.
I wonder if 3M Double sided Molding tape would work good to hold them in place? That stuff is super strong!
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Yes, I had lost 1 on my first 08 then the other one came off after I sold the bike; that I ended up buying back. This other 08 is missing both sides. Couldn't find replacements then I saw some on Amazon for $55 each but remember buying a pair on Alibaba for $20 each a long time ago. I just ordered another set. If it's a common problem, maybe I should get more if anyone else is interested.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32847668281.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.1c314778fzqblw&algo_pvid=3efebbe0-1a73-41ff-9f49-608cb067da41&algo_exp_id=3efebbe0-1a73-41ff-9f49-608cb067da41-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2265191030959%22%7D
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32847668281.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.1c314778sEFTgT&algo_pvid=15d0bf17-2b69-4d86-8da3-76610b749088&algo_exp_id=15d0bf17-2b69-4d86-8da3-76610b749088-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2265191030959%22%7D
"for Kawasaki Concours 14 / ZG1400 / GTR1400 ABS Side Luggage Saddle Up Cap Backrest Pad Top Cover Boxes Bags Trunk Tool Case Cap" $23.44 each
That?
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Jes! ;)
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Locked temporarily...please do not adjust your sets. And don't click on anything yet! Ok, it's been dealt with.
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Got my Chy Na covers. I think they look better than the factory (right one in pic).
(https://i.ibb.co/kcyNvMZ/61923-D4-A-3-BAD-4-BD0-A2-C4-9-D2981365-B62.jpg)
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Got my Chy Na covers. I think they look better than the factory (right one in pic).
Still seems like an outrageous price ($45+) for a few little pieces of black plastic, especially when straight from China. We can assume you installed and they work? Glue??
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Just got them last night. Gonna install tomorrow. They were $54 after tax…high, in my opinion,BUT….mama Kaw doesnt have them available. Only in a $350+ complete latch assy. Even used/busted bag bases are more than that.
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Took a minute, but here they are installed. I used LocTite super gel glue, and used a lot more than the factory did.
(https://i.ibb.co/DCL8122/A29-CA847-55-B4-434-D-BFC8-5-A25-BE335220.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/L5sG6z6/40819505-16-CF-4-CC4-8713-B853-C08-FA5-AB.jpg)
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Took a minute, but here they are installed. I used LocTite super gel glue, and used a lot more than the factory did.
Looks good. Let's hope it holds! I haven't had much luck, ever, with any type of "super glue", especially on plastics.
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I use lots of different adhesives for different applications. My choice for that would be PC-AutoBond. I've had great luck with that and I use that for plastics on rockets that go near the speed of sound. It's less brittle that other glues as well.
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I have seen postings about it on the forum, but I think it is fairly rare. Hasn't happened to me (and my bags are always on, and I open at least one of them multiple times on every trip).
HA! I should have shut my damn mouth.
Went to open it today, and the top came off in my hand. It looks like it and the two hinge-things are held in place by a single bead of black RTV. So I guess I have to find some, scrape off the old, and glue it back.
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HA! I should have shut my damn mouth.
Went to open it today, and the top came off in my hand. It looks like it and the two hinge-things are held in place by a single bead of black RTV. So I guess I have to find some, scrape off the old, and glue it back.
This is more irritating than I thought. The adhesive must be gap-filling and plastic-compatible. It is not RTV, which is too soft. It is not epoxy, which is brittle and has no vibration resistance (flex). I can't find anything close except for the previously mentioned idea of "PC-AutoBond"
https://www.pcepoxy.com/products/permanent-repair/pc-autobond-epoxy/
and that product is impossible to find locally, and has crazy shipping prices from unusual 3rd-party Amazon vendors. Any other ideas, or should I just give up and pay double?
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Maxtog, Grainger has curbside at most locations and I believe ship free to store. You may have one near you.
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JB Weld, that fixes most everything.
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JB Weld, that fixes most everything.
For that application, I'd use PC-7 before JB Weld. Very similar stuff, but is a touch more flexible.
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Well, I'm sure they would have a product to work with that but to each his own... However, if experience dictates, then I'd go with Red's recommendation.
https://www.jbweld.com/products (https://www.jbweld.com/products)
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Jim, you're right. I often think of JB Weld as a single product, not a brand. My bad. I suspect JB Weld plastic putty would work well. Maybe a little more difficult to work with. I bet you could find that in most hardware stores, too.
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Jim, you're right. I often think of JB Weld as a single product, not a brand. My bad. I suspect JB Weld plastic putty would work well. Maybe a little more difficult to work with. I bet you could find that in most hardware stores, too.
"PlasticWeld Epoxy Putty" might work, but it says nothing about having any flexibility. And I do think that might be important with this application. My assumption is that it is just another rock-hard epoxy, but that is compatible with "many" plastics. It also doesn't help that it is white (and this could be very visible if it squirts out some under that cover).
I have used the traditional JB-Weld (the grey 2 part/2 tube stuff) on some plastic ear tabs that broke off on the Concours and it has seemed to hold. And I had some "lack of flex" concerns with that. So, maybe flex doesn't matter as much as I think?
This stuff looks kinda interesting, too (never heard of it): https://www.amazon.com/E6000-220011-High-Viscosity-Adhesive/dp/B0044SB3M8
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HA! I should have shut my damn mouth.
Went to open it today, and the top came off in my hand. It looks like it and the two hinge-things are held in place by a single bead of black RTV. So I guess I have to find some, scrape off the old, and glue it back.
I ordered the "PC-Auto Bond" as indicated, above. More expensive than most, and took a while to get from Amazon (since nobody locally sells it).
Of course the left cover came off, since I use that pannier 10 times as much as the right pannier.... I decided to try pulling on the right cover. Sure enough, that popped right off. Figured, since the adhesive on both are the same age. Plus, this bond stuff is expensive and has a mixing tube that can only be used once, so I want to make sure I didn't have the right one fail a year from now or something.
I used a razor blade to remove as much of the old black sticky adhesive as possible on both the latch and cover and the little hinge pieces. Then I used the razor to scratch hash marks all over them for adhesion. Squirted the new filler-epoxy using the same pattern as the factory (it was not as thick as I had hoped/expected) and placed the covers back on. Now only time will tell.
Photos attached
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I ordered the "PC-Auto Bond" as indicated, above [...] has a mixing tube that can only be used once,[...]it was not as thick as I had hoped/expected
Ah. Looking at their products pages, one can buy additional mixing nozzles with different capacities. Then it occurred to me.... perhaps you fill the tube and WAIT a short while before dispensing it, for it to thicken some? Of course, there are no instructions for using the tubes.
Anyway, it is a very, very solid bond now. A tiny bit squirted out around the edges and I could feel it is much harder (less flexible) than the OEM stuff. I hope it never has to be removed for any type of service, because it is probably impossible at this point. Hey, at least I will never lose the covers!
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I'm glad you were able to get it squared away. I wouldn't have thought to pop the other side off to repair it too.
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I'm glad you were able to get it squared away. I wouldn't have thought to pop the other side off to repair it too.
It took some considerable effort. So it was not likely to come off anytime soon. But I figured, I did the research, I had the supplies, I had the one-time-use mixer tube.... why push fate?
I think all of us, at least with similar-aged C14's, should probably pry a little on the most used side to test and see if it is going to fail soon and get ahead of the issue.