Got my new 2012 black beauty! Yeah!
Went for my first ride on this beautifull sunday March 18. Record temperature, unusually hot, our usual high around here for a March 18, is 39, yesterday the temperature reached 73!
Apart from the unusual warm weather, the other important difference was the eco mode (not on the 2008). Fuel consumption is significantly lower on my 2012 than it was on my 2008. Kawasaki says we can save up to 25% on gas because of this eco mode. I can attest to at least a 10% and possibly as much as 15% reduction in fuel consumption. Sunday, I averaged 41 miles per gallon mainly on country roads maintaining average speeds between 55 and 75 mph and I drove 15% of the time on highways where I normally drive between 70 and 80 mph. Normally. I did peak a few times in the vacinity of 90 mph but I basically drove with my brand new C14 the same way I usually drive. When I left for the day drive, the bike didn't have 50 miles on the odometer. The bike was not even broken in. With my 2008, I would definitively fall on the reserve before I got to 185 miles. Sunday I got to 202 miles before it started blinking! I did not even notice the reduced horsepower when the eco mode was on! Amazing feat! With the price of gas what it is, that's really apreciated cause if you think you have got it bad, I will let you know we pay our premium gas between $5.20 and $5.60 per Gallon. Europe is paying around $8 or $9 per gallon. You still got it good.
As for me, I know got it good too. Even if changing from one C14 to another C14 is not that big of a change, I like the improvements Kawasaki made to the bike.
I got $1700 less as trade-in for my 2008 for than I paid for it in august 2008 including the accessories I put on the bike I traded in. I drove it for two and a half years and it cost me $1700, a set of tires and a few oil changes and the gas. Not bad at all. This year, I avoided having to change the brakes, change the oil and filter, adjust the valves, change my tires and change my battery operated tire pressure monitors. All things I would have had to do this year, most of these before the season started with the tune up. All these I left to the dealer. I got a good deal on the 2012.
And now, we are getting hit with this unexpected heat wave and my new C14 is ready to drive off with (the 2008 was not). Fully garanteed for three years, with new tires, fresh oil and filter, new tire pressure gages, new brake pads and new disks.
Life is good!
