Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: TAL2013C14 on August 08, 2017, 07:29:31 PM
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Hello All,
I'm looking at a trunk for my recently purchased 2013 C14.
I've got my eye on the Givi V47NNT, installed on a Farkels luggage rack and adjustable rails.
My questions...
What effect, if any, does a trunk have at higher speeds (100+mph)?
Can the C14's stock tail lights be seen with the trunk installed, or is a trunk lighting kit a necessity?
Any advice, experiences, and guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Tim
***I thought of a third question...Does a trunk effect gas milage?
Thanks!
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I wouldn't hesitate to spend the extra on lighting. I had a GIVI Monokey on my 2006 C-10 & installed the Admore LED lighting. To me, conspicuity is everything.
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I'm looking at a trunk for my recently purchased 2013 C14. Any advice, experiences, and guidance would be greatly appreciated.
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=22155 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=22155)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=22206 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=22206)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=19967 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=19967)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17381 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17381)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6402 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6402)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=13864 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=13864)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17375 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17375)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=10970 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=10970)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4073 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4073)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7883 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7883)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=1816 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=1816)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=18473 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=18473)
What effect, if any, does a trunk have at higher speeds (100+mph)?* **I thought of a third question...Does a trunk effect gas milage?
Anything that adds weight or changes the aerodynamics will affect fuel mileage and potentially top speed or high speed stability. A top box will likely negatively affect both to some degree. There are too many factors for any precise answer (location, model, height, number of riders, position of riders, windscreen used, helmet used, etc).
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http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=22155 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=22155)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=22206 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=22206)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=19967 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=19967)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17381 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17381)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6402 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6402)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=13864 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=13864)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17375 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17375)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=10970 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=10970)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4073 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4073)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7883 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7883)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=1816 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=1816)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=18473 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=18473)
Anything that adds weight or changes the aerodynamics will affect fuel mileage and potentially top speed or high speed stability. A top box will likely negatively affect both to some degree. There are too many factors for any precise answer (location, model, height, number of riders, position of riders, windscreen used, helmet used, etc).
Thanks Max, however, I was hoping to hear rider's personal experiences from the road.
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Thanks Max, however, I was hoping to hear rider's personal experiences from the road.
Best I can do. Have never had a trunk/top box.
I meant to answer one of your other questions and forget- yes, you can see the stock lights.
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I've had mine over 100 only a few times, I'm sure it has an effect but I didn't experience any negative effect. My case is rarely off the bike unless I'm bringing it into the hotel room to unload.
Hopefully someone that uses their bike as a commuter has done comparisons with trunk on/off can answer your question about fuel economy and maybe 100+ mph effects if any.
Like max' says the tail light is still visible, the trunk will overhang it and usually shade it so it actually stands out a little more (IMO). I suppose that a higher vehicle like a truck cab at too close for comfort range might not be able to see it.
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I always have my Givi Maxia 55 installed. No problems with stability up to 140 mph.
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Unlike Max, I DO have a trunk, and I ride a ton of miles. Sometimes at high speed.
GPS top speed reading was XXX on the ride from Bellingham, WA to Boulder, CO in June.
Ahem. Speed deleted on a public forum and all that, but it was well over the posted limit.
But a bit below 140. In the North of Wyoming, it is posted 80 everywhere. And nobody is going that slow anyway.
I am at about 150,000 miles on three C14s at this point. All with trunks, even though I do not always have it on the bike. Usually I do. At least once or twice a week, I have a biggish saxophone lashed across the pillion. Several different windshields, using the height adjustment often, sometimes a passenger instead of the horn, etc. Sometimes the bags are crammed with stuff.
NO PROBLEM to run a trunk. Or a passenger. Or a bigger windshield. Or a saxophone.
Advice about "stuff that might possibly go wrong" with no evidence one way or the other is hilarious. My actual experience says that there is no stability problem.
37-38 MPG cumulative on the 2008 with a pipe and a PCV. GIVI 45 Litre case. Pretty wide.
Currently running 44-45 MPG usually running the ECO mode on the 2010 I got June 21.
Stock pipe and tune. 8500 miles so far. I do not run them without the trunk often enough to have a with/without comparison.
Taillight visibility is SERIOUSLY compromised with the trunk on. I have extra lights on all of the C14s. Just got them on the 2010. A pair of 4" long LED bars on each side of the license plate frame. One pair set up as running lights, one as brake lights. Integral trunk lights are worth it. That one taillight is just not enough anyway, and the trunk makes it harder to see.
dat
sax
man
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Taillight visibility is SERIOUSLY compromised with the trunk on. I have extra lights on all of the C14s. Just got them on the 2010. A pair of 4" long LED bars on each side of the license plate frame. One pair set up as running lights, one as brake lights. Integral trunk lights are worth it. That one taillight is just not enough anyway, and the trunk makes it harder to see.
I am in total agreement that for safety, ANY stock Concours needs more tail/brake lights. That single one just isn't enough. But why is your trunk making it harder to see? It doesn't obscure it.... it might overhang it and make it not visible for really tall vehicles close to you... is that the issue?
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Taillight visibility is SERIOUSLY compromised with the trunk on. I have extra lights on all of the C14s. Just got them on the 2010. A pair of 4" long LED bars on each side of the license plate frame. One pair set up as running lights, one as brake lights. Integral trunk lights are worth it. That one taillight is just not enough anyway, and the trunk makes it harder to see.
I have extra lights on mine as well, but I highly disagree with much of the above quoted statement. Could you explain how the trunk blocks the stock tail light? I know it overhangs a bit, but other than the view from a tall truck cab parked right behind a C14 at a traffic light, I don't see it. (<--pun intended)
...well darn, max' beat me to it.
max' and I are starting to agree on things more and more....should I be concerned? :-\
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I decided to install a Givi V47NNT with Phil's luggage rack.
I like the setup, and really don't notice it there. 8)
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I decided to install a Givi V47NNT with Phil's luggage rack.
I like the setup, and really don't notice it there. 8)
"Does this make my butt look big?" :)
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"Does this make my butt look big?" :)
LOL!
Actually, I think it looks like it belongs.
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I always have my Givi Maxia 55 installed. No problems with stability up to 140 mph.
Same here, and oh yeah, the Admore LED light kit on the Givi Maxia 55NT looks and works great also.
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Yes, Marty. Be very concerned.
Ahem. Yes to the tall vehicles comment, Max. Here in the land of lane-splitting/sharing/filtering, visibility is arguably even more important. Less is bad. More is good.
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I've had the Givi on my old C10. It's nice and round-ish, if you like that sort of thing. I came a cross an old Vetter trunk that I got for a song. I figured, why not? It's awesome. The extra brake lights in the back are extremely obvious yet tasteful. I'm loving this thing more every day.