Not for me...Bagless is great. I drop the bags and lost the potatoe launcher and she reminds me more of my previous sport bikes. Prob more in my head than anything....but whatever it takes.
I would ride bag less. I think the C14 looks better without the bags. (Do these bags make my A$$ look fat? Yes!) But now I have the rear protection bars and it seems I'm always carrying something. Oh well.
I am of the opposite opinion. I think the bike was designed with the bags, and without it looks like a dated early '90s bike with a fat rear.
I have noticed no difference in riding.Guess you don't ride fast enough. Ha ha. Bags create a lot of drag; simple physics. And affect stability at higher speeds, especially while cornering (sweepers). There's a reason manual says not to exceed 80 mph with the bags and/or passenger on . Anyway, I'm in the bagless camp too. Bought the bike with bags for longer trips. But for overnighters, my seatbag is enough. So I hardly ever use them. Wish Kawasaki had body-color plates to go over the bag mounts, like Yamaha (FJR1300) does. But they don't look horrible. The bags are HUGE, and both of them, which is quite nice when space is needed. But the bike looks and feels huge with them too. A matter of personal preference how it looks though.
Back in the early days of this bike, Kawasaki made statements to the effect that the bag shape was engineered to provide down force at high speeds...And that means LIFT in the front. Not good . No bike handles better with bags than without; otherwise racing bikes would have them . But I think Kawasaki probably has the best design. When I brought the bike home at up to 90 mph, didn't feel the negative effects of the bags I have felt on every other bike with bags I've owned. Don't know about the sweepers though. And the extra drag will always be there, meaning higher fuel consumption at the very least. But they're a compromise we sport-tourers are willing to make. Take care.
+2
have you all ever parked in front of a restaurant and took a pic by chance
snip...
Guess you don't ride fast enough. Ha ha. Bags create a lot of drag; simple physics. And affect stability at higher speeds, especially while cornering (sweepers). There's a reason manual says not to exceed 80 mph with the bags and/or passenger on .
Back in the early days of this bike, Kawasaki made statements to the effect that the bag shape was engineered to provide down force at high speeds...
The manual says not to exceed 80mph with the bags or a passenger on the bike? I must have missed that section!
I agree about the liability angle. Does it state if riding solo, you can ride WFO as much as you like? If not, why make a motorcycle that can easily travel over 150 MPH? So often corporate double speak is really way out there... tp
Of course, it is silly- but I bet all motorcycles have similar types of warnings in their manuals. Probably just liability stuff.
"Overloading the motorcycle with cargo and/or passengers, and/or not balancing the weight of items carried in each saddlebag may cause adverse handling, loss of control and an accident resulting in serious injury or death. Do not carry loads of more than 10 kg (22 lb) in each saddlebag. Distribute the load equally on both sides of the motorcycle to minimize imbalance. Do not exceed the total payload limit of 228 kg (503 lb), including rider, passenger, baggage, and accessories. Do not exceed the vehicle speed of 130 km/h (80 mph) when carrying a passenger and/or cargo. Also reduce speed according to road or weather condition, etc. Failure to adjust the speed to compensate for added weight and other conditions may result in a loss of control and subsequent accident."
Of course, it is silly- but I bet all motorcycles have similar types of warnings in their manuals. Probably just liability stuff.
have you all ever parked in front of a restaurant and took a pic by chance
You took that at a restaurant? Wow- quite a nice view
have you all ever parked in front of a restaurant and took a pic by chance
So is that the Colorado River? I love 128 from Moab to I-70.