Hello from Eastern Washington

[GPzJeffrey]

Just got a new to me 2011 C14. I'm coming off of a 1996 GPz1100. I owned that bike since 2002, bought it with like 4800 miles on it, and have since rolled the clock over twice and then some. I went through more sets of tires than I can remember on it...I think I went through 4 sets of sprockets and chains...maybe five sets...but I'm very diligent about oiling. I love that bike...Corbin saddle, Givi luggage on a Wingrack, Aux lights, farkle wiring, MRA Vario touring screen...besides commuting to work with it my wife and I rode a lot.

So last spring, taking it out of storage I put a new battery in, put fresh gas in, set it to prime and got distracted, and sure enough ended up hydro-locking a cylinder...pretty sure I bent a rod but I haven't had the heart to check.

I've always wanted a new C14 since they came out, but since my GPz always ran flawlessly, I could never justify the expense...got mouths to feed, retirement and kids college to save for...

So I finally found my bike, an absolutely pristine 2011 in silver, only 24K of well loved and cared for miles by a former owner who is way more meticulous than I am when it comes to maintenance and care. I'm really looking forward to putting some high miles on the bike.

About me: I'm a former soldier, now a mechanical engineer. I've spent my career working in the nuclear industry, both under the NRC and DOE. I've been turning wrenches on everything from bicycles to minibikes to lawnmowers to cars, trucks and motorcycles for over 40 years now. I always do my own wrenching and tire changing, mostly because I don't trust anyone else to do it right, and I'm cheap....I enjoy learning new things all the time, and like sharing my knowledge and experience too.

[maxtog]

Just got a new to me 2011 C14. [] an absolutely pristine 2011 in silver

Yay!  Same as mine.

only 24K of well loved and cared for miles

Wow- that is low

Welcome.  TONS of info on this board for you, although the last move lost lots of important photos.  But the other info is still there.

You will love the C14.  Especially after you get it reflashed (if previous owner hadn't done it yet)

[Boomer]

Welcome aboard GPzJeff. 
I have a C10 that is a few miles from turning over 200k miles as well as an 08 C14 with 75k miles.
Hopefully this year I can get my back problems resolved and get riding again.

I can highly recommend getting a Corbin (or other) saddle and an ECU flash for the C14.
The former is a must as the OEM saddle is just nasty, and the latter gives smoother throttle and better low end grunt as well as a few top end bhp.

[GPzJeffrey]

Bike came with a Sargent saddle in addition to the stock one. So far, I like it, but I would like to try the stock one too. The Sargent seems to lock me into one spot, whereas on my old Corbin on the GPz I could slide myself  and adjust front to back a bit.
The bike also came with a Cee Bailey touring screen, a Givi V46 topcase with backrest on a Givi mount, fenda extenda, K&N oil and air filters, and throttlemeister bar ends....pretty much set Farkle wise. The TPMS sensors batteries are dead of course, but I think I'll keep it that way. I'm on the fence about the K&N air filter.... I've had them before and found that they didn't work for me as well as a quality paper media filter, filtration is way more important than any supposed marginal gains, especially here where single pass efficiency is the primary design constraint....not sure I have the 'recharge' kit anymore either (cleaner and oil). 

I have mixed feelings about K&N oil filters too, but good God, the last thing I want to do is start an oil or oil filter debate! (Even though, among many other qualifications and certifications I have I am a STLE certified lubrication specialist, certified Oil Monitoring Analyst II, and tribologist...so I do know a thing or two about this subject in industrial applications.

J

Welcome aboard GPzJeff.  ;D
I have a C10 that is a few miles from turning over 200k miles as well as an 08 C14 with 75k miles.
Hopefully this year I can get my back problems resolved and get riding again.

I can highly recommend getting a Corbin (or other) saddle and an ECU flash for the C14.
The former is a must as the OEM saddle is just nasty, and the latter gives smoother throttle and better low end grunt as well as a few top end bhp.

[GPzJeffrey]

I'll have to search of course, but in a nutshell, what is the " reflash" and why?
Thanks

Yay!  Same as mine.

Wow- that is low

Welcome.  TONS of info on this board for you, although the last move lost lots of important photos.  But the other info is still there.

You will love the C14.  Especially after you get it reflashed (if previous owner hadn't done it yet) :)

[Boomer]

I'll have to search of course, but in a nutshell, what is the " reflash" and why?

Reflash is a reprogramming of the fuel map (and other items) in the ECU.
The most recommended ones are Shoodaben and Ivans.

Personally I have the Shoodaben MRP flash. It smooths out on>off and off>on throttle transitions, gives a LOT of extra low rpm torque, gives a few extra Bhp at the top end, has much better engine braking feel, and even improves the gas mileage slightly, but the big gains are the smoothness and the low rpm torque. After the flash she is just effortless to ride normally, and when pushing hard she gives you the confidence that the power will be there, smoothly, when asked for.
Prior to the flash, when coming out of a corner the off>on throttle transition was so harsh that I tended to wait MUCH longer before opening her up for fear of spinning up the rear and crashing.
https://sites.google.com/site/shoodabenengineering/

Others speak highly of Ivans C14 flash. I can't comment on it as have never tried it.
http://www.ivansperformanceproducts.com/ecu.htm