Just go buy it. You know you want it. And you only live once.
Nice, like that helps!
Hey, nobody said I was your financial advisor. But, seriously, like I just posted in another thread recently... if you love the C14, there isn't anything left on the market like it anymore (except maybe the FJR). And there might not be, ever again. If you love it, then the best way you can extend that long-term experience is to grab another, much newer one.
You know what you like. You have the experience. You know exactly how you want to farkle it. You even have some of those farkles ready to transfer. And you can do it much more quickly than you could EVER figure out some completely new bike model that probably doesn't even meet your needs.
Unless you think the C14 you have can survive as long as you want to continue riding, and you like what you have, there is an answer. It is a great bike, but years and miles on ANY vehicle will take their toll and the clock is ticking.
One of my main problems with used models is that they often have aftermarket exhausts and often ECU flashes in them
Looking at the 2019 and 2020 models in silver / black, the silver seems to be flat (not shiny) while the black is gloss- is that correct?
Are any year C-14's that are two tone silver / black gloss in both colors?
What are the colors from 2016 to 2021 if anyone happens to know, or can you point me to where the colors are listed?
Either can be undone. And doing so on the muffler is certainly understandable. On the ECU flash, not so much, unless that particular flash is not the one you want. I can't imagine being forced to ride an unflashed C14 at this point.
For me, I would be more worried on a used bike about its possible mistreatment, incorrect maintenance/parts/modifications, or hidden damage, I would not be worried about things I could easily swap out (flash, seat, windscreen, muffler, tires, pegs, etc).
That was my assessment when posting it:
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=20250.msg250498#msg250498
No. There are no other two-tone years at all, in fact.
Um, see the link above?
Still, for the prices new, I am not willing to get close to those prices on a used bike with several things I do not want and will change immediately.
Just saw your posting on C-14 colors Max and it looks like all of the silver / black combos are flat. Too bad as I am not a fan of that look and again would not buy a new bike with the expectation of having to either paint it or even clear coat it. Again, just not worth it.
Not a fan of flat finishes on vehicles.[...] Certainly a personal preference but I prefer high gloss vehicles."
Went to the local Kawasaki emporium today to scope out a 2020 C-14. Not as terrible as I thought it would be but I really do not care for the semi- gloss silver paint. It was not actually flat but semi- gloss and so not horrible but still..... Noticed a bunch of Ducatis and other bikes around that were also semi- gloss. I guess it is a 'thing'.
Also saw an immaculate 2016 in gray (Moondust gray they call it) which is a very nice color (and shiny too). Bike looks brand new, just under 7K miles (not even broken in yet), has both fobs, has extended warranty and new looking Michelin PR's (not sure which number PR). Also has 'comfort' and stock saddle as well as large Kawasaki top box (which I do not need but it is better looking than the Givi I have now). So why is it not in my garage you ask.....? They want what I think is too much for the bike. I made a ballpark offer and got no response so the 'ball may still be in play' and could come back at me with a counter- offer, a rejection or maybe even an acceptance. Will keep this in mind and it is not likely to sell this year anyway as there are leaves on the ground and it is brisk for most motorcycle riders. Of course there are advantages in buying locally including registration, no effort or expense in getting there and back with a bike, etc. And they are a great dealer so I really do not begrudge them some profit of course.
To me, matte paint not only looks bad, but it even looks "damaged." It is also very difficult to keep clean, and can be permanently stained by something as simple as a wet leaf sitting on it too long. And the darker the color, the more nightmare matte paint becomes.
I have not actually seen the 2019/2020 in person (I doubt any of us have), so it might not really be "matte" silver but just lower gloss than typical? Photographs just don't cut it for really knowing that much, although it is clearly not full gloss.
It is not what I would call matte, which Kawasaki calls it but more of a semi- gloss. There is definitely light reflection from the paint but it is just dull light 'blobs' without definition.
I <believe> it is clear coated, and so should resist debris capture much better than a true flat paint would. But looking around the dealer, I can see that this is a significant trend
The 2020 C-14 did not look nearly as bad as I expected due to the semi- gloss paint, and it is in a nice color IMO, a true silver not at all like an '08 for example
That is exactly what I was expecting. True matte is really yucky. Semi-gloss is, well, passable.
Yes, it was with cars, too. Both true matte and semi-gloss.
Yes. Although it might have less gloss, it is still "Atomic Silver", which is the same as the 2011, the only true silver that Kawasaki has put on the C14. The 2008 "Neutron" was more of a silvery light baby or stone blue. You can see the difference here: http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=20250.0;attach=30201;image
I hope they see the error of their ways soon and accept your offer. Two friends of mine have a different technique. When their offer is turned down they say the salesman can call them in a couple months when it hasn't sold. They then tell the salesman the price they will pay then, which is less than the original offer. Once recently got a Moto Guzzi that way, and paid substantially less than their original offer.
That said, one could tape off specific areas and just buff the <generally> flat (body shape here, not flat paint) to a gloss. ??