Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: feelergaugephil on October 23, 2012, 10:48:00 PM
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OK, so to the ones that do as the manual states.............. ignore this thread.......
Ive been riding motorcycles since I was 12 (now 45) and been doing mechanics about as long, so I do know quite a bit...
So, back to the topic, 41 lbs in tires, way way too high! when I first bought my 08 new, I test rode it and asked the sales rep whats with the 41 psi deal, he said thats what Kawasaki states and we follow their rules, I then talked to the mechanics in the back (of which I knew most of them) they laughed and knew my line of thought on this, they have to put 41 in there because its in the rule book but even they stated that its too high.
I have brought this PSI deal up with a few knowledgable folk who are on the same page.........
So, here's what I have found to be the best (for me) I ride my 09 hard at times and do take the chicken strips away on the rear (pilot power 3's) OK, at 41 its a hard ride and tends to skip a little on hard curves (Dragon tail/Deals Gap) now I have tried different pressures and finally come up with the best pressures that suits me (which may not for you)
Ok, Front 36 PSI and Rear 38 PSI, this makes my riding skills much better and much smoother ride.
Even if you dont ride it hard, 36F and 38R is so much better and smoother, and NO those tire pressures are NOT too low, give it a try, whats the worst, you dont like it!!!! then put it back to 41!
At those pressures on my 08 and 09 never had a slide out (hell, I dont want to drop my $14K investment)
Anyway, have a good day guys....
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After a thousand or so miles at this pressure, please give us an update (photos too please) on how the tread is wearing.
:popcorn:
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Problem is with mine, when a TPS gets to 36 PSI, my dash becomes lite up with a low tire pressure warning. I got 15K out of a set of PR2's running 42 psi. I live in the North Cascades so twisty roads are common place. I never had a tire slip out except when there were tar snakes in Utah in the middle of summer.
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Phil
Don't you mean 42psi insterad of 41? That's what the manual calls for.
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I find that I cannot tell the difference between 38 and 41 or whatever. I keep mine right around the mfrs recommendations. And just to be clear, my riding style is such that my chicken strips are gone the first day I ride a new set of tires. But it's not an emotional subject to me. People are welcome to run their tires at whatever makes them happy. I just don't see a difference.
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I believe the 42 psi F/R recommendation is intended to make the crappy OEM tires last. As a sport tourer I am good with the 41 or 42 psi rear since mileage is as important to me as handling and grip. Since I ride 30,000+ miles per year it is a matter of budget and logistics. Also, a lot of my riding is two-up and heavily loaded.
My objection is with the front recommendation. I've been riding for 40+ years and every other bike I have owned called for 2-4 lower psi front than the rear. So I run 39 psi front and get excellent results from either a Pirelli Angel or a Shinko Verge. Excellent means about 10,000 miles and better handling and grip than a PR2.
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I run 42 in my pilot roads and it seems fine. I admit I don't push the corners like a lot of people. When traveling I don't bother to air up unless they get below 38. But I do find that it seems lighter handling with the higher pressure.
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I absolutely HATE the handling when the pressure drops below 42 front or rear! It feels sluggish. I run higher (36/42) pressures on my track sportbike as well, when I'm running street tires.
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The Michelin Rep was in one of the local bike shops here in Newburgh and I had mentioned that I was running 41-42 psi in the tires and his comment was that it sounded abt right to him. He seemed to think that any less and there would be problems with cupping. He did tell me that the C14 and the Goldwing both seem to chew up tires.
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Since the bike is designed for both SPORT and TOURING, I see how both pressures could work well. I like lower pressure (36/38) when it's cold or raining....and sporty corners.
Most of my commuting time I stay around 42/42 (on PR3s) for a firmer yet longer lasting ride. YMMV
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I normally run about 42, but if it's 39/40 or above, I don't bother airing up.
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Heavy powerful bike, hence the 42 PSI, ignore that at your own risk and excessive tire wear.
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At 42 I rail the hell outa mine in both the desert and mountain environments, no issues to report.
I used to run this bike regularly at much lower PSI :D
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/orangebike.jpg)
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At 42 I rail the hell outa mine in both the desert and mountain environments, no issues to report.
I used to run this bike regularly at much lower PSI :D
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/orangebike.jpg)
Although once your tires warmed up after a few laps, they were probably back up in that range!
For some reason kids on sportbikes seem to think it's cool to run super low pressures on street tires so they can (try to) heat cycle them like track tires.
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I run 42/42. Always been happy there.
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Yes, I usually run with 42 as the manual reccomends. Let me comment about a problem that I have in my region when I need to inflate the tires. The gas stations usually don't have valves that fit with the valves of the tires and it's hard, even impossible to get the tires with right pressure, so, I installed two 90º adapters that make it easy to do and they keep the pressure OK even after a lot of miles.
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I always run 42/42. I top up at 39. Tire wear is pretty good 13,000 km (8000 Mi) on stock tires. and are just at the wearbar now. I will keep with the recomended. If you want a softer ride adjust your suspension instead.
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Interesting discussion. After the Ford Expedition episode, car makers have upped pressures. I call BFG about tire pressures for my '06 GTO and they said the factory specs were high. useful only if I was transporting bricks in my trunk! I lowered them as they suggesed and got much better ride, tires wear nice.
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I just replaced the stockers and got 18,000 kms (11,100 miles) worn down to the wear bars. Installed pilot 3s, so we will see how they fare...so far me like.
Dave
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I cranked the stock front up to 45psi just before I replaced it, and it actually felt like a real tire, which prior to that (at 42psi), it did not. Of course, a day later it was off the bike. ;)
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Problem is with mine, when a TPS gets to 36 PSI, my dash becomes lite up with a low tire pressure warning. I got 15K out of a set of PR2's running 42 psi. I live in the North Cascades so twisty roads are common place. I never had a tire slip out except when there were tar snakes in Utah in the middle of summer.
@Conrad, your right 42, sorry, @Tim, my low pressure comes on at 31, so did my 08.
On my pressures, I manage about 7-8 K on the front and MAX 3500 miles on the rear, told you I ride it like a 1400, Roads here in Louisiana blow, so many straights, now my ZRX 1200, I can easily get 10K out of both tires, because I baby it.
Plus I got too much money it to throw it around and smash it....
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I absolutely hate the feeling of running low on the rear, I have PR3 and when the rear is below 39/40 psi I have the feeling the tire is skidding all over the place.
Last time I had 38 in my rear, I could feel the bike wobbling and after a check, I had a huge screw lodged into rear tire. So below 40 psi does not work for me...
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I run my PR3's at 43 cold, so when I'm riding and they are heated up it's more like 45. I got 8500 out of my last rear and I'm replacing the front today which has about 12000. Both had treat left, but the rear I replaced because I was going on a long trip and didn't want to chance it, and the front (as posted in my thread about nail in the tire) has a chunk of tread missing where a piece of glass was, otherwise, it'd be good for a while.
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Heavy powerful bike, hence the 42 PSI, ignore that at your own risk and excessive tire wear.
Interesting because Kawasaki recommends 28 psi in the front tire on the Voyager 1700. :o
I believe that was to make up for the front suspension not being able to handle minor imperfections in the road. It handles large bumps well. So they decided to sacrifice tire life to provide a softer ride.
I agree with you so I run max sidewall pressure on the Voyager and upgraded the front suspension to handle it.
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I run 38 front and 40 rear cold,
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i check mine with a quality gauge and set them at 40 psi front and rear, my dash says there at 38 front and rear so i think the sensors are off a couple pounds not a big deal, i still have the stock tires and havent had any problems yet
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I fill My tires with quickcrete. Good stuff, and I can run them till I go through the cord, and into the concrete. I never lose any pressure. They suck to balance though. Had to melt down a whole bag of shotgun pellets.
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I roll with 41 front and rear.
If you get more than 5,000 miles out of any tire, you ride like a skirt. ::)
;D
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If you get more than 5,000 miles out of any tire, you ride like a skirt. ::)
:goodpost:
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I wear a Kilt
What do you use for fleas?
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I wear a Kilt
What do you use for fleas?
Fleas check out at 40 MPH. ;)
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The tire pressure of C 14 I recommend mantene KPA as prescribed by mother KAWA .. to have the best driving characteristics at 360 °, outside of the track, if anything.
The video is real, but not in accordance with reality, almost as many posts here on the KPA.
http://youtu.be/P2yOSN1O0WY (http://youtu.be/P2yOSN1O0WY)
MGvalerio. 8)
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Well, just to be different, I tend to run a few PSI over the recommend. 44-45 PSI cold.
My experience has been that higher pressure gets more miles out of the tire and decreases poor tread wear such as scalloping, etc.
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Interesting homepage your weblink goes to, L-R.
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Well, just to be different, I tend to run a few PSI over the recommend. 44-45 PSI cold.
My experience has been that higher pressure gets more miles out of the tire and decreases poor tread wear such as scalloping, etc.
How's the traction with that pressure?
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I always set my C14 at 45lbs F&R and refill when it drops to 42lbs. Have 35,000 miles on my 2011 and get 12,000 on a each set of PR3s I'v put on. I am on my 3rd set as the OEM tires came off immediately. The current tires have 10k on them and tred still looks good, handles good. Had it out on the Lake Mead road from Las Vegas to Overton hitting the curves at 70-80 and the straits at 125. Damn I love this bike and my PR3s. BTW better have a good radar detector if you want to have fun out at Lake Mead. Have been posting on the COG forum, I think I like it here, less BS.
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I always set my C14 at 45lbs F&R and refill when it drops to 42lbs. Have 35,000 miles on my 2011 and get 12,000 on a each set of PR3s I'v put on. I am on my 3rd set as the OEM tires came off immediately. The current tires have 10k on them and tred still looks good, handles good. Had it out on the Lake Mead road from Las Vegas to Overton hitting the curves at 70-80 and the straits at 125. Damn I love this bike and my PR3s. BTW better have a good radar detector if you want to have fun out at Lake Mead. Have been posting on the COG forum, I think I like it here, less BS.
Welcome! And sadly, that's how many of us got here too.
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Welcome! And gladly, that's how many of us got here too.
Fixed that for you..
Good to see everyone here!
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Welcome aboard Electra. A better quality of BS at least.
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Welcome aboard Electra. A better quality of BS at least.
I'll drink to that. :thumbs:
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I let my tired go for an experiment slipping past 38 and down into the mid to lower 30's. On my Z1000 this INcreased my grip a bit to have the tires lower and if anything it increased a tendency to dive into the turns.
BUT on the concorse I had two SLIPS when the pressure started getting too low. I don't remember if it was front or rear that slid at this point but I run em 40+ now.
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I'll drink to that. :thumbs:
:chugbeer:
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and get 12,000 on a each set of PR3s
LOL!
I can hardly get 1,200 miles out of a tire.
You must ride under the speed limit. ::)
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Well let me throw everyone a curve ball. I have an 09 C-14 running Q2's with 35psi both front and rear as recommended by Keith Code while attending his Super Bike School at Laguna Seca. The bike handled better than it ever had and now has 3100 miles with minimum wear.
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:yikes: Heresy!
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I have run 45PSI front and rear for the last 17K on ST Angels without any problems.
On my second set and still looking good.
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WOW, lots of mixed views, interesting thread, Im on PR3's now, 1200 miles so far at 36lb and no real wear.
When I bought the bike early this year after selling my 08, the bike had 840 miles on it with stock tires.... scary scary on curves, nearly lost the front twice, changed to pilot powers which vastly improved the handling 200%.
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How's the traction with that pressure?
Never had any problems., did the same thing with ME880's on the C10 and ran them edge to edge, scraping pegs and center stand.
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WOW, lots of mixed views, interesting thread, Im on PR3's now, 1200 miles so far at 36lb and no real wear.
When I bought the bike early this year after selling my 08, the bike had 840 miles on it with stock tires.... scary scary on curves, nearly lost the front twice, changed to pilot powers which vastly improved the handling 200%.
Boy, I'm glad I didn't read these posts before putting 7500 miles on my OEM tires at cornering speeds I have never done on any of my other bikes. Never felt that they weren't on rails and my chicken strips are like 1/8 inch and that is with fully loaded bike but I also look around the windshield on curves instead of over it. I am mounting the PR3's tommorrow afternoon. Hopefully I will like them as much as the OEM tires.
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Boy, I'm glad I didn't read these posts before putting 7500 miles on my OEM tires at cornering speeds I have never done on any of my other bikes. Never felt that they weren't on rails and my chicken strips are like 1/8 inch and that is with fully loaded bike but I also look around the windshield on curves instead of over it. I am mounting the PR3's tommorrow afternoon. Hopefully I will like them as much as the OEM tires.
Started at 38 on mine but went up to 41..Much better at 41
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42 front and back on ours. Nice.
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I make sure there is some air in both tires. Half way down the block I glance at the TPM, if it has a reading, I keep going.
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You would make a good friend to Steve.... ::)
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I make sure there is some air in both tires. Half way down the block I glance at the TPM, if it has a reading, I keep going.
One time I did just that, the reading was 20 in the rear tire. I turned around and went back home.
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Put 45 in , when it gets to 38 , time for more air ;)
Put 5,600 on the stock tires , I guess I'm use to junk tires, ::)
didn't have any problems except, wet roads.
55 P 3's are nice, much better on wet roads.
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I usually kick both tires to check that they feel about right at pre-ride, then verify the TPM when they start reading. Air them both to 42, then add at 39 again.
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Per another thread I was riding at 41F 36R for a while until I could fill my rear tire. It felt like I was riding on top of a rolling turd.
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Jimmymac- I guess if I rode like you do I would be on my 29th set of PR3s. At $300 a whack that's a whopping $8,700 just for tires in 1 1/2 years. I think you had better slow down a bit and enjoy the scenery while riding. I only go as fast as pucker factor 3 and get great tire mileage.
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If I wanted to go slow and easy, I'd buy a hardley wobbleson. ::)
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If I wanted to go slow and easy, I'd buy a hardley wobbleson. ::)
They are actually capable of being ridden rather briskly, most just never get to see or bear witness to that.
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They are actually capable of being ridden rather briskly, most just never get to see or bear witness to that.
I agree. I work with a young kid that has a streetglide. I had him follow me down a local favorite road. I took it easy to not push him, and was checking the rear view mirror. It was awesome seeing a pirate ship banked over. For a 20 Y.O., that kid did well. 8)
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I agree. I work with a young kid that has a streetglide. I had him follow me down a local favorite road. I took it easy to not push him, and was checking the rear view mirror. It was awesome seeing a pirate ship banked over. For a 20 Y.O., that kid did well. 8)
A 20 Y.O. can afford a streetglide? What kinda work does he do? Or is he still living with Momma?
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I agree. I work with a young kid that has a streetglide. I had him follow me down a local favorite road. I took it easy to not push him, and was checking the rear view mirror. It was awesome seeing a pirate ship banked over. For a 20 Y.O., that kid did well. 8)
Cool......yeah I took my buddy's Police edition Roadking out for several hours one day, and I had a blast on it. That big ole bike handles pretty darn good, I was actually amazed. I love pretty much anything on 2 wheels for what it is, but for sure have my preferences not unlike you. :)
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A 20 Y.O. can afford a streetglide? What kinda work does he do? Or is he still living with Momma?
A person can afford most anything until the bank takes it from them. ;D And there are some responsible 20 year olds out there making some pretty good money, but yeah it is kind of rare these days.
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A person can afford most anything until the bank takes it from them. ;D And there are some responsible 20 year olds out there making some pretty good money, but yeah it is kind of rare these days.
Yeah, He lives with his girlfriends parents, so no monthly bill there. He also drives an 09 Chevy pick-up truck.
We work at a Volvo Mack dealership, fixing trucks. So I suppose it's a decent job. For a 20 year old, he's pretty sharp.