Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Scaffolder on January 31, 2013, 02:46:26 PM

Title: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Scaffolder on January 31, 2013, 02:46:26 PM
Went through with it today and bought the 2011 black C-14. I got to ride it home. It was a pretty nice break in the weather. 30-40mph winds, but over 40 degrees. Now to get through the break in period.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Conrad on January 31, 2013, 02:51:31 PM
Dang that's pretty! Even if it is black.

Congrats Joel!
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: ZG on January 31, 2013, 02:54:22 PM
Congrats Joel!  :chugbeer:
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: ljcorby on January 31, 2013, 02:56:51 PM
Congrats....let the farkeling begin.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: gPink on January 31, 2013, 03:05:55 PM
What are the double rings in the dash picture?
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Conrad on January 31, 2013, 03:12:47 PM
What are the double rings in the dash picture?

That's the linked brakes crap.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Scaffolder on January 31, 2013, 03:12:59 PM
Thanks guys.


gpink;It is the brake assist symbol. This is showing less assist. The linked brakes most of us hate.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: gPink on January 31, 2013, 03:18:16 PM
Thanks. Don't have that on my antique '08.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: TallyRex on January 31, 2013, 03:57:50 PM
Congrats on your new bike, ride safe and ATGATT
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: maxtog on January 31, 2013, 04:54:47 PM
Quote
Quote from: gPink on Today at 05:05:55 pm
    What are the double rings in the dash picture?
That's the linked brakes crap.

Wow :)  OK, a more politically correct explanation is- that icon shows which of the two modes the "Coactive-breaking Technology (K-ACT)" linked brakes are in- weak or strong.  Unfortunately, since the owner's manual is in Engrish and not English, it is kinda impossible to know which mode is which.  A direct quote so you can see what I mean:

"Standard Mode (mode 1): (State level of front brake pressure here. Example: More front brake pressure) Best suitable on winding roads.  High Combined Mode (mode 2): (State level of front brake pressure here. Example: Less front brake pressure) Best suitable for touring, carrying a passenger, and the expressway"

Clear as mud, isn't it?  According to the docs, his bike (and mine too) is in Mode 1, whatever that is.



Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Broz on January 31, 2013, 05:04:09 PM
The break in period doesn't need to be as slow and painful as most manufacturers suggest. Take a look at this.

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm (http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm)
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Broz on January 31, 2013, 05:10:45 PM
I changed my oil as soon as I got it home for the dealer and installed a magnetic drain plug. This is what it looked like at the second oil change 525 miles later.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: gPink on January 31, 2013, 05:14:49 PM
Got it, Max. Cwistal cwear.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: connie1 on January 31, 2013, 06:30:30 PM
I robbed the magnets out of an old hard drive, incredibly strong, and stuck them to the oil filter.  You don't actually see what it's removing but if its anything like the magnetic drain plug it should be doing something.

Congrats on the new bike!
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Scaffolder on January 31, 2013, 06:41:41 PM
I will just do the same style break in that I did with the last 2. Pretty much by the book. Both bikes ran perfect all the time, so something went well.
I should get a magnet drain plug. Even though most of the engine is aluminum.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: ZG on January 31, 2013, 06:50:59 PM
I changed my oil as soon as I got it home for the dealer and installed a magnetic drain plug. This is what it looked like at the second oil change 525 miles later.

 :o
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: maxtog on January 31, 2013, 07:33:52 PM
I robbed the magnets out of an old hard drive, incredibly strong, and stuck them to the oil filter.  You don't actually see what it's removing but if its anything like the magnetic drain plug it should be doing something.

Hey- that is a neat idea.  And I have lots of those things from one of my employees always disassembling hard drives (he can't seem to get enough of those magnets).
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: maxtog on January 31, 2013, 07:35:38 PM
I should get a magnet drain plug. Even though most of the engine is aluminum.

Most of it is aluminum- but not the parts that are actually wearing (gears, chains, sleeves, etc) which are all steel...
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Conrad on February 01, 2013, 04:23:56 AM
The break in period doesn't need to be as slow and painful as most manufacturers suggest. Take a look at this.

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm (http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm)

This is material for an entirely new thread, one of many that we've gone through in the past. I think that the consensus was that most of us did our break-ins closer to what the owner’s manual suggested rather than what this guy suggests.

It's your bike, do what you want.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Kinetic1 on February 01, 2013, 06:00:35 AM
Congratulations on the new scooter!
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Z71 on February 04, 2013, 10:32:33 AM
Don't forget to change the final drive oil too.  It will be very dark after the first 1000 miles or so.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Scaffolder on February 04, 2013, 10:40:22 AM
Thanks! I do change the final drive at every oil change. It is too easy to skip.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Rhino on February 04, 2013, 11:21:46 AM
I robbed the magnets out of an old hard drive, incredibly strong, and stuck them to the oil filter.  You don't actually see what it's removing but if its anything like the magnetic drain plug it should be doing something.

Congrats on the new bike!

Interesting idea. I think I'll try that at the next oil change. Can cut open the old filter without magnets so see what it looks like inside as a baseline then after another oil change with magnets do it again to see if there is any difference. My bike has about 33,000 mile on it now so I wouldn't expect much visible metal bits but it might be interesting.  Does anyone have a pic of a magnetic drain plug from an oil change on a bike with 20,000 or more miles on it?
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 04, 2013, 04:19:51 PM
I don't have a pic but there wasn't anything on mine worth mentioning.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Conrad on February 05, 2013, 04:28:51 AM
I don't have a pic but there wasn't anything on mine worth mentioning.

On your what?    :o
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: martin_14 on February 05, 2013, 04:54:59 AM
On your what?    :o

 :rotflmao:

 :popcorn:
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Rhino on February 05, 2013, 08:53:00 AM
I don't have a pic but there wasn't anything on mine worth mentioning.

That's what I was thinking. The magnetic plug may be effective on a new bike as it is breaking in but once fully broken in the amount of metal in the oil should be very small. But I do have several old hard drives and what could it hurt to put some magents on the oil filter.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Conrad on February 05, 2013, 09:25:12 AM
I installed a mag drain plug after my first oil change after ~600 miles on 6/09. This is what it looked like after the next oil change done on 12/09 and after ~4k miles.

(http://www.zggtr.org/MGalleryItem.php?id=419)   

cleaned up

(http://www.zggtr.org/MGalleryItem.php?id=420)
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Rhino on February 05, 2013, 09:39:11 AM
I installed a mag drain plug after my first oil change after ~600 miles on 6/09. This is what it looked like after the next oil change done on 12/09 and after ~4k miles.

Thanks Conrad!
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: twowheeladdict on February 06, 2013, 05:44:07 AM
I will just do the same style break in that I did with the last 2. Pretty much by the book. Both bikes ran perfect all the time, so something went well.
I should get a magnet drain plug. Even though most of the engine is aluminum.

You don't keep a bike long enough for it to matter how you break it in.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: Scaffolder on February 06, 2013, 08:11:43 PM
Good point. Maybe on the next bike. Mine already has 100 miles on it. lol. 2 feet of snow coming over the next 3 days. Go figure.
Title: Re: Picked up the new 2011 black
Post by: booger on February 07, 2013, 07:12:56 PM
29 miles on the ODO.  Considered it broken in. ;)