Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: MoHickus on February 16, 2013, 09:38:34 PM
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Hi all,
After a lot of thought I have purchased a 2012 Concours 14 and I love it. Problem is that shortly after I purchased it I pulled out of a parking lot and laid it down (combination of somebody speeding and gravel). The bike wasn't moving and it landed on me but when we picked it up it scratched the paint on the lower left side, the mirror, and the bag. The dealership is now telling me that most likely they will have to replace the parts underneath the fairing also (they haven't seen the bike yet). Is this a common occurrence? Does anybody else have a similar story? I would have to drive 4 hours to get to the dealer and want to know what to look for. Thanks.
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First of all, welcome to the forum. Secondly, how bad does it suck to have damage to a bike you just bought? Sorry to hear about that. Now, given the info you provided, the bike was not in motion, it landed on you, and the visible damage is limited to scratches ... I would say that you are safe. The dealer has two motivations here... 1) to make as much $$ as possible and 2) liability to repair any/all potential damage. Without ever seeing the bike there is no way that they can give you a proper estimate. There are many of us here who have "accidentally" dropped the bike on one side or another and the damage has been cosmetic only. In order to save yourself from this type of damage in the future, you can consider canyon cages or frame sliders for tip over protection.
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Thanks for the help. I actually had frame sliders ordered but they didn't here in time. I know the dealers are in it to make money but they were trying to tell me that the bike isn't designed for any damage so they would have to replace some more parts than just the scratched ones.
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I wouldn't but that BS from the dealer. I don't have a C-14, wish I did. My C-10's fairing has scratches, broken tabs, cracks etc...The bike runs like a top. It does suck to have an accident with a new bike. After you get some miles on the bike you will get used to the scratches. I say ride on brother.
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MoHickus,
here's what I'd do: nothing. Let the first 600 miles service come and get it to the dealer so he can look at it and confirm that nothing is broken and that it's just cosmetic. Then, change nothing. I know it hurts, but now you don't have to worry about scratching your new ride. It's done. Now you can enjoy it. Changing plastic is expensive and brings nothing, at least not to me, of course.
I dropped my bike on the left while driving on ice at 2 mph. After a month I don't even remember the scratches anymore, and I'm a pretty anal person. But I'd rather spend that money on a nice 2-weeks tour than on something that most likely will happen again. I don't wish you that, but chances are there.
Of course, in my case I never laid her down again, so I'm sure as soon as I swap the panels it will happen... :banghead:
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So, I take it you are not going through the insurance company for this work?
Also, dealer is four hours away? You don't have a dealer closer than that? You don't have to have the work done at the dealer you purchased the bike from. In fact, you can order the plastic from an online vendor and replace them yourself. Then you would know if anything underneath is broken.
Good Luck and welcome to the forum.
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I wouldn't but that BS from the dealer. I don't have a C-14, wish I did. My C-10's fairing has scratches, broken tabs, cracks etc...The bike runs like a top. It does suck to have an accident with a new bike. After you get some miles on the bike you will get used to the scratches. I say ride on brother.
I think that you should get a C14 so that you can speak from experience instead of guessing.... ;)
Just like the C10, there are many tabs and stiffening parts under the covers. The dealer is correct in that there could be hidden damages just as in an incident with a car. The plastic bits have bits that would need to be replaced that are integral to the plastic panels if you replace one. It all depends on how big of a whack it got when it went down. If you're lucky then all you wound up with was scratches. I had my bike fall on me in the garage as I forgot to put down the side stand. It scratched the left mirror, the bottom left fairing, and the bottom of the left case and all that was with me protecting it. Additionally, the cross member in front of the rad broke in half. You really should let someone inspect it if you can't yourself to see if anything important is broken underneath.
To the OP, you didn't post where you live. It's possible one of our members might be near you that could help you inspect it. It's worth a shot and most of us work for beer and food... ;D
Welcome to the madhouse of a thousand and one opinions on the same subject... ;D
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Congrats on the new bike purchase and sorry to hear about your misfortune.
Tough decision on what to do, sad to have damage on your new pride and joy.
Can the scratches be professionally buffed out?
Two options for fall protection - Top Block from Murphs Kits or Canyon Cages from MC Enterprises.
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Hi all,After a lot of thought I have purchased a 2012 Concours 14 and I love it.
Welcome/congrats!
Problem is that shortly after I purchased it I pulled out of a parking lot and laid it down
:( Unfortunately, it does happen. And when it does, it can cause a lot of expensive damage.
I actually had frame sliders ordered but they didn't here in time.
Frame sliders would probably have done nothing to help. If you want protection, you have to get something far more substantial. For example: http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=9353 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=9353) http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=11871 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=11871)
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Welcome ! and S**T happens... My bike was backed into at a gas station and as I was coming out I saw the car tearing ass out of station.. I had minor scratches and such and of course made it worse by trying to repaint and retouch it myself while medicated.
It will happen sooner or later and what everyone else said is true. there can be underlying damage on the Concours or any other bike.. get someone objective look at it. Good luck and keep smiling! you made a very wise purchase. ;D
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Not moving means it probably only has cosmetic damage. But why not pull the faring and look for yourself? It's not that hard. Show us some pics so we have a better idea of the damage.
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Order Fred's DVD's and then take the plastic off yourself. If you are a perfectionist then order the parts new from Ron Ayers and save yourself a LOT of money. Then buy some tip over protection from Murph or MsEnterprises.
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Not moving means it probably only has cosmetic damage. But why not pull the faring and look for yourself? It's not that hard. Show us some pics so we have a better idea of the damage.
+1
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Congrats on the new bike and welcome to the forum. There are a lot of knowledgible peope here (myself not included) that know our bikes inside and out. I have learned a lot.
There are two kinds of riders: Those that have laid their bike down and those that are going to lay their bike down.
I don't know how bad your bike is damaged. If it's covered by insurance, great. My wife knocked mine over in the garage last year. I was amazed ho 99% of the scratches came out many careful hours of 2000 grit wet sanding and a lot of polishing with an electric buffer, compound and wax.
I did have to replace the mirror, which was approx. $160.00
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i droped mine at 0 MPH while the hot asphalt won over the center stand. Anyhow, fearings parts are attach to the frame using brakets, so yes the fall could ve break something but i doubt it.
I would get use to tear the fearings apart right now if i were you and get use to it since you ll have to do it severals times in the future.
Then inspect the bike and make some decisions.
When i droped mine, damages were the side case, lower fearing and heat deflector. Had them repainted for 350$ and bought the lower fearing part for 90$.
Bike has now a set of MCenterprise canyon cage ;)
Edit: forgot to mention that for 350$, i also had the top case match painted to the bike color
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Congrats on the new bike, good luck getting the scratches sorted out and watch the stealership, they want more money.
You'll come to enjoy the mad pow-ah of KiPass (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/bigthumb.gif)
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Yeah my driveway has gravel by the street 45 mph zone , never mix turning and braking on gravel :-[
I break hard then turn, I have a big circuler driveway out back (sand) that keeps your attention and this one bike that needs those crash bars talked about above , you just can't stop 700lb once it starts to lean , unless you 6' 6" and 300lb. ;)
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- have dropped mine at zero speed before = nothing "internal" was broken.
- just some scratches on the black plastic lower fairing and the bottom of a wing mirror.
.
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Welcome ! and S**T happens... My bike was backed into at a gas station and as I was coming out I saw the car tearing ass out of station.. I had minor scratches and such and of course made it worse by trying to repaint and retouch it myself while medicated.
I hope you got those scratches while you were beating the guys ass!
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Order Fred's DVD's and then take the plastic off yourself. If you are a perfectionist then order the parts new from Ron Ayers and save yourself a LOT of money. Then buy some tip over protection from Murph or MsEnterprises.
Fred's DVDs are great but you certainly don't need them to remove the plastic bits from the bike. It's not that big of a deal. Now, keeping track of which bolt/screw goes where when you're putting her back together, now that's a big deal. ;)