Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Wrinkled Wrider on February 18, 2013, 09:01:11 AM
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Currently a cruiser rider, looking to make the move to a sport touring bike.
Had the chance recently to sit on both the fjr and C-14. Despite the slight difference in seat height, i felt more comfortable on the Kawi., even though i am inseam challenged, and can't flat foot either. I'm guessing the C-14 seat is narrower? Also, the C-14 felt much better shifting weight from side to side, is this a function of the center of gravity?
Chris
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Probably more a function of the ergonomics. The FJR is a lighter bike, with a lower center of gravity. I observe the opposite sitting on both bikes. Once the C14 gets moving though, it does not feel heavy at all.
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I'm going to say the opposite of your initial impressions.
I thought the FJR was lower and easier to manage (standing still) and slightly thinner.
I'm a Concours owner, got a buddy who has a 2nd Gen FJR. Ridden his extensively.
While I have no regrets with the C-14, if I were in the market for a sport-tourer right now, I'd give the 3rd Gen a FJR a serious look. Both are fantastic motorcycles.....the newest version just upgraded the FJR with some new bells/whistles.
Good luck with your choice and buy what moves you inside, not what anyone from the internet thinks.
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While I love my Concours, I'd give the FJR a serious look. It has cruise control! That alone is worth the price of admission for me. Now saying that, I still love my bike, and will keep it for years and miles of smiles.
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I love the Yammi, but I need a 6th gear too in this day and age (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/bigthumb.gif)
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While I love my Concours, I'd give the FJR a serious look. It has cruise control!
And yet still only a 5 speed!!!!! Plus no slipper, and less power, and non-variable valve timing, and only a one year warranty. The Concours has nothing to fear quite yet.
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I'm looking at McCruise cruise control E mailed them today said he would take 5% off, so with the exchange rate your looking at just under $1,000 but then he said $77. shipping that could be split with another person buying a unit at the same time!
Anyone from Fl want cruise control ? If I got CControl I'd own this bike forever.
I looked at the Yamadog first always was a Honda Yamaha guy till I road the Kaw POWER
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I'm looking at McCruise cruise control E mailed them today said he would take 5% off, so with the exchange rate your looking at just under $1,000 but then he said $77. shipping that could be split with another person buying a unit at the same time!
Anyone from Fl want cruise control ? If I got CControl I'd own this bike forever.
I looked at the Yamadog first always was a Honda Yamaha guy till I road the Kaw POWER
Give Joe a shot here...
http://www.spoiledbiker.com/kawasakimcc.html (http://www.spoiledbiker.com/kawasakimcc.html)
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Naw ... I live in South Fl and I want someone that has installed them before doing mine and we have them here ;) Thanks anyhow
I bet I'll put over 100,000 miles on this sucker I really love this bike.
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Naw ... I live in South Fl and I want someone that has installed them before doing mine and we have them here ;) Thanks anyhow
I bet I'll put over 100,000 miles on this sucker I really love this bike.
NP... just noticed he moved... he was in S FL when I bought mine in 05... and he used to install them too. ;)
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Rostra electronic cc works well, not that hard to install if you have a little skill and only $240.
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The FJ is lacking that 6th gear, and that slipper clutch is so so frigging awesome. Good tires and a reflash from Guhls or a PCV and flyectomy and you would ask why anyoneinthierfrigginmindwouldownanFJR :o
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FJ lacks KiPass too?
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FJ lacks KiPass too?
'90s technology, 1890s ;D
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'90s technology, 1890s ;D
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/lol.gif) (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/lol.gif) (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/lol.gif) (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/lol.gif)
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Good zinger, SOP.
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No offense to anyone, but I'll go with Mister Tee's answer, probably a result of ergonomics. Whatever the reason, I'm more comfortable on the C-14, and I know that if I'm not comfortable, I won't enjoy the ride.
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You could decide which forum you liked best then pick a bike to match like I did.
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That's an interesting way to pick a bike, Gary... Usually it's the other way around.
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Just trying to get along.
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Currently a cruiser rider, looking to make the move to a sport touring bike.
Had the chance recently to sit on both the fjr and C-14. Despite the slight difference in seat height, i felt more comfortable on the Kawi., even though i am inseam challenged, and can't flat foot either. I'm guessing the C-14 seat is narrower? Also, the C-14 felt much better shifting weight from side to side, is this a function of the center of gravity?
Chris
did you make sure the FJR seat was at the lowest setting? An FJR with dual twobrothers exhaust pulled into Pucketts Grocery yesterday and man did that bike sound good!
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did you make sure the FJR seat was at the lowest setting? An FJR with dual twobrothers exhaust pulled into Pucketts Grocery yesterday and man did that bike sound good!
<barf>
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+1
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No offense to anyone, but I'll go with Mister Tee's answer, probably a result of ergonomics. Whatever the reason, I'm more comfortable on the C-14, and I know that if I'm not comfortable, I won't enjoy the ride.
You'll have to go a LOT further than that to offend most of us here WW. We're a thick skinned lot here, most of us anyways. :)
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For the most part... ;)
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You'll have to go a LOT further than that to offend most of us here WW. We're a thick skinned lot here, most of us anyways. :)
+1...
And some of us even have mulitple skins... ;D
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You'll have to go a LOT further than that to offend most of us here WW. We're a thick skinned lot here, most of us anyways. :)
Pokey is sensitive
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And a Twit...
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A Twit with a lot of guns
I think he should be outlawed, he has more than 10 rounds and multiple avatars
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Currently a cruiser rider, looking to make the move to a sport touring bike.
Had the chance recently to sit on both the fjr and C-14. Despite the slight difference in seat height, i felt more comfortable on the Kawi., even though i am inseam challenged, and can't flat foot either. I'm guessing the C-14 seat is narrower? Also, the C-14 felt much better shifting weight from side to side, is this a function of the center of gravity?
Chris
I am 5' 7" (30" inseam) and felt the exact same way. Despite the published lower seat height on the FJR, it actually felt bigger/more ackward to me when I sat on it (it was in the low position) than compared to the C-14.
I just bought a new C-14 and had a Sargent low seat shipped to my house a few days later. Strangely, the low seat doesn't really feel like it gave me much more purchase on the ground vs the stock seat. Maybe it is more than I realize.
That said, I am still adjusting to the bike. I can flat foot my Z1000 and it feels like a bicycle in comparison when trying to back them out of the garage. But big girls need love too... . :-*
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I am 5' 7" (30" inseam) and felt the exact same way. Despite the published lower seat height on the FJR, it actually felt bigger/more ackward to me when I sat on it (it was in the low position) than compared to the C-14.
I just bought a new C-14 and had a Sargent low seat shipped to my house a few days later. Strangely, the low seat doesn't really feel like it gave me much more purchase on the ground vs the stock seat. Maybe it is more than I realize.
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=260.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=260.0)
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http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=260.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=260.0)
Thanks for the link. I don't think I am willing to lower the bike.
Have you tried any other seats--are there any that lower more than the Sargent? I was originally going to buy a used Kawasaki low seat, but Sargent's specs indicated it was lower.
I am still debating on risers.
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My extreme sensitivity can only take so much, and I must say that I do like the new FJR. I would like to see the C14 a bit lighter and have a lower center of gravity, and 2 svelte "but lovely sounding" exhausts would also look much better too.
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Thanks for the link. I don't think I am willing to lower the bike.
Have you tried any other seats--are there any that lower more than the Sargent? I was originally going to buy a used Kawasaki low seat, but Sargent's specs indicated it was lower.
There is really nothing lower than the Sargent low. Any gains after that have to come by lowering the bike and/or raising your boots.
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I'm 5'11" now, getting old and shrinking, but I can flat foot with the Corbin seat , I have a long body and shorter legs , I bought the 1" links from Percision though I have not installed them yet, I wish somone made 1/2 " link because that is all I really want, I know you can flat foot why do you want to go lower... BECAUSE , because this is one heavy sucker and I would feel better moving it around at 1MPH , once I'm moving light as a feather but at 1mph a load.
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I'm 5'11" now,
Standing height is not perfectly relational to leg length, which is all that matters about "flat footing" the bike. There is a relation, of course, but people are not all the same proportion.
getting old and shrinking, but I can flat foot with the Corbin seat , I have a long body and shorter legs , I bought the 1" links from Percision though I have not installed them yet, I wish somone made 1/2 " link because that is all I really want,
There is a lowering link system that is fully variable. However, you will lose the center stand with that model. But if you don't care about the stand, maybe you would be happier with the adjustable type.
I know you can flat foot why do you want to go lower... BECAUSE , because this is one heavy sucker and I would feel better moving it around at 1MPH , once I'm moving light as a feather but at 1mph a load.
I am 5'7", but like you, I have short legs, so I have to be extremely careful. However, I still dropped the Concours at a stop because I let it tip too far. The range of tip I can fight on this bike is much lower than on my previous bikes, even after lowering the seat and bike and raising my boots.
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,,,,,,raising my boots.
I got a good guy in Muncie IN. ;) He raised my SO's boots 5/8 inch. Looks pretty professional. Being self conscious about her looks and height, she really does like the look as it is pretty well blended and not at all weildy or obstrusive to using her clutch or brakes,
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I got a good guy in Muncie IN. ;) He raised my SO's boots 5/8 inch. Looks pretty professional. Being self conscious about her looks and height, she really does like the look as it is pretty well blended and not at all weildy or obstrusive to using her clutch or brakes,
Same previous thread, this is what was done to mine: http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=260.msg2002#msg2002 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=260.msg2002#msg2002)
It probably needed more heel, but toe was what was important, and it did make a big difference. I might have been able to push it a little more if necessary, but at some point it would create problems with clutch workings.