Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: wroman on April 27, 2013, 08:03:23 PM
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The 55 series tires have a normal spec if .42 inch taller radius. It has been reported that handling has changed. Is the extra height noticed by some as a seat that is even more tilted up in the rear. I am thinking of the Bridgestone GT tires.
Walt
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I just put a PR3 on and I do not notice any difference with a Corbin seat. 5'10" and I am still flat footed at lights.
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I changed after I read a review of the c14 on a website.
I have not noticed any change in seat height. I did notice a big difference in handling and cornering clearance. the bike wants to turn much easier and holds the lean angle without pressure on the bars. I also don't have the feeler pegs touch down even when two up. I have no unused edge rubber on the rear and just 1/8 or so on the front tire.
also the speedometer is closer to being correct.
the rear tire also seem to last a little longer, maybe 1000 miles better. my rear always wears out sooner than the front.
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I just put a PR3 on and I do not notice any difference with a Corbin seat. 5'10" and I am still flat footed at lights.
Standing height has little to do with if one is able to flat foot the bike. I am probably taller than you are when both sitting, but even with the bike lowered, seat lowered, and boots raised, I can't flat foot except on one side or the other (and I believe most people's definition of "flat foot" would be to have BOTH feet flat on the ground). Just saying...
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I did notice a big difference in handling and cornering clearance. the bike wants to turn much easier and holds the lean angle without pressure on the bars.
I imagine you could obtain the same result by just dropping the front (forks) a bit on the OEM size tires.
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I just put a PR3 on and I do not notice any difference with a Corbin seat. 5'10" and I am still flat footed at lights.
Gumby,
would you mind sharing your avatar in high res? ;D
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Gumby,
would you mind sharing your avatar in high res? ;D
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s226/jessie8971/redeeming_my_last_post__thong_girl- (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s226/jessie8971/redeeming_my_last_post__thong_girl-) dot jpg
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This thread took a turn. :o
I didn't notice a significant change in height or angle.
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[IMG]
Yeah buddy!!
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I just installed a new 190/55 PR3 today, and I was concerned about any change in seat height since I'm already on my toes with stock tires. I pushed the bike off the center stand in my tennis shoes, and my first impressions are it's a little higher, but should still be manageable.
As for the forward lean angle of the seat changing? I really doubt you would notice it, if it changed at all.
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[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s226/jessie8971/redeeming_my_last_post__
Nice, err watch. Yeah, nice watch!!
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_last_post__thong_girl-.jpg[/img]
I agree it would handle a bit better if it was up a little more in the rear. :finger_fing11:
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After that pic I noticed a difference of the angle of the dangle!
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I imagine you could obtain the same result by just dropping the front (forks) a bit on the OEM size tires.
Nope. You'd still have the 50 profile. There is a geometry change and turn in would be quicker but at the cost of clearance and after some of the speed bumps in use today??
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It just occurred to me that a 55 rear tire would change the speedometer reading for the better I think. Our speedo's notoriously read fast. When my speedo shows 79 I am actually doing 75. With a taller rear tire the bike should be moving faster with the same drive shaft RPM. With a .42 increase in the radius I calculate about a 4% increase in speed at a given drive shaft RPM. Which should almost compensate for the speedo error. This is assuming the speedo works off the VSS on the drive shaft. Does it? Has anyone running 55's seen a more accurate speedometer?
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A 55 series tire will provide a more accurate speedo reading.
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I changed after I read a review of the c14 on a website.
I have not noticed any change in seat height. I did notice a big difference in handling and cornering clearance. the bike wants to turn much easier and holds the lean angle without pressure on the bars. I also don't have the feeler pegs touch down even when two up. I have no unused edge rubber on the rear and just 1/8 or so on the front tire.
also the speedometer is closer to being correct.
the rear tire also seem to last a little longer, maybe 1000 miles better. my rear always wears out sooner than the front.
EXACTLY!
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I am running the 190 rear with matched PR3 tires. I am 5'8" to 5'9" on a good day, and I noticed no change in height.
It may be a placebo effect, but turn-in does seem to be much quicker. Anyway, definitely no down side.
Barry
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Nope.
I think you mean "yep".
The geometry change would be nearly the same
Yes, that is what I said. The geometry change from a 1/2" taller rear tire will, indeed, be similar to lowering the front fork 1/2". The overall rake of the bike will change 1/2" either way. But the geometry of the fork will be a little different between the two, and the center of gravity would be lower by lowering the front instead (which is generally better).
You'd still have the 50 profile. There is a geometry change and turn in would be quicker but at the cost of clearance and after some of the speed bumps in use today??
Clearance will not be an issue. I have mine lowered 1" and have yet to encounter any problems. Now, I suppose if someone did that AND weighed 350 pounds AND had their suspension super bouncy AND was going over some really REALLY bad pavement, something might could happen...
Some people can't deal with any raising of the bike :)
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Nope, meant nope. The geometry may work out the same, but the 50 profile is differant than the 55. You still have the beach ball shape with the 50. The 55 gains more contact as you increase lean and it falls in much easier. The gain isn't in the added height, it is in the profile. The added height is what fixes the speedo and to the same degree, lowers RPMs.
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Nope, meant nope
- you all say that but you know you really want it !!
.
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Nope, meant nope. The geometry may work out the same, but the 50 profile is differant than the 55. You still have the beach ball shape with the 50. The 55 gains more contact as you increase lean and it falls in much easier. The gain isn't in the added height, it is in the profile.
Ah, I see what you are saying now. I thought you were arguing something you weren't :)
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- you all say that but you know you really want it !!
Yeesh!
"No means no"??
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Anyone running a 55 notice any loss of straight line stability at elevated speeds? As in the bike being twitchy? Seems like a benefit of the 55 would be getting the bike on the centerstand a little easier.
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A bit from Sport Rider: http://www.sportrider.com/tech/tires/146_0302_rear_motorcycle_tire/ (http://www.sportrider.com/tech/tires/146_0302_rear_motorcycle_tire/)
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I just finished the Idaho STAR Precision Riding Clinic and one of the instructors used to have a C14. He suggested the 190/55 since throwing this beast around at low speeds is intense and (after two days) quite exhausting. My question is has anyone with a rear wheel hugger done the tire size change and did the 190/55 fit under the hugger? it looks like Revzilla has a good price and I can use my accrued Zilla bucks.
TIA...
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It just occurred to me that a 55 rear tire would change the speedometer reading for the better I think. Our speedo's notoriously read fast. When my speedo shows 79 I am actually doing 75. With a taller rear tire the bike should be moving faster with the same drive shaft RPM. With a .42 increase in the radius I calculate about a 4% increase in speed at a given drive shaft RPM. Which should almost compensate for the speedo error. This is assuming the speedo works off the VSS on the drive shaft. Does it? Has anyone running 55's seen a more accurate speedometer?
that has been confirmed on many of our GPS's. But who cares about speedometer accuracy, the bike just handles better which lets me go faster in the turns (where it counts) :D
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I just finished the Idaho STAR Precision Riding Clinic and one of the instructors used to have a C14. He suggested the 190/55 since throwing this beats around at low speeds is intense and (after two days) quite exhausting. My question is has anyone with a rear wheel hugger done the tire size change and did the 190/55 fit under the hugger? it looks like Revzilla has a good price and I can use my accrued Zilla bucks.
TIA...
I just installed one (a PR3) on mine, and I thought it was going to hit the hugger, but it did not. Other brands of tires may be different though. If it is too close, you might be able to tweak the brackets a little, to get a little more clearance.
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I just installed one (a PR3) on mine, and I thought it was going to hit the hugger, but it did not. Other brands of tires may be different though. If it is too close, you might be able to tweak the brackets a little, to get a little more clearance.
Thanks... That's what I was hoping to hear... Now to decide on the Pirelli Angle GT or the PR3s...
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Thanks... That's what I was hoping to hear... Now to decide on the Pirelli Angle GT or the PR3s...
Only purchase the PR3's if a second best tire won't suffice (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/bigthumb.gif) (http://s80.photobucket.com/user/stevewfl/media/bigthumb.gif.html)
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I changed after I read a review of the c14 on a website.
I have not noticed any change in seat height. I did notice a big difference in handling and cornering clearance. the bike wants to turn much easier and holds the lean angle without pressure on the bars. I also don't have the feeler pegs touch down even when two up. I have no unused edge rubber on the rear and just 1/8 or so on the front tire.
also the speedometer is closer to being correct.
the rear tire also seem to last a little longer, maybe 1000 miles better. my rear always wears out sooner than the front.
+1, except a slight difference in seat height.
I use a ZX14 seat which is a bit lower anyways. PR3's
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seat height difference is only 42-50 MM. Not much.
but the difference in handling is HUGE (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/bigthumb.gif) (http://s80.photobucket.com/user/stevewfl/media/bigthumb.gif.html)
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I just finished the Idaho STAR Precision Riding Clinic and one of the instructors used to have a C14. He suggested the 190/55 since throwing this beats around at low speeds is intense and (after two days) quite exhausting. My question is has anyone with a rear wheel hugger done the tire size change and did the 190/55 fit under the hugger? it looks like Revzilla has a good price and I can use my accrued Zilla bucks.
TIA...
I'll let you know in a bit. Getting ready to put mine on this evening.
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I'll let you know in a bit. Getting ready to put mine on this evening.
BEFORE the Canyon Cages???? For shame Jim, for shame :-X
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:D Happy to report that there doesn't appear to be any clearance issues from the hugger bolts. The only bolt that is the closest is on the upper side of the left bracket. Back in the old days when these huggers were very new to us there was some talk of the hugger bolts being a bit long. The clearance looks about the same to me, though. If you are a bit worried you could add some washers to that top bolt which would move it away from the tire. My bike is still on the center stand as I'm still doing maintenance on it (last thing is bleed the rear brakes. Should get that done tonight, then I'll stand it up and take a look.
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VJ... Great news! Now if I can just make up my mind... I have a pair of PR3s and Angel GTs in my shopping cart. Decisions... Decisions!
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VJ... Great news! Now if I can just make up my mind... I have a pair of PR3s and Angel GTs in my shopping cart. Decisions... Decisions!
Angels of course ;)
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My GPS tells me the speedo is still about 3 mph over reality with these tires, at about 65 mph.
Concerning Gumby's avatar, I've finally found someone I want to ride with in the pillion position!
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(http://com/albums/s226/jessie8971/redeeming_my_last_post__thong_girl-.jpg)
Thank you SIR! now that changed my seat height ;D
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Angels of course ;)
The gentle push that was needed!!! :finger_fing11: I'm never been as conflicted picking tires as I just was. I even had the kids at Revzilla get both tires out and had them do a comparison... The PR3 is slightly taller and the tire is more triangular (in shape) than the Angel GT.
I know what I'll be doing over the long weekend...
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Think I will stick with the 180, a bit cheaper and seriously doubt I would notice any real difference in better handling with a 190.
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You'd have to get out of your subdivision and ride a little faster, methinks, dear Poke.
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would it also affect the computer generated mpg
ken
It just occurred to me that a 55 rear tire would change the speedometer reading for the better I think. Our speedo's notoriously read fast. When my speedo shows 79 I am actually doing 75. With a taller rear tire the bike should be moving faster with the same drive shaft RPM. With a .42 increase in the radius I calculate about a 4% increase in speed at a given drive shaft RPM. Which should almost compensate for the speedo error. This is assuming the speedo works off the VSS on the drive shaft. Does it? Has anyone running 55's seen a more accurate speedometer?
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You'd have to get out of your subdivision and ride a little faster, methinks, dear Poke.
You are welcome to try and follow me anytime sparky. ;)
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I would love to, you know that.
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I would love to, you know that.
Quit working so darn much and get a move on!!!! >:(
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I would love to, you know that.
Well, retire already :)
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Can't afford to at the moment....otherwise I would.
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Can't afford to at the moment....otherwise I would.
Become a Polygamist and marry Sophia Loren. Problem solved ;D I'd suggest Brittany Spears, but her money is managed :o
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Why the hell I thought I had a 180 rear is beyond me. ::) So yeah I obviously didnt pay enough attention to what this thread even meant, so now I must figure out to go with the 50 or 55 now. I have a rear hugger too "carbon fiber" not sure what brand it is though, and have concerns about clearance like Jim did.
Edit: Just went out and checked, the side clearance will be fine, but there is no way the extra height would clear. I could try bending the bracket some, but just not sure it is worth it. I am leaving for Tenn/NC next Thursday, cannot have a screw up on tire size at this point.
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Why the hell I thought I had a 180 rear is beyond me. ::) So yeah I obviously didnt pay enough attention to what this thread even meant, so now I must figure out to go with the 50 or 55 now. I have a rear hugger too "carbon fiber" not sure what brand it is though, and have concerns about clearance like Jim did.
Edit: Just went out and checked, the side clearance will be fine, but there is no way the extra height would clear. I could try bending the bracket some, but just not sure it is worth it. I am leaving for Tenn/NC next Thursday, cannot have a screw up on tire size at this point.
My 55 is clearing my hugger, Poke, but it's a PR3.... Don't know if that has anything at all to do with anything.
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My 55 is clearing my hugger, Poke, but it's a PR3.... Don't know if that has anything at all to do with anything.
Cant imagine that tire brand would matter much if any, I think that I need to bend my brackets just a tad bit further up and toward the cockpit. I went ahead and just got another 50, I know that works perfect. :) [size=78%] [/size]