Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: phoneman on September 22, 2013, 04:54:15 PM
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I need a little help from you guys that have had a C14 for a while and how you managed to set it up so it is comfortable.
Firstoff I picked up a 09 C14 a couple of weeks ago. Non abs and all stock. I'm about 6'4"--220 lbs. About 34" inseam.
The handlebars are killing me--as in my right hand starts going numb in 15-20 miles. The financial planner at my house has given me permission to alleviate this problem. I've looked at all ( and I mean all ) the posts here and see that a lot of folks use risers and wedges and it does the trick for them but all the folks who have gone to Horizons or Precision Engineering bars all say they wished they had gotten those first.
So my question comes down to this--Horizons or Precision Engineering bars ?
Next--I gotta have somewhere else to put my feet every now and then. So what will be the better ( if there is one ) choice between Canyon cages with footpegs or the footpeg system from AST ?
I'm really trying to like this bike as it's stronger, smoother, and a lot faster than my 12 Wee--but it ain't near as comfortable--at least not yet.
I think a more upright riding position will get rid of some of the pressure in my hands and help to get rid of the numbness. Vertebra C5-6-7 already fused so it ain't that.
Any direction will be appreciated. Thanks.
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Another option for handle bars:
http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=130_133&products_id=387 (http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=130_133&products_id=387)
Also you didn't mention the seat. How's the stocker working out?
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The stock seat is like most stock seats--it's ok for short runs. It is better with my beadrider on it but I wouldn't want to try to ride all day on it.
BUT--I can ride with a numb butt. Hell--there's a thought for future long rides.
Just a little Novacaine in the ole buttcheecks and the stock seat will be fine. ;)
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So my question comes down to this--Horizons or Precision Engineering bars ?
They both have similar adjust-ability, I think the PE bars look better. 8) :thumbs:
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Next--I gotta have somewhere else to put my feet every now and then. So what will be the better ( if there is one ) choice between Canyon cages with footpegs or the footpeg system from AST ?
Canyon Cages & highway pegs.
You kill two birds with one stone, drop protection & another place to put your feet.
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Gumby--thanks on the Canyon cages / footpegs. That's kinda what I was thinking--protection for the bike in case of an ooooops and footpegs too.
I kinda leaning toward the Precision bars because of the telescopic feature where you can raise or lower the bars with a simple adjustment or two. It looks like either barset is probably gonna require longer hoses to get the full adjustability that both offer.
Any thoughts on this ?
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Who has the best price on the MCE Canyon cage?
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Congrats on the bike, you will love it.
I'm 6'-3" with a 35" inseam.
I have the PE bars. They are maxed out but I didn't have redo the lines. I wish I had a little more adjustment, pulled back further and the Horizons would have gotten me there. I'm not going to change it out now because it's close enough.
I have Ronny's highway pegs installed and put the pegs on the canyon cages too. Ronny's pegs seem too close to me to give a decent amount of relief but they look great. I rarely use them but it's nice have an option. The pegs on the Canyons felt better but pinched a nerve in my hips, it wouldn't go away till I got off the bike and walked around. So I took those off.
Good luck.
Are any members in your area? Maybe you can check theirs out before you buy.
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If you don't want to break the bank for bars, these did the trick for me.
http://www.advancedsporttouring.com/Concours_14_Risers_p/c14-16.htm (http://www.advancedsporttouring.com/Concours_14_Risers_p/c14-16.htm)
If you do not already have risers you can buy these.
http://www.advancedsporttouring.com/Concours_Risers_p/c14-03.htm (http://www.advancedsporttouring.com/Concours_Risers_p/c14-03.htm)
And you do not have to buy longer hoses. :thumbs:
If you have an endless supply of cash, go with the Precision Bars. Like Jay says they do look good.
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... I kinda leaning toward the Precision bars because of the telescopic feature where you can raise or lower the bars with a simple adjustment or two. It looks like either barset is probably gonna require longer hoses to get the full adjustability that both offer.
Any thoughts on this ?
Not necessarily... I have the PE bars, and relocated the blocks (the one in the the brake and clutch lines) a little further out. Ran the range of motions to make sure nothing was binding. I think the newer gen of PE bars have threaded holes to relocate these blocks. I have my PE bars back and fully extended, and on 2" risers. Try that before you expense longer lines.
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If you don't want to break the bank for bars, these did the trick for me.
http://www.advancedsporttouring.com/Concours_14_Risers_p/c14-16.htm (http://www.advancedsporttouring.com/Concours_14_Risers_p/c14-16.htm)
These won't work on an '09.
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These won't work on an '09.
... Unless you remove the storage box on top of the tank. I think the rest is compatible.
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These won't work on an '09.
... Unless you remove the storage box on top of the tank. I think the rest is compatible.
Sad, but true.
Looks like you will be kissing up to the financial planner for an undetermined amount of time here. :rotflmao:
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Looks like you will be kissing up to the financial planner for an undetermined amount of time here. :rotflmao:
We suggest flowers and a LOT of begging. But, don't buy the flowers (that costs money).
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Flowers ? I'm the man in my house. And she ain't looking at me right now. ;)
I don't mind spending the money if the results will be worth the expense. I thought about just doing risers and such but it would be real easy to get a couple of hundred dollars tied up in that and I still wouldn't have the flexability of the Horizons or the Precision bars.
Guess I'm just trying to decide between the two. It's a lot of money either way but I really can't ride this bike and enjoy it until I get it comfy. You know the drill.
Just finished getting my Wee all comfy and I can ride it all day without being uncomfortable. Shoot--I rode the stock seat to Colorado and back. Yeah--it sucked.
I bought the C14 for a pretty fair price and I knew some changes would need to be made so I didn't go into this totally blind.
I'll just flip a quarter and decide. Who gets heads ?
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Called Heli today and inquired about their Horizon bars. Nice people. Knew all the answers to all my questions. $ 745 with complete new hydraulic lines.
Gave a call to Precision Engineering and asked about their bars. Nice guy on the phone. But--he couldn't tell me what length I should get for the brake/clutch lines as these need to be changed.
Now I'm not knocking their product as it looks exceptional but you would think they should know this. And they don't have a supplier for the lines anyway so I would have to call Galfer to get some made up.
Looks like I'll give Heli an order tomorrow.
Oh yeah--he did know Jay. Who woulda guessed ?
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Oh yeah--he did know Jay. Who woulda guessed ?
I would imagine Jay will be along shortly and answer all your questions on lines for the PE bars.
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Oh yeah--he did know Jay. Who woulda guessed ?
They are a great group of guys over there IMO, I like giving them my business because they are a smaller single shop and stand behind their product 100%, if you don't like it return for full refund. :thumbs:
he couldn't tell me what length I should get for the brake/clutch lines as these need to be changed.
I already had +2" brained front lines on my ZG from when I had Galpher make em and I had 2" Heli risers. If I were to do it again though after now having the PE bars I'd probably go with +3" lines.
Here's the link from when I did my lines...
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7815.msg94273#msg94273 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7815.msg94273#msg94273)
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ZG--thanks for the reply.
I'm sure they have a good product and the guy was plenty willing to answer my question. When I asked about the length needed for the lines he said he thought 6 inches and I know from looking at your threads it wasn't 6 inches.
For the amount of money this will cost I would surely like to know what length lines were needed to make the bars work. I told him they should have the lines on hand ready to sell--kinda like one stop shopping. He agreed.
That would have made a sell right then and there--credit card was already out.
Of course I could still get the brake lines on my own. Actually when you add in the 1 " riser and the brake lines these bars are more expensive than the Horizons.
So--would 3" longer lines give the full range of the bars ?
I still like the telescopic feature of these bars. That's something the Horizons can't do.
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So--would 3" longer lines give the full range of the bars ?
Yes IMO, but if yer concerned go +4" to be safe, better to have an extra inch than be short... that's what she said... ;) ;D
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6'4" with 34 inseam. Have the Heli Horizion, Canyon Cages with footpegs and Laamb seat. Very comfy setup for me.
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Horizon's are on the way. Ouch said the mastercard :D
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Horizon's are on the way. Ouch said the mastercard :D
I love mine. Pricy but makes this a true long distance machine IMO.
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you will not regret it....I love mine
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC03281_zps1552db5d.jpg)
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Santa Claus in brown dropped off the Horizons Monday.
Took the bike to Powersports in Albany today to get them installed. I could have done it myself but I didn't want to make a mess bleeding out the hydraulics. I was feeling a little lazy too. ;)
What a difference the bars make. My right hand never went numb on the 70 mile ride home. And the more upright posture just makes the bike easier to ride for me.
The downside is the better ergonomics now make me REALLY know that I need some more legroom. As soon as the MasterCard recovers I'll take care of that problem too.
And then I'll take care of the seat and the windshield. The stock seat isn't actually too bad---with some forward footpegs it might actually work for a while.
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Santa Claus in brown dropped off the Horizons Monday.
Took the bike to Powersports in Albany today to get them installed. I could have done it myself but I didn't want to make a mess bleeding out the hydraulics. I was feeling a little lazy too. ;)
What a difference the bars make. My right hand never went numb on the 70 mile ride home. And the more upright posture just makes the bike easier to ride for me.
The downside is the better ergonomics now make me REALLY know that I need some more legroom. As soon as the MasterCard recovers I'll take care of that problem too.
And then I'll take care of the seat and the windshield. The stock seat isn't actually too bad---with some forward footpegs it might actually work for a while.
Congrats and enjoy. Some forward pegs really does complete the picture.