Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: pothole on October 30, 2013, 07:59:27 PM
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Picking up a new black '12 Halloween day....Test rode it today, yum. Rode a new ZX-14 at San Mateo show, loved it, but ready for shaft/electronic/bags et al. This is my 14th bike currently, been touring an '05 H-D Road Glide, which I'm keeping.(along with the others...not married, no kids, retired). While riding the H-D on twisties, longed for my VTR. So this will satisfy both needs. Thanks, this forum really
helped seal the deal. Tim
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You will love it! My bet- you will likely choose it to be the bike to ride almost all the time; especially once you have "farkled" it up.
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Congrats and welcome to the forum! Keeping the other bike is probably a good idea. I have always regretted getting rid of my bikes.
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Thanks. I truly am spoiled picking which bike to ride. Just want travel farther with the C. All depends on weather/mood for the others.
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Welcome Tim! :chugbeer:
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You can't run the twisties very well with those P.O.S. Bridgestones. Get them taken off ASAP- trade them in at the dealer for some decent Michelin PR 3's and then go find some sweepers, or run with the Porsches- you'll be lovin' it.
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Thanks for the heads-up. Any opinion on 190/50 to 190/55 ?
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I just installed a PR3- 55 after running a PR2 -50 for a long time. I can say that it's the best tire I have ever used- even more stable in high speed sweepers and a faster turn-in than the PR2. This bike is very sensitive to tires, but once you are dialed in, it's hard to get that s_ _ _ eatin' grin off your face. This is obviously the tire that Kawasaki should have used..
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Thanks for the heads-up. Any opinion on 190/50 to 190/55 ?
Yes, here is what I noticed.
With the 190/50 I would have to hold the bike in the turn (keep pushing the handle bar down on the inside of the turn) with the 190/55 I would put the bike in a turn and now it stays where I put it, I dont have to keep pushing to hold it in the turn.
Much better with the 55 IMHO.
The PR3's are great tires. I wont even try and ride on the stock tires. I gave those away-- the sooner the better.
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Thanks for the heads-up. Any opinion on 190/50 to 190/55 ?
Truthfully, I don't feel any difference. Welcome, BTW.
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Truthfully, I don't feel any difference. Welcome, BTW.
Have to send you to remedial sensitivity training.
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Thanks for the heads-up. Any opinion on 190/50 to 190/55 ?
Welcome! +3 on 190/55 PR3
Besides better handling, the 55 profile makes your speedo more accurate.
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Thanks. Headin' out now to pick it up! Still great weather here in Nor-Cal, will have it broken in soon.
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the 55 profile makes your speedo more accurate.
Well, I guess there is that, but I haven't proved that either.. Course I haven't checked it with the GPS since I put the 55 on.
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Well, I guess there is that, but I haven't proved that either.. Course I haven't checked it with the GPS since I put the 55 on.
I admit better handling is subjective, but speedo correction is fact as measured against my GPS.
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Truthfully, I don't feel any difference. Welcome, BTW.
Have you tried leaning? :rotflmao:
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:battle: Of course I have! Are you trying for Twit status?
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Welcome! +3 on 190/55 PR3 Besides better handling, the 55 profile makes your speedo more accurate.
And makes the bike taller. And for some of us, ANY amount of taller is a very bad thing.
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First 110 miles. All as expected. Throttle lock needed. Have one on all the others. Now to turn into
an electronics engineer to try and use all it offers, fun stuff.
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Welcome to the board :chugbeer:
I went with a 95 and PR 2s after 3,000 miles and the bike does turn much mo better and a throttlemeister lock which is a beautiful piece.
Do the first service yourself, it's just an oil, filter and gear oil change and inspect the torque on all bolts. Bought the parts at the Kawi dealer (the receipt has the mileage on it just in case)and they insisted that I use dino for the first change. I'm no wrench, but I hate to waste $$
Also, most bikes come with the headlight facing too far down, so check that out.
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Welcome to the board :chugbeer:
I went with a 95 and PR 2s after 3,000 miles and the bike does turn much mo better and a throttlemeister lock which is a beautiful piece.
Do the first service yourself, it's just an oil, filter and gear oil change and inspect the torque on all bolts. Bought the parts at the Kawi dealer (the receipt has the mileage on it just in case)and they insisted that I use dino for the first change. I'm no wrench, but I hate to waste $$
Also, most bikes come with the headlight facing too far down, so check that out.
First and most servicing will be performed by me, just retired as a master tech. Just purchased said
parts for the 600, and 1k services. Will use 10-40 dino for a while too. Will use up the stock tires,
then swap for the one's you guys have recommended, in 55 size,too. Thanks!
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Me again. Spent the day breakin' it in some more. You all say it's hard keepin' it under 4k...well I beg to differ. Did it the easy way, followed two buds on Harleys all day. ha
Also got to see and hear an NCR Leggera Ducati at a rich guy's winery today...quite bad ass. This one:
http://www.cycleworld.com/2010/08/03/ncr-leggera-1200-special-riding-impression/ (http://www.cycleworld.com/2010/08/03/ncr-leggera-1200-special-riding-impression/)
Lotta cool toys he has, bike wise. He sponsors National #5 Jake Johnson on another extremely trick Duc.so it figures.
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Me again. Spent the day breakin' it in some more. You all say it's hard keepin' it under 4k...well I beg to differ. Did it the easy way, followed two buds on Harleys all day. ha
Also got to see and here an NCR Leggera Ducati at a rich guy's winery today...quite bad ass. This one:
http://www.cycleworld.com/2010/08/03/ncr-leggera-1200-special-riding-impression/ (http://www.cycleworld.com/2010/08/03/ncr-leggera-1200-special-riding-impression/)
Lotta cool toys he has, bike wise. He sponsors National #5 Jake Johnson on another extremely trick Duc.so it figures.
:thumbs: That would do it!
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- yeah ... following harleys is a sure fire way to put on more grey hairs ...
.
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- yeah ... following harleys is a sure fire way to put on more grey hairs ...
And go deaf and insane.
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I ride with a bunch of H-D guys, and I get a laugh at the fact that all I'm doing is saving fuel. I literally got 270 miles range cruising with my H-D friends going up to Lake George, NY. I stuck her in “eco” mode, and granny shifted, stuck her in 6th gear, and enjoyed the ride. She was bone dry when I finished, but I still had .6 in the tank when we filled up. We had to stop 2 times during that run. The guy with the 110 Screaming Eagle got the worst mileage, and was the reason we had to stop early. He was getting 150 miles to a tank. I didn't fill up the first time, and they were like...you're crazy, the next time we stop it's going to be for you.
Nope, we made it all the way to our destination, and I found a station and filled up.
Funny thing when we got to our destination, the Harley guys were all talking about how they were “moving” down the super slab. I laughed knowing my bike was loping along sipping fuel.
That was surprising to me, because I seldom get that kind of milage when I ride solo. Mostly, I guess, because I'm going faster, and holding gear longer.
Welcome to the Group, and enjoy. you'll have a lot of fun.
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And go deaf and insane.
I get it, 'cause I have an '05 Road Glide. Have traveled on it many times and was ok. One of the issues was hitting nice twisty roads and wishing I was on my Ohlins shod VTR. When I traveled on the VTR, slabs were brutal. Hence the C-14. The H-D will probably go, the VTR, never.
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Six Hundred mile mud. Engine oil rainbow dark...rear diff, sparkly and black...assume normal? Hope so.
Doesn't much matter to me...I'll change both OFTEN. Added Go Cruise throttle control, nice. Ordered Mag- Knight tank bra for the scratchy black paint. Delkevic tri-oval carbon 13" set-up coming. Two rear helmet locks added. Lovin' it.
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oil and rear drive oil description is normal for the 600 mile change...
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45 minute install for the Delkevic exhaust...looks outstanding, sounds good, not too loud, baffle in. Damn, the stocker is heavy.
Another question for you experts. Can the spare fob be hidden on the bike? I see nothing indicating
why not. Since it needs to communicate right next to the switch, there would be no communication
hidden far enough away from the Kipass stuff. What say you? Thanks, Tim
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If it's the passive fob no problem. If it's the active fob you could remove the battery. The active fob works from several feet away from the bike.
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You will love it! My bet- you will likely choose it to be the bike to ride almost all the time; especially once you have "farkled" it up.
You are correct. Hit 1k today, another oil and rear diff change. Syn blend this time. Will go full syn
next time. Anyone want a nice Road Glide? 8^)= Tim
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1600 miles, all good. Except the seat. Want to visit Lamm asap. 200 mile ride to Lamm's and want to give Seth my business in person. Anyone here use Lamm? Seams like a great guy on the phone. Still lovin' this ride...rode 240 miles Sunday, butt, butt... Tim
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1600 miles, all good. Except the seat. Want to visit Lamm asap. 200 mile ride to Lamm's and want to give Seth my business in person. Anyone here use Lamm? Seams like a great guy on the phone. Still lovin' this ride...rode 240 miles Sunday, butt, butt... Tim
Been on the Lamm for 30,000 miles, no regrets, and it gets better over time.. butt indulge yourself and get the leather.
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Been on the Lamm for 30,000 miles, no regrets, and it gets better over time.. butt indulge yourself and get the leather.
Update bump. Got the Laam...fantastic, seat and service. Shipped instead of dodging rain drops. Sent Mon.Feb.3rd, was back on the bike Thurs.the 6th! Went carbon vinyl. Nice. Also, just shipped the ECU to Guhl for reflash. Hope it makes it there and back without getting stuck in snow!
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After installing Guhl ECU, can't figure out why I now need tires @ 4200 miles... ;D. Can't believe the difference.
So much for the stockers. Time for P3's. Any input on P4's?
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After installing Guhl ECU, can't figure out why I now need tires @ 4200 miles... ;D. Can't believe the difference.
Yep, it is the way the bike should be.
So much for the stockers. Time for P3's. Any input on P4's?
They look nice. Hopefully one day mine will be mounted.
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=16198.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=16198.0)
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Before or after my Canyon Cages, Max?
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Before or after my Canyon Cages, Max?
Take your time on those, Jim. You don't want to rush willy nilly in to that install and mess something up. ::) ;)
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Before or after my Canyon Cages, Max?
That's a good point. However, at least in my case it is mostly out of my hands at this point (since I am waiting to hear on the warranty issue)
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As is my situation. The Canyon Cages are out of my hands on a shelf until either I or the weather warm up.
Take your time on those, Jim. You don't want to rush willy nilly in to that install and mess something up. ::) ;)
You got that right.. Remember, I'm part Entish.
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Yep, it is the way the bike should be.
They look nice. Hopefully one day mine will be mounted.
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=16198.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=16198.0)
So, after reading your thread, have you had a chance to ride with the PR4's yet? Sounds like the 190/55 GT'S will fill the bill. Outstanding weather here in Nor-Cal, gotta get those shitty BStones off.
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So, after reading your thread, have you had a chance to ride with the PR4's yet? Sounds like the 190/55 GT'S will fill the bill. Outstanding weather here in Nor-Cal, gotta get those shitty BStones off.
The weather here (in VA) has been just horrible. We will suddenly get a great day, then BAM, back into the 30's and 40's with rain/mist/dark/ultra windy. Last time I rode last week, I thought for sure I would make it back (40 min trip back) and got caught in a downpour with extreme crosswinds. With zero tread on the front, I was scared out of my mind getting home.... most stressful bike ride EVER. Thank god I made it home safely.
Stock size is 190/50 rear... which is what I have and ordered and got (along with front, of course).
My cats are playing with the new tires sitting on the floor- fascinated with the shrink wrap. The installation is tied to the warranty issue on the stupid TPS, and that is not progressing at a reasonable rate. I will call the service manager tomorrow and see who is waiting on what.
Meanwhile.... they are calling for fantastic weather on Saturday, and I will take a trip on the bike to RIC to visit mom on these horrible tires. No cords yet on the front, at least....
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Sorry about your weather.. :-[, we pay for nice weather here.. ;). I'm ordering the 55 rear. I'm a 34 inseam, so any slight rise won't be a problem. Can't wait. Probably ride the VTR for a few days until the PR4's are on. Put new Dunlops on it 2 months ago, haven't ridden it yet! C-14 is so...well, you all know.
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Spooned the PR4 GT's on (195 rear), scuffed 'em in. Rode about 40 miles, then thrashed.
Really nice and with inspiring confidence! Still setting suspension between rides, but now plants in corners. Between new rubber and Mr. Guhl, love it even more. Still like the VTR best for serious carving, but comfort wins on the big C. You all recommended Pilot Road's and were 100% correct. Thanks.
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UG! I am STILL waiting on the dealer to call me saying they have the parts. Meanwhile, I get to look at the tires every day, sitting near the door, and still acting as huge/expensive cat toys..
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Well, at least you're not wearin' 'em out! Sorry...couldn't resist.