Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: rmc_ss_ldo on March 22, 2014, 02:35:33 PM
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Brought the bike out of its winter slumber today. Took the time to install the foam heat blockers my daughter got me for Christmas, re-installed the battery (adding a tender connector) and a good once over to start the season.
The C14 has been pretty neglected from a ride-time perspective since I added a Victory Vision to the stable last spring. This was just after completing a major service including valve adjustment and new tires- got her all tuned up and there she sat for most of last summer. :'(
Anyway, today was the first ride of any consequence in a very long time and still thoroughly impressed with my "old" 2009! Such a different riding experience compared to the Vision and still a winner. Need to burn through the old gas but she is running like a top!
/r
Allen
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...and much better looking than the Vision. ;)
Welcome to the forum. :)
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...and much better looking than the Vision. ;)
Welcome to the forum. :)
I was a member but my profile went away- Who knows. I don't mind being a noob again!
And I am partial to the looks of both! Best at what they do, they just do things a little differently!
/r
Allen
(http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac162/RMC_SS_LDO/Bike%20Stuff/image5.jpeg) (http://s896.photobucket.com/user/RMC_SS_LDO/media/Bike%20Stuff/image5.jpeg.html)
(http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac162/RMC_SS_LDO/Bike%20Stuff/image11.jpeg) (http://s896.photobucket.com/user/RMC_SS_LDO/media/Bike%20Stuff/image11.jpeg.html)
(http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac162/RMC_SS_LDO/Bike%20Stuff/image8.jpeg) (http://s896.photobucket.com/user/RMC_SS_LDO/media/Bike%20Stuff/image8.jpeg.html)
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It's my understanding the Vision is a great bike, I just can't get past the look. But then I didn't like the Honda Rune either.
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You must like red, but what am I talking about it's my favorite color. Very nice bikes.
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I am not a fan of big V-Twin-cruiser style bikes, but I have ridden a Vision, and was very impressed. If I had to cover a lot of highway miles, I could see owning one of those!
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It's my understanding the Vision is a great bike, I just can't get past the look. But then I didn't like the Honda Rune either.
+1 :o Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
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It's my understanding the Vision is a great bike, I just can't get past the look. But then I didn't like the Honda Rune either.
I'm with you. Nothing against them, I would just not own one.
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I'm with you. Nothing against them, I would just not own one.
I said the same thing since I first saw one in 2008...
We wanted to get back onto a full touring bike since selling the ElectraGlide (which we traded for the Concours incidentally). Went and rode a lot of different bikes and went into the Victory dealership to scope out a Cross Country Tour.
They had several Cross bikes there and this funny looking space-ship; I just laughed- no way in hell I'd ever be caught dead on THAT thing! The funny part was the more I looked at it, the more curious I became. Hemmed and hawed for quite some time, until I rode the Vision- that was really all it took. An amazing ride- obviously polarizing styling but it looks and rides like nothing else out there. Compared to the other touring bikes (either full dressers or baggers) it won hands-down. Only complaint I have is that the side bags are actually deceptively small- I think the Concours bags are more functional and may have more capacity. Add the trunk though and more than enough storage for a long haul.
As for the Concours, it will hopefully get more ride time this season but it has become more the adrenal fix and more of an occasional "toy" for lack of a better word. The Concours is just far more "crisp" and much more of a performance machine, perfect for a day trip through the back roads; have to be careful on a super-slab highway because the speeds can get into "arrest-me" velocity but I know I am preaching to the choir. Love it no doubt and zero reason to part with it but for day-to-day commuting and distance cruising, the Vision gets the nod.
Like I said I think the Vision and the Concours are the best at what they do, they just do things quite a bit differently...
/r
Allen
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Like I said I think the Vision and the Concours are the best at what they do, they just do things quite a bit differently...
The right tool for the job makes anything better.
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I rode a bunch of different Victory bikes when the factory truck was in town. None were my thing but Vision was the most surprising. Very comfy and handled great for such a big touring bike. But what is up with the side cases? They are huge on the outside but ity bity glove boxes on the inside. And then George Jetson called and wanted his bike back.
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BTW it does look better without the trunk. I thought they should have put the quick release system on the Vision like they have on the Cross Country Tour.
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BTW it does look better without the trunk. I thought they should have put the quick release system on the Vision like they have on the Cross Country Tour.
+1... That looks much better than with that ginormous trunk on it. Kinda the way I like the Honda F6 better than a normal 'Wing...
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IMHO the trunk and passenger accomodations of the Wing and the Vision are the only reasons I can see to have one of these giant touring bikes. If you don't need the added luggage space or the barka lounger rear seat backrest you don't need 900 lbs of motorcycle.