Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: TMAX on July 19, 2015, 01:20:10 AM
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I recently purchased a 2008 with 119800 miles on it. I got over 124000 miles now. previous owner really cared for it well.
so whats the most miles anyone has without completely rebuilding or replacing engine?
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please take no offense to this, :)
what steered you to a bike with that many miles when there are so many with super low miles ??
mine has 85k+ and thought it would be very difficult to sell.
thanks, and enjoy the new bike !!
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From an earlier post:
The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 / Re: I think that I got a good deal [on a used C14]!
« on: June 19, 2015, 12:47:50 am »
after reading this forum the past couplenof day i know i got a good deal!
2008 Concours 14 non ABS w/119850miles
$1500
as you can imagine, right place, right time.
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I remember reading about a concours 14 that had 200k miles, rebuilt engine at 190k.
He toured the country
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please take no offense to this, :)
what steered you to a bike with that many miles when there are so many with super low miles ??
mine has 85k+ and thought it would be very difficult to sell.
thanks, and enjoy the new bike !!
see post #3
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Mine has 142,000 plus and runs like the day I bought it in October 2007.
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I guess another important question to the high milers would be: how often do you regulary explore the rpm limits(up to, not over redline)? When putzing around town through the sub-40 speed zones, are you in 6th, or do you let er spin in 2nd/3rd?
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I'm of the opinion that my 2009 C14 ABS will comfortably pass the 200k mark. I faithfully change the oil, brake, radiator and clutch fluids and never bog or over rev the engine. This is probably one of the finest engines ever built- one that idles like a kitten and then stretches your arms a second later, and I have no doubts about it's durability because it's a Kawasaki.
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2008 Concours 14 non ABS w/119850miles
$1500
Yep, that explains it.... I spent way more on half the mods than he spent getting the bike!
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I guess another important question to the high milers would be: how often do you regulary explore the rpm limits(up to, not over redline)? When putzing around town through the sub-40 speed zones, are you in 6th, or do you let er spin in 2nd/3rd?
I doubt it would make any difference to the engine. As long as you are smooth and not hammering the driveline, it should be fine.
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Mine is only at 108,000 miles. At 200,000 I plan to part it out on the ebay. This plan is a bucket list item (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/icon10.gif)
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Mine is only at 108,000 miles. At 200,000 I plan to part it out on the ebay.
Not a bad plan. With the amount it is probably worth in parts, you can then buy a brand new 201X Concours.
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Not a bad plan. With the amount it is probably worth in parts, you can then buy a brand new 201X Concours.
True that brother...got the same plan!! ;)
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I keep lusting after other bikes, including newer C14's, but with only 60k on my 08, it's barely broke in. Always brings a smile!
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True that brother...got the same plan!! ;)
The sad part is that you can probably sell the parts for less than a third of dealer prices and STILL buy a new 201X.
Everybody wins
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I find it remarkable you can get so many miles on it, but mostly I'm very jealous I can't :(
Just curious, do you guys with the high mileage do it for pleasure or commuting? The answer is probably both, but I can't even get that many miles on my car???
Tony
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I use mine for business and pleasure..
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Tell him the truth, Jim. He probably doesn't know the your business IS pleasure. ::)
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Tell him the truth, Jim. He probably doesn't know the your business IS pleasure. ::)
Jim is a gigolo? :hail:
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Way back in the C-14 olden' days, there were four of us found by Kawasaki to have a lot of miles on our bikes. I was the third guy, the second guy was around Las Vegas if memory serves but the #1 guy was in San Diego, commuted to work a LONG way everyday and had something like 80K miles on the bike during his second year of ownership. He clocked well over 100K miles, again in a very short amount of time, but then sort of dropped out and I do not know what happened to him or that bike. ??
Brian
I find it remarkable you can get so many miles on it, but mostly I'm very jealous I can't :(
Just curious, do you guys with the high mileage do it for pleasure or commuting? The answer is probably both, but I can't even get that many miles on my car???
Tony
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Jim is a gigolo? :hail:
Right....
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60k in 5 years on my 2010. But starting a month ago I'm now commuting 36 miles a day. I expect the mileage to pick up considerably.
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60k in 5 years on my 2010. But starting a month ago I'm now commuting 36 miles a day. I expect the mileage to pick up considerably.
I bought my 2012 Connie in May 31st of 2014 with 5k miles on it...I now have 31k on it! I figure I will put anywhere between 20k and 25k per year on mine. I have loved every mile. Well, almost every mile...some have been pretty uncomfortable but I'm working on the seat to see if I can solve that issue.
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Mine is certainly not the highest...but we are getting there.
Bought 12/1/2013 @ 53000
Currently @ 113100.
3000/mile give or take. And yes, it snows here. Business, pleasure, commuting, etc.
Ridden daily, weather permitting. Plus a couple of long tours last year. Maybe another this Fall.
I have a cargo van, but no car. The *other* C14 (and the ZX12R and the Buell and...)
only get ridden here and there.
Dat
Sax
Man
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I am curious on the valve adjustments with high mileage bikes. Is everyone doing regular adjustments? I just hit 20k. does the bike need it? (of course the shop will tell me it does.) I'm looking for the real story.
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I am curious on the valve adjustments with high mileage bikes. Is everyone doing regular adjustments? I just hit 20k. does the bike need it? (of course the shop will tell me it does.) I'm looking for the real story.
The Europe manual says 50,000 km which is 31,000 miles. I did my first at 28,000 miles and all were more or less centered and I didn't change anything. Will be doing a second check this fall sometime. No idea why the Europe spec is over twice the US but I like the Europe spec better and will be using that. ;)
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The Europe manual says 50,000 km which is 31,000 miles. I did my first at 28,000 miles and all were more or less centered and I didn't change anything. Will be doing a second check this fall sometime. No idea why the Europe spec is over twice the US but I like the Europe spec better and will be using that. ;)
Ummm, my Kawi dealer says "BIG SERVICE" every 15k miles and they check/adjust the valves during that service. Mine have never needed to adjusted but it's costing me $900 every 15k miles...kind of expensive for someone who rides EVERY DAY!!!
I'm curious to see how people answer "Flienlow's" question...I'd like to know how many of you are taking it in for service every 15k...would like to know how you other Connie owners are maintaining your bikes and at what intervals?
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Ummm, my Kawi dealer says "BIG SERVICE" every 15k miles and they check/adjust the valves during that service. Mine have never needed to adjusted but it's costing me $900 every 15k miles...kind of expensive for someone who rides EVERY DAY!!!
I'm curious to see how people answer "Flienlow's" question...I'd like to know how many of you are taking it in for service every 15k...would like to know how you other Connie owners are maintaining your bikes and at what intervals?
Yup, that's what the US manual says. No idea why the Europe manual is different. I am guessing it has more to do with emission laws than engineering. I only know mine with close to 60k has only been checked once, never been adjusted and still runs great. But I don't know jack and I may have a valve on the verge of failure as I speak. And the manual also says replace your iridium spark plugs every 7,500 miles. :rotflmao: Not bloody likely.
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Yup, that's what the US manual says. No idea why the Europe manual is different. I am guessing it has more to do with emission laws than engineering. I only know mine with close to 60k has only been checked once, never been adjusted and still runs great. But I don't know jack and I may have a valve on the verge of failure as I speak. And the manual also says replace your iridium spark plugs every 7,500 miles. :rotflmao: Not bloody likely.
Hmmm...might have to think about skipping the service at 45k and doing it at 60k. I ride all the time but I'm not hard on the bike and they've "checked" my valves twice so far and they've been fine. It would be nice NOT to have to spend $900 every 15k miles! For me that works out to be $900 about every 9 months. So, the bike's costing me around $100 a month to ride, not counting fuel, tires or oil changes (which I do myself).
I'd like to know what EXACTLY they do during those 15k mile services. I'm sure they replace brake and clutch fluids and I know they check/adjust valves but what else happens? What are they doing beyond that...pulling on cables, checking if bolts are tight, spinning the wheels a few times to make sure they move...what?
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Hmmm...might have to think about skipping the service at 45k and doing it at 60k. I ride all the time but I'm not hard on the bike and they've "checked" my valves twice so far and they've been fine. It would be nice NOT to have to spend $900 every 15k miles! For me that works out to be $900 about every 9 months. So, the bike's costing me around $100 a month to ride, not counting fuel, tires or oil changes (which I do myself).
I'd like to know what EXACTLY they do during those 15k mile services. I'm sure they replace brake and clutch fluids and I know they check/adjust valves but what else happens? What are they doing beyond that...pulling on cables, checking if bolts are tight, spinning the wheels a few times to make sure they move...what?
There is a big difference between check and adjust. Check can be done without removing the timing chain and pulling the cams and without a shim kit. If all they did was check it should be hundreds of dollars less than adjust. Next time ask for a clearance map of all the valves and if they adjusted they should give you before and after shim thickness.
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Ummm, my Kawi dealer says "BIG SERVICE" every 15k miles and they check/adjust the valves during that service. Mine have never needed to adjusted but it's costing me $900 every 15k miles...kind of expensive for someone who rides EVERY DAY!!!
Despite popular opinion by non-bikers, motorcycles are not really a cheap mode of transportation.
I'm curious to see how people answer "Flienlow's" question...
Well, we have had dozens of threads about valve lash checking intervals already...
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Well, we have had dozens of threads about valve lash checking intervals already...
Sorry, I am a shameless (and Lazy ) thread hijacker. ;)
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Valves, mine have been checked 3 times in 108,000 miles. Don't plan on them being checked ever again.
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Valves, mine have been checked 3 times in 108,000 miles. Don't plan on them being checked ever again.
Is it safe to assume you've "skipped" some of your 15k mile service intervals?
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Valves, mine have been checked 3 times in 108,000 miles. Don't plan on them being checked ever again.
Did they ever have to be adjusted?
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Did they ever have to be adjusted?
I waited until 27K to adjust mine. Too much of a job to do just because they say so. Two intake valves were out of tolerance and all of them were on the tight end of the range. All of them were adjusted to mid-range or to the loose end (No Juvenile comments ;D ) and I won't touch it again until 60K because it is my bike and I'll pay the price if needed. I just don't think it is as big an issue as the booki says it is. Even the two that were out of the range were close, no where near tight.
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so Lather has the most miles at 140000miles.
anybody else?
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so Lather has the most miles at 140000miles.
anybody else?
And we get "roped" back in ;)
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Such is life in the Forum..
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Such is life in the Forum..
Haha...I knew after the 2nd post regarding valves that it was going to happen. I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner :o!
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But if we only spoke of the subject at hand and did not interject our various opinions and humor, what indeed would be the point? I may as well just kick back and drink....wait a minute. I do that already. :doh:
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I plan on doing the first valve adjustment this winter. hit 73,500 today.
I bought it in November with 71K and the original owner swore they had never been checked or set. Power commander, pipe, flies out. He was keeping a Hot rodded hayabusa because he said the Connie would never break 200MPH but he thought the busa might. (bucket list)
I,m not sure that's what the manual recommends.....
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I plan on doing the first valve adjustment this winter. hit 73,500 today.
I bought it in November with 71K and the original owner swore they had never been checked or set. Power commander, pipe, flies out. He was keeping a Hot rodded hayabusa because he said the Connie would never break 200MPH but he thought the busa might. (bucket list)
I,m not sure that's what the manual recommends.....
Is that the last item on his list?
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Despite popular opinion by non-bikers, motorcycles are not really a cheap mode of transportation.
Yup. Unless someone gets on a good run with a ninja 250 bought used with a new chain and tires....
Is that the last item on his list?
I imagine odds are likely leaning in that direction.
Just got mine used - returned from trip with mid 20's K. Like to see the longevity examples out there. Gonna need to keep this bike a while.
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so Lather has the most miles at 140000miles.
anybody else?
143,500 now. Anybody else? Am I the champ? And I have 3 other bikes I share my time with. :banana
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143,500 now. Anybody else? Am I the champ? And I have 3 other bikes I share my time with. :banana
Very similar readings, but mine's in km/h! You're the champ mate! ;D
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143,500 now. Anybody else? Am I the champ? And I have 3 other bikes I share my time with. :banana
good to know. keep those miles going, id like to do them same and more
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Hellbender,
There is no mystery as to what Kawasaki dealers do for each service. It is right in the manual. Assuming, of course, that they are actually DOING all of those things.
And yes, checking the valve clearances is quite a bit easier than actually pulling the cams and swopping out the shims. Checking is only a chore because of all of the ancillary bits that have to come off to expose the engine (easy now...). Pulling the cams is real mechanic stuff, or installing them is at least. My local dealer NEVER gets their grubby paws on mine.
Got the bike with a "recent" valve adjustment according to the seller. It had 53,000 miles and ran fine, so maybe Kawasaki in Houston did a great job. With no list of clearances, I could not verify that they were even measured. AND, with no map of the actual shim sizes, I wonder if they ever had the cams out. I checked them at about 80,000 miles, and replaced/juggled all of the exhausts. Every one was too tight or at least on the tight end of the tolerance. Every intake was within spec, so I left the intake cam in. Sometime this Fall, I will check again. We will be at 125,000-130,000 by then. I expect to have both cams out.
Adjusting the valves, along with most of the maintenance, is CHEAP if you do it yourself...
TIRES are a different story entirely.
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Adjusting the valves, along with most of the maintenance, is CHEAP if you do it yourself...
TIRES are a different story entirely.
It's one of those things I've never done. I wouldn't mind doing it but would definitely need some guidance...any suggestions? I would love to save the $900-$1100 it costs to have the shop do it! I love "tinkering" and working on the bike but performing that service on my own is above me at the moment.
Is there anything out there that explains how to work on the bike, any instruction videos or "How-To" videos or anything like that?
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It's one of those things I've never done. I wouldn't mind doing it but would definitely need some guidance...any suggestions? I would love to save the $900-$1100 it costs to have the shop do it! I love "tinkering" and working on the bike but performing that service on my own is above me at the moment.
Is there anything out there that explains how to work on the bike, any instruction videos or "How-To" videos or anything like that?
http://www.angelridevideos.com/concours.html (http://www.angelridevideos.com/concours.html)
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http://www.angelridevideos.com/concours.html (http://www.angelridevideos.com/concours.html)
There's a disclaimer, "FOR ENTERTAINMENT ONLY"...what's that all about? What kind of videos ARE those ?????
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Pretty good entertainment, of the technical variety, if you ask me. Very good vids.
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Pretty good entertainment, of the technical variety, if you ask me. Very good vids.
Good enough to get someone through a 15k mile service?
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Good enough to get someone through a 15k mile service?
Using only a hammer and pliers vicegrips!
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Good enough to get someone through a 15k mile service?
Yes. Well worth the money. They occasionally come up for sale here.
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Very thorough and straight forward presentation, with plenty of tips you won't find in the service manual. And a style that is not boring. I used them to do valve adjustment and throttle body sync with good success.
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I watched the video, was more intimidated before than during and after, not that bad, took my time with lots of breaks over a weekend including running to the dealer for shims, but for the money saved, well worth it. Following the service manual would of worked too.
At 40,000 for the first check, I did switch around and buy new shims, changed a lot only to get on the loose side so I could wait longer for next time.
I measured in thousands like most people do, maybe if I measured in millimeters like the specs say, they would probably all been in tolerance, but hey, while you have it all apart!