Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Poseidon on April 26, 2018, 04:37:23 PM
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My Angel GT’s arrived today. I still have some miles to ride before I’m going to need them, but I had noticed that the stock B-stones are getting a little thin on tread already. At least on the rear anyway. I saw where Dennis Kirk had a tire sale going on, so I ordered a full set. Ordering front and rear, you get a $50 rebate bringing the total price down to around $300 including the balance beads I ordered and I got free shipping on all of it. I figure I still have about 1000 - 1500 miles left on the stock rear. At that point, I’ll head over to my buddies house to use his NoMar tire changer and swap out both front and rear tires. :thumbs:
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Go ahead and swap. If they're that far gone tread will show before you know it.
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They are not too far gone yet. 2800 miles and the middle tread is right at the wear bars. I guess I’ve been enjoying the acceleration a little too much!
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If they are oem Crapstones they were born too far gone.
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When you feel the Angels in the twisties you will definitely say "Why did I wait? These Angels are freaking awesome!" Or something close to that. I love my Angel GT-A's.
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If they are oem Crapstones they were born too far gone.
If that is the case, I'm going to absolutely love the Angel GT's. I have had no complaints with the stock Bridgestone's other than how fast they are wearing.
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The rear 021 Crapstone is not the problem other that it wears too quickly- it's the front Crapstone that is 'wooden' and will wash out and wobble in high speed sweepers-very dangerous to new riders of this bike. You will have an epiphany with the Angels or PR4s if you ride the way most of us do.
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Come by my pad and I’ll change ‘em out for you, Poseidon. I need the practice. It’s not that far a ride to Cali!
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Come by my pad and I’ll change ‘em out for you, Poseidon. I need the practice. It’s not that far a ride to Cali!
Just toss the tire changer in the back of your truck and bring it over. I’ll wait for you to get here. Should I go ahead and pull the wheels off now so they are ready when you get here?
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The rear 021 Crapstone is not the problem other that it wears too quickly- it's the front Crapstone that is 'wooden' and will wash out and wobble in high speed sweepers-very dangerous to new riders of this bike. You will have an epiphany with the Angels or PR4s if you ride the way most of us do.
I think the C14 handles beautifully, but you have to remember my point of reference. I have never owned a sport bike. I have an M109R with a 280 rear tire and a 160 rear tire mounted backwards on the front. My other bike is a Victory Magnum with a 21” wheel on front. I’m a pretty aggressive rider in the twisty mountain roads regardless which bike I’m riding. None of the tires on any of my bikes have chicken strips, including the Concours, but I still haven’t found the peg feelers on the Concours yet. Looking at the wear on the tires, I had to have been close a few times tho.
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Come by my pad and I’ll change ‘em out for you, Poseidon. I need the practice. It’s not that far a ride to Cali!
Are you close to getting here yet? Wheels are off and ready for you!
Hahahaha!
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I think the C14 handles beautifully, but you have to remember my point of reference. I have never owned a sport bike. I have an M109R with a 280 rear tire and a 160 rear tire mounted backwards on the front. My other bike is a Victory Magnum with a 21” wheel on front. I’m a pretty aggressive rider in the twisty mountain roads regardless which bike I’m riding. None of the tires on any of my bikes have chicken strips, including the Concours, but I still haven’t found the peg feelers on the Concours yet. Looking at the wear on the tires, I had to have been close a few times tho.
Well I guess the Crapstone 021's and the seat are now fixed- who'd a thunk it?
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I think the C14 handles beautifully, but you have to remember my point of reference. I have never owned a sport bike.
You are in for a big surprise when you:
1) Get good tires, like PR4GT or Angels
2) Reflash the ECU.
I can certainly understand waiting for both, however. Unless you are used to fast bikes, you won't appreciate the reflashing as much until you are used to what the C14 will do. And tires + mounting is quite expensive.... so getting what you can out of the stock isn't insane. The stock Bridgestones are not completely horrible, at least not at first. But once they wear about half way, they perform horribly. While it is true that just about ANY *new* tire set will feel so much better, what I notice about the PR3GT/4GT is not just that they feel better in general, but that they also seem to feel about the same almost through their entire life (which is amazing).
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You are in for a big surprise when you:
1) Get good tires, like PR4GT or Angels
2) Reflash the ECU.
I can certainly understand waiting for both, however. Unless you are used to fast bikes, you won't appreciate the reflashing as much until you are used to what the C14 will do. And tires + mounting is quite expensive.... so getting what you can out of the stock isn't insane. The stock Bridgestones are not completely horrible, at least not at first. But once they wear about half way, they perform horribly. While it is true that just about ANY *new* tire set will feel so much better, what I notice about the PR3GT/4GT is not just that they feel better in general, but that they also seem to feel about the same almost through their entire life (which is amazing).
I already have the Angel GTs here at the house ready to go when needed. I'll put a few more miles on the stock tires before I switch them out. If I reflash the ECU, it won't be until winter. I like having options when I go out to the garage. I rode the Magnum today. I'm not sure if I'll ride the Concours or the Magnum again tomorrow. There is a charity ride I'm planning to go on with some friends in the morning. My air ride is leaking on the M109. I know where the leak is, I just haven't taken the time to tear into it to fix it yet, so I won't be riding it tomorrow.
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Well I guess the Crapstone 021's and the seat are now fixed- who'd a thunk it?
The stock tires may still be just as bad as you remember them being. Due to the great handling of the Concours, compared to what I'm use to, I just don't see them as being that bad. Maybe that will change once I see how good the Angel GTs are.
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Are you close to getting here yet? Wheels are off and ready for you!
Hahahaha!
🎶On the road again...🎶
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🎶On the road again...🎶
If you are riding with Willie, this trip could take a while!!! :chugbeer:
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If they are oem Crapstones they were born too far gone.
Amen. Hated those tires and got rid of them with only 1,000 miles on them.
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If you are riding with Willie, this trip could take a while!!! :chugbeer:
https://youtu.be/wYwb-O27qv0
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https://youtu.be/wYwb-O27qv0
That is what I was aluding to. Beer was the closest thing I could find in the smiley’s tho.
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That is what I was aluding to. Beer was the closest thing I could find in the smiley’s tho.
{off topic} I’m not a fan of country music (I don’t mind it), but Toby K. seems like the coolest guy on the planet.
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Well, at 3463 miles the tread was gone in the front and rear Bridgestones. I just got back from a week long trip to Asheville, NC. I changed the tires over to the Angel GTs right before I left. I scrubbed them in on the BRP on my way up to Little Switzerland, NC. I love riding the loop around town. 226A - The Diamondback. OMG what a difference those tires made in the handling!!! For all of you that recommended them, Thank You!
After that, we rode down 221 to 70, then jumped on Route 80 (The Devils Whip) and rode it back up to the BRP. Really fun route! Some of those hairpin curves are insane! You turn to look thru the curve, then realize, "oh, the road on the other side of the curve is way up there! I swear you climb the equivalent of several stories while going around a (suggested) 15mph 180 degree curve. One thing I learned on this trip... Any road you find with this sign (see pic below) is going to be an awesome ride!!!
(https://www.m109riders.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=378462&d=1529980180)
For anyone not familiar with the Devils Whip, check this out.
(https://www.m109riders.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=378468&d=1529980180)
Had to ride the Rattler while I was there too.
(https://www.m109riders.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=378558&d=1530053046)
Here is a map of the Rattler
(https://www.m109riders.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=378642&d=1530058288)
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Now... While we were riding the Rattler, a rabbit decided right when I got up to where he was at doing about 70mph, would be the perfect time to cross the road! He didn't make it! Thump - thump under my front tire! I looked in the mirrors, but he never appeared behind me. We turned off on Route 63 about a mile up the road. A friend I was riding with rode up beside me honking and got me to stop. When I did, this is what I found. (see picture below) Anyone need a medium well lucky (or make that unlucky) rabbits foot? Hahaha! His foot was wedged between the head pipes, and I had been dragging his head for the last mile or so before we turned off.
(https://www.m109riders.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=378564&d=1530053327)
Only damage I have found was to the black plastic piece that attaches to the lower part of the front fender just in front of the reflector in the picture above. It is loose and I can't get it to snap back in place. I don't see where any of the tabs broke off. I'll probably just order a new one. That should make it an easy fix... hopefully!
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So... am I the only rabbit slayer on here? Has anyone else had a similar experience?
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Well, I did have a terrible experience with the almost limitless power of KiPass...... but I am not a rabbit. The C-14 that got me was not even moving.
Kirby
So... am I the only rabbit slayer on here? Has anyone else had a similar experience?
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So... am I the only rabbit slayer on here? Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Squirrels, birds, and snakes. None of the critters were kind enough to wedge themselves in the exhaust and pre-cook themselves tho. It could have been worse I imagine. Having that furry body stuck between the fender and tire...
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Squirrels, birds, and snakes. None of the critters were kind enough to wedge themselves in the exhaust and pre-cook themselves tho. It could have been worse I imagine. Having that furry body stuck between the fender and tire...
Hahaha! That definitely would have been worse! ...and a lot bigger bloody mess on my bike!
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Hit this guy doing about 80. Got stuck in the crash bar.
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Hit this guy doing about 80. Got stuck in the crash bar.
Glad you posted the second pic. Would have had no idea what it was other than white feathers.