Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Traxom on January 16, 2021, 12:26:08 AM
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Hey all. I'm crossing over from the bagger v twin cruisers to the sport touring. My last bike was a 2018 Indian Chieftain. I've found a good deal on a 2014 Concours14 with 5k miles on it for 9500.00. My question is, has there been enough changes to the bike overall from 2014 -present to warrant looking into a newer one? I read some reviews talking about the link braking being tad strong on the front end? Was this corrected in later years? Is the 2014 pretty much the same bike as say a 2016 then compared to 2020. Just trying to make the best decision on which year.
Thanks in advance.
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Interestingly I've gone the reverse route and have been an Indian owner since 2017. Why did you switch from Indian?
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I your looking at the Red 2014, i think that's the best color they ever made.
That color was only offered in 2014. {Same color as my 2014 so I might be just a little predigest}
The 2014 is not a lot different than the 2016 and newer.
Biggest improvement {in later years} was an improvement in how the ABS brakes operated.
{Correction; had an improvement on how the Linked brakes operate}
I'm not sure what year that change was done...
They take a little getting used to, but work well.
Newer Connies changed the gear ratio's a bit, and the plastic.
Do some price checking.
The current bike market has pushed the prices down a lot. I'm not sure if $9500 is the best you can do.
Ride safe, Ted
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I've found a good deal on a 2014 Concours14 with 5k miles on it for 9500.00. My question is, has there been enough changes to the bike overall from 2014 -present to warrant looking into a newer one?
Not really. They are all fairly minor.
I read some reviews talking about the link braking being tad strong on the front end? Was this corrected in later years?
Yes, but for the vast majority of people, it wasn't/isn't an issue. The tweak to the linked braking and slightly shorter 1st gear are the only two meaningful changes. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_1400GTR
Is the 2014 pretty much the same bike as say a 2016 then compared to 2020. Just trying to make the best decision on which year.
2008-2009 are identical (gen 1). 2010-2014 are all essentially identical (gen 2). Although the 2010 could be had without ABS/linking. The 2015-2021 are all identical (gen 2.1, perhaps).
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The 2014 is not a lot different than the 2016 and newer.
2015 and newer
Biggest improvement {in later years} was an improvement in how the ABS brakes operated.
ABS is the same, as far as I am aware. Just the linking braking was tweaked in 2015 (to lower the linking amount).
Newer Connies changed the gear ratio's a bit, and the plastic.
Only 1st gear, in 2015+. No plastics changes in 2010+ (that I am aware of).
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ABS is the same, as far as I am aware. Just the linking braking was tweaked in 2015 (to lower the linking amount)............which is a huge improvement on the earlier ones.
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(to lower the linking amount)[/i]............which is a huge improvement on the earlier ones.
I agree it is a big improvement, but only to those for whom it matters. Which, I believe, are very low number of people. So it has a overall very-low impact as an improvement. Compared to, say, something like if they automatically dismissed the "screen takeover" when a notification occurs (low fuel, etc).
I bet if we checked the "average" owner, most never even bothered to change the linking from "High" (the default) to "Low", something that has been available from the start. At least that is a persistent setting.
Besides, if Kawasaki really wanted to improve the system, they would have just changed it from "High/Low" to "Low/Off" instead of "Medium/Lower" (or whatever). I suspect this would be possible with a simple software patch, although I am not sure (the way it is designed, it might not be possible for an "off" without a mechanical change, it seems surprisingly little information is available about such things).
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My Indian's brakes aren't linked. They did that for performance....LOL.
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Thanks all for the feedback. I changed from Indian as the forward foot positioning on long trips was not comfortable on the tailbone even after investing 500 in a custom seat. After test driving the Connie and FJR I found the controls to place me even more upright and no slouch in sitting position. Loved the Indian and the style though.
I've been battling back and forth over C14 vs FJR and for the price the C14 is winning out. Plus, there are a lot more used C14s for sale in my area than FJR's (Hopefully just upgrading to newer Connie's...hahaha).
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And correct on the Indian braking. The way they are designed allows for great threshold breaking...only had to try it in practice scenerios luckily.
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Good luck on your hunt!
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I've been battling back and forth over C14 vs FJR and for the price the C14 is winning out.
And winning on power, reliability, and warranty, too :)
If you can get a C14 which is still covered by a factory original or extended warranty, it can be extended again by you, which is really nice (up to 9 years total coverage).
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IMHO $9500 is not a good deal on a 2014, I have seen adds for 2016-2019 in that price range.
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I agree it is a big improvement, but only to those for whom it matters. Which, I believe, are very low number of people. So it has a overall very-low impact as an improvement. Compared to, say, something like if they automatically dismissed the "screen takeover" when a notification occurs (low fuel, etc).
I bet if we checked the "average" owner, most never even bothered to change the linking from "High" (the default) to "Low", something that has been available from the start. At least that is a persistent setting.
Besides, if Kawasaki really wanted to improve the system, they would have just unlinked the brakes to be like the 2008 and 2009 models. (or whatever). I suspect this would be possible with a simple software patch, although I am not sure (the way it is designed, it might not be possible for an "off" without a mechanical change, it seems surprisingly little information is available about such things).
fixt it for you. :finger_fing11:
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fixt it for you. :finger_fing11:
Well, no :)
There is value/purpose in brake linking. But there is also value/purpose in NOT linking. I think there should have been an option to turn it off (a persistent one). Then it would be a 100% win-win situation for everyone. Alas, it was never meant to be.
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Hey all. I'm crossing over from the bagger v twin cruisers to the sport touring. My last bike was a 2018 Indian Chieftain. I've found a good deal on a 2014 Concours14 with 5k miles on it for 9500.00. My question is, has there been enough changes to the bike overall from 2014 -present to warrant looking into a newer one? I read some reviews talking about the link braking being tad strong on the front end? Was this corrected in later years? Is the 2014 pretty much the same bike as say a 2016 then compared to 2020. Just trying to make the best decision on which year.
Thanks in advance.
Keep looking. $9500 is way too much. The only way I would give that much is with major suspension upgrades ie fork cartridges and penske shock. Real cruise. Different windshield. Different seat. Recent valve adjustment and throttle body sync. Be patient and you can find some hot deals. Try using search tempest to search multiple craigslist sites. HTH
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Well, no :)
There is value/purpose in brake linking. But there is also value/purpose in NOT linking. I think there should have been an option to turn it off (a persistent one). Then it would be a 100% win-win situation for everyone. Alas, it was never meant to be.
I have never found any value to linking the brakes. I had one bike with linked brakes, and though it wasn't horrible, I still never found the need. It was a 1986 Aspencade though, so it was a different kind of bike. For me, linking does nothing I don't already do, use both brakes. What it cannot do that I do in some cases, is use the front brake only. I see absolutely no benefit from having them linked, except as a crutch for people who have not grasped the concept that there are two levers for the brakes, and I seriously doubt there are any here with that malady.
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I read there are different modes, or settings, on the brakes of the newer models. If so, did this fix anything to allow less front brake to be applied and does it help?
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I read there are different modes, or settings, on the brakes of the newer models. If so, did this fix anything to allow less front brake to be applied and does it help?
There are no new modes. All linked systems have the same two settings- high and low. The 2015+ C14 had a tweak done to supposedly lower the amount of linking further. As far as I am aware, nobody knows (outside of Kawasaki engineers) exactly what this tweak was- whether it affects both modes or by how much or under what conditions. I suspect it is just a small percent decrease across the board with no changes in other considerations, but that is just a guess.
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I test rode a 2017 (the last year the C14 was available new here) and the linked brakes were better than the 10-15 models, but still intrusive enough that I wouldn't feel comfy if I were on a track day or pushing hard in the twisties. I'm sure they will help someone who is used to using mostly the back brake but I learned to ride on MX bikes and on those the back brake is mostly useless except for settling the bike down or tightening your line mid-corner. If they could be completely disabled, I might upgrade, but otherwise I'm sticking with my 08 model.
I guess you will need to test ride a 10-15 model and a 16-21 model and see if you can tell the difference. If you can't then it doesn't matter.
If you don't like the linked brakes, your only option is the 08-09 models or a different bike.
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I think the gen2 gen3 years are 10-14 and 15-21 respectively.
Anyhow I'd be interested in other opinions on the revised linked braking on the 15+ vs the 14 and older. I'm still on an 08 and thinking about going to a newer one mostly for the improved heat management. Wondering if it's worth the extra $$ for the 2015 and up bike.
Thanks
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Anyhow I'd be interested in other opinions on the revised linked braking on the 15+ vs the 14 and older. I'm still on an 08 and thinking about going to a newer one mostly for the improved heat management. Wondering if it's worth the extra $$ for the 2015 and up bike.
Most of the extra $$ for the gen2.1 vs gen2 will just be because it is a newer model year. Even if you are comparing two new ones (unsold old new bikes vs. current year). I expect it will be impossible to find a new gen 2 (2010-2014) at this point, since those are now at least 7 years old (by model year) and dealers would have become pretty desperate to unload them long ago. Not sure though, since I hadn't shopped. So really, it sounds like you are talking used. At that point, the warranty has been ticking, and that does (to a lot of people) matter quite a bit. Plus you then have to worry about condition, modifications someone did, how it was maintained or treated, etc. Gets complicated pretty quickly.
The only meaning diff between < 2015 and 2015+ is the reduced linking. If that might matter to you, then you have to figure out how much it matters. I expect for most people, it won't matter at all, especially compared to price, color, condition, warranty status, and availability.
As for the ACTUAL difference in linking- we have no real technical data (quantitative), just a marketing blurb. So any information you do get will just be subjective "impressions". In which case you have to factor in placebo effects, who is comparing, bias, exactly what they are observing or comparing to, and if there are other confounds- like how old a bike they were using, did they test both modes, were "test" conditions identical, was anything physically wrong with the comparison bike, etc. And you won't find a double-blind test, for sure (not even a single-blind test).
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I have a 2014, and found (because of the Linking) the change when you applied the second brake, was too sudden.
ie; wasn't a smooth transition when you added the rear brake while using the front.
I solved the problem by not using the rear brake at all.
(Because of the Linking) Using "only" the front works great!
But it does take a bit to teach yourself to not use the rear brake...
Ride safe, Ted
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Thanks guys for the replies. Yes I was thinking used Max. I'll have to test ride the earlier ones to see if the linked braking bothers me. Ted makes a interesting suggestion in that just the front lever can be used, maybe adjusting the feel of that with the two modes. I did find an online review of a 2015 that the test rider mentioned it was much improved over the previous C14 he tested. I'll really have to try them for myself but since the subject came up I thought I'd see if anyone else had experience with both.
Actually my 93 CBR1000F had a hydro-mechanical linked braking system. It worked pretty well and wasn't too intrusive. Tricky bleeding procedure though.
thanks
Pete
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I'll have to test ride the earlier ones to see if the linked braking bothers me.
That's the only way to know. Just make sure you set them to the low mode on each bike.
Ted makes a interesting suggestion in that just the front lever can be used
I almost never use the rear brake pedal.