Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: DkKnight on July 28, 2011, 04:46:22 PM

Title: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: DkKnight on July 28, 2011, 04:46:22 PM
Been lurking for a while - even after I got my V-Strom a couple of years ago, still kept my eye on the C14, but was turned off by the heat issues for me coming off a 95 GPZ1100 which was a roaster in the summer.
Well today I got mine - 2011 Atomic Silver ABS.

(http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp539%3B9%3Enu%3D3347%3E%3B48%3E362%3EWSNRCG%3D36%3A5968477336nu0mrj)

(http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp53996%3Enu%3D3347%3E%3B48%3E362%3EWSNRCG%3D36%3A5965658336nu0mrj)

Demo with 300 miles - this is my 1st new (well damn near) bike, I got it from Ellicott City Motorsports here in MD, great folks and they really hooked me up with 1st service, bag liners and a helmet.
I traded in my 2002 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 and they gave me a more than fair price, which is what really pulled me back from a BMW R1200RT and a Ducati Multi 1200 that I had been looking at also, along with service cost and dealer network.
Sales rep said that he sold his other C14 that day earlier - anybody on here ??

Once I got home after about 100 miles of riding.

(http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp539%3A%3A%3Enu%3D3347%3E%3B48%3E362%3EWSNRCG%3D36%3A595%3C27%3B336nu0mrj)

Bike is great - just like I remembered from my demo ride (on this exact one about a month ago), nice easy handling, wind protection top notch, so smooth, but can't wind the motor out yet, very tempting though.
Gonna keep mechanically stock till spring, got to get a rack from Phil from my E55, and gotta wire in my Gerbing hookup.
Will be used as a daily rider for commuting, weekend and longer tours some 2 up - anything I should know or be looking out for getting started with this bike??
Later,

Paul in MD
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: IRULE on July 28, 2011, 07:02:42 PM
SWEET!  Welcome to the club!
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: ZG on July 28, 2011, 07:23:53 PM
Congrats and welcome Paul!  :chugbeer:
 
 
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: okxd45 on July 28, 2011, 07:27:44 PM
Welcome sir...........she's purty!
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: JetJock on July 28, 2011, 07:39:03 PM
Welcome and nice ride. We both got our Connie's the same way, as I bought my 2010 "used" with all of 800 miles on it from a dealer. Got the 600 mile checkup for free --- hope your dealer offered the same.
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: maxtog on July 28, 2011, 07:40:33 PM
Been lurking for a while - even after I got my V-Strom a couple of years ago, still kept my eye on the C14, but was turned off by the heat issues for me coming off a 95 GPZ1100 which was a roaster in the summer.
Well today I got mine - 2011 Atomic Silver ABS.

Yay!!! Congrats!!!  Plus the best and fastest color too!  :)
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: DkKnight on July 28, 2011, 08:31:49 PM
Welcome and nice ride. We both got our Connie's the same way, as I bought my 2010 "used" with all of 800 miles on it from a dealer. Got the 600 mile checkup for free --- hope your dealer offered the same.

Yep - they will do the 600 mile service and I also got the bag liners and a helmet, not a bad deal.
Thanks for the welcomes - I do feel that the Silver is the fastest color, but can't confirm for about another 400 miles.  :P

Paul in MD
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: stevewfl on July 28, 2011, 09:27:31 PM
Nice!  Congrats!
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: IRULE on July 28, 2011, 09:35:07 PM
Yep - they will do the 600 mile service and I also got the bag liners and a helmet, not a bad deal.
Thanks for the welcomes - I do feel that the Silver is the fastest color, but can't confirm for about another 400 miles.  :P

Paul in MD

Holly cow, he didn't just start talking about color again!  For the last time, BLACK is the FASTEST MOFO color!!!     ;D
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: katata1100 on July 28, 2011, 10:42:49 PM
3EWSNRCG%3D36%3A5968477336nu0mrj[/img]

Will be used as a daily rider for commuting, weekend and longer tours some 2 up - anything I should know or be looking out for getting started with this bike??
Later,

Paul in MD

Things to look for? Check out the little 4mm bolts on the sides of the fairing, mine were real loose. Also, wipe your finger on the painted plastic, on my '11, it felt rough, not smooth like the paint on the tank. If it is rough, run some detailer clay on it, that did the trick for me.
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: 556ALPHA on July 29, 2011, 02:43:52 PM
Congrats!  Great looking bike.
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: Ron Dawg on July 29, 2011, 04:57:57 PM
Ohhh mannn! That's nice!!! And I was just thinking on the way home what a nice old bike my 2000 is. But NO!!!!!! :'(

Now I've got a serious dose of "bike want" and I just wrote some big a** checks for my two "about to return to college kids" that would've half paid for that. 3...more...years....(and I can get a nice used 2011!) ;D

However, I can now long specifically and not in just general terms. Seriously nice bike! Well done.
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: Flathead on July 29, 2011, 05:04:31 PM
Don't you just love that "New Bike Smell"  ;D
Congrats and welcome aboard!
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: DkKnight on July 29, 2011, 05:12:20 PM
Don't you just love that "New Bike Smell"  ;D
Congrats and welcome aboard!

Funny - it does have the new bike smell, my wife mentioned that last night, this is my 1st ever new from the dealership bike.

Ron, I had the new bike longing for a while - it never went away when I got the V-Strom.
It is done for a number of years now, not even a K1600GT can get me going  ;D

Paul in MD
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: Ron Dawg on July 29, 2011, 07:31:56 PM
Oh well, went out and floated around in the pool, had a few beers. All better now. (not)  ;)
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: Gradall on July 30, 2011, 02:20:37 AM
Did ellicott city work with you on the price of the bike? I had called and asked for a quote and pretty much got msrp.
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: C1xRider on July 30, 2011, 09:10:36 AM
Welcome, and congrats on the new ride.

The one thing you will want to watch most of all is the speedometer.  These things love to go ... fast!   ;D

Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: Scaffolder on July 30, 2011, 09:42:32 AM
Congrats---So hard not to want that color. I like the Blue, but love that silver.
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: Deathwish on July 30, 2011, 11:07:00 AM
Been lurking for a while - even after I got my V-Strom a couple of years ago, still kept my eye on the C14, but was turned off by the heat issues for me coming off a 95 GPZ1100 which was a roaster in the summer.

Welcome.
I've owned a total of 3 95 GPZ1100s. Still one of my favorite bikes. Never encountered any heat issues with it, but can't say the same for my 09 Concours. Got that all sorted out now and am enjoying the comfort and power.
Were you a member of the GPZ1100 board?

Dave
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: Rhino on July 30, 2011, 12:55:50 PM
Congrats! It only gets better when the break-in is over!
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: CADMAN97 on July 30, 2011, 03:40:25 PM
Congrats & Welcome! She looks good!

Yeah, its tough keepin the RPM's in check the first 600 isn't it ;D
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: tthompsr on July 30, 2011, 04:46:35 PM
Congrats, She sure is Purrty! ;)
Title: Re: Hey All - New 2011
Post by: DkKnight on July 30, 2011, 10:54:14 PM
Did ellicott city work with you on the price of the bike? I had called and asked for a quote and pretty much got msrp.

Yeah they did - especially since it was a demo with 300 miles on it.

Dave, I was on the GPZ1100 Board - you ran it if I remember correctly right ??
I loved my GPZ - ran good, I had the engine lower end rebuilt once because of an oil leak, but was comformtable and fast, alot like this bike will be only so much more.

Paul E.