Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: katata1100 on October 02, 2011, 11:03:38 AM

Title: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: katata1100 on October 02, 2011, 11:03:38 AM: I ordered a Shad trunk from Murph and saw the shifter kit for sale. I thought pretty cheap, added it to the order (I think it was $21, don't remember).
My '11 just turned 5000 miles, I figured it couldn't hurt.
Took me about 20 minutes to install. Took it for a spin- wow! Before, the shifting would feel slightly off, don't know how to describe it. It didn't shift poorly to the point where I would think it needed service, just that I thought it shifted like it should. With
the bearings, it shifted much better, felt like brand new, the day I rode it from the dealership.I guess that plastic bushing (piece of Y%^U*!!!) is like shock absorbers-it slowly wears out and you don't realize how bad it is until you replace it.
I don't consider it an upgrade as it didn't make the bike shift better per se, it merely restored the shifting to the level it was at with 1 mile on the odo. I think this part is a must have and if you have over 5k miles on your bike with the plastic stock sleeve, spend $21 to see what you are missing. I think it a bargain to make the bike feel like new again.
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: BanditDude on October 02, 2011, 08:56:43 PM: I always felt that mine shifted poorly from the start. It worked well enough 90% of the time, but worked poorly enough to always be on my mind. I bought the kit at about 700 miles.

When installing the kit, the cheapness of the factory assembly was astounding. A plastic bushing?? Junk. Plain and simple.

To say that I haven't noticed any shifter problems in the last 3k miles (since installed) is the highest compliment I can give. It helped the bike shift like it should've from the factory.

Wayne
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: So Cal Joe on October 05, 2011, 08:15:24 AM: I only have 8500 miles on my c14 and tomorrow I'm leaving for 8 days on it, I never thought that it shifted bad, compared to the Gold Wing it is like a knife through butter. But for $21.00 I guess I'll try one when I get home. The only thing I did notice was I had to raise my foot kind of high to get it into the next gear but I adjusted the shift lever and now it's even better than before.
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: roadie on October 17, 2011, 01:50:52 PM: Installed the bearing shifter yesterday as well. I really don't notice any difference, however, am glad to have some solid bearings in there instead of the plastic bushing. Neat.
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: Spanky on October 17, 2011, 03:51:24 PM: Just got mine in the mail today. I will get it installed next week and try it out :D
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: darrell on October 17, 2011, 04:49:32 PM: I added this little farkle last week. Yesterday was my first ride with it installed.

I need to ease up on the mashing of the shift lever. This swap makes the shifting smooooooth.

-darrell
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: Reddogger on October 18, 2011, 09:33:30 AM: What's the installation like? Any pictures?
Thanks
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: Barry on October 18, 2011, 10:13:01 AM: Quote from: Reddogger on October 18, 2011, 09:33:30 AM
What's the installation like? Any pictures?
Thanks

I got no pics, but it's 5 minutes. I'd use a vice to press the bearings in. Worked like a champ for me.

Barry
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: mkorn on October 18, 2011, 10:24:34 AM: Murph's has a pdf on his site with lots of pics for the install. it was very simple.

http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/docs/Bearinged%20Up%20Shifter.pdf (http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/docs/Bearinged%20Up%20Shifter.pdf)

Good Luck
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: VirginiaJim on October 19, 2011, 08:54:43 AM: I just ordered it, so I will create another thread for the actual installation and pictures. I looked at Murph's and it looks straightforward to install.
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: dras on October 19, 2011, 10:26:05 AM: It's so easy a caveman could do it! ;)
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: VirginiaJim on October 19, 2011, 10:31:40 AM: Quote from: dras on October 19, 2011, 10:26:05 AM
It's so easy a caveman could do it! ;)

I'll find out this weekend.
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: Conrad on October 19, 2011, 10:38:28 AM: Quote from: dras on October 19, 2011, 10:26:05 AM
It's so easy a caveman could do it! ;)

Even a Virginian caveman. :D
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: VirginiaJim on October 19, 2011, 10:57:53 AM: I have been called a hairy ape before, but now, not so much.
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: Conrad on October 19, 2011, 11:43:55 AM: Quote from: VirginiaJim on October 19, 2011, 10:57:53 AM
I have been called a hairy ape before, but now, not so much.

I'm sure that your wife meant it in an affectionate way.
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: ZG on October 19, 2011, 01:30:58 PM: Quote from: Conrad on October 19, 2011, 11:43:55 AM
I'm sure that your wife meant it in an affectionate way.

:rotflmao:
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: VirginiaJim on October 19, 2011, 01:35:49 PM: What are you laughing at? >:( ;)
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: B.D.F. on October 19, 2011, 01:38:31 PM: Just remember the golden rule Jim, 'Don't force it, use a bigger hammer'. Everything goes together after a fashion.

Brian

Quote from: VirginiaJim on October 19, 2011, 08:54:43 AM
I just ordered it, so I will create another thread for the actual installation and pictures. I looked at Murph's and it looks straightforward to install.
Title: Re: Murphs shifter bearing
Post by: VirginiaJim on October 19, 2011, 01:53:04 PM: Thanks. Since I can't ride it, at least I can put stuff on it. Be a nice project for me and my grandson.