Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: cbar1961 on January 08, 2012, 10:10:00 AM

Title: starting
Post by: cbar1961 on January 08, 2012, 10:10:00 AM
just bought a 2009 concours 14 and started yesterday.  No manual so started without a key and not sure if thats how you should always do it.  Question is what prevents others from starting and stealing and now i have a red light flashing on tach area.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: Conrad on January 08, 2012, 10:43:16 AM
What do you mean that you started it without a key? Is the large stove knob key not in the ignition? Do you have at least one fob?

If you don't have a fob and you just walked up to the bike and pressed the stove knob key in to start the bike, that means that the fob is somewhere ON the bike. You cannot start the bike without a fob being near the bike somewhere.

The red flashing LED is normal, it's the immobilizer. The LED will flash for ~24 hours after the bike has been shut down. It's still working after the LED stops flashing though.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: Conrad on January 08, 2012, 10:46:11 AM
You can download a manual here.

http://www.kawasaki.com/DefaultFrame.aspx?strContentURL=/Site/VIVehicleInformation/VItechpubs.asp?intCatalogID%3d2%26CatalogTypeID%3d4%26ProductTypeID%3d8%26ModelMarketingID%3d453%26ModelCode%3dZG1400A9F%26ModelYear%3d2009%26SHOWVEHTABS%3d1 (http://www.kawasaki.com/DefaultFrame.aspx?strContentURL=/Site/VIVehicleInformation/VItechpubs.asp?intCatalogID%3d2%26CatalogTypeID%3d4%26ProductTypeID%3d8%26ModelMarketingID%3d453%26ModelCode%3dZG1400A9F%26ModelYear%3d2009%26SHOWVEHTABS%3d1)
Title: Re: starting
Post by: cbar1961 on January 08, 2012, 11:14:03 AM
thanks my older bmw is just turn the key and go so this is new.   Also my flashers are on permanently when I start the bike, is this normal and how do i get my turn signals.  I have ordered a manual and no I'm not green at bikes.  Just a old school guy thats trying to learn  the new technologies. 
Title: Re: starting
Post by: Pokey on January 08, 2012, 05:03:13 PM
So basically you bought a C14 without knowing anything about it at all? :o
Title: Re: starting
Post by: roland on January 08, 2012, 06:29:52 PM
 :yikes: Nothing like a good deal  :-X
Title: Re: starting
Post by: ZG on January 08, 2012, 07:14:44 PM
So basically you bought a C14 without knowing anything about it at all? :o

 :o
Title: Re: starting
Post by: Conrad on January 09, 2012, 04:40:59 AM
thanks my older bmw is just turn the key and go so this is new.   Also my flashers are on permanently when I start the bike, is this normal and how do i get my turn signals.  I have ordered a manual and no I'm not green at bikes.  Just a old school guy thats trying to learn  the new technologies.

Did you see my questions? My link to the owner's manual?

No, the 'permanent' flashers aren't normal. Is the hazard light switch turned on?
Title: Re: starting
Post by: VirginiaJim on January 09, 2012, 04:55:58 AM
Oh my...
Title: Re: starting
Post by: Son of Pappy on January 09, 2012, 08:17:34 AM
Char, where ya at?  I'd almost bet there is som COGger somewhere nearby that would be willing to help out.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: VirginiaJim on January 09, 2012, 10:14:19 AM
Char, where ya at?  I'd almost bet there is som COGger somewhere nearby that would be willing to help out.

Char be a fish....  Possible Cbar you be speaking to?
Title: Re: starting
Post by: Son of Pappy on January 09, 2012, 10:47:36 AM
Char be a fish....  Possible Cbar you be speaking to?
Yep, between Steve and ZG I'm going blind 8)
Title: Re: starting
Post by: VirginiaJim on January 09, 2012, 10:54:03 AM
Understandable...
Title: Re: starting
Post by: ZG on January 09, 2012, 11:11:56 AM
Yep, between Steve and ZG I'm going blind 8)

 :grouphug:
Title: Re: starting
Post by: cbar1961 on January 09, 2012, 11:52:15 AM
I have ordered a manual and no I did some research on the contour but that would have not helped me with my question.  I will check out the flasher situation.  Its winter so I'm not able to ride anyway just trying to aquaint myself with the bike
Title: Re: starting
Post by: VirginiaJim on January 09, 2012, 11:56:42 AM
The flasher switch is just above the starting button on the right handlebar.  There's a triangle to the left and a red dot to the right.  It's a mechanical switch so if it was left on, the flashers would be on flash all the time.  Make sure the switch is toward the right under the red dot.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: Conrad on January 09, 2012, 12:51:36 PM
I have ordered a manual and no I did some research on the contour but that would have not helped me with my question.  I will check out the flasher situation.  Its winter so I'm not able to ride anyway just trying to aquaint myself with the bike

Contour?     
Title: Re: starting
Post by: Conrad on January 09, 2012, 12:52:48 PM
The flasher switch is just above the starting button on the right handlebar.  There's a triangle to the left and a red dot to the right.  It's a mechanical switch so if it was left on, the flashers would be on flash all the time.  Make sure the switch is toward the right under the red dot.

Not all the time, only with the ignition turned on.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: VirginiaJim on January 09, 2012, 01:26:26 PM
Well, obviously..
Title: Re: starting
Post by: Conrad on January 09, 2012, 01:36:03 PM
Well, obviously..

So tell me Sparky. Why do our cars/trucks hazard flashers work with the ignition off but the bike has to have the ignition on? So if the bike breaks down on the side of the road you have to leave the ignition on to have the flashers flashing? That's dumb.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: VirginiaJim on January 09, 2012, 01:44:54 PM
Do I resemble a Kwak engineer?  Good question, though.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: lt1 on January 09, 2012, 02:04:03 PM
So tell me Sparky. Why do our cars/trucks hazard flashers work with the ignition off but the bike has to have the ignition on? So if the bike breaks down on the side of the road you have to leave the ignition on to have the flashers flashing? That's dumb.

I agree that it is dumb, but I think I understand "why".  The mfg's apparently think that vandals/thugs would come up and turn on the flashers of unattended bikes just to run the batteries dead.  It would be easy enough to have a "flasher" setting on the ignition, just as lots of bikes have a Park or Accessory setting.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: VirginiaJim on January 09, 2012, 02:42:37 PM
I don't think the Vandals ever made it over here, but they played heck in Europe and with the Romans in particular.  Thugs were more in India than here.  Nasty crowd they were.  All in all, glad I'm in North AM.  I guess it does make sense when you think about it, though.  Making it only work with the ignition on.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: Conrad on January 09, 2012, 02:58:53 PM
No, it doesn't make sense to have the hazards work only with the ignition on. What does make sense is what lt1 said, have a position on the ignition switch that lets you turn the hazards on without the ignition being on.

If your bike is dissabled on the side of the road and you have to leave it, you'd want to be able to turn the flashers on without leaving the ingition on right?
Title: Re: starting
Post by: VirginiaJim on January 09, 2012, 03:38:19 PM
Maybe?
Title: Re: starting
Post by: gPink on January 09, 2012, 03:51:20 PM

 :grouphug:
^^^^^That'll make you go blind.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: PH14 on January 09, 2012, 03:55:16 PM
No, it doesn't make sense to have the hazards work only with the ignition on. What does make sense is what lt1 said, have a position on the ignition switch that lets you turn the hazards on without the ignition being on.

If your bike is dissabled on the side of the road and you have to leave it, you'd want to be able to turn the flashers on without leaving the ingition on right?

Yeah that has always bugged me. I have stopped along the side of the road and hate the fact the flashers go off when you shut off the ignition. That was an odd oversight on the part of Kawasaki.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: JerBear on January 09, 2012, 06:56:57 PM
This kind of reminds me of the first trip I had on my Connie.  The Guy brought it to town and told me to go on a nice long test drive and bring it back in an hour or so.  He was no dummy, knew after I rode it that long I'd buy it but I'm still wondering why he sold it, for a Harley :o. Anyway he told me about the controls and shift pattern and a few other things and off I went...... Stopped at a friends house to show him and see what he thought and could not figure out how to start it again.  I had the fob but didn't know to push down before turning and was 20 miles from home and a little nervous that I had broke the thing :-[ anyway I tried a few things and figured it out soon enough and the rest is history.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: B.D.F. on January 09, 2012, 08:50:33 PM
I do not think it was an oversight, I believe the mfg. just did not want to sink enough money into the bike (money that we all would have had to spend as well) to 'do the right thing'. Allowing the flashers to be turned on is a mistake and would result in accidental usage and occasionally non- owners turning them on as Clyde pointed out. I think the better way to set it up would be such that the ign. switch had to be 'ON' to turn the hazard flashers on, but once on the ign. could be turned off and the flashers would STAY on. It would take a couple of interlocking relays and additional circuitry to make it work that way though and they would probably still occasionally be left on by accident.... at which point the owner (victim) would say 'Why did they allow the flashers to stay on when the key is turned off?'   ;)

Brian

Yeah that has always bugged me. I have stopped along the side of the road and hate the fact the flashers go off when you shut off the ignition. That was an odd oversight on the part of Kawasaki.
Title: Re: starting
Post by: PH14 on January 09, 2012, 09:37:44 PM
I do not think it was an oversight, I believe the mfg. just did not want to sink enough money into the bike (money that we all would have had to spend as well) to 'do the right thing'. Allowing the flashers to be turned on is a mistake and would result in accidental usage and occasionally non- owners turning them on as Clyde pointed out. I think the better way to set it up would be such that the ign. switch had to be 'ON' to turn the hazard flashers on, but once on the ign. could be turned off and the flashers would STAY on. It would take a couple of interlocking relays and additional circuitry to make it work that way though and they would probably still occasionally be left on by accident.... at which point the owner (victim) would say 'Why did they allow the flashers to stay on when the key is turned off?'   ;)

Brian

You mean people do stupid things on accident Brian?  :o
Title: Re: starting
Post by: AZ-ZG on January 09, 2012, 11:59:06 PM
So, enjoy learning your new bike, cbar 1961!!  The Concours14 ain't as complicated as some would make it seem. 38k in two years. Reliable, I'd say!     Welcome!!
Title: Re: starting
Post by: B.D.F. on January 10, 2012, 06:07:11 AM
The method or intent does not really matter- if it can happen, sooner or later it will happen.

Brian


You mean people do stupid things on accident Brian?  :o
Title: Re: starting
Post by: stevewfl on January 10, 2012, 06:30:08 AM
Hi OP, welcome to the forum.

K.I.P.A.S.S.  <---one of the nicer things in life you'll learn about with this bike.