Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: KawiG on January 11, 2012, 07:43:23 PM
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Hello everyone. I am a long time motorcycle enthusiast that has been without a bike for many years. I started riding at the age of 3 waaaay back in 1974 waith an atc 70. I knocked my two front teeth out when I was 3n a half and didn't get them back until the fifth grade..."what a bitc..." anyway, as I grew up I rode dirt bikes " rm60..rm80..yz125.." and the year I graduated High school I bought my first street bike. That first bike was a 1990 Harley Davidson Softail Custom..it was made the year I garduated and the color of my birthstone"torquois and white". The first year I put 36,000 miles on that bike, through the rain...cold...hot...all of it. I sold the bike in the 3rd year " it was wore out" and went for many years with no bike while working construction. Later in my late 20's I began riding again on dirt bikes" rm 250" and introduced my son to the joy of motorcycles when he was 8. We did alot aof woods riding until shoulder injuries introduced me to 4 wheelers. I had the fast ones...and the muddy ones and had a great time! Meanwhile the man who introduced me to motorcycles at the age of 6 months passed away in 2004 due to a head injury on a 1965 Harley davidson FL. After his passing I recieved the panhead and restored it...over a 3 year period I rode it twice and had to sell it. I had a resentment for the machine that pulled me away from motorcycles until the last few weeks....since I layed eyes on a new concourse! I am beginning to have the desire to ride again and am considering buying a new Kawi. I may have many questions for the gang on this forum and may be aggrivating at times..but now you know my story. I really like the new Concourse! Thanks for reading!(http://)
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Later down the road. Hopefully the next pic will be on a new silver 1400.
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Welcome! Thanks for sharing your story.
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Welcome to the forum. The C14 is a great bike, but it may not be the best re-entry bike. Whatever you choose, I would recommend the MSF course as a refresher and a thorough study and practice of David L Hough's Proficient Motorcycling.
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Welcome to the forum. The C14 is a great bike, but it may not be the best re-entry bike. Whatever you choose, I would recommend the MSF course as a refresher and a thorough study and practice of David L Hough's Proficient Motorcycling.
I have to agree with lt1 on this. The C-14 is a great bike and it will make your heart beat fast and put a smile on your face. It might be wise to brush up on the skills. While there are bikes with more power and go faster, the C-14 will go triple digit’s fairly quickly. The Connie is also so smooth it is deceptive on just how fast you are going. It is for me any ways. Welcome to the forum!
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Welcome. Take er slow, as lt1 said, the C14 is not the best re-enty bike out there. But it is the best SuperSport tourer.
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I appreciate the concerns for the Connie being far from an entry level bike, on my behalf I am far from an entry level rider and have the scars to show for it..Living in South Florida is challenging enough even for the most skilled riders. I really like the forum and the bike and cant wait to post some of my adventures.
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Perhaps I misunderstood your first post. It sounded like you are a typical re-entry rider. ie about 40 years old and haven't been on a street motorcycle for at least 10 years. So what were your last 3 street bikes, how many miles did you ride on each, and what was the time frame on each of them? I still opine that the C14 is not only not an entry-level bike, it is not the best choice for a re-entry rider. It may well be a great choice as your second bike coming back to riding, however.
It's hard to tell much about a person from two posts, but I would still recommend the MSF course as a refresher and a thorough study of Proficient Motorcycling.
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I appreciate the concerns for the Connie being far from an entry level bike, on my behalf I am far from an entry level rider and have the scars to show for it..Living in South Florida is challenging enough even for the most skilled riders. I really like the forum and the bike and cant wait to post some of my adventures.
dude, sounds like you been riding longer than me, and the connie is only my second bike. Wish Idda had it as the first though...damn sweet ride. Anyway, being a noob is probably why I ride like a granny :-). MSF definitely is the good stuff. I went through before i hit the road, and had my son go through before he got his license. It was neat because I was able to sit through the class with him (he's was 15 at the time), as well as watch on the sidelines and refresh as they rode the course. Enjoy and welcome to the forum.
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Even though I had been riding for many years, I got rid of my last bike (Goldwing) to raise kids and buy a bigger house to raise them in. Only 20 years later did I decide to start riding again. Of course, I lowsided a borrowed FZ6 on a curve within the first 10 road hours. Even though I knew what to do when things started to go bad, the rustiness of my riding abilities proved too much for the circumstance. (Result: dislocated shoulder and broken rib in my back.)
After buying that crashed bike from the owner, and sinking $800 into getting it back on the road, I rode that thing for the next year and a half before moving up to the Connie. There's no way that I would have wanted to get back into riding on a bike this big.
Good luck, KawiG. Take it slow (if possible on the Connie) and get your cycle legs back under you before testing its abilities too hard.
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Just my opinion but when a new guy comes along and introduces himself, it ain't my place to start giving unasked for advise about what bike to ride, just a welcome.
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welcome (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/sleep1.gif)
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I absolutely agree with the warnings about taking it easy. The Connie is a great bike but is definitely not an easy bike to get used to. Take it slow for quite a while. I have driven several bikes up to a KZ 1300 and came directly from a VTX 1800 to this bike and in the beginning did several things that could have gotten me hurt and a few that embarrassed me as well. I got lucky bot respect the machine much more now. Have fun.
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Wow... :o! I forgot what internet forums were like. I have no reservations about throwin my leg over a 150 hp bike or a 300 hp bike,but any way I appreciate the wise words of caution. I really like the Kawi and am counting the days until it is mine. My first long ride will be back to the Smokies and I cant wait. I miss the rides through the mountains, but will probably ride'em a bit slower than I used to. The Concours is a beautiful bike and to be totally honest I hope it does scare me a bit! Can't wait! ;) . And to those of few words Hi. :)
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But I will ask one favor...if i start asking how to make the bike faster just a week or two after I get it...please talk some sense into me ::)
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But I will ask one favor...if i start asking how to make the bike faster just a week or two after I get it...please talk some sense into me ::)
:o
You're buying a silver one? ???
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It's my understanding the Silver ones are faster... ;)
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at least not the black one..hope to get silver.
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frig...looks like I gotta get the 2011. Thanks for the heads up. looks like black or red is it huh...really wanted silver.
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at least not the black one..hope to get silver.
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/mad.gif)
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It's my understanding the Silver ones are faster... ;)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/ekjriuu38.jpg)
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Cool that you know that you are ready for a 300hp bike. Still curious what you last 3 bikes were, with dates and mileages.
And if magazine road tests mean anything, the '08 silvers are the fastest. :)
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I am that Frog!!
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Oh yeah Huffy Cannondale and Trek. Mileage=not enough. 90 FXSTC 56,000, BMW = 15,000 , 1965 FL = ??? thousand. I probably have 80,000 or so behind the street bars and 20,000 or so behind the dirt ones. Harescrambles etc. ;). The dirt miles were much scarier!
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Lt don't take this personally but it sound like you need to go for a ride. ::)
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Rode 300 miles yesterday. I'm fine. You sound like you haven't ridden for over 10 years and have lots of confidence. Hopefully your assessment of your skills won't lead you to grief.
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As usuall you are correct
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Welcome, KawiG!
You've obviously got a lot of experience, so I think the only question, relative to buying a Connie, is how recent your experience is. Seems to me, from what you've written, that it's recent enough. I mean, riding a bike is like...well, riding a bike. I'll bet your initial problems with it, if any, will be maneuvering it around when it's not running. 8)
One thing is guaranteed: the Concours will not bore you. Ever!
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But I will ask one favor...if i start asking how to make the bike faster just a week or two after I get it...please talk some sense into me ::)
Welcome. Make sure to wear a real helmet and jacket/gloves/boots! (There, that is MY advice).
Oh, I don't think you will be wanting/needing more power in a week or two. Not unless you are still in the first break-in period.
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My father passed away on a 40 hp Harley at 35mph...he was exxxxtremely experienced, unfortunately the driver of the car that curbed him was not. Experience is relative to the situation and I have wrecked many times...I have no doubts about my limitations on a bike. Cant wait to get the bike.
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As a pilot, I've learned not to tell my passengers that I must be experienced because I've crashed so much. :D
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As a pilot, I've learned not to tell my passengers that I must be experienced because I've crashed so much. :D
:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
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But I will ask one favor...if i start asking how to make the bike faster just a week or two after I get it...please talk some sense into me ::)
As long as you don't put a car tire on...
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:-\ a car tire?
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:-\ a car tire?
You missed this lively thread?
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6116.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6116.0)
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You :stirpot:
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KawiG - agree with other posts on motorcycle training course, will basic riding skills and good safety habits such as wearing a helmet, protective gear, not mixing alcohol with driving, etc.
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If you go with a new bike, by the time you get it broken in by the book, you'll have most of your skills back. Your timing may still be a bit off but that'll come.
I switched from my V-Strom to the C-14. It was a huge step. The C-14 is so big and top heavy it was really intimidating for the first week or so. My V-Strom feels like a lightweight dirt bike now in comparison. But it doesn't have near the wow factor of the Connie.
Keep your head out of your a** and you'll be fine.
Matt
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If you go with a new bike, by the time you get it broken in by the book, you'll have most of your skills back. Your timing may still be a bit off but that'll come.
I switched from my V-Strom to the C-14. It was a huge step. The C-14 is so big and top heavy it was really intimidating for the first week or so. My V-Strom feels like a lightweight dirt bike now in comparison. But it doesn't have near the wow factor of the Connie.
Keep your head out of your a** and you'll be fine.
Matt
i went from a Vstrom 1000 (first bike) to the Connie. For me, IMO, the Connie would have been a better first mount. I immediately felt the difference and felt on more sure footing the second i opened the throttle.
IMHO, Its the rider or the cager thats gonna kill you, not the bike. I say go for it brother (like I know you are already gonna do! :-), and keep the rubber side down.
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Welcome. Do you have any prospective bikes in your cross hairs yet?
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Spotted A silver 2011 in cycletrader for 12,900. May go look this weekend. :D
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Welcome sir! I like the silver too............almost as much as the faster red. :D
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i thought they quit making the red one in the 70's :-X
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i thought they quit making the red one in the 70's :-X
The Big Red One......? ???
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i thought they quit making the red one in the 70's :-X
I like this guy.
Go get you that Silver!
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You missed this lively thread?
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6116.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6116.0)
Not knowing what kind of oil the previous owner or dealer put in your bike when they prepped it, you will need to purge your engine of any old oil following the instructions in this thread: http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6255.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6255.0)
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good news I'll be picking up my bike in april!!! Gonna do the corbin seat with backrest for my girl, put some miles on her real quick....then we heading to the Smokies at the end of may! silver 2011 for 15 2 otd....I'm countin the days!
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good news I'll be picking up my bike in april!!! Gonna do the corbin seat with backrest for my girl, put some miles on her real quick....then we heading to the Smokies at the end of may! silver 2011 for 15 2 otd....I'm countin the days!
Sweet!
What's wrong with March?
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Gonna do the corbin seat with backrest for my girl, put some miles on her real quick
Jeez, take her out to dinner first or something. ;)
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But I will ask one favor...if i start asking how to make the bike faster just a week or two after I get it...please talk some sense into me ::)
sorry, but if you're looking for sense, this might not be the right place.
Let the farkling begin!!! 8)
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sea level i just don't know what to say...that was funny as hell ;)
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Congrats!!! Take what these allot of these peeps say with a grain of salt... I bought 1983 Shadow 750 as my one and only street bike back in 1988 and put about 3k miles on it over a few years while on college. I bought "A Silver" 08 last Jan and love it so much I put over 27K miles on it this past year and plenty of $$$ in farkles and continue to enjoy it everyday. I had tons of experience dirt riding and I knew that a bike only goes as fast as you twist the throttle so remember ride your pace and enjoy!
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Congrats!!! Take what these allot of these peeps say with a grain of salt... I bought 1983 Shadow 750 as my one and only street bike back in 1988 and put about 3k miles on it over a few years while on college. I bought "A Silver" 08 last Jan and love it so much I put over 27K miles on it this past year and plenty of $$$ in farkles and continue to enjoy it everyday. I had tons of experience dirt riding and I knew that a bike only goes as fast as you twist the throttle so remember ride your pace and enjoy!
Forgot to mention I also have taken 4 MSF courses over the past year as well cause one can never have to much training. :)
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Well, since you asked nicely. Jamie at Fuelmoto has a few nice items, get the Full AreaP, PCV, Autotune, and yank dem flies. Once you have that done pick up a set of ZX14 Throttle Bodies. Mount a set of Angels, and then start saving for a turbo kit. Next up will be a set of Baker handwings and a Throttle Meister. You already have the seat in order,, but what about the screen? A Cee Baileys Eurocut works for me during our wetter days and a Shad46 would be my recomendation. If you need an immediate overnight fix see www.murphskits.com (http://www.murphskits.com) he is the best.
These bikes come from the factory so stripped of power they would be suitable for an MSF basic course ;) If your'e interested they do have some shower bars that fit nicely on the front, avoid the chrome tho, it will make your bike about as quick as a 20 year old sportster... Welcome to our world, just remember, the last guy who asked a question without searching for an answer was immediately turned into the KIPASS mascot, his name is Kirby.