Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: jqram35 on February 14, 2012, 01:39:29 PM

Title: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: jqram35 on February 14, 2012, 01:39:29 PM
First ride since my accident. Got a over 200 miles on her so I got into the throttle a few times today. I think she is a beast. Feels better than my FJR. Pinned the throttle in second and the front came up causing the traction control to take over abruptly and said NO Sir none of that LOL. Pulled over and turned that crap off. I do wish I didn't have to turn it off every time I started the bike...So far very happy with my new purchase
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 14, 2012, 02:13:44 PM
I don't have that problem with mine.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Kiwi Graham on February 14, 2012, 02:20:20 PM
Wish you could turn off the ABS :-(
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Gearhead82 on February 14, 2012, 02:22:19 PM
I don't understand all this talk of 2nd gear wheelies lately.  Even with some serious clutch abuse I can barely get mine to do a little bunny hop in 2nd gear unless there's a dip in the road or something.  And that's even with the fastest red color.  1st gear is a whole 'nother story though. . .
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 14, 2012, 02:22:41 PM
My ABS works perfectly fine as well.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: jqram35 on February 14, 2012, 02:26:40 PM
I don't understand all this talk of 2nd gear wheelies lately.  Even with some serious clutch abuse I can barely get mine to do a little bunny hop in 2nd gear unless there's a dip in the road or something.  And that's even with the fastest red color.  1st gear is a whole 'nother story though. . .

All I know is the power dropped off no where near the rev limiter and the nose was coming up quick.  I wouldn't mind it if it wasn't so abrupt. I that happened in a corner due to wheel spin and loaded the front tire that could spell serious trouble. Think that will stay off till I do so rain riding and more testing...
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Kazairl on February 14, 2012, 02:28:48 PM
Wish you could turn off the ABS :-(

 Disconnect one of the speed sensors. Problem solved.

I don't understand all this talk of 2nd gear wheelies lately.  Even with some serious clutch abuse I can barely get mine to do a little bunny hop in 2nd gear unless there's a dip in the road or something.  And that's even with the fastest red color.  1st gear is a whole 'nother story though. . .

 I've never been able to do a power wheelie in any gear. I have to use the clutch.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Gearhead82 on February 14, 2012, 02:39:14 PM

 I've never been able to do a power wheelie in any gear. I have to use the clutch.

That was the case with mine too until I added the Area P full system.  Now it comes up all by itself in first without hesitation.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 14, 2012, 03:01:31 PM
My front wheel will go up standing still, especially fully loaded with a top case.  Fully stock system.  I don't even have to have the engine running.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Conrad on February 14, 2012, 03:39:32 PM
My front wheel will go up standing still, especially fully loaded with a top case.  Fully stock system.  I don't even have to have the engine running.

How about with the center stand up?
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: stevewfl on February 14, 2012, 04:06:31 PM
KiPass.    :D
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: ZG on February 14, 2012, 04:17:28 PM
How about with the center stand up?

 :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 14, 2012, 05:03:55 PM
How about with the center stand up?

Why would you want to complicate this simple procedure?
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Pokey on February 14, 2012, 07:53:22 PM
The 08/09 models have no problem lifting the front end. ;)
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Z71 on February 14, 2012, 08:26:52 PM
Wish you could turn off the ABS :-(

Why is that?  Can you be more specific? 
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 15, 2012, 03:58:25 AM
 :popcorn:
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: cablebandit on February 15, 2012, 07:37:30 AM
Why pull over.  You can turn off traction control at any speed, unlike the linked brake pressures.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Jeremy Mitchell on February 15, 2012, 07:44:33 AM
Why is there so much skepticism about pulling the front end in second gear?  I'm not saying I can do a 12 o'clock wheelie in second but it will loft and carry fairly easily, no clutch abuse needed.  Every bike and especially riders have differences.  I think most of it is weight distrobution and what kind of tune/exhaust is being used.  That or the fact that I have the fastest 08 on the internet....... ;D
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: jqram35 on February 15, 2012, 07:47:35 AM
Why pull over.  You can turn off traction control at any speed, unlike the linked brake pressures.

Thought you had to be stopped...
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: basmntdweller on February 15, 2012, 08:47:22 AM
Lack of wheelie performance is my biggest complaint on my '09. In first, it has to hit a bump or some other road issue for it to come up. It always feels as if it is on the verge of coming up but it hasn't yet. It may be because I tend to ride "nuts on the tank" and fully geared I am pushing 250lbs.
I am hoping the new full exhaust, flyectomy and PCV will cure this one minor fault on my connie.

Matt
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: danl on February 15, 2012, 09:01:32 AM
I have no desire to wheelie a $13k bike! :)
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: basmntdweller on February 15, 2012, 10:05:53 AM
I have no desire to wheelie a $13k bike! :)

I want that capability in every vehicle I drive. It isn't likely to happen with my Chevy 1500 truck, but I want it to! ;D

Wheelies don't scare me much but taking my C-14 on a track day, that scares me! Need a beater for that. As long as it does wheelies!

Matt
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: mcclaskeyj on February 15, 2012, 10:44:03 AM
I don't understand all this talk of 2nd gear wheelies lately.  Even with some serious clutch abuse I can barely get mine to do a little bunny hop in 2nd gear unless there's a dip in the road or something.  And that's even with the fastest red color.  1st gear is a whole 'nother story though. . .
It happened to me accidentally on a very hot day on fresh asphalt as I was pulling out of our Armory. Took off hard, shifted once, then before I knew It I had the speedo cluster in my face then felt the front tire bump back on the road. It happens but not too often for me....OR not often enough!  ;D
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: lt1 on February 15, 2012, 12:04:59 PM
Since I'm not a huge fan of wheelies, over the years I seem to have developed my own internal traction control/anti-wheelie control.  Normally, both wheels stay on the ground unless I'm: a- in a rowdy mood, b- startled/caught off guard or c- just switched from a slow bike to a fast bike.

Although the C14 will pull the front shifting into 2nd, I've never had it pull the front rolling in 2nd just on the throttle.  And very few times in first, usually in cooler weather or with a passenger.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Jeremy Mitchell on February 15, 2012, 12:13:30 PM
Cool weather, warm tires, and very abrasive roads  (great for traction not so much for tire life) are a good recipe for a wheelie on the C14.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Conrad on February 15, 2012, 12:30:06 PM
Since I'm not a huge fan of wheelies, over the years I seem to have developed my own internal traction control/anti-wheelie control.  Normally, both wheels stay on the ground unless I'm: a- in a rowdy mood, b- startled/caught off guard or c- just switched from a slow bike to a fast bike.

Although the C14 will pull the front shifting into 2nd, I've never had it pull the front rolling in 2nd just on the throttle.  And very few times in first, usually in cooler weather or with a passenger.

Same here. The few times I've had the front wheel come up was when I was getting on it hard shifting from 1st to 2nd.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Texas Concours14 on February 15, 2012, 01:21:35 PM
I don't intentionally do wheelies since I like the stability of both tires having a contact patch (and I am too chicken to wheelie a heavy bike such as this), but I have noticed that since my 2010 underwent a Guhl ECU reflash that the front wheel sometimes comes off the ground a bit when I press it in first or second gear, even with traction control on.  This did not happen prior to the reflash.

Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: rtarp1 on February 15, 2012, 06:06:49 PM
why the hell anyone would want to turn off the ABS is beyond me.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Kazairl on February 15, 2012, 10:58:00 PM
The ABS I don't mind. I really dislike the linked brakes.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 16, 2012, 04:34:02 AM
The ABS I don't mind. I really dislike the linked brakes.

08/09 ABS isn't linked.  They are also the fastest colors.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: cablebandit on February 16, 2012, 07:48:08 AM
Thought you had to be stopped...

Nope traction control can be turned off or on at any speed.  The linked brake pressure can only be changed at a stop or below like 3 mph.
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: ZG on February 16, 2012, 10:30:08 AM
08/09 ABS isn't linked.  They are also the fastest colors.

 :goodpost: :hail: :thumbs:
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Kazairl on February 17, 2012, 05:17:22 PM
Your right. Red is for sure the fastest color.   :battle:
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: jqram35 on February 17, 2012, 05:18:59 PM
I think it's the black rims that make bikes faster, just saying...
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: Kiwi Graham on February 18, 2012, 09:44:04 PM
Disconnect one of the speed sensors. Problem solved.



Oops I meant the linked brakes!
Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: jimmymac on February 19, 2012, 07:03:09 AM
I feel my bike is perfect. No ABS, and no TC, but is a '10 with the upgrades.
I don't need my bike to correct for me.

It'll loft the front tire in second, no problemo. 8)


Title: Re: Thanfully the Traction Control has an off switch...
Post by: katata1100 on February 19, 2012, 09:58:58 AM
Just out of curiosity, has anyone done acceleration tests with tc on and off to see if it slows down the bike? On most cars, tc can give worse results out of the hole and testers will turn it off.