Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Boonedawg on May 22, 2011, 04:54:57 AM
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do you ride without your sidebags on? Just curious, they are great to have but sure make if rough getting on and off the bike...
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do you ride without your sidebags on? Just curious, they are great to have but sure make if rough getting on and off the bike...
I ride with mine on once a year when I take a one-week trip. They are never on the bike if I'm not on a trip.
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff71/jjscorvettec6/C14sidew-walkerexh900.jpg)
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Mine are always on. Once in a while I'll ride without the trunk. I use my bike for commuting to work. So I always need the storage to hold tools and lunch.
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After riding my cbr1k for an extended period of time, I'm in love with my side bags. I'm a married father of two, 42 years old, and my days of being "cool" are over. I must say, there is something awesome about the sidebags...other people underestimate you as a touring bike, then you blast right bye!!! Love being under the radar, that's why I kept the potato launcher. Go Irish!
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After riding my cbr1k for an extended period of time, I'm in love with my side bags. I'm a married father of two, 42 years old, and my days of being "cool" are over. I must say, there is something awesome about the sidebags...other people underestimate you as a touring bike, then you blast right bye!!! Love being under the radar, that's why I kept the potato launcher.
+1
I haven't had mine long, but I don't plan to ever ride with the bags off. It is already enough effort to get all the riding gear on, cover off, hook up helmet audio, etc. I love having storage always available, and I can store stuff I MIGHT need in one of them- liner, different gloves, alternate shield, etc. I don't care about being "cool", plus I don't see anything really "cool" about making things more inconvenient for myself.
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Quothe the Raven..."Never".
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I'm not talking "COOL FACTOR", I'm talking about getting on and off the bike without scuffing...guess it's just gonna take a bit to get used to.
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+1
Mine are always on. Once in a while I'll ride without the trunk. I use my bike for commuting to work. So I always need the storage to hold tools and lunch.
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Mine are always on. I routinely carry too much stuff to not have them. Tools, groceries, weapons, ammo, small humans, you get the point. :)
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I commute daily on my bike with no saddlebags. They hang in the garage until I take a trip.
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I always have my bags on. I carry my tire repair kit and compressor in there. I'm not taking a chance on getting a flat out in the middle of BFE without being able to get the bike home on mine own. BTDT.
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Spend the $60 on the protective kit from the kneeslider. I finally replaced mine with the free one they sent when the first kit came without a piece. 3+ years and its still looking great!
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I'm not talking "COOL FACTOR", I'm talking about getting on and off the bike without scuffing...guess it's just gonna take a bit to get used to.
I lift my right leg up and over the seat at the driver point, I don't swing it over the rear or the bags, I get off the bike the same way, When I first got the bike I had the bags on all the time, ow I oly ride with them on when I need to carry something. I do have a tail bag that hoolds a lot, like tire repair kit and small compressor, water, ETC.
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Bags always on except when cleaning the bike. I carry tire repir kit, rain suit and work related stuff on a normal day. Now trunk on and off as required.
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Mine are on 99% if the time and I don't have any problem swinging my leg over. I enjoy the storage and transportablity factor they provide since I always find my self having to haul something or pick up some take-out on the way home from work. Only scuffed the top of the right bag once when I first got her and that was only due to not having the mount down just right...the scuff buffed right off and there have been no problems since. :)
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do you ride without your sidebags on? Just curious, they are great to have but sure make if rough getting on and off the bike...
I always leave the bags on, mounting and dismounting without kicking them is a learned habit. I made patterns using shelf paper and sent them to Tech Spec, they cut me out a set of fusion saddlebag protectors from my pattern. If I had it to do over again, I would alter the patterns a little, but they have done a great job of protecting the bags.
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I take them off to clean the bike. Otherwise on 90%+ of the time.
If I had a med size top box and rode solo, would have them off 90% of the time, as would hold the helmet and stuff.
(I eat out often and need a spot for the doggie bag / box, also wife hates to carry her stuff .. so into the case it goes)
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Never.
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Recently, I took them off to clean the bike and left them off for a little while for a change of pace. I like the look of the bike both with the bags on and off. I always run the bags at night because I have reflective tape (the kind that looks black during the day). In my opinion the bags also give the bike more of a presence on the road....maybe makes the bike more visible. I think the bags also separate me from the full out sport bike guys that are burning up the interstate at night in the summer.... That's not my thing. Winter time I always run the bags because that is where I keep any zip out or heated liners that I'm not wearing but might want to have on hand.
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I never take them off, i ride every day to work and take my lunch with me, also i leave home at 5:30 in the morning when still dark and i have reflective decals on them
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I switch back and fourth between riding with the side bags on (no trunk) and riding with just the trunk on (no side bags)...
But I always have one of the 2 options on for carrying my laptop for work commutes and picking up beer and food on the way home, or if I'm out on a weekend ride the option to gear up or down depending on outside temps changing...
I like having a lockable place to put my GPS, radar detector, helmet, and gloves in when the bike is out of my sight so I don't have to carry them around with me...
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i leave mine on all the time. the storage space is nice & the police tend to leave me alone. (Bags off= florida cops follow because it looks like a sport bike....... bags on= i don't even exist to them as long as i'm not riding like an idiot)
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I leave mine on all the time. Not much issue with hitting them.
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I'm not talking "COOL FACTOR", I'm talking about getting on and off the bike without scuffing...guess it's just gonna take a bit to get used to.
You have to change the way you mount the bike with bags on it. Took me a few times to get used to it, now it is no big deal. Instead of mounting while facing mostly forward, mount while facing to the right and lift your leg up with bent knee then put it over straight, then turn and face forward. Strange at first, second nature after a few dozen times.
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Never off. I've always got somedamnthing with me, plus rain suit, gloves, etc. Naked bikes are a PITA for normal riding where you've got work stuff, stop to buy something, etc.
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Unless I'm on a trip or going to the store, I never have them on.
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Believe I've ridden the bike 1 - 3 times w/out the bags on. I have a top case, that's more often than not also on. Bike handles just as well with the un-cool bags. I got stuff to carry.
C14 = man purse
HAHAHHA
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Mine stay on the bike all the time, they are only removed for cleaning.
One of my pet peeves is people kicking my saddlebags when mounting or dismounting the bike. It only requires a little thought to prevent dragging a foot across the bags and scuffing them. Demo bikes really get abused by people scuffing the seats and bags, even new bikes in the showrooms.
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I'd have to say 50/50..
BUT they sure are nice and it's one reason I bought the bike.
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On mostly, with this stuff behind me no chance of boot scuffing a bag........
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99.5% always on. Plenty of scuffs to prove it...... :o
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I haven't taken mine off yet besides in the garage. One of the main reasons I bought the Concours was I was tired of having to have soft luggage on my old bike and even then always worrying about needing to bring stuff home from work. I always keep a spare pair of sun glasses, night clear shades, gloves, and other odds and ends with me as well. Being able to store my helmet in one at work instead of having to lug it around is an added bonus.
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99.5% always on. Plenty of scuffs to prove it...... :o
The .5% being the day you took your avatar pic eh Raw... ;)
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I pretty much only have the bags on the bike because I have to. Pretty much mostly traveling. The rest of the time they're not on the bike.
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i leave mine on all the time. the storage space is nice & the police tend to leave me alone. (Bags off= florida cops follow because it looks like a sport bike....... bags on= i don't even exist to them as long as i'm not riding like an idiot)
This is absolutely true.....in fact I had many bike conversations w/cops on my LT, only once while waiting for a performance award....no reason to think it won't continue on the better bike!!
Mike
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The .5% being the day you took your avatar pic eh Raw... ;)
I was taking pics for my brother to show him what the bike was like, I just liked it, LOL!
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I usually ride with them off, only putting them on for trips where I am going for a few days. That way I don't have to worry abt them falling off or getting scuffed up, and at least if I drop the bike or total it I will have some close to virgin bags to sell-lol.
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I only take them off to clean behind them. Then back on they go. Of course I bought mine more for the touring side than the sport side. I just like having the storage space. :)
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Never....they are too handy to have.
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I leave my bags on all the time. I carry a tire repair kit and pump with me, as well as the clear or tinted face shield for my helmet (whichever isn't on the helmet).
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I leave my bags on all the time. I carry a tire repair kit and pump with me, as well as the clear or tinted face shield for my helmet (whichever isn't on the helmet).
+1...
I like to ride with a dark tint shield during the day, but that's no good if you get caught in the dark, which does happen sometimes staying late at the office... :banghead:
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On mostly, with this stuff behind me no chance of boot scuffing a bag........
Is that a suitcase?(http://serve.mysmiley.net/confused/confused0006.gif) (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-facebook-smileys.php)
Mine always stay on and I take them off only for cleaning.
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Wow! The saddlebags come off! I've just got to take the time & read my owners manual. :o
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Wow! The saddlebags come off! I've just got to take the time & read my owners manual. :o
some claim they come off on their own (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/iconstirthepot.gif)
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+1...
I like to ride with a dark tint shield during the day, but that's no good if you get caught in the dark, which does happen sometimes staying late at the office... :banghead:
Ditto that, cept the part about staying late at the office. I'm a civil servant, I never stay late.
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leave mine on 99% of the time. That is why I bought the Connie b/c I got sick of wearing a backpack on the Superhawk. If I want to go out and rip around I just take the Superhawk out anyways.
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... I must say, there is something awesome about the sidebags...other people underestimate you as a touring bike, then you blast right by!!! Love being under the radar, that's why I kept the potato launcher. Go Irish!
I use a C-10 to commute around "Harley Country" and I love quietly zipping along compared to 'pirate' cruisers. Bags hold Lunch and Laptop/iPad and rain gear.
Go Irish!
Watch out for Leprechauns under rocks!
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Watch out for Leprechauns under rocks!
:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
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I'm not talking "COOL FACTOR", I'm talking about getting on and off the bike without scuffing...guess it's just gonna take a bit to get used to.
...STRETCH and limber up.
Never take mine off. Always finding something to stuff in there at any point in time. Wife is empowered with the idea that she can add to the "honey do" list at anytime....maybe they need to come off after all.
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I put them on only when I have to. I do not like the added weight on the rear. The roads I ride are pretty rough and the weight makes things a little shaky on bumby corners. On a day trip I use a tank bag for coat and extra gloves.
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Haven't had em' off yet in my 3 months of ownership. Use the storage and the bazooka looks horriffic with the bags off. :-[ And I agree with others that the cops are less likely to pay attention with the bags on.
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99% of the time on. Love the look without but like the convenience more. I use them for the work commute, keeping the brief case, tire repair and rain gear on board.
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I have my saddle bags on all the time and a trunk. I put my left foot on the left peg first to mount the bike and do the same when I dismount. Try it. It works.
Ernie
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I have my saddle bags on all the time and a trunk. I put my left foot on the left peg first to mount the bike and do the same when I dismount. Try it. It works.
Ernie
Just be careful stepping on the the footpegs to get on and off the bike. I have seen the kickstand break as the rider is getting on.
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Just be careful stepping on the the footpegs to get on and off the bike. I have seen the kickstand break as the rider is getting on.
Really?? (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/confused1.gif)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/bsmeter.gif)
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I use them only for trips. I have a Givi 55 that holds everything I need for day rides. The biggest disadvantage is that when they are off, the potato launcher is more exposed and looks even more obnoxious. The group I ride with is threatening me with banishment if I do not replace the exhaust!
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I use them only for trips. I have a Givi 55 that holds everything I need for day rides. The biggest disadvantage is that when they are off, the potato launcher is more exposed and looks even more obnoxious. The group I ride with is threatening me with banishment if I do not replace the exhaust!
Do it TD, do it!! ;D
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Do it TD, do it!! ;D
ZG. Stop it. I am trying to put off the performance mods ( full system, PCV) til next year and you pressuring him into changing the bazooka has a domino effect and is trying to take me with it :stirpot:
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ZG. Stop it. I am trying to put off the performance mods ( full system, PCV) til next year and you pressuring him into changing the bazooka has a domino effect and is trying to take with with it :stirpot:
Thats why I bought a used slip on. I thought the same as you regarding the slippery slope of perf mod costs, where do you stop? I figured I could recoup the cost of the used slip on later.
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Really?? (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/confused1.gif)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/bsmeter.gif)
I like that one!
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ZG. Stop it. I am trying to put off the performance mods ( full system, PCV) til next year and you pressuring him into changing the bazooka has a domino effect and is trying to take with with it :stirpot:
;D ;D ;D
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Always on... have the bike for the bags... I'd had bought a ZX14, Busa, BKing, Vmax if I didn't want em on.
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Always on... have the bike for the bags... I'd had bought a ZX14, Busa, BKing, Vmax if I didn't want em on.
That about sums it up for me, I always have them on and use them. They aren't the widest thing on the bike (the mirrors are) so it's senseless to remove them for lane splitting or parking purposes.
That said, it's one of the few bikes with side bags, that looks decent with the side bags off. My 1200RT just looked downright goofy with them off.
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That said, it's one of the few bikes with side bags, that looks decent with the side bags off. My 1200RT just looked downright goofy with them off.
+1 ... my ol ST1300 looked hideous with them off... :o
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Ever since I destroyed the right side bag at a gas station (I hit the pump protector trying to get close to the pump) I ride with only one. it looks lopsided; but I use that one bag for everything, and it's a convenient place to store my helmet (obviously) when I reach my destination. As has been said above. i brought the bike for the bags, and I'm missing the one I can't use.
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Really?? (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/confused1.gif)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/bsmeter.gif)
Really
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They look good with them off but then I have a really boring silver sportbike.