Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: reesedp on June 30, 2012, 07:12:04 AM
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Attended the (now required every three years for Army personnel) experienced riders course yesterday. In full uniform. With all gear. 98 degrees on the weather channel, so God knows how hot on the tarmac. Five and a half hours, from 0700 to 1230 starting/stopping, waiting with engine running, and short bursts of throttle (cause they didnt say you HAD to go slow..) The highest the temp gauge got was two bars from the top. I was not a fan of having the book read to me in the classroom portion at the end of the day, but the range portion did wonders for reminding me what this wonderful machine is capable of. Straight up outperformed the two sportbikes that were there, but it was kind of obvious by their back tires that they were "Hell on a straightaway" riders.
I gained a lot of confidence from the training, especially in the PR3's that I hadnt had a chance to really corner on yet. As I got progressively more comfortable pushing the bike, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that my Michelins appear to be everything they are advertised to be. I even dialed in my suspension a little by clicking in twice on the forks. This quelled the front end dive and just added to the fun. Am now in the process of scanning my new MSF card to send to Geico so I can save another 10% on insurance,
On a side note, one guy there had an '07 BMW sport tourer that he completely regrets buying used, as his last visit for a 24k service ended up costing him $3500 worth of adjustments and repairs. I had been kicking around the idea of a Goldwing or K1600GTL one day, and this kind of clinched the decision for me, as he sold a Wing with 146k on it (having never spent a penny on REPAIR) to buy the beemer.
Anyway, dont be shy about keeping your mistress out in the heat!
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Mine is fine too. :thumbs:
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As is mine, even in 110+F temps.
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My 09 does not like the heat and neither do I...but I am okay with that. I work around it. Temperatures in Central Va have been above 100 over the last several days. I had planned to do several 300 mile rides but got my "fix" by doing breakfast rides instead. That way, I shut it down before noon. Yesterday, around 11:00 A.M. it was 96. Not only was the tank hot but the saddle bags were so hot they could have burned you.
Heat is not unique to the first generation C14's. I was talking to a rider of a $20k Victory on Wednesday. He was complaining about excessive heat on the left side burning his leg. Imagine that. Yesterday I was talking to an owner of a "BOSS," whatever that is, and he was complaining about how he could not ride it in the heat. This morning, I was talking to a Harley owner and he said, "Thank goodness you have a cool bike because Harleys' are hot." I said thanks without getting into the story about mine being hot as well.
Yes, I meet all types on the road. Most think the C14 is a BMW. Then, they go on to guess that it is 650 or 900 cc's. I have to explain what it is. But it is all good.
I like my 09 Connie hot or not and would not trade it for any other motorcycle. If I want to stay cool, I don't ride it or use the car.
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On a side note, one guy there had an '07 BMW sport tourer that he completely regrets buying used, as his last visit for a 24k service ended up costing him $3500 worth of adjustments and repairs.
Same story here with my K1200GT. I got it home and immediately listed it for sale. A week later it was gone and a C14 was in its place.
Yesterday was 101 degrees and she faired well with 2 bars from the top. The hot spot is just below my right knee, but it's tolerable.
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No worries about heat issues in the Pacific NorthWest - Vacouver 64 degrees and light rain
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No worries about heat issues in the Pacific NorthWest - Vacouver 64 degrees and light rain
;D ;D ;D
True indeed, no problem down here in Portland either, 70 degrees and light rain today... ;) :( :'(
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I had red marks on the insides of both knees. It was about 106 here today and I went on a 100 mile ride for lunch. While on the road she stayed pretty much in the center of the temp guage until ambient temps went over 100 degrees then the guage showed one bar over 1/2. Not bad at all.
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I had red marks on the insides of both knees. It was about 106 here today and I went on a 100 mile ride for lunch. While on the road she stayed pretty much in the center of the temp guage until ambient temps went over 100 degrees then the guage showed one bar over 1/2. Not bad at all.
What are you wearing for pants? :o
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What are you wearing for pants? :o
And why are you riding a bike when it's 106 degree's out? :o
That sounds like temps made for a/c blasting in a cage to me... (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/smiley_dunno.gif)
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... Yesterday I was talking to an owner of a "BOSS," whatever that is, ...
V8 cruiser. Been around for years... HUGE bikes... http://www.bosshoss.com/ (http://www.bosshoss.com/)
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Here in Georgia some have complained about Concours heat. Proof positive they have never spent any time on a Harley. My Ultra Classic would cook ya if you didn't keep moving. That said, my new 2012 Concours does a better job of hiding the heat than my 2009 did. Still, the 2009 was not an issue for me.
UP
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I had red marks on the insides of both knees. It was about 106 here today and I went on a 100 mile ride for lunch. While on the road she stayed pretty much in the center of the temp guage until ambient temps went over 100 degrees then the guage showed one bar over 1/2. Not bad at all.
I don't know what's up with my bike as compared to the rest of y'all's. Even riding in temps as high as 106 my temp guage only shows one bar above the C. Sure, if I'm stopped at a light, or whatever, it'll go up and the fans will kick on. As soon as I get moving, it'll drop right down to one above C every time.
106 F degrees, 6th gear, ~70 mph = one bar above the C
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Yesterday on the way to my friend's with the canyon cages box strapped to my rack. Solid 100F. Damnit if the damn downtown tunnel/draw bridge didn't damn decide to damn open moments before I got there. Damn.
So there I sit. Direct sun. Ultra hot pavement. Caged in with cars. Minute after minute. There isn't much time when it opens, so I can't de-jacket or anything, although I unzip it and kinda pull it off my shoulders. Sweat is running down my head and into my eyes. Absolutely zero breeze.
Thought about turning the bike off, but then I would lose music too (stupid Garmin design decision). Bike didn't seem to care about the temp. The heat indicator went to one bar above center and just stayed there.
One of the longer 12 min in my life...
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My concession to yesterdays 100 degree temp (124 heat index) was to put the stock '08 windshield back on and ride without my jacket. Hot yes, unbearable no.
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Yesterday on the way to my friend's with the canyon cages box strapped to my rack. Solid 100F. Damnit if the damn downtown tunnel/draw bridge didn't damn decide to damn open moments before I got there. Damn.
So there I sit. Direct sun. Ultra hot pavement. Caged in with cars. Minute after minute. There isn't much time when it opens, so I can't de-jacket or anything, although I unzip it and kinda pull it off my shoulders. Sweat is running down my head and into my eyes. Absolutely zero breeze.
Thought about turning the bike off, but then I would lose music too (stupid Garmin design decision). Bike didn't seem to care about the temp. The heat indicator went to one bar above center and just stayed there.
One of the longer 12 min in my life...
Maxtog, as a rule of thumb, any stop that I know will last more than 2 minutes, I switch her off with the stove knob, so the lights do not eat battery. I learnt this in Sweden where there was a study showing that turning off and on a warm engine produced as much exhaust gases and wear as the same engine running idle for 2 minutes. It was an average, but I think is kind of useful.
What Garmin do you have? whenever my 765T is unplugged or bike is off it asks me if it should run on batteries and waits 30 sec before turning itself off. I find it neat.
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I'm pretty sure they made the 08/09 for the PNW. I love having a little extra heat on the cool mornings and rainy days. The one day a year it actually does get hot its still pretty bearable. Clothing definitely has an effect on the feel of the heat though.
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I rode my 08 at100 degrees on Sat. The tank was the only annoying thing about it. It never got hot enough to hurt, but was about 10 degrees to hot for comfort.
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My concession to yesterdays 100 degree temp (124 heat index) was to put the stock '08 windshield back on and ride without my jacket. Hot yes, unbearable no.
I would never ride without a riding jacket, jeans, boots, and gloves, no matter how hot it is.
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Maxtog, as a rule of thumb, any stop that I know will last more than 2 minutes, I switch her off with the stove knob, so the lights do not eat battery. I learnt this in Sweden where there was a study showing that turning off and on a warm engine produced as much exhaust gases and wear as the same engine running idle for 2 minutes. It was an average, but I think is kind of useful.
What Garmin do you have? whenever my 765T is unplugged or bike is off it asks me if it should run on batteries and waits 30 sec before turning itself off. I find it neat.
I have an older Zumo. If there is no bike power, it will shut off music, but retain GPS functionality. It makes absolutely no sense. This is after it asks if you want to run on battery and I say "yes". It is not the ONLY thing that annoys me about the unit, but probably the most annoying.
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Yesterday on the way to my friend's with the canyon cages box strapped to my rack. Solid 100F. Damnit if the damn downtown tunnel/draw bridge didn't damn decide to damn open moments before I got there. Damn.
So there I sit. Direct sun. Ultra hot pavement. Caged in with cars. Minute after minute. There isn't much time when it opens, so I can't de-jacket or anything, although I unzip it and kinda pull it off my shoulders. Sweat is running down my head and into my eyes. Absolutely zero breeze.
Thought about turning the bike off, but then I would lose music too (stupid Garmin design decision). Bike didn't seem to care about the temp. The heat indicator went to one bar above center and just stayed there.
One of the longer 12 min in my life...
/quote]
Stuck on a tunnel, or a bridge Max? I dont cross the water unless I HAVE to!
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Stuck on a tunnel, or a bridge Max?
Well, it is actually both. I was stuck before the draw bridge which leads to the tunnel. And if I had been stopped 100 feet earlier, then at least I could have had some shade from a huge sign.
I dont cross the water unless I HAVE to!
Here it is pretty darn difficult to not cross water :)
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I just checked the weather THEY said 89 BUT FEELS like 97 ?
I guess I'll skip the jacket (sorry Max please don't tell my mother , 42 years ago she told me If I bought a street bike she would kick me out of the house ( I bought it and she did not kick me out though it was OK for me to ride in the DIRT ????) LOVE JJJ
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Well, it is actually both. I was stuck before the draw bridge which leads to the tunnel. And if I had been stopped 100 feet earlier, then at least I could have had some shade from a huge sign.
Here it is pretty darn difficult to not cross water :)
Luckily Newport News has everything I need, and I work over here. Those people that cross the James every day must have great pharmacists!
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I have an older Zumo. If there is no bike power, it will shut off music, but retain GPS functionality. It makes absolutely no sense. This is after it asks if you want to run on battery and I say "yes". It is not the ONLY thing that annoys me about the unit, but probably the most annoying.
???
The music from the Garmin mp3 or satellite music??
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???
The music from the Garmin mp3 or satellite music??
mp3's on the SD card.
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mp3's on the SD card.
Hmmm, that is odd, my Nuvi 765T will still play music when not plugged in... :-\
Which Zumo is it Max?
Sorry for the brief threadjack guys...
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Hmmm, that is odd, my Nuvi 765T will still play music when not plugged in... :-\
Which Zumo is it Max?
450
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450
Got it, thanks Max.
Sorry everyone else for the threadjack, my bad... ;)
Now back to the heat thread, no excessive heat on my 09, but I do live in the PNW, 71 degrees with some rain today... :'(
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I guess I'll skip the jacket (sorry Max please don't tell my mother , 42 years ago she told me If I bought a street bike she would kick me out of the house ......
about time you got out anyways. lol :yikes: :rotflmao:
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It was 103 where I live and was staying put for the most part. But had to take the bike out to run some errands. Tops I got on temp was two bars from the top (I think...). Fans can one couple times on stop lights. But I was not uncomfortable with the heat off the bike. I had some light jeans on.
As for burning knees, I realize that I do not necessarily hug the tank with my legs (or knees). I keep them slightly apart. I do not want to experiment, but I am pretty sure that at 103 degrees, if I hug the tank, I will get burns too. So, the guys that get burnt, do you hug the tank tighty with your legs (knees)?
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to answere a previous question- I only had jeans on- my riding pants aren't vented too well. And...it was a 50 mile ride to lunch, then back home. Once we got moving above 55mph my guage went back down to center (normal range). I'm gonna try the riding pants with a pair of shorts underneath next time and see if it helps. Oh yeah, open visor on the helmet and Cal Sci tinted shorty windshield helped a lot.
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I don't know what's up with my bike as compared to the rest of y'all's. Even riding in temps as high as 106 my temp guage only shows one bar above the C. Sure, if I'm stopped at a light, or whatever, it'll go up and the fans will kick on. As soon as I get moving, it'll drop right down to one above C every time.
106 F degrees, 6th gear, ~70 mph = one bar above the C
That's interesting! My bike will show two bars above C in temps that hot. I've thought about changing the antifreeze to that wetter stuff, but figure it's not really worth it. In the winter time I put cardboard over the radiator to heat it up more. My bike is parked! Triple digit temps for the last 5 days, highest 108. I don't do the heat. Nothing enjoyable in being stuck in traffic moving 1 mph and BAKING in full sun. Ironically, I have never parked my bike because it is TOO cold! Routinely park it because it is too hot!
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Heat? Wassat?
We have a peak this week of 70F, and more bloody rain forecast. >:(
I'm glad I don't have to commute on the bike any more as am getting sick of being damp.
Did get out for a 4 hr ride on Sunday with my better half.
Yes, we got rained on but only a light shower so no need to drag the waterproofs out.