I am pretty skeptical too, myself. There are some appreciable differences between the two bikes, but they are way too similar in most ways to possibly justify buying both of them. Just doesn't make any sense at all.
If I had the scratch, I'd have gone with a BMW 1600, then get a ZX14.
I have two bikes, my C14 and '91 Katana 1100- long live Ratty Katty!
My dad loves his GSX-1100F, but he wants to move to a C14 after riding mine. But that bike had an electrically adjustable windshield in 1990!
I am in a similar situation as Kurt is. I own a 2005 R1200RT which I love. To be honest, I have no complaints about it at all. That said, I have heard some great things about the Concours, and am debating adding one to my garage, if only because I think that it too is probably a great bike.
I have ridden the Concours on an extended test ride, and the only issue that I experienced about the Concours which I was not happy with was there was a lot of wind noise at freeway speeds. I am assuming that this could be addressed by the installation of a larger windscreen.
After my test ride on the Concours, I want to purchase one, because I think that it's a great motorcycle. I don't particularly need one, and I think that you can't go wrong with either the BMW R1200RT or the Concours. With that said, they are different enough bikes that I think one could get away with one of each and not feel like there's too much redundancy in what they offer.
I can shed some light on the BMW. Can someone do the same for the Concours?
Dealer Services:
6,000 mile service: $304.55
12,000 mile service: $518.52
18,000 mile service: $312.62
24,000 mile service: $609.07
I don't ever have dealers do my service - I do it myself. But these numbers you are showing don't sound all that high to me. Do the higher two include a valve check?Probably includes the ABS brake service. Wanna see a shade tree nightmare? Look at what is needed to do the servo assisted ABS brakes. It was what drove me into the proverbial ditch. Praise be to mama kaw and getting me back on road
I don't ever have dealers do my service - I do it myself. But these numbers you are showing don't sound all that high to me. Do the higher two include a valve check?
Probably includes the ABS brake service. Wanna see a shade tree nightmare? Look at what is needed to do the servo assisted ABS brakes. It was what drove me into the proverbial ditch. Praise be to mama kaw and getting me back on road
Well, today was the day I was going to buy a motorcycle...
I took both the R1200RT and the C14 out on test rides along the same stretch of roads. In my opinion, the bikes are totally different; the C14 clearly sporty, while the RT more tour oriented. There was a surprising amount of wind noise on the C14 along with upper body heat (that surprised me, had not read about that in 2011). But the power and smoothness the bike has is contagious and makes you have to have the bike!
I rode the RT and fell in love. It is quiet, comfortable, has plenty of power, and handles well.
Truly I could not decide which to buy. So I bought both!!
Kurt
2011 C14 Silver
2012 R1200RT Blue
Congratulation the BMW is a nice bike when it runs the Kawi is a better bike. You’ll also have the Kawi to ride while your BMW is at the dealer for repairs. Also never trust the fuel gauge on the BMW or eventually you’ll find yourself out of gas with a gauge that read a half a tank.
I posted the maintenance costs on my R1200RT yesterday, and asked others to do the same for the C14, for comparison purposes. Thus far, nobody has done so.
Would someone please post their maintenance costs for comparison purposes?
I ll be honest with you, i dont see the purposes of your questions when yours answers are biased toward the R1200.
I would ve try to answer your question but i do almost all the work myself. So for the 7500, 11250 and the 15000, it cost me between 75$ and 200$ mainly in fluid, gease and parts.
Good luck in your quest
Derry
Had one since 08, 4 or 5 fuel strips replaced and every time it went out it would read higher than actual fuel levels. After the second time I was stranded out of gas with a gauge reading of a half a tank I started to rely on the trip odometer for fill ups. It’s also been through 1 clutch, 2 windshield actuator arms, drive shaft came apart, rear wheel bearing went out and at least a half dozen kick stand switches, all within 50k miles. The last 10k have been trouble free. It’s a great bike when everything works.
The C14 is a fast bike!! It is loud on the highway, but for sport riding on roads, I am not sure it can be beat. I don't see myself taking this bike on extended tours.
Kurt
Cheers, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone,
Mike Shelton
Stafford, VA