I traded up from a 2009 Versys which I loved thrashing around while commuting everyday. Now its like I'm riding a spaceship to work, so much nicer. The POWWAAAA. Its so nice having this much torque on tap to comfortable and calmly ride around, its very effortless.
I picked it up with 0 miles 2 weeks ago and Im now closing in on 800 miles. At first the bike felt very heavy but now I don't even notice it.
I picked up a tire warranty, 5 tires for 300 bucks which is a steal as well as the extended GTPP 3 year plan. I really love this machine.
A few items I have discovered:
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You must pre-load the shifter (very lightly pick up the slack, not necessarily push on the forks) and shift quickly, its very smooth. sloppy shifting feels very clanky on this transmission.
Throttle slack was way off out of the box, loosed both lock nuts. Took up the slack by tightening the return cable (further from the grip) and then had to play with the throttle cable. I set it to 1mm and now its much more responsive especially during a roll off/on when shifting.
Changed the oil at 400 miles and it was full of metalics which was expected, changed out rear end oil for mobil1 75w90 with appropriate fill level.
A few bolts on the plastic diff cover are fake, it had my baffled until I got one out and realized it was some aesthetic choice by the designers.
After 500 miles I pulled the windshield, tank cover, glove box, upper dash and upper plastic (vented) fairings. While it all came out easily the fairings were a pain to line up and get back in, the glove box also did not want to seat back in easily. I checked the header nuts, all tight and mine had loctite from the factory.
All chassis/suspension bolts were tight at 500 but ALLL plastic panel bolts were loose.
Left hard bag does not seal as well as the right, maybe i'll have it warranty replaced. No biggie, its still water tight.
I would only ride for an hour before I wanted to punch myself in the @#$@# on the versys. Although I could hang off on the versys and slide the rear end occasionally while starting every light with a wheelie the Connie is comfortable. I'm 6'4 and around 300lbs. Its like some Japanese moto-god built me a superbike with luggage. Everything fits perfect. I can ride it for 3-4 hours without getting off.
Kipass is not annoying and it works well. I have read so much fuss about it yet I ride everyday, I gear up and down many times perday. I start the bike 2-3 times a day and it Kipass works.
Its been raining in Central Texas for a week or two and the bike handles rain like a champ.
I like the windshield in the lower position, the upper position gives the expected and complained about buffeting/bobble. I like to feel the wind on me, part of the experience and the lower position gives me more street cred with the mohawk CBR/ZX/GSXR crowd.
The bike handles amazing for 688lbs wet and a 300lb rider. I rode Lime Creek rd Leander, Tx rd a few times and it just plain handles well out of the box for what it is. Brakes dig in hard, smooth throttle control at 4k through the apex and roll on right after 5k rockets to the next turn. I was expecting the bike to not impress me that much in handling but it did.
I know people swap out the rear for a 190/55 but I think it works just fine with 44psi and the stock 190/50. I do not want to hit the limit in the corner on this bike, I was scraping boots already!!!
Somebody ate all my chicken strips.
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I swapped in dino kawasaki 10w40 and a kawa filter/crush washer. I had a giftcard on amazon and the oil change kit was 50 bucks shipped. After another 700-800 miles i'll swap in some amsoil. I see a bunch of really good UOA's on them for high hp 4 cyl bike engines.
I have an airhawk 2 med cruiser pad in the mail. I plan on riding from central texas to Enterprise, AL in January, stay with my brother for a day then ride back. Hopefully the airhawk will make the bike even more comfortable for a long tour, which I have never done.
Future plans:
Vance & Hines CS One Black pipe
passenger peg lowering kit for the wife
Thats really about it.
