Daily driver or not, it's a must have for me.  Would never buy another bike without it.

Wouldn't hurt, that's for sure.  The safer you feel when riding, the better the ride will be for you.  Not so common on 08-09 models, but found on most 10-14's out there. . .

Another question... if your C14 was a mandatory daily driver... rain or shine, would you consider ABS as a "Must Have"?

I consider it a must have, regardless of daily or not.  Opinions will vary, but I think it is a very important safety feature I would not want to do without... especially for those of us who are not "super expert" drivers.  One reason that Kawasaki starting making it standard on the C14.

Yeah, knowing the two previous wrecks I had on the Vulcan 1500... wet city riding... I feel I gotta get an ABS model.  Would love a 2010+ but seeing some folks getting those models with low miles for $5000 to $7500 and sometimes more.  I don't see much difference in miles and condition.  What's the magic to getting the steal of a deal on the C14?  Do you need to have the cash in hand and the ability to wait for the deal to come along over  a long period of time?  I will likely have to sell the F150 in May, and pray for a quick sell, and getting what I need (No guarantee there!) then praying I find the bike that meets my needs and budget in a maximum 2 month window.

What's the magic to getting the steal of a deal on the C14?

* Patience
* Research
* Tenacity
* Time
* Willingness to travel far
* Willingness to negotiate spiritedly
* Luck
* Not being me

* Not being me

Impetuous are you?  Me too.

Just happened to see a C14 on a long time dealer friend's site. Walked in and said I want the C14 on the lot, but the price is too high.  He came off almost $2K, installed new Z8's and all new pads, to boot.  Bought it, and have been happy ever since.  The whole deal took probably 30 minutes.  tp

Yeah, its just going to be a "wait and see if it can happen" thing for me.  Can't be without a vehicle for very long... so sell the F150, pray I can snag another 2k to add to that, and then find one that is in good enough shape and will fit my budget within about and month, and go pay cash.  Can't finance a penny... credit in the tank.   So the start are all going to have to align for me to find what I need with what I have when I need to. 

If I luck up and end up getting much more financial aid offered than I think, then I could do what I need and sell the truck once the bike is located.  However, time will only tell about that, and that's about 9 months away.

Find a C14 owner who wants a truck and strike up a trade deal.  If you trade, your State buyer's tax would be much lower, only the difference, if any should be your tax liability.  At least that's how it is in TX. 

wc, have you considered a late model C10 for 3-4k and keep the truck?

wc, have you considered a late model C10 for 3-4k and keep the truck?

Hi! I have, but I just don't like the body style... it has too much of a "utilitarian" look for me.

Find a C14 owner who wants a truck and strike up a trade deal.  If you trade, your State buyer's tax would be much lower, only the difference, if any should be your tax liability.  At least that's how it is in TX.

Yeah... but my truck is not one most want and it's worth less than the bikes.  2005, F150, 4.2L V6, former fleet truck, gold, mint tan vinyl int., roll up windows, no cruise, no power locks, just a very clean, basic truck worth about 5 at the most.

You need to find someone who's been sitting on one for a long time. They're out there. Just act like you don't want it and watch them cave in on their price.

You need to find someone who's been sitting on one for a long time. They're out there. Just act like you don't want it and watch them cave in on their price. 8)

Yeah... And unfortunately, thats gonna be impossible in my case.  Im not gonna have the option of being without a vehicle for more than a week or two, so i will have to purchase a bike as soon as the truck sold. Probably not gonna work out. Ive waited 7 years... Prob just gonna have to wait 4 or 5 more. Sucks.

You need to find someone who's been sitting on one for a long time. They're out there. Just act like you don't want it and watch them cave in on their price.

knock 'em off of it, and ride into the wind

Thanks for all the information, folks.  I appreciate it.  Just found out the 2005 F150 needs ball joints, so probably won't be fixing or selling it.  No C14, and possibly no grad school.  Life at 50.

Thanks for all the information, folks.  I appreciate it.  Just found out the 2005 F150 needs ball joints, so probably won't be fixing or selling it.  No C14, and possibly no grad school.  Life at 50.

Ball joints? Grad school? You've got to have priorities man! C14 trumps both of those hands down! 

Thanks for all the information, folks.  I appreciate it.  Just found out the 2005 F150 needs ball joints, so probably won't be fixing or selling it.  No C14, and possibly no grad school.  Life at 50.

I don't know you, so I am basing this comment solely on your post.  Your post sounds like a person looking for an excuse.  If replacing ball joints keeps you from going to grad school, you either have larger issuers or are a dreamer like so many people I know.  Don‘t mean to offend and hoping you are just kidding with your post.

Are you selling the truck

Are you selling the truck

Hi. I am not sure.  The truck will not be paid off till the summer and the plan was to keep it as pristine as possible for the hope of getting about $5500 for it.  Getting it checked in the next two weeks to find out if its an upper or lower ball joint.  Can't afford any repairs, so trying to figure out what it will sell for at that time.

I don't know you, so I am basing this comment solely on your post.  Your post sounds like a person looking for an excuse.  If replacing ball joints keeps you from going to grad school, you either have larger issuers or are a dreamer like so many people I know.  Don‘t mean to offend and hoping you are just kidding with your post.

I appreciate your message.  I could give folks here a full picture of our situation, but honestly, it would be a VERY long read to adequately explain.  I have some severe medical conditions that remain untreated due to no insurance for past 3 years and we make too much for assistance.  I spent a lifetime in an artistic field before I married, so all my experience is there.  Now 50, married, with a 15 year old stepchild, and unable to just up and travel here and there every 3 months, money and work is very tight.  I need to go to grad school as it's a good offer and best option for our next 20 years.  My truck won't be paid off till June, and it appears it now needs upper ball joints.  We barely can make the payment much less repairs... hence we wanted a bike for me to go to school to allow us to visit on the gas money saved from not driving the F150.  However, we dramatically needed something built like iron with minimal cost.  The C14 seems the best bet, one under warranty, with ABS, as my two wrecks came on wet pavement and would likely not have happened if I'd had it in the past.  However, with the truck, my medical issues, I don't see us having the 7k to get a 2010+ model C14.... and that would be a good deal at that.  This is the short answer, and not going into other factors.  Sorry, but there's a lot going on here.  Thanks.