thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 01, 2007 07:17 PM
 Edited By: thabeaner on 1 Jul 2007 20:17
Video of mine.
And don't bitch about no background music. You can pretend the '89 Honda civic in the background is music. Otherwise enjoy!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4840171711797162091
____________
That just happened!
  
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted July 01, 2007 08:23 PM
nice!
assist -
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
|
Ulric
Parking Attendant
Posts: 11
|
posted July 02, 2007 03:01 AM
Thanks!
Ulric
|
thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 02, 2007 07:09 AM
Thanks fish. meant to do that but forgot.
____________
That just happened!
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted July 02, 2007 08:45 AM
how do you like the bike?
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
|
thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 02, 2007 09:32 AM
I love it. Smooth and lots of power. My wife loves it too. Big plus! 
Looking to change the oil soon
Ordered Purolator L14612 Oil Filter for the first oil change. Should be here before friday.
Looking at the zx forums it seems this filter worked for those bikes. Figured it shouldn't be too different. I'm sure I'll be corrected here if I assumed wrong, but hopefully not.
____________
That just happened!
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted July 02, 2007 09:37 AM
I'd be cautious about replacing the filter with non-oem ones.. I know that there were some specifics for Kawi bikes, esp the ZX-10R that had a specific filter for the bike.. even other KMC equivalents woulldnt work (though they fit)... has to do with the valving and spring pressure rate inside the filter...
just a thought (7 years worth of Kawi knowledge on this site in the different forums)
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
|
Ulric
Parking Attendant
Posts: 11
|
posted July 02, 2007 11:01 AM
Hey, about the "music?" Hell, the sound of that bike idling was music to MY ears!
Do you change the oil yourself? I wonder if that might have an adverse effect on the warranty if you DID accidentally use the wrong filter? Of course, we all know that the mechanics at the dealers probably have not serviced too many of these beauties yet, either.
I have not dealt with Kawaski before, but I get the impression they stand by their bikes - many dealers are just LOOKING for excuses not to honor a warranty.
Ulric
|
worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
|
posted July 02, 2007 11:17 AM
...thanks....that's the first I've seen it without the bags attached...I have until the 13th to decide whether or not to place my order with my dealer...with ABS, of course  ....I'd still like to see it in person before I place the order...or wait a few months for someone to sell his/her undamaged with extended warranty low-mileage used one 
|
thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 02, 2007 11:23 AM
Dealer told me the filter is the same as the zx-14 so I can therefore assume that any filter that has worked on the zx-14 will work on the concours.
There are court rulings in favor of owners doing their own maintanence. You just have to be able to prove it, and you will be resposible for anything that YOUR work destroys, which sounds fair enough. An oil change is easy. Adjusting the valves may be a little harder, but I am guessing that after 15,000 miles, someone will have a nice how to written up. There are plenty of guys wrenching on the zx already and the only thing the concours has that is much different is the Ki-Pass system, but I don't think that will do much for adjusting the valves
So basically, keep receipts of all your work supplies and good logs and your warranty will be safe. I don't see a point in paying a dealer 25+ for something I can do for under 10. I am a cheap ass though. But I know the filters they use aren't that great. May as well be frams.
I have heard of many problems with Kawasaki dealers, doing things such as charging for valve checks, but never taking the valve cover off and the like. I did all my own maintanence on my KLR, including valve adjustments, but that was a much simpler bike. I will have to see how comfortable I get with this bike. On a KLR, a 25 dollar oil change doesn't make any sense, but for a concours, it might. Either way, it will come down to hassle, not product and I would rather give them the filter and oil that I want on the bike and have them use it instead of them using the filter and oil that makes them the most money (cheapest bid) and putting it on MY bike that I depend on.
That's just a personal choice though. YMMV
____________
That just happened!
|
worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
|
posted July 02, 2007 11:52 AM
...I don't recall: is the cat in the muffler or at the end of the headers under the bike?....and if the cat is at the end of the headers, does it angle towards the right side or is it centered under the bike?...
...if the cat is in the muffler, I guess we can say bye-bye to a shorter, smaller, resaonably-priced higher performance slip-on muffler, huh?...never mind a hi-perf 4into2 conversion for asthetics sake...two smaller mufflers would look better and flow as much if not more depending on size and design, I would think....
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted July 02, 2007 01:09 PM
quote:
Dealer told me the filter is the same as the zx-14 so I can therefore assume that any filter that has worked on the zx-14 will work on the concours.
I know... however re: 10R ... my dealer told me the same thing... that 3 filters were all compatible with the 10R .. however KMC said different and pointed out that even though all 3 fit, only one is the correct filter... it's most likely a case of the dealers trying to get rid of current (or what's available) stock to make a buck...
either way it's food for thought for you! You already at 600 mi's?
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
|
thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 02, 2007 01:21 PM
Not yet. Only 150 or so.
I see no harm in changing early. I like to get the shavings out early. I'm sure it's fine to wait 600 miles too.
Oil changes and everything involved with them (oil brand, oil filter, oil weight) are one of the areas that seem to get people the most fired up so I try not to say too much Everyone wants everyone else to agree with them. I'm new to this forum, but not to forums
Are you waiting till 600?
Are you a supporter of hard break-ins or baby break-ins?
(We might as well get this all out of the way now before more people get them and try to argue about it later)
I support the stand of hard break-ins. Let the engine warm up first, then follow with short but heavy accelerations working through the gears, followed by engine deceleration on the way back down. Variation of RPMs at all times. Have read some good articles supporting this method. It is supposed to help set the rings on the pistons and create less blow by compared to the baby method.
Since I use this method, I also believe in a shorter oil change cycle during the break-in period. The break-in period is when the most shavings will be found in your oil. I'd rather get that out right away and keep the oil clean through the break-in process.
Some people may disagree...but I can deal with that.
____________
That just happened!
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted July 02, 2007 01:29 PM
yep... we break in a lot of bikes... the oil that's in their is specified for the break in period... If it was me I'd leave it in for the prescribed amount of time and then suggest switching to synthetic, but not before then...
Kawasakis (esp that engine) are very tight from the factory.. I've broken in 3 zx-14s and they really change character a lot in the first 1500 miles of their life... best to let them seat themselves properly and no.. don't do the "motoman method"... Simply use your common sense, and dont lug the engine!
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
|
thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 02, 2007 01:29 PM
Oh, and as for the filter, I am confident enough to try it. I will let everyone here know if it works or not, even if it's 20,000+ miles down the road. Granted it will be considered working until it doesn't so you can take my word with a grain of salt if you wish.
____________
That just happened!
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted July 02, 2007 01:31 PM
no problem! Break in is of course a controversial subject, but I really wouldnt touch that oil for the first 600. I certainly wont.
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
|
thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 02, 2007 01:32 PM
Edited By: thabeaner on 2 Jul 2007 14:48
What is the "motoman method"?
Nevermind, got it. The method I was talking about.
____________
That just happened!
|
thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 02, 2007 02:06 PM
Have you done dynos on bikes broken-in with both methods? Just curious, not trying to start a shitfest. Curious because I'd rather do it right.
____________
That just happened!
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted July 02, 2007 02:15 PM
have I personally? no... but there are enough industry people ("real" industry people) from all the OEMs (including Kawasaki) who post regularly in our forums who can answer your question if you're not happy following the manual's instructions!
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
|
thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 02, 2007 02:28 PM
That's cool. You just seem to know a lot so I thought I would ask. No offense intended and hopefully none taken.
I've enjoyed the few miles I've put on the bike and look forward to many more and I wish the same for you.
Thanks for your constructive input. I will definitely take it all into consideration.
____________
That just happened!
|
thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 02, 2007 02:33 PM
quote:
...I don't recall: is the cat in the muffler or at the end of the headers under the bike?....and if the cat is at the end of the headers, does it angle towards the right side or is it centered under the bike?...
...if the cat is in the muffler, I guess we can say bye-bye to a shorter, smaller, resaonably-priced higher performance slip-on muffler, huh?...never mind a hi-perf 4into2 conversion for asthetics sake...two smaller mufflers would look better and flow as much if not more depending on size and design, I would think....
It looks to be at the end of the headers under the bike and it angles towards the right. I am not positive on the location, but that seems to be the logical place and it looks like I'd get burnt nicely if I touched it there. I am not 100% on the location though. Might be able to look up a parts diagram on kawis site to really find out. I'm too lazy though. Maybe later or you could do it.
____________
That just happened!
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted July 02, 2007 02:44 PM
I know a few things, but mostly I know that you can find pretty much any answer you need from this site since it's top heavy with tech/industry folk 
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
|
thabeaner
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
|
posted July 02, 2007 03:55 PM
There's a picture of (allegedly) you wheelieing the C14.
I'm guessing you're in first? Just above 4,000 rpms? How easy did it come up?
I haven't been too keen on trying to lift it up just yet, but maybe soon
____________
That just happened!
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted July 02, 2007 04:26 PM
Edited By: fish_antlers on 2 Jul 2007 17:27
as easily as you can wheelie a 700 lb motorcycle 
why do you say "allegedly"? You a cop ?
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
|
worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
|
posted July 02, 2007 05:14 PM
quote:
yep... we break in a lot of bikes... the oil that's in their is specified for the break in period... If it was me I'd leave it in for the prescribed amount of time and then suggest switching to synthetic, but not before then...
Kawasakis (esp that engine) are very tight from the factory.. I've broken in 3 zx-14s and they really change character a lot in the first 1500 miles of their life... best to let them seat themselves properly and no.. don't do the "motoman method"... Simply use your common sense, and dont lug the engine!
...does that mean that you already have at least 4500 miles of ZX14 ride time on three different ZX14s??? 
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC