TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 29, 2007 06:47 PM
 Edited By: TedG on 30 Jul 2007 15:53
Observations of a sport bike rider on the new C14.
After riding the C14 all week and putting on 1450 miles, I have made some interesting discoveries when comparing the ZX10 to the Concours 14.
First the 10:
So today I took out the 10 for a quick jaunt up to Virginia City and do the truck route. Jumping on the 10 the first thing you notice is how light it comes off the side stand, Then just pushing out of the garage the thing seems like a toy. Taking off you really notice how low the bars are and how high the pegs are. The 10 seems to turn slowly at low speeds in comparison to the C14. Then you notice the vibrations (which I really didn't notice before) but they don't bother you because they seem natural and make you part of the machine. Droning down the highway sucks, in town traffic sucks, stopping at lights sucks, the 10 is at home on a twisty road and is just a joy, The wheelies are so much fun, Hammering the throttle coming out of a corner and lofting the wheel is priceless. One also notices that if you tilt you head back a bit the motorcycle disappears from underneath you giving you a feeling of freedom and almost like flying. This is about the C14 so I won't go into the 10's handling, but the power and ability to muster speed is incredible.
Now the C14:
I jump off the 10 and after a Gatorade I jump on the 14, The first thing you notice is the how heavy it comes off the stand and how big and heavy it seems to be when pushing it out of the garage. But thumb the starter and the world changes, The smoothness hits you in the face, Just riding to the gas station is a joy, Once moving at 5 mph all the weight goes away, The thing feels light and nimble and turns very quickly. Gently shifting through the gears the power is so smooth if you don't watch the speedo you are in for a ticket. The riding position is really good (I have changed my mind about altering it) just plain comfortable. After hopping off the 10 you notice there is a bunch of motorcycle under and in front of you, So off to Downieville, This route will take me 35 miles of freeway, 35 miles of mountain roads, and 35 miles of twisty bumpy roads, Droning down the freeway is a pleasure, The thing wants to go fast and even in with 6th (OD) being super tall (10500 RPM = 230 MPH) there is good power and you seldom need to downshift, but if you do the thing is a rocket in disguise. You do notice a pretty good amount of vibration( nothing like the 10 or a BMW k bike) when you accelerate hard. But once you are in OD and semi legal speeds the thing goes into super smooth mode.. Now onto the mountain roads toward Sierraville (BD knows what I am talking about) The only thing that stops you from absolutely destroying that road is the cops. Roll into a corner marked 40 at 90 and just lean off a bit and the thing tracks through like it is on rails, Accelerate out (in 3rd) and the thing rolls up to 110 120 ish no sweat. There is a slight bit of wallow on the really fast corners,but nothing a bit of rear preload wouldn't cure. If you weren't looking for it you would never notice it. The bike just ate up the road and it seemed like I traveled the 35 miles in 10 minutes, Now onto the last part on to Downieville, This road is pretty twisty with uneven surfaces with a layer of dirt in places from trucks. This thing just rips them up, Slide your butt off the seat, stick your knee out and there are sport bikes that will disappear in the mirror. You have to shift alot to really go fast and no other bike needs a slipper clutch more than this one, There is a huge difference between gears and down shifting makes for big RPM changes. The clutch is a dream, Just hammer it down and the clutch stops all the foolishness. The bike is so quiet you can hear the tires screeching under you, Scares you at first. Then hit it and this thing rockets out of the corner, NO shaft lift or squat,,,,none. I am impressed with the Bridgestone Sport Touring tires.
I got to Downieville not tired, Got a lemonade and turned around and went home, Same story in reverse.
This bike is not a home run, it is a Grand slam.
Also there is no bike on this planet that needs a radar detector more than this one, It is so smooth and quiet, you have no clue of your speed.
I will post more as I think of them.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
  
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nswenson
Novice Class
Posts: 46
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posted July 29, 2007 07:12 PM
I know exactly what you're talking about. It really inspires confidence in the twisties. I have no problem grinding flat spots into the peg feelers with complete stability.
Just curious about your suspension setup. I haven't adjusted mine from the factory defaults. What changes did you make. Did you keep track of the number of clicks you dialed in on rear preload and changes to the front? I weight about 210 plus gear. I was thinking to add 6 clicks clockwise to the rear and maybe .2 inches more preload adjustment to the front, as the default settings are for 150# rider. What about dampening on the front? Should I leave it at the default. I've never messed with suspension settings before.
Nathan
San Francisco, CA
Concours 14 ABS
'00 BMW K1200LT
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Nathan
San Francisco, CA
'08 Concours 14 ABS
'00 K1200LT
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Big Daddy
Zone Head
Posts: 616
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posted July 29, 2007 08:10 PM
Nice write up Ted.
BD
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
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posted July 29, 2007 08:17 PM
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 29, 2007 09:19 PM
Nathan, I just did 2 clicks more rebound front and rear. And 2 clicks more preload in the back and 1 stripe more in the front. I am 155 + gear.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 29, 2007 09:23 PM
BD knows this route (we have ridden it together before) And it is a good test of how a bike handles. I thought of him a couple of times, thinking how impressed he will be with the handling. I had a great time on the thing. One could easily live with this as their only bike.
____________
Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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Big Daddy
Zone Head
Posts: 616
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posted July 29, 2007 09:28 PM
TED,
if one was inclined to alter the geometry a bit (raise the tubes or raise the rear) can it be done??
BD
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 29, 2007 09:29 PM
Another thought, I will say that the brakes on this bike are better than on the 10. The initial bite is great. And the rear is very useful because of the weight ,the rear wheel doesn't dance around.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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Big Daddy
Zone Head
Posts: 616
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posted July 29, 2007 09:32 PM
quote:
Another thought, I will say that the brakes on this bike are better than on the 10. The initial bite is great. And the rear is very useful because of the weight ,the rear wheel doesn't dance around.
the calipers on the c14 and 07 zx6r are a direct bolt on to the zx10 if interested..:-)
BD
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 29, 2007 09:34 PM
Edited By: TedG on 30 Jul 2007 10:05
quote:
TED,
if one was inclined to alter the geometry a bit (raise the tubes or raise the rear) can it be done??
BD
I don't see why not, it is basically a ZX14 front end, Exact same wheel, brakes, fender, the only difference I see is there is no compression damping adjuster and the rebounds have little knobs on them The upside down fork looks the same.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 29, 2007 09:37 PM
quote:
quote:
Another thought, I will say that the brakes on this bike are better than on the 10. The initial bite is great. And the rear is very useful because of the weight ,the rear wheel doesn't dance around.
the calipers on the c14 and 07 zx6r are a direct bolt on to the zx10 if interested..:-)
BD
Mine are pretty good with the Brembo MC, lines, and EBC pads.
____________
Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted July 30, 2007 02:49 PM
Also this thing needs a digital speedo in the worst way. Analog speedos are lame.
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gtr1400
Parking Attendant
Posts: 19
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posted August 01, 2007 07:29 AM
...and his write up was on a stock Connie. Imagine with no flies, slip on, and gutted collector catalyst....like mine. It is a blast..can't wait for the prototype exhaust in the works right as we speak. Should have it by Friday to blast around the weekend with.
Suspension setup: Get the sag set...you can't do this by yourself or with 2 or 3 people who are clueless about proper suspension setup......take it to someone who knows suspensions. You'd be amazed what $20 can do for 'ya in terms of improved handling. I did mine through Kyle Racing and it only took 10 minutes.
I thought my Gixxer 1K handled great off the showroom floor, after the suspension experts did a couple clicks here and there, the bike handled much much better...very noticeable on the track.
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Big Daddy
Zone Head
Posts: 616
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posted August 01, 2007 07:48 AM
Ted's capable of suspension setup but if not my services and or help is free.
BD
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D
Needs a job
Posts: 3365
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posted August 01, 2007 08:54 AM
You guys are killin me here - lookin more and more like this'll be the bike I get come end of the year.
Just don't ask BD for any wheel color recommendations :P
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted August 01, 2007 09:02 AM
I didn't mention this in the write up, Commuting back and forth to work is a pleasure. Also all sorts of people on other bikes, Harleys, sport bikes, BMW riders, MC cops, have commented on how beautiful the bike is.
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AllStingNoBling
Expert Class
Posts: 128
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posted August 01, 2007 09:21 AM
TegG is the man!
I imagine reading your write up, Joe Average would be inclined to think you were talking about a large sport bike. If Joe Average then saw a picture of what bike you were really talking about, it would blow his mind! 
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Big Daddy
Zone Head
Posts: 616
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posted August 01, 2007 11:01 AM
quote:
You guys are killin me here - lookin more and more like this'll be the bike I get come end of the year.
Just don't ask BD for any wheel color recommendations :P
mine shall be orange this time around.........:-)
BD
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warbird
Needs a job
Posts: 2739
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posted August 01, 2007 03:54 PM
Thanks Ted................  Fish's insight has been fun to read also. A lot of people seem to feel the same............that this could be their only bike..................
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I'd Rather Be Roadracing.
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D
Needs a job
Posts: 3365
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posted August 01, 2007 04:04 PM
quote:
quote:
You guys are killin me here - lookin more and more like this'll be the bike I get come end of the year.
Just don't ask BD for any wheel color recommendations :P
mine shall be orange this time around.........:-)
BD
Yeah - will be great ta see how quickly this one shows up on Ebay
I think yer 10 musta sold a coupla hundred times!
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worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted August 05, 2007 09:59 AM
...do mine eyes decieve me????....am I reading a buncha hard-core sportbike riders getting into bagging?....never thought I'd ever see a buncha hooligans waxing poetic about a heavy sport bagger, but leave it to Kawasaki to make something for them to write home about...test ride for me comin' up tomorrow 
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worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted August 05, 2007 10:02 AM
Edited By: worm~hole on 5 Aug 2007 11:11
quote:
Also this thing needs a digital speedo in the worst way. Analog speedos are lame.
....REALLY REALLY BIG digital speedo numbers....for you cophaters 
...all that LCD real estate front and center screams for a digital speed read...hmmmm...maybe ridgeracer will figure a way to reprogram it 
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted August 05, 2007 04:34 PM
Yes wormie, ;you are reading it right, Finally a bagger with enough power and handling to make us hardcore hooligans happy. Motorcycles are about performance, and this thing delivers. But it delivers smoothly and quietly. One ride on this and those Harley dreams you have been having will go right out the window.
No we don't hate real cops, just the armed meter mollies.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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Big Daddy
Zone Head
Posts: 616
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posted August 05, 2007 05:45 PM
wormie enjoy your test ride with the bagger.
BD
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worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted August 05, 2007 07:42 PM
Edited By: worm~hole on 5 Aug 2007 20:44
...hey, I had an HD bagger once, sold it ot my brother...hell after the test ride, I might even come home with one  ...but since I'm poor the green '08 KLR650 would be first...Corbin flat seat, WhiteBros. pipe, sub-frame bolt upgrade, steel braided brake lines, TurboCity rear/side racks, soft bags and soft top trunk badabing badabang DONE...long-distance touring on the cheap...and off-road capable, too!....but I must digress....this IS a C14 forum....carry on
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