gtr1400
Parking Attendant
Posts: 19
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posted July 31, 2007 08:41 PM
New Connie Owner
I picked up my Concours last Wednesday. Never thought I 'd own a touring bike, I mean a sport touring bike. My first impression was very good. I own an 07 FJR and and an 06 ST1300. The Connie is a far better bike in all aspects.
I've put on 1000 miles and did 4 complete oil changes to include the rear end. Before anyone asks why...sure the oil comes out clean but put a pint in a glass and point your LED flashlight against it in the dark, you will see a ton of fine metal particles reflecting off the light.
My first project is getting a "one off" exhaust made for it....being made as I write this post. Actually it will be a prototype before going into full production. I get to play with it over the weekend. I will also gouge out the honeycombs in the collector...that should be good for another 3-4 HP alone and getting rid of that torpedo of a muffler should yield another 5-7hp. So I am estimating with a slip on setup probably close to 10hp which is very good power increase over stock including the gutting of the collector honeycomb garbage. I removed the secondaries the first day and yes, it is now bright eyed and bushy tailed with some serious low/mid grunt. Under hard acceleration the front end will loft up through 2nd gear and the front end is still a bit light as you wind up through 3rd. Better off idle response now than my FJR with the "flies" removed. I won't mention TRE..it's a bad word here.
I have some many goodies in store for the Connie but first I want to beef up the potential the 14 motor has. It will be my backup track bike
I own an 06 ZX14 as well, although I won't compare the power between the two bikes, the Connie has great potential in getting hp near the range of the ZX14. You can squash the VVT and install an adjustable cam sprocket and mirror the cam timing of the ZX14 and boomy, ZX14 like torque in an instant.
Two complaints- 1) I'm 5'8 and inseam challenged...Corbin to the rescue, they will have a seat out shortly...yeah yeah! 2) The front shield is worthless, it must be worthless to taller people as well. Fully extended, the top of my head bobbles around like a rag doll. I will be ordering a 3 inch taller screen in a bit.
Top Speed, I've run the Connie up to 157mph - GPS indicated and it had plenty more to go. 6th gear, I mean Overdrive is nice, really smooths out the ride at cruising speed. Drop down two gears and I'm shot off like a rocket.
I also own a Gixxer 1K, went riding with a couple of my Gixxer buddies and they had a run for their money once they let me take the lead on some canyon roads. Peg feelers are ground up, ground clearance is wayyyy better than my FJR. Suspension is awesome for such a heavy bike. Once I got used to the top heaviness, I was comfortably scraping pegs leaving my Gixxer buddies in awe. I will be swapping tires though, the factory ones are not for canyon carving. May slap on some BT014Rs, I know I'll be spending some money on some tires but it's worth the fun. The Gixxer hasn't been ridden in almost a week. Anyone want if for real cheap?..just kidding, that's my primary track bike.
Final words: The Connie is a great versatile bike, wish it had some amenities like my FJR does, ie; factory heater grips, cool dash configuration. Why did they have to paint it that same ugly color like the previous 5 generations of Connies?...I'm painting it in the fall, black or white...or both.
I'll avoid reading and attempt to reply to some very lame postings. DONT COMPARE IT TO THE ZX14 !! It's in a different league. FJR and ST1300 - and these are no competiton to the Connie and I loved my FJR until the new girl arrived. 
  
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AllStingNoBling
Expert Class
Posts: 128
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posted July 31, 2007 10:36 PM
Flies out. Punched through the primary cat. Working on a new muffler. Geeze, you don't screw around!
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nswenson
Novice Class
Posts: 46
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posted July 31, 2007 10:49 PM
It runs fine with the secondaries removed? I thought a pc3 remapping was required for this to work properly due to increased leaning in the mid rpm range. The c14 is mapped a bit leaner than the zx14 in stock form, or so I've heard.
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gtr1400
Parking Attendant
Posts: 19
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posted August 01, 2007 06:32 AM
quote:
It runs fine with the secondaries removed? I thought a pc3 remapping was required for this to work properly due to increased leaning in the mid rpm range. The c14 is mapped a bit leaner than the zx14 in stock form, or so I've heard.
Don't believe everything you read, different environmental conditons exist to cause a big variance in A/F. Actually ran it on the dyno for an A/F check and it is a bit on the rich side considering I'm at sea level and that was with "flies" out.. No horsepower pull yet. The days have been in the high 60s low 70s lately. I'm sure it'll run richer once the temps rise or maybe get close to a good ratio with a bit more heat. I'm curious to pull my PCIII off my ZX14 to see if it will work on the Connie...but I'm not attempting that right now...don't want to blow up my new track bike. Hopefully someone can chime in with that knowledge of compatibility.
Will do another A/F check with the prototype slip on and cats gouged out shortly. All I can say is that its running a lot better than it did the day I rode off from the dealer.
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted August 01, 2007 08:58 AM
Too bad you didn't run it on the dyno to get a baseline so you could quantify your mods.
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gtr1400
Parking Attendant
Posts: 19
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posted August 01, 2007 09:52 AM
quote:
Too bad you didn't run it on the dyno to get a baseline so you could quantify your mods.
Very easy to put the "flies" back in and slip on for a stock base line run. That's the intention when I run the bike on the dyno for before and after numbers for each stage of mod.
Intended dyno runs:
1)Stock
2)with slip on
3) with slip on and gutted collector
4)with slip on, gutted collector, no flies
5)with slip on, gutted collector, no flies, TFI box
Like I mentioned, at least 10hp / 2-4 ft lbs of torque alone by replacing the stock can and gutting the cat mess in the collector - based on current theoretic calculations.
By removing the flies it will improved hp/tq in a broader range starting in the low-mid-to the punch line. The Connie is going to be a "Conan" real quick.
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted August 01, 2007 10:15 AM
Cool, I am looking forward to your results.
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gtr1400
Parking Attendant
Posts: 19
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posted August 01, 2007 10:18 AM
quote:
Cool, I am looking forward to your results.
For the time being I'll be running with flies out, and prototype exhaust.
I was asked not to take photos of the slip on so i'll heed that request.
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08CC14
Expert Class
Posts: 109
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posted August 01, 2007 09:46 PM
Very cool.... got mine today as well. Need to get some time in the saddle and get her broke in. 
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/cc1408/Our%20Connie/P8010012.jpg
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reynoldss
Expert Class
Posts: 207
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posted August 02, 2007 11:59 AM
 Edited By: reynoldss on 2 Aug 2007 13:13
Just got back from a 1400 mile ride. Blue Ridge Parkway was a blast . (from one end to the other) I'm 5'8" as well and have to rely on my Chipawa riding boots, but no problem with them on altough I do have to watch out and will be checking Corbins new seat. Would also like a set of headers, simi quite exhaust, and power commander. This bike has suprised me in every catagory. Power, handling, comfort, are all beyong what I had figured, and I've had my share of bikes so I'm really in seventh heaven. Like I say I just got back from 1400 miles and in the morning I'm taking off again. (best way to spend your vacation)
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Everybodys tyring to go green, I did years ago.
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