rep2ny
Parking Attendant
Posts: 21
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posted August 05, 2007 05:47 PM
Just rode the new C-14 home from Colorado
So I drove Thursday evening from Utah with my wife to the dealership in Colorado. We picked up the bike and headed back west on US 50 from Florence through Montrose, Gunnison, and Grand Junction. I was thinking of doing the "hard break in" but the dealer strongly encouraged me to follow the manufacturer break in for reasons other than just the piston rings. Although Kawasaki recommends under 4000 RPM the dealer conceded that it wouldn't hurt it to go to 5000 or so in the first 500 miles. My ride home was 510 miles. What a drag to try to keep RPMs at 4 or 5000 or less and do it while varying engine speed. It was OK on US 50 as it is a winding two lane highway - great fun. But, we hit I-70 at about 10 o'clock at night. It is a 75 mile an hour highway that everyone travels 90. So, I was the dork on the superbike being passed by Tercels and minivans. Of course, I would accelerate to about 90 or so and pass them (around 4500 RPM in OD) then slow to 45 or so, then accelerate back up - all to keep from "freeway droning" the motor. I'm sure everyone thought I was nuts (and I probably was) and it got real old after while. I think my wife just set her cruise control at about 90 in her little Mercedes then waited for me to catch up. Anyhow, I didn't really enjoy the "break in" trip.
So, some comments: Wow, the thing can be really fast, even without exceeding 6000 RPM - I wonder what it will be like at higher revs! It very effortlessly wants to run up to and cruise at 90 or 100. It rolls effortlessly from lean to lean - zig zag through the white stripes - it' so easy! It started out pretty buzzy for the first hundred miles or so. But, with miles it seems to be getting smoother and stronger. I got rained on quite a bit but my levis stayed dry. I think this is the protection of the fairing and the hot blow dryer coming off the engine. I rode it today wearing shorts (probably shouldn't do that) but the thing makes a LOT of heat . I haven't yet been able to make the headlight adjusters work - I'll have the dealer look at it at 600 miles this week - it made for a long, dark ride home Friday night in the rain with the headlight pointed down in front of me. I left it on high beam all the way home but even that was inadequate. But, the adjusters did nothing. Traded bikes with my FJR friend this afternoon. The two are very similar. Recognizing my bias, the Kawasaki feels smoother, faster, and more nimble. Rolling left to right lean and back again is much more nimble and quick on the C-14 than the FJR. I lean forward a little more on the Kaw than the FJR. But, really, for a regular rider there is so little difference between them. Maybe you guys with race licenses will find the subtle differences but for regular riders like me, either bike has more performance than I will ever use. I like to think I can go 170 on it but I never will. I changed the oil and filter at 510 miles when I got home. I'll let my local dealer do the 600 mile service. I am 6 feet tall and 200 lbs and 50 yrs old. I have a hard time swinging my leg over the C-14 without kicking the panniers. So, I took them off. I think the bike looks hot without them. I'll use them when I need them. Without the boxes the muffler really is a huge cannon. But, that is my 6 year old's favorite feature. I kind of like it too. My wife does not enjoy the back seat - at all. She says all it does is go fast and turn hard. I said, "yea!". Anyhow, for pure fun and joy of motorcycling, I think the C-14 is going to be hard to beat. For travelling with wife on the back, you still can't do better than a GL 1800. I will be curious to see what the forum comes up with for a cruise control device for this bike.
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1983 VF 1100C
1997 535 Virago
2000 FXDWG
2002 GL 1800
2008 C-14
  
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted August 05, 2007 06:13 PM
I had the same problem with the headlights, Here is the deal, you have to just keep twisting and twisting, Mine seemed like it took 20 turns. The threads must be very very fine.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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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 07:52 PM
...I like ThrottleMeister's mechancal cruise control for bikes not equiped with a factory cruise control...its a very sanitary set-up and very easy to use...
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08CC14
Expert Class
Posts: 109
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posted August 05, 2007 07:58 PM
Thanks for your comments rep2ny. My wife finds the seat very comfortable - but then again she's never had the luxury of sitting on a GL1800 and I probably shouldn't let her. I also had the same problem with the lights - and had to keep turning them in the "up" direction to be able to see further front. I've only got 400 miles so far... the suspense waiting to exceed break-in miles is almost as bad as waiting for the bike to arrive at the dealer. 
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'08 ABS Concours 14
'97 YZF600R
'00 ZX6e (rideable but needs paint)
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bikerscape
Parking Attendant
Posts: 3
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posted August 06, 2007 07:07 PM
 Edited By: bikerscape on 6 Aug 2007 20:08
I had to turn one some and then the other, then back to the first, etc... About 3 iterations. Alternating seems to help on mine.
Oh, and the TM ... works very well.
http://rlmotorcycles.com/home/Accessories/throttlemeister.htm
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rep2ny
Parking Attendant
Posts: 21
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posted August 09, 2007 03:19 AM
Thanks guys for the tips. I have since adjusted the headlights, after many knob turns, alternating left knob and right knob. It works. Now, I'll look into the TM. Someone on this forum (maybe TedG) said the problem with the bike is that he just can't stay off of it. I have the same problem! At 750 miles now, it is getting smoother and stronger and I like it a lot. (I didn't really care for it the first couple of hundred miles.)
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1983 VF 1100C
1997 535 Virago
2000 FXDWG
2002 GL 1800
2008 C-14
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bigringjess
Parking Attendant
Lite it up!
Posts: 5
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posted August 09, 2007 11:56 AM
Hey rep2ny, I also bought my Concours from Gary (Freemont Motorsports) in Florence, CO. I live 30 east on US 50 in Pueblo. This thing is awesome. So smooth and quiet.
My only issue is the excessive heat the spills off the Monster. It's not as hot as the older FJR1300's or the ST1300 but, it is hot in stop and go traffic when the temp is above 85 degrees.
The paint, fit and finish are BMW quality. The bags are huge and easy to manage. I removed all the decals, stickers, badges and emblems and the bike looks beautiful in the Neutron Silver. Wish the info display had a current temperature sensor. Other than the heat I have no negative comments.
Everyone should be aware Gary at Freemont Motorsports is selling the 3 year GTPP for $302.00 as opposed to most dealers $575.00 price. You can buy it on Ebay. Good luck everyone and keep 'em verticle.
P.S. They just get stronger as you put on the mileage. What kind of gas mileage are ya'll seeing?
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daysoffIride
Novice Class
Posts: 77
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posted August 09, 2007 08:48 PM
quote:
Hey rep2ny, I also bought my Concours from Gary (Freemont Motorsports) in Florence, CO. I live 30 east on US 50 in Pueblo. This thing is awesome. So smooth and quiet.
My only issue is the excessive heat the spills off the Monster. It's not as hot as the older FJR1300's or the ST1300 but, it is hot in stop and go traffic when the temp is above 85 degrees.
The paint, fit and finish are BMW quality. The bags are huge and easy to manage. I removed all the decals, stickers, badges and emblems and the bike looks beautiful in the Neutron Silver. Wish the info display had a current temperature sensor. Other than the heat I have no negative comments.
Everyone should be aware Gary at Freemont Motorsports is selling the 3 year GTPP for $302.00 as opposed to most dealers $575.00 price. You can buy it on Ebay. Good luck everyone and keep 'em verticle.
P.S. They just get stronger as you put on the mileage. What kind of gas mileage are ya'll seeing?
Thanks for the hot tip on the GTPP, I hope you got a good deal there in Colorado....... Also hope you did not pay the Freight and dealer prep..... It is a very popular bike, but they are still sitting in showrooms all over the place around here. I am still trying to lock up a proper deal worthy of my business...... Wish me luck.
As for the heat, check out other posts relating to improperly mounted protective foam inside the right side fairing. They say fixing it really helps out a lot. Being I am here in Phoenix, I am NOT looking forward to excess heat. It will be 109 here tomorrow!!!
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Present rides:
'08 ZG 1400
'08 KLR 650
'05 Prarie V- twin 700 Quad
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