Comments on: New Kawasaki Concours – 2008 Concours 14 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/10/09/new-kawasaki-concours-2008-concours-14/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:34:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Juan http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/10/09/new-kawasaki-concours-2008-concours-14/comment-page-2/#comment-247332 Juan Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:36:27 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=1212#comment-247332 I love my Connie but the Sensor R Low Battery, drives me crazy and the dealer has no clue were how to change this battery or for that matter were it is. He suggest changeing the valve stem at a cost of $160.00. I love my Connie but the Sensor R Low Battery, drives me crazy and the dealer has no clue were how to change this battery or for that matter were it is. He suggest changeing the valve stem at a cost of $160.00.

]]> By: wayne owens http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/10/09/new-kawasaki-concours-2008-concours-14/comment-page-2/#comment-246317 wayne owens Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:53:04 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=1212#comment-246317 Just bought a used concours14 and in regards to the to much heat complaint on the right shin, I had no problem, but the previous owner had wraped the exhaust headers from the head to under the bike and I believe this to quell the problem. Also got a Two brothers slip on and a power commander. Very fast. Just bought a used concours14 and in regards to the to much heat complaint on the right shin, I had no problem, but the previous owner had wraped the exhaust headers from the head to under the bike and I believe this to quell the problem. Also got a Two brothers slip on and a power commander. Very fast.

]]> By: Scott Leahy http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/10/09/new-kawasaki-concours-2008-concours-14/comment-page-2/#comment-229213 Scott Leahy Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:32:20 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=1212#comment-229213 I am coming from the opposite end of this discussion having sold my GL1800 after 50000 happy miles. I've got 700 miles on my 2009 Concours 14 ABS and can say that the Connie (stock) is really an uncomfortable bike for long distance touring for riders over 6 feet tall. The stock seat angles forward, driving your nuts into into the tank, forcing you into a racing posture with the pegs too high and far back for 1500 mile days. The stock windscreen height adjusted to the highest position is still far too low to prevent severe helmet buffeting at speed unless one is willing to hump oneself over the tank in a posture most closely resembling the female role in Moose coitus, or has the torso length of a Munchkin. Luckily, all of this is fixable. I have 3/5 of the answer in place now and the improvement in comfort is astonishing. Here's some good fixy stuff. Helibar 2" risers. (I am not sure these are going to be enough for me in the end, but they have certainly improved my ability to sit straight up on the bike. Motorcycle Larry's peg lowering brackets. These are a simple install and bring the pegs down about 3/4". Just this small amount really helps. I am just now in the beginning stages of a new design for an improved foot/cruise peg system for the bike, but I must wait until I get my custom saddle (A Russell Day-Long) they are going to build for me in July before I go bolting anything up. Cee Bailey Ultra Tour domed windshield. WOW! What a difference. No head buffeting. Took the bike out and ran her up to 130 and could still hear my Zumo + XM setup. This is a great aftermarket screen and turned out to be the perfect height for me. (I still look over the top of the screen, but can duck below it easily if need be and most of the air is driven over the top of my helmet due to the good design of the screen. Thanks, Cee Bailey. Still to come is the saddle this summer and the cruise control (Rostra, fully electronic model (no need to tap into the manifold vacuum system) from Murphskits.com that I will probably put on in the week or so. Anyway, my Connie is starting to get REALLY comfortable. I bought her with the idea of riding her until the next gen wings come out, but I just may forgo that and stay with this wonderful motorcycle. While it is as smooth as glass one gets the impression that there is nothing this engine and suspension are not capable of. It is really fun to be able to run a bike up to a healthy head of steam in short order, but is is even more fun to be able to apply that principle to more ambitious endeavors, say, riding across country quickly and safely while maintaining a decent level of comfort. I am coming from the opposite end of this discussion having sold my GL1800 after 50000 happy miles. I’ve got 700 miles on my 2009 Concours 14 ABS and can say that the Connie (stock) is really an uncomfortable bike for long distance touring for riders over 6 feet tall. The stock seat angles forward, driving your nuts into into the tank, forcing you into a racing posture with the pegs too high and far back for 1500 mile days. The stock windscreen height adjusted to the highest position is still far too low to prevent severe helmet buffeting at speed unless one is willing to hump oneself over the tank in a posture most closely resembling the female role in Moose coitus, or has the torso length of a Munchkin.

Luckily, all of this is fixable. I have 3/5 of the answer in place now and the improvement in comfort is astonishing. Here’s some good fixy stuff.

Helibar 2″ risers. (I am not sure these are going to be enough for me in the end, but they have certainly improved my ability to sit straight up on the bike.

Motorcycle Larry’s peg lowering brackets. These are a simple install and bring the pegs down about 3/4″. Just this small amount really helps. I am just now in the beginning stages of a new design for an improved foot/cruise peg system for the bike, but I must wait until I get my custom saddle (A Russell Day-Long) they are going to build for me in July before I go bolting anything up.

Cee Bailey Ultra Tour domed windshield. WOW! What a difference. No head buffeting. Took the bike out and ran her up to 130 and could still hear my Zumo + XM setup. This is a great aftermarket screen and turned out to be the perfect height for me. (I still look over the top of the screen, but can duck below it easily if need be and most of the air is driven over the top of my helmet due to the good design of the screen. Thanks, Cee Bailey.

Still to come is the saddle this summer and the cruise control (Rostra, fully electronic model (no need to tap into the manifold vacuum system) from Murphskits.com that I will probably put on in the week or so.

Anyway, my Connie is starting to get REALLY comfortable. I bought her with the idea of riding her until the next gen wings come out, but I just may forgo that and stay with this wonderful motorcycle. While it is as smooth as glass one gets the impression that there is nothing this engine and suspension are not capable of. It is really fun to be able to run a bike up to a healthy head of steam in short order, but is is even more fun to be able to apply that principle to more ambitious endeavors, say, riding across country quickly and safely while maintaining a decent level of comfort.

]]> By: Murray http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/10/09/new-kawasaki-concours-2008-concours-14/comment-page-2/#comment-208204 Murray Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:37:14 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=1212#comment-208204 I bought my C14 in July of 2008 and have a little over 18000mi on it. I have driven it in temperatures over 110 deg F and didn’t find the engine heat to be a problem. It’s just hot at 110deg F and you don’t cool down when your going fast at the temp either. I had a rock lodge in my rear break pedal and cause my rear disk to discolor, but Kawasaki has recalled the bike for this problem and they are going to fix it for free. When the temperature is below 30 deg F the tire pressure sensors and battery sensors don’t work until I drive it about three miles and the engine heat can get under the seat to the CPU. I have had some problems with the Key not wanting to turn on cold mornings, but that was because I washed the bike the day before and it froze over night. Oh, I got to work one morning and couldn’t open the saddle bags because of the locks freezing also (I road 42mi at temps in the single digits.). By the way, the engine heat does not help with personal heating in the winter, the machines capacity to cool it self down is just too efficient. I love this bike, it is the smoothest ride I have ever had. It hums at just the right frequency throughout the RPM range and likes to cruse at around 85 to 90 mph. I bought my C14 in July of 2008 and have a little over 18000mi on it. I have driven it in temperatures over 110 deg F and didn’t find the engine heat to be a problem. It’s just hot at 110deg F and you don’t cool down when your going fast at the temp either. I had a rock lodge in my rear break pedal and cause my rear disk to discolor, but Kawasaki has recalled the bike for this problem and they are going to fix it for free. When the temperature is below 30 deg F the tire pressure sensors and battery sensors don’t work until I drive it about three miles and the engine heat can get under the seat to the CPU. I have had some problems with the Key not wanting to turn on cold mornings, but that was because I washed the bike the day before and it froze over night. Oh, I got to work one morning and couldn’t open the saddle bags because of the locks freezing also (I road 42mi at temps in the single digits.). By the way, the engine heat does not help with personal heating in the winter, the machines capacity to cool it self down is just too efficient. I love this bike, it is the smoothest ride I have ever had. It hums at just the right frequency throughout the RPM range and likes to cruse at around 85 to 90 mph.

]]> By: Steve http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/10/09/new-kawasaki-concours-2008-concours-14/comment-page-2/#comment-198368 Steve Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:57:44 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=1212#comment-198368 I've had many cruisers and have finally made the jump to sport tourer. When purchasing the concours I admit I had to make a few changes. But now...she is exactly what I want. For as cheap as the bike is, making the few tweaks still make it very affordable. Changed the fairing to the Baileys 15"Eurocut, Corbin seat, Two Brothers exhaust and Throttlemeister Cruise Control. And not that I am embarrassed with my bike but I took off all the logo's as well. Now it is a plain silver streak rocket. Sooo love it. Will never go back to cruisers again. This bike handles soooo well. As far as the seat being a bit high....who cares. Your only sitting at a light for maybe a minute. Don't forget, this bike is made for #$% and git, not for posing. You can always find faults in any bike. I know I did. Keep the rubber down and keep on cruisin. I’ve had many cruisers and have finally made the jump to sport tourer.
When purchasing the concours I admit I had to make a few changes. But now…she is exactly what I want. For as cheap as the bike is, making the few tweaks still make it very affordable.
Changed the fairing to the Baileys 15″Eurocut, Corbin seat, Two Brothers exhaust and Throttlemeister Cruise Control. And not that I am embarrassed with my bike but I took off all the logo’s as well. Now it is a plain silver streak rocket. Sooo love it. Will never go back to cruisers again. This bike handles soooo well. As far as the seat being a bit high….who cares. Your only sitting at a light for maybe a minute. Don’t forget, this bike is made for #$% and git, not for posing. You can always find faults in any bike. I know I did.
Keep the rubber down and keep on cruisin.

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