[DaddyFlip]

That's what I thought, too. And I was not disappointed.

 

[twowheeladdict]

I think I'd like to be bored with one for a while though.

I was bored with one for 30,000 miles in 3 years. Of course when you run 90 or above and pick you time to pass it is not so boring. When you are loaded to the max and man handling it in the mountain roads, not so boring. When you are bouncing off the Rev limiter in 2nd gear, not so boring.

 

[DaddyFlip]

Yes, it all depends on the conditions and your disposition.

 

[2slo4u]

If you are slicing up interstates, 500-700 miles at a time, in four seasons, and you do it alot, then yes. Any other circumstance, I say no. I'm at 5500 miles on mine and I'm already bored with it. It puts me to sleep in deep south summertime for sure. It's just too heavy and has a total lack of drama, which has its place, but not in a motorcycle for me. I much prefer my little ZR7 for up to 500 mile days in three seasons. I'm trading the C14 on something totally impractical to get the drama back.

Thats exactly why I sold the bike and bought a Ninja 1000.

 

[rcannon409]

Daddy, thats a great description of whats right/wrong with this bike. Its not just the rider who notices it , either. If my wife and I are going soemewhere, about 80% of the time, I get accused of driving slow.

Then we go to, "DID you see cars pass me?"

Here, "No, no I didn't ..it just felt slow."

When this bike was introduced, back in late 07, there was talk of it not being imported into the usa. The GTR 1400 was to be for Europe, only, and the higher speed limits available.

If you can hold it at 120-130 for a few hrs, the bike really comes into its element. Wind protection, power, etc start to make sense at that speed. Not so much at 70-80.

Trying to keep it within legal limits starts this dialogue in my brain...

"OK, Monday morning, Im going to the state capitol. I need to lobby for 140mph speed limits. 80 is too slow..."

 

[DaddyFlip]

I will say I had a good 300 mile round trip via highway and interstate to go look at bikes. C14 cruises easily at 80mph and is totally confidence inspiring and comfortable. At my height (6-3), though, I get tired of the OE windscreen. The air is funneled right to the base of my helmet and it's just loud. No buffeting or pressure; just noise. I took a test ride this morning without no screen at all and it was perfect. Zero wind blast or turbulence and totally clean air. This convinced me that if I keep the C14 I will be cutting down an OE screen and/or ordering one of those Copper Dawg screens.

And I got 46mpg on the trip.

 

[Vic.Thing]

I will say I had a good 300 mile round trip via highway and interstate to go look at bikes. C14 cruises easily at 80mph and is totally confidence inspiring and comfortable. At my height (6-3), though, I get tired of the OE windscreen. The air is funneled right to the base of my helmet and it's just loud. No buffeting or pressure; just noise. I took a test ride this morning without no screen at all and it was perfect. Zero wind blast or turbulence and totally clean air. This convinced me that if I keep the C14 I will be cutting down an OE screen and/or ordering one of those Copper Dawg screens.

And I got 46mpg on the trip.

I have a zx14r. I don't agree with these guys perception of speed at all that doing 80 feels slow or whatever. Concours seems like it would be a great bike to cruise interstates on. Yes, a Concours or 14 will cruise at I don't know, whatever 1xx speeds all day long. But they are still just motorcycles. Granted, 80 on one isn't like being on a 250 doing 80. I can see and agree with that. But from say a Ninja 1000 or something? I really can't see someone saying there's some huge difference between a 14 and N1000 doing 80 on the intestate. It's something in their heads they've all convinced themselves and each other of.

 

[DaddyFlip]

I think there is. There is a sensation of speed that's missing on the C14 (I can't say on the ZX14... yet). Because it's heavy and over-faired? I don't know. The best way I can describe it is 80 on the C14 feels like 60 in my Taurus with the window rolled down. It really is that sedate when it has reached cruising speed. I can comfortably stand up on the pegs at that speed, not that I recommend it or endorse the practice. It is just a different sensation. And it's probably a very subjective feeling - kinda like taste buds. I would be willing to bet the 1000 is more fun/thrilling to ride at 80 because the sensation/awareness of speed is greater... less fairing, less windscreen, 200 pounds lighter, etc.

 

[Vic.Thing]

I think there is. There is a sensation of speed that's missing on the C14 (I can't say on the ZX14... yet). Because it's heavy and over-faired? I don't know. The best way I can describe it is 80 on the C14 feels like 60 in my Taurus with the window rolled down. It really is that sedate when it has reached cruising speed. I can comfortably stand up on the pegs at that speed, not that I recommend it or endorse the practice. It is just a different sensation. And it's probably a very subjective feeling - kinda like taste buds. I would be willing to bet the 1000 is more fun/thrilling to ride at 80 because the sensation/awareness of speed is greater... less fairing, less windscreen, 200 pounds lighter, etc.

N1000 200 lbs lighter? 80 lbs in OE configuration. Less fairing? doubtful especially if someone adjust the N1000 screen up. On a 14R, the fairing isn't there for you, it's there for you to tuck in and under.

My only other bike was a liter bike, very much the N1000 of it's times (not quite as fast, 10.9 vs. 10.5 in the 1/4, about the same top speed) and I don't know, it's really not much different other my 14 being much quicker and higher top speed. In fact, my old bike had a much more functional fairing than my 14. Even with a slightly higher windscreen, the fairing on my 14 blocks about 1/2 the air flow of my old bike. I suppose that's one reason I could not wear a helmet back in the day and arrive somewhere not splattered in bugs. If I do that on my 14 I'll have bugs all over me and my face getting all contorted like jeremy clarkson in a ariel atom.

At any rate, if you are seriously considering a 14R you are in for a real treat. It is all that it's hyped up to be and then some. Refined, comfortable, rocket fast, handles well (get some 55 after the OE tires, even some guys are going to 190/60s or 200/55s if you're tall enough), awesome brakes, good suspension. She's a bike you can take to the grand ball, then turn into a wild child and rip her dress off at the after party. Truly a Jekyll and Hyde.

 

[rcannon409]

Vic, its an odd sensation on the c14. With a good windshield, theres little/no wind blast or noise. You know the motor, theres no vibration to speak of. Its big and heavy and does not get knocked off track. Its fairing is 6inwider than my ninja, and 80 on one bike does not feel like 80 on the other.

The most terrifying top speed run Ive ever made way on my yz 250 dirt bike. I hit a gps verified 74mph, and it was scary.

That is funny you mention fairing protection. Where did that go? My ninja is nowhere near as good as something like your old vfr.

 

[DaddyFlip]

@Vic... for the record, I was comparing the OE weight of the N1k (509 lbs) to the OE weight of the C14 (690 lbs). That's a difference of 191 lbs; very nearly 200 lbs., which has a major effect on how much of the road you experience. The faired frontal area of the C14 dwarfs that of the N1k; there is no comparison. The OE windscreen on a C14 is twice as wide as that on the N1k and twice as tall as that on the ZX14. In addition, the mirrors on a C14 deflect wind from the hands and arms that the N1k and ZX14 do not. It has an impact on how much of the wind you experience. As speed increases, the C14 engine is just coming into its comfort zone and actually gets smoother and quieter as speed gets in the 80-100mph range. It's backwards from everything else. It's like the Concorde or SR-71 Blackbird; planes that are designed to fly supersonic are built so their body panels expand. Regular planes would blow apart.

You are right that the difference in the N1k and ZX14 is closer to 80 lbs. So we might say that the C14 is not a rebranded/repackaged ZX14. But again, FTR, I am considering one.

 

[twowheeladdict]

Vic needs to try a C14. I found myself constantly going way above the speedlimit. The bike is just dialed in for high speed riding. I'm a conservative rider and found myself doing over 100 mph on I-10 in TX. I wanted to add cruise control so I didn't have to constantly look at the Speedo.

 

[Vic.Thing]

@Vic... for the record, I was comparing the OE weight of the N1k (509 lbs) to the OE weight of the C14 (690 lbs). That's a difference of 191 lbs; very nearly 200 lbs., which has a major effect on how much of the road you experience. The faired frontal area of the C14 dwarfs that of the N1k; there is no comparison. The OE windscreen on a C14 is twice as wide as that on the N1k and twice as tall as that on the ZX14. In addition, the mirrors on a C14 deflect wind from the hands and arms that the N1k and ZX14 do not. It has an impact on how much of the wind you experience. As speed increases, the C14 engine is just coming into its comfort zone and actually gets smoother and quieter as speed gets in the 80-100mph range. It's backwards from everything else. It's like the Concorde or SR-71 Blackbird; planes that are designed to fly supersonic are built so their body panels expand. Regular planes would blow apart.

You are right that the difference in the N1k and ZX14 is closer to 80 lbs. So we might say that the C14 is not a rebranded/repackaged ZX14. But again, FTR, I am considering one.

Thanks DF I realized that today but thought too late for an edit.

 

[Vic.Thing]

Vic needs to try a C14. I found myself constantly going way above the speedlimit. The bike is just dialed in for high speed riding. I'm a conservative rider and found myself doing over 100 mph on I-10 in TX. I wanted to add cruise control so I didn't have to constantly look at the Speedo.

I know what you guys mean. But what I'm telling you is it's in your head. I've dialed back my riding habits for a few reasons. At points in how I had been riding, 80 mph seemed like it was 35 mph. Now that I'm basically limitiing myself to around the speed limits, I'm finding 80 mph seeming like 150mph did seem like. That's how i know it's in a person's head (i.e. a perception) not some actual shifts in physics being on a Concours 14 (or whatever bike).

Go out and ride your Concours on back roads at 35-45 for a couple hours. Get back on the Interstate. I guarantee you will feel like you're going 150.

 

[DaddyFlip]

Heh, heh, heh. I wager there's not a C14 owner/operator who will agree with you. And it is a dimensional time shift that causes it, brought on by the mad powah of KiPASS!

It's not a relative sensation, like how you feel walking into an air conditioned room after being out in the heat and humidity all day, versus just being in that room all day long. It's specific and inherent to the C14. Wait, I know... It's a Connie thing; you wouldn't understand.

 

[twowheeladdict]

I know what you are trying to say Vic, but I am telling you from experience, and a history of many bikes.

 

[Vic.Thing]

Everyone says what you guys are saying about zx's too. "I test rode a 14 today, got on the interestate and was buzzing along looked down and i was doing 120."

What causees this illusion are two things. One is how quiet the stock exhaust is. Two is most people are used to I4s running in the 5k range at 80 mph. Not on a 14 though, that's 4300 rpm. So yeah, it's no real wonder someone might be looking at the tach and listening for queues to realize they're doing 100 mph at 5500 rpms (not sure how exact this is, probably fairly close).

 

[rcannon409]

Vic, all of that you mention contributes. Much like doing 80 in my mazda 3 as opposed to 80 in my wifes lexus. 80 is 80, but one car feels like you'd better stay aware, the other lets you look under the seat for the missing mustard packet. A detached feeling.

I think thats why we see so much texting and driving. New cars are so quiet and smooth.

 

[twowheeladdict]

Not an illusion, it is a perception.

The perception of speed is not there. Riding the Concours at the speed limit feels like you are crawling. It is boring because the bike is that good.

Contrast that with my Moto Guzzi V7 which is challenging at the speed limit and exhilarating attempting the ton.

 

[carryall]

AND, now that auto emergency braking and proximity warnings are going to be more and more common, peoples attention and driving awareness is only going to get WORSE.