First post, here goes. First, I grew up in Colorado and retired from the Navy at Whidbey Is. in 93. I was hired by the Town I live in with only about 6 more years before I retire again. I live on the east side of the Cascades with the Columbia River 6 blocks away from my house. I hunt and fish and decided I needed a boat. I figured I needed a cuddy cabin about 22 feet long, V8, Mercuiser. (no Bayliners) So I started looking. The price of gas went up and up and up. One day I decided a boat would cost $100.00 in gas just to get the hull wet. Heck, what about a motorcycle? The last bike I had was a 75 900 Kawasaki which was stolen in 1976. I bought it used after my 1974 900 was stolen in 1975. After the 75 was stolen the wife said no more. After 30 years of raising kids, I typed in 1975 Kaw 900 and one shows up in Butt MT. I explain to the wife why no boat. (she was against it anyways) I got the 900 and brought it home. It was in fair shape and after much work, e-bay and $ the old 900 runs great. I got a 100% on the driving test and off I went. Sundays become my ride day with friends. We have the east side of Washington State well explored. (I got the Z-1 with 6059 miles on it. It had been stored in a garage. Today it has 16,500 miles on it and has never left me standing on the side of the road.) A non riding friend of mine asks about a couple of bikes being sold by an older couple to are moving to warmer weather. I go and visit them and the old man has a 86 Concours. I never knew Kawasaki even made such a thing and I was very interested. So I start reading about the Concours. About the same time there is talk Kawasaki is putting out a new Concours. Then the C-14 was released....I was smitten but I don't care for Silver. I was able to speak to 3 C-14 owners and they had nothing bad to say about the bike. A test ride on a 08 didn't help. Last December I called around and found a deal on a Red 09. I picked the bike up between snow storms and it sat in my garage with 2 miles on the clock for 1 1/2 months. I could not stand it any more, cold weather be dammed and now am about 25 miles away from getting the 6000 rpm break in limit. This bike is just plain sick to say the least. Break in? The first 500 miles is stuck at no more then 4000 RPM. In overdrive at 4000 RPM this bike is doing 85 MPH on the clock. I have noticed my current MPG when selected on the dash, has gone from high 30's into the low 40's running the same route/speeds. I've read the C-14 handles better with PR'2 over OEM tires. Comming from a old Z-1, I think the bike does very well the way it is. But then again I haven't pushed anything. I have riden up to another town which has a few twistys on the way up and found I was more confident on the 14. (There was a heavy relearning curve on the Z-1. But I don't leave any chicken strips on the Z-1 either. I've managed to chase down a couple of squids on roads I know well.) C-14's are also very smooth, it's like driving a chair with handle bars. I'm sure I will be joining COG. I'm going on the Bun Cooler ride in May just to see how I fit in. Best TimR
I think you will be much happier with the bike !!! Enjoy and ride safe!! CT AAD COG #7011-A 2003 Concours-Mary Ann 1995 Honda Nighthawk 750 wifes
