C14 is a great bike I've ridden mine in extreme wind, sideways rain, snow storms, over ice snakes, off road, and today - through a flooded street. I even take it grocery shopping. It is the ultimate touring machine. Really like the key thing you did.
@@Richard1976 That was all done on the stock tires which don't last very long because, I believe, they are soft and sticky and the bike is heavy. It was 32 degs during the snowstorms so roads were more slushy than icy. IMO they outfit the bike with these tires for safety reasons rather than longevity. The only time I noticed slipping was on the ice snake and could feel traction control kick in. I have since replaced tires with Michelin Road 6 GT which I highly recommend. They are the sport touring version made for the heavier weight of these bikes, which I was told is the main reason these bikes go through tires quickly - not torque as seems to be the popular consensus.
Really nice bike and great mods for it. Really like the nifty tool can below the bag. I bought a 2002 ZG1000 Im in the process of going through and upgrading things. You have lots of good ideas I will consider in doing mine. Thanks!
I'm a sucker for Burstbucker 1&2s (as in my Les Pauls and my '61 RI SG). "Best playing"? Between a Les Paul and an SG, I'd choose the Les Paul for its thicker, bigger tone. I don't have long fingers, but I can reach all I need to reach on a Les Paul, but I pay for it the next day in back pain. I've got a beautiful D'Angelico Brighton Deluxe. It's very close in general design, to an SG, except with a more rounded bottom shape, and the horns are rounded. It is exquisite. Loaded with all USA electronics, and Duncan Antiquitys. Oh man, talk about having character and dimension! In spades. Also has a tummy cut, mother of pearl and abalone inlays, flamed maple top on a swamp ash body. Simply amazing guitar that was heavily discounted at Sweetwater. The were an exclusive run! Like the brand so much, I bought their Mini - DC, which also has that similar feel to an SG, but in a ES-339 type size. Mine's the "Premier" which is the middle category of their guitar models. No abalone, MOP (except maybe the headstock). It too was a Sweetwater exclusive that added a sweet flamed top (and back), generic locking tuners that suffice, AND the SD "Hot Rodded HB set" that I like and have put into two other guitars.
I like my Cee Bailey's windscreen on my '11 C14, however during the summer I find myself wishing it was shorter (I'm 6'3"). I'm thinking about finding another OEM screen to run in the summer.
I had a stock screen once upon a Time. I put it on once and ran like 10 miles. Immediately came back home and put the Cee Baileys back on. All the stock screen did was have the air hit me right in the chest and neck. I hated it. So I sold it to a fellow rider.
I’ve been looking into concours and from what I’ve gathered the last year to get upgrades was 2010. Do you recommend 2010+ or pretty much all generations?
Why didn't you change the headlights to LED? Thats a huge upgrade man!!! I went with Ivans ECU flash. Ronnie Augostino's highway pegs look way better. Fork oil lasts only 6k.
Full LED headlights, markers and switchbacks front and rear (using an led flasher and skipping the resistors) were my first mods too. Then later I don't worry about overloading the alternator. I bought my C14 used and it was going through batteries. Since the led mod and a new $40.00 ebay mighty max battery (replacing a less than 1 year old fancy Duracell), no more issues. I love that bottle cap key mod on the bags that's next. I'm going to use radio knobs instead. Got my heated grips, just need to install them. I have the same Maroon color as in the video, but I blacked out the wheels, using a primer to smooth them out. They are more smooth than the new factory powder coated wheels because apparently they don't smooth them out before powder coating.
@@smoke05s I keep my battery on a battery tender and the battery is already 4 years old. I had my wheels powder coated by a professional and they look awesome and super smooth and shiny, it cost me $350.
Hi Tim, I have heard the heat that blows onto the riders feet and shins can get quite uncomfortable…have you experienced this, and did you do anything to stop it at all?
My bike does have some of the foam blocking to those areas that does help reduce it. But at the end of the day it does still put off a lot of heat. Honestly the best thing you could do is wear quality riding pants and boots that deflected the heat off of your ankles. And designate the bike as an open road bike i hardly ever ride it around town.
I got a 09 Connie with 18k miles for a steal. Out of all the mods you have done, what would start with first. And also does your GPS or phone ever overheat on those hot days?
Never had my GPS overheating. A couple times my phone has ceased charging because of overheating issues but not the function of the phone itself. Once it cooled off a bit it resume charging. Number one thing I did with this bike when I bought it was ergonomics. Since I'm a Sasquatch of a man 6'4" and 280 lb I went with a taller windscreen lowered pegs and a more comfortable seat.
Great video! Its unbelievable to me how nice that body still is. One question, how long have you had the switchback lights on and how have they held up thus far?
That's a great question because I actually had to replaced them this year. They lasted about 5 years and 40k miles and one of them started glitching. But for the price i was okay with that.
I don't think any bike is really too big for that but I will say this girl runs hot in traffic. Stop and go traffic and the heat will cook the rider on the C14. No way to fix that when you have that big of a motor under all that plastic. She likes to live on the open road and twisties.
@@2talltimadventures thanks for the reply. Yeah, my traffic is no where near stop and go too bad. My goal is to have one before the end of summer. Just waiting for the right deal. Thanks for the video Tim. Nice to see you change it up a bit from the KLR like you said. You might even have to do the Mrs Bike next. Lol
@@tonydodds4745 and it doesn’t seem like too much to handle for short trips? Good to know. I’m ready for an upgrade. My 81’ CB650 isn’t cutting it anymore.
Hello Tim, I have a 2008 and love it and I had a question. Does yours spit out water (condensation) at start up from the exhaust. I know for sure it's not oil or antifreeze no smell and its not slippery (oil). Bike rides great but this has a been mind boggling. It does it at every start up. I have 40,000 miles. Any input is appreciated. Thank you and great video.
Honestly on reliability about the same. The FJR is more on the touring side where the C14 is more on the Sport side. Both do both jobs equally well. On maintinance I'd say the C14 requires a little more time and knoledge on the DIY factor of it. So to the non DIY guy the C14 might be a little more cost in the maintinance dept.
Checked and adjusted mine at 45k miles. They were all in spec but on the tight side of spec. I set them all on the loose side of spec and honestly probably never touch them again.
Recommended intervals according to Kawasaki for checking vavle clearance is every 26k miles. How ever I did mine at 45k. They were tight but still in spec. I set them all to the loose side of spec and honestly I'll probably never touch them again.
I went through a Michelin Road 6 in 3 weeks this summer on the back of my 2012 Concours, lots of high speed rides up to 177 mph, 680 lb bike and my 180, hard accelerating, hard braking, that's all you'll get.
@@smoke05s Mine does the same 2010, 32000 miles. Steve from shoodaben says it will do no harm. I did buy the manual cam chain adjuster but have not installed it yet.
Been running Roadsmart 3s for the lastseveral years. Threywear good, grip good and you can find them cheap on amazon. I'll get 4k to 5k miles out a rear and 8k out of a front. Rear... amzn.to/3AC94Uc Front... amzn.to/3c5PbvC
I watched it twice. Man you have some great tips!! I just got my 2010 concours.
Thanks for watching. Hope it helped you out
C14 is a great bike I've ridden mine in extreme wind, sideways rain, snow storms, over ice snakes, off road, and today - through a flooded street. I even take it grocery shopping. It is the ultimate touring machine. Really like the key thing you did.
How is it when it snowing and slippery? You use special tires?
@@Richard1976 That was all done on the stock tires which don't last very long because, I believe, they are soft and sticky and the bike is heavy. It was 32 degs during the snowstorms so roads were more slushy than icy. IMO they outfit the bike with these tires for safety reasons rather than longevity. The only time I noticed slipping was on the ice snake and could feel traction control kick in. I have since replaced tires with Michelin Road 6 GT which I highly recommend. They are the sport touring version made for the heavier weight of these bikes, which I was told is the main reason these bikes go through tires quickly - not torque as seems to be the popular consensus.
@@robwinegar9033 great.. Thanks for your reply
Mine has 93k miles and it's never had any issues whatsoever, just oil changes and brakes over the years.
Mine has 130,000 smiling miles- bulletproof and just tires, brake pads, one battery, oil change every 5k😎👌
Really nice bike and great mods for it. Really like the nifty tool can below the bag. I bought a 2002 ZG1000 Im in the process of going through and upgrading things. You have lots of good ideas I will consider in doing mine. Thanks!
As someone who lives in North Dakota... You're not missing out on much
Bag keys are great 👍
I'm a sucker for Burstbucker 1&2s (as in my Les Pauls and my '61 RI SG).
"Best playing"? Between a Les Paul and an SG, I'd choose the Les Paul for its thicker, bigger tone. I don't have long fingers, but I can reach all I need to reach on a Les Paul, but I pay for it the next day in back pain.
I've got a beautiful D'Angelico Brighton Deluxe. It's very close in general design, to an SG, except with a more rounded bottom shape, and the horns are rounded. It is exquisite. Loaded with all USA electronics, and Duncan Antiquitys. Oh man, talk about having character and dimension! In spades. Also has a tummy cut, mother of pearl and abalone inlays, flamed maple top on a swamp ash body. Simply amazing guitar that was heavily discounted at Sweetwater. The were an exclusive run! Like the brand so much, I bought their Mini - DC, which also has that similar feel to an SG, but in a ES-339 type size. Mine's the "Premier" which is the middle category of their guitar models. No abalone, MOP (except maybe the headstock). It too was a Sweetwater exclusive that added a sweet flamed top (and back), generic locking tuners that suffice, AND the SD "Hot Rodded HB set" that I like and have put into two other guitars.
Fantastic
Happy owner of the same gray model. Beautiful, great job.😍
Thank you they truly are fantastic bikes
I like my Cee Bailey's windscreen on my '11 C14, however during the summer I find myself wishing it was shorter (I'm 6'3"). I'm thinking about finding another OEM screen to run in the summer.
I had a stock screen once upon a Time. I put it on once and ran like 10 miles. Immediately came back home and put the Cee Baileys back on. All the stock screen did was have the air hit me right in the chest and neck. I hated it. So I sold it to a fellow rider.
I used the Audiovox on my 08 , loved it. Made for great touring.
Great colour.. Seat looks great too
Cool bike. I just got mine this year. Love your video.
Thank you and enjoy your new ride!
Beautiful condition for the age of that model
Thank you
I like how it matches the sport red Tahoe. 😎
Haha..that Tahoe is now gone. Traded her in.
@@2talltimadventures miss it yet?
I bought my wife's 06 sport red Yukon from a customer that upgraded to a new CRV. Aside from the gas mileage they miss the Yukon.
I would have bought an 08 if it wasn't neutron silver. I got an 09 in black. Still have it.
I’ve been looking into concours and from what I’ve gathered the last year to get upgrades was 2010. Do you recommend 2010+ or pretty much all generations?
Enjoyed the video and the info, well-done.
Why didn't you change the headlights to LED? Thats a huge upgrade man!!! I went with Ivans ECU flash. Ronnie Augostino's highway pegs look way better. Fork oil lasts only 6k.
Full LED headlights, markers and switchbacks front and rear (using an led flasher and skipping the resistors) were my first mods too. Then later I don't worry about overloading the alternator. I bought my C14 used and it was going through batteries. Since the led mod and a new $40.00 ebay mighty max battery (replacing a less than 1 year old fancy Duracell), no more issues. I love that bottle cap key mod on the bags that's next. I'm going to use radio knobs instead. Got my heated grips, just need to install them. I have the same Maroon color as in the video, but I blacked out the wheels, using a primer to smooth them out. They are more smooth than the new factory powder coated wheels because apparently they don't smooth them out before powder coating.
@@smoke05s I keep my battery on a battery tender and the battery is already 4 years old. I had my wheels powder coated by a professional and they look awesome and super smooth and shiny, it cost me $350.
beautiful bike!
Very nice sir 👍
Hi Tim, I have heard the heat that blows onto the riders feet and shins can get quite uncomfortable…have you experienced this, and did you do anything to stop it at all?
My bike does have some of the foam blocking to those areas that does help reduce it. But at the end of the day it does still put off a lot of heat. Honestly the best thing you could do is wear quality riding pants and boots that deflected the heat off of your ankles. And designate the bike as an open road bike i hardly ever ride it around town.
Лучшее, что можно сделать, это просто купить рестайл
I got a 09 Connie with 18k miles for a steal. Out of all the mods you have done, what would start with first. And also does your GPS or phone ever overheat on those hot days?
Never had my GPS overheating. A couple times my phone has ceased charging because of overheating issues but not the function of the phone itself. Once it cooled off a bit it resume charging. Number one thing I did with this bike when I bought it was ergonomics. Since I'm a Sasquatch of a man 6'4" and 280 lb I went with a taller windscreen lowered pegs and a more comfortable seat.
Beautiful
Thank you! Cheers!
Great video! Its unbelievable to me how nice that body still is. One question, how long have you had the switchback lights on and how have they held up thus far?
That's a great question because I actually had to replaced them this year. They lasted about 5 years and 40k miles and one of them started glitching. But for the price i was okay with that.
@@2talltimadventures awesome, thank you! I might just order a set to get installed over the winter.
Solid Ride
Salute
great video, thanks
I’m sold 👍
Always loved this bike Tim. I’m jealous. Would you say this bike is too big for around town errands? Or would it mostly be for touring.
I don't think any bike is really too big for that but I will say this girl runs hot in traffic. Stop and go traffic and the heat will cook the rider on the C14. No way to fix that when you have that big of a motor under all that plastic. She likes to live on the open road and twisties.
@@2talltimadventures thanks for the reply. Yeah, my traffic is no where near stop and go too bad. My goal is to have one before the end of summer. Just waiting for the right deal. Thanks for the video Tim. Nice to see you change it up a bit from the KLR like you said. You might even have to do the Mrs Bike next. Lol
I run around town on mine without bags and love it.
@@tonydodds4745 and it doesn’t seem like too much to handle for short trips? Good to know. I’m ready for an upgrade. My 81’ CB650 isn’t cutting it anymore.
What brand of windshield are you using?
He said it's a Lee Bailey. No longer available
Hello Tim, I have a 2008 and love it and I had a question. Does yours spit out water (condensation) at start up from the exhaust. I know for sure it's not oil or antifreeze no smell and its not slippery (oil). Bike rides great but this has a been mind boggling. It does it at every start up. I have 40,000 miles. Any input is appreciated. Thank you and great video.
Sometimes yes but not all the time
Are you starting it in the cold? I feel like starting engines in the cold causes this, but every time? I dunno
Beautiful color well done. Where did u purchase the body panels? Thanks Ron
Purchased them used from a gentleman form Missouri. They came of a very low milage bike and were stored for like 8 years.
@@2talltimadventures U got lucky your bike looks great!!! What did you do with the original parts?
@@ronschubert6240 sold them and actually recouped 70% of what I spent on the red body.
Great review!!!
How do you think it stacks up to Yamaha FJR-1300 in maintenance expense and reliability??
Much thanks
Honestly on reliability about the same. The FJR is more on the touring side where the C14 is more on the Sport side. Both do both jobs equally well. On maintinance I'd say the C14 requires a little more time and knoledge on the DIY factor of it. So to the non DIY guy the C14 might be a little more cost in the maintinance dept.
@@2talltimadventures
Much thanks. Am slowly getting in market after three Harley’s
Looking forward to getting back to NM, Colorado and the west.
At what mileage did u have to do a valve clearance check
Checked and adjusted mine at 45k miles. They were all in spec but on the tight side of spec. I set them all on the loose side of spec and honestly probably never touch them again.
Hay get a Dr 650or xr 650and do some mods videos
Hey, I have red some people mention about valve adjustment, have any of done that job and about how many miles would be required
Recommended intervals according to Kawasaki for checking vavle clearance is every 26k miles. How ever I did mine at 45k. They were tight but still in spec. I set them all to the loose side of spec and honestly I'll probably never touch them again.
Cee Bailey's Air Craft company are still around.
They are still around they just don't make motorcycle stuff anymore
Great review, great bike! One question, I saw lot of complaints about tire consumption…. Like 5k miles, is it really that bad?
Yep
Part of the game. Heavy well handling bike carving twisties. She eats the rubber. But worth every mile.
The c14 loves to eat tires for breakfast, 5K Maxx on tires and I've had three sets already.
I went through a Michelin Road 6 in 3 weeks this summer on the back of my 2012 Concours, lots of high speed rides up to 177 mph, 680 lb bike and my 180, hard accelerating, hard braking, that's all you'll get.
How fast? You have a ZX14 motor in there? Or drafting a Lamborgini?@@MrAntonLucas
Did you do all the work on changing from 08 to 09 color?
Yes sir. It was a complete body and tank swap.
What seat is that ? It looks comfortable ...Im on my 2nd C14 ...
www.terryscustomseats.com
What brand are the rider’s footpegs again?
murphskits.com/foot-pegs-from-murphs-1/
Are you running a manual cam chain tensioner?
What's the skinny on that mod? That start up rattle on my 09 is nerve racking.
@@smoke05s Mine does the same 2010, 32000 miles. Steve from shoodaben says it will do no harm. I did buy the manual cam chain adjuster but have not installed it yet.
great bike but i will probably buy a fjr 2 gen its cheaper and almost the same
What are you running for tires
Been running Roadsmart 3s for the lastseveral years. Threywear good, grip good and you can find them cheap on amazon. I'll get 4k to 5k miles out a rear and 8k out of a front.
Rear... amzn.to/3AC94Uc
Front... amzn.to/3c5PbvC
What is this bike worth?
Being it's age and milage. In today's market being a little high right now. I'd say around $5k (ish)
Nobody gives a f*** Jesus man I was just trying to find out how to take the headlight off