When are the GTR's arriving

[scooter_scum]

I've received a call from the dealer in Denver, CO and there will be a C-14 with ABS ready for me on Saturday 6/30!!! Can't wait. Should have more observations on monday. I have a few trips planned over the weekend. Look forward to reporting on:

MPG
Heat
Overall feel

Can't wait!!

[JamminJere]

YEEHAWW Scooter!

Have a great ride!

When you do your ergonomics report dont forget to let us know your height and leg length, weight (if you want)

Doesn't help much if someone just says, man i cant stop hitting the saddlebags with my boot, and i'm pretty tall.

Cool! you lucky bastid!!

Is everyone else green too??

Jerry

[08CC14]

Since my sales rep so rudely made himself absent these past couple of days, it struck me that the Service Manager might be a person with some knowledge of delivery info that I could chat with. I was right. Cycle Barn's Service Manager was more than eager to answer my questions regarding the shipment, Pre-Delivery Service and delivery of new products to the customer. For starters, they had already sent several technicians to a "new product assembly" course and already had service documentation in hand. He said "having service manuals ahead of the bikes was unusual". He told me that the bikes would come to a central warehouse and would then be shipping by XYZ Trucking company to the individual dealerships. When they need one for a floor model or to deliver, they uncrate a bike, perform a PDS, a short test ride, then another PDS and then deliver the bike to the customer. All of this can be accomplished within one day. He was very helpful and courteous and answered all my questions. He also said that he would work with my sales rep and allow me to witness the unveiling. I thought that was pretty cool.

[Jasperbob]

Ouote: He also said that he would work with my sales rep and allow me to witness the unveiling. I thought that was pretty cool.

Did he indicate when that might be?

Curious,
Bob

[08CC14]

Well, my sales guy did not have any good news for me today. I'm really hoping that he got bum dope because he told me that CycleBarn wasn't ordering the C-14 until July (Monday) and that California would probably get their's a month before us. So unless a small miracle happens, it looks like August or September before I see mine in my garage. He also told me that he wasn't sure if they could get a Diable Black one or not but that I had first right of refussal on a Neutron Silver model since I had placed the first order. Geezzzz I don't want to wait another year.... it pains me so! So, I ordered saddlebags for my YZF and will ride it to Leguna Seca this year. Maybe next year I'll ride the C-14 to Indianapolis for the MOTOGP races there in '08.

[JamminJere]

08CC14,

Don't be discouraged... check out part of this thread from a senior COG member in CA.

Posted - 06/28/2007 : 13:58:06
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Okay, I just got back from the "spy mission".

I found the official Kawasaki Press Demonstration site and it was NOT where I was led to believe it was.

Here's the story:

I split from work about 10:30 feigning a dentist appointment and hit the freeway towards Santa Rosa Avenue and Northbay Motorsports. I get there and NUTHIN'. I walk in, nobody's there out of the ordinary. I snag the sales manager and grill him. He's clueless. He surmises it could be in some hotel because Kawasaki has done this before. He's not hiding anything but knows less than I do about this thing.

I walk out pretty dejected thinking I'm on a wild goose chase here. Then I think, there's probably only two likely hotels that this could be at. One is the Flamingo, Santa Rosa's most famous hotel. But that is way up on the northeast side of town, no easy way to get there from where I am. The next place is the brand new Hyatt hotel and convention center.

I'm in luck since the Hyatt is right along the freeway on my way back to work. I hit the freeway north and traffic slows me down giving me time to look down at the Hyatt as I pass it. Sure enough, there is a big Kawasaki semi-truck there with a big awning, flags, etc.

I jump off the freeway and backtrack to the hotel parking lot and these are the pictures of what I found.

There are indeed 15 C-14 Concours here strictly for press dmeonstrations. The only people at the semi were a factory rep and a mechanic. The rep was real nice, told me what he could about everything.

I told him I was a scout from the Concours owners group, and could I be seen as a free lance reporter for the organization and thusly a member of the press that would possibly allow me to take a test ride? A very polite but emphatic NO followed. I didn't press the issure any further.

Here's what I did learn. Production C-14's began to roll into US warehouses this past Tuesday, the 26th. They are going out countrywide, not specific to any locality. They are on a maximum effort to get as many to dealers as they can the quickest that they can. No numbers, dates or places just generalities.

This press demo is for the press only, no public participation at all. There were 9 Concours out on various evaluation rides at the time I was talking to this guy. Yesterday was a large group ride on a prescribed course (this is where I saw them all southbound on 101). This week has been a variety of special events, planned group rides and individual rides.

He said only 9 were out right now since the writers are facing deadlines and many of them are back in their hotel rooms feverishly writing up reports. He said we should see them in print soon since the deadlines are looming right now. He could not tell me which publications are being represented even though I asked him in several different ways. I would be almost certain that all the big boys are here but I have no information to substantiate that.

I related to him that there were many frustrated potential C-14 buyers that are tapping their feet waiting for Kawasaki to come through on this bike and some have jumped ship to other sport tourers out of frustration. He was aware of this (as well as being very well aware of COG and the forum) but could offer no further information than that. He would not give me his name or business card since he hinted that our conversation should be considered somewhat "off the record". I did tell him exactly what I was going to report to the COG forum and asked him if he was okay with it and he said no problem.

But I could tell he wasn't telling me anything that hadn't at least been told to the press as official announcements.

We had a very, very good and cordial conversation, a few yucks and a good dialog. I didn't want to overstay my welcome so I took a few pictures and buzzed off.

So I went from bust to boom in about ten minutes.

If there are any questions I can try to answer, fire away, I'm sure I forgot something. And, oh yeah, my tooth feels better too.

JMHO

Dan

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Bergmen Engineering, Inc. Web Site
Pictures of ZGRX 1200 Concours Project
*Ukiah, Collie-For-Knee-Ya (it's not the end of the world but you can see it from here).
*2003 Concours "Shinpai-nai"
*COG #5478
*AMA #922577


They are out on the trucks to get initial orders to all dealers before allowing large orders.. So if you're dealer is snoozing... find one thats wide awake!

See you on the road,

Jerry

[08CC14]

Thanks for lifting my spirits Jerry. Only 1 question: Are they delivering any Diablo Black C-14s this year? Oh, and how about those pics?