Old Man's Bike

[ang]

So I have to be honest here, I have been on the bike for less than 2 miles, so performance wise it is hard for me to make a statement as to how the C14 rides. The bike is sitting in my garage waiting for the rain to stop, which may take till May as I am in Vancouver, so all I can do is sit on it and imagine what will be coming up when I get on the road. My son, who is 21, seems to think this bike is for old men, well I am 53 so maybe he is right, but this thing to me looks like the sportbike I always advise him not to buy. Maybe the C14 can be called an old mans sportbike.

[concoursefred]

Interesting. I have had more people ask my why I purchased a crotch rocket.
They usually see me on my Suzuki M109R. These are not riders, but people who stay on 4 wheels.

Without the bags the bike looks much more aggressive, but its not a racer.

Hopefully the rain will stop so you can get the bike out and stretch its legs.

[stryder]

If Flying Kaw's Poll is anything to go by, then certainly the C14 or GTR1400 is very much the Older Mans bike with the highest ownership %age between the 40-60 age group. Your son should try riding it, he might develope a different perspective!

[corpssgt]

I am 32 and started riding a sport touring bike at 29. My wifes little brother makes fun of me for having a bike he considers one step below a goldwing. Of course he rides a R1. When I had the 03 BMW KGT it really wasn't much fun riding with him and having him leave me at every stop. Now with the new concours all he says is that bike runs hard. I just think its more of a mature riders bike. I put about 15k miles a year on my two wheeled companions. His bike is a 04 and I think he finally got 2500 miles on his. Just consider the fact that we have a bike that earns the respect of sport bikes and yet we are still not riding a yacht. Its just the best of both worlds for me.

[Girevik]

Originally Posted by corpssgt

I am 32 and started riding a sport touring bike at 29. My wifes little brother makes fun of me for having a bike he considers one step below a goldwing. Of course he rides a R1. When I had the 03 BMW KGT it really wasn't much fun riding with him and having him leave me at every stop. Now with the new concours all he says is that bike runs hard. I just think its more of a mature riders bike. I put about 15k miles a year on my two wheeled companions. His bike is a 04 and I think he finally got 2500 miles on his. Just consider the fact that we have a bike that earns the respect of sport bikes and yet we are still not riding a yacht. Its just the best of both worlds for me.

With a few more miles and more practice, soon you'll be leaving him at every stop. That will change his mind.

[dudley]

They should have given it the sportier name GTR1400 instead of that damn Concours moniker in the states. ( I understand that they wanted the old COG members to accept it, but c'mon now)
If I ever add it to the stable I'll have to order some dfifferent badges.

[drsmig]

I took a Harley buddy to look at the C14 the other day. I am trying to convince him to come over to the dark side. He told me he couldn't see himself on a crotch rocket. I ride a zx14 so I kind of chuckled. I think the C14 is a hell of a bike for anybody who wants to combine comfort and performance. Hell I bought a couple of the first GoldWings out when they were only 1000 and then 1100 cc's. I didn't care that they had the perception of being an old mans bike. I loved them and I was in my mid twenties at the time. I would jump on and go for thousands of miles which wasn't very common on a bike at the time. Now I am in my mid 50's and ride a zx14 set up for SPORT touring. I still think nothing of jumping on and heading out for thousands of miles. To each their own. Let your son think what he may. As for letting him ride it that's your call. I hope you get a little sunshine coming your way soon so you can get out and enjoy your new ride.

[reesedp]

Have him nail it in 1st and ask him THEN if it's an old mans bike.... I know a couple of sport riders that dont think so anymore!

[JamminJere]

I've always said the Concours (first gen) and C14 for that matter is just a Ninja for mature riders. Oh well... it fits... I'm 50.. and weened on H-2's with chambers and cafe bars.. I see the sport bikes today and think.. why would I want to sit on just a piece of wetsuit? Our cafe racers of the 70's were crazy for their times... but at least they had a seat on them. The new Connie is just great power, torque,and ergonomics. If thats an old mans bike, Ok.

ang, rain is a precious thing these days, depending on where you live, but in your case, we'll all say a hold the rain prayer for ya so you can get acquainted with you new bike properly.

[Clingy]

The answer to the question is clearly "Yes".

With age comes a whole new outlook on life IMHO. Good food, good wine, good music, and good motorbikes :).

Youth is all about cheap thrills...well it was in my day ;)

[uhjeen]

holey sh*t!!

I'm old since the age of 20 ...

marc

[klb1122]

I'm 25 and I own one. Enough said.

[Flying Kaw]

Originally Posted by stryder

If Flying Kaw's Poll is anything to go by, then certainly the C14 or GTR1400 is very much the Older Mans bike with the highest ownership %age between the 40-60 age group. Your son should try riding it, he might develope a different perspective!

The poll shows the majority of owners are in their 40's or less (38 respondents) vs 27 were 50 or older.

But then if the Poll showed ALL owners were 35 most 21 year olds would still consider it an "old man's bike"...

Don't you remember being 20 years old and thinking 35 was approaching senior citizen status?

What would really be funny is to take him to one of the tracks I frequent. There's an instructor their that's about 55 years old. He rides a ZZR600 and can dust most 25 year old guys on their liter class supersports because he's such a good rider. It's so funny to watch these young guys faces when Paul pulls his helmet off in the pits.

[concoursefred]

I thought 50 was the new 40, and 40 was the new 30.

The bike is the stinkin bomb.

[shokdimn]

Originally Posted by JamminJere

H-2's with chambers

Speaking of age. I could name that tune in 3 notes. IMO, those bikes (H2’s) played one of the sweetest tunes I’ve heard, "luved 'em".

[Al b]

Call it what you will, I am 50 and always had cruiser type bikes, last one being a HD Road Glide. Then at 49 I bought a GSXR1000, loved the power, brakes, handling etc. but figured I would either kill myself or get arrested, cause those first gear wheelies from the stop lights where getting to be too much fun. After that the HD just didn't feel right, no power, brakes etc. hell I even pulled over to see if the tires had gone flat, L.O.L. Bought the new C14 and love every minute of it, took it on a 2150 mile ride and can't think of anything I would trade it for right now!

[JamminJere]

Welcome Albie!

Ain't she sweeeeeet?