Thinking of moving to the dark side ;-)

[Quint]

I am a long time BMW owner, having owned an R1200RT, a K1200GT and I currently own a K1200S. The S is a helluva lot of fun, but t doesn't really suit my style of riding, with its compromised riding position.

I was getting ready to buy a K1200GT, but it's difficult to come at $22,000 OTD. Now, admittedly that's for a lot of cool features, such as:
- Cruise control
- Electronic suspension control
- Heated grips
- Heated seats
- Adjustable ergonomics

Now, I know the Concours can be had for between $13 - 15,000 OTD, depending on where you shop and how hard you haggle, but either way it's a huge saving over the Beemer.

I have heard some stories about the Kawie that oncern me, such as:
- Excessive heat
- Vibration from engine
- Ineffective windshield

Bu then there's all the good stuff:
- Value
- Performance
- Handling
- Quality
- Relaibility

Can you Concours owners give me some advice that'll make it easier to decide? Thank you much...

[MarkT]

Quint, ask yourself this. Is the Beemer $10,000 better than the GTR? I think not!!!

In response to the negatives on the GTR..yes you can feel the heat but it does not cause discomfort (and I live in a hot climate), no engine vibes in mine, windshield is perfect if you have a sporting demeanor (well thats my opinion) if you want something taller get another screen.

I have ridden the Beemer tourers both K and R and they did not impress me all that much for what you pay for them and keeping them on the road. I truly found the GTR to be a superior ride despite not having all the gadgetry.

Hope this helps.

Mark

[GTRPete]

Had mine since end Oct, 9500kms up so far.

re:
- Excessive heat (no hotter than my old GS1150 in traffic, on the cruise : nil)

- Vibration from engine (ZERO on the pegs, 0.0001% in the bars compared to the GS I had)

- Ineffective windshield (Like MarkT said, it's a sporty type screen, with your (up to)$7,000 saving on the BMW, take you pic of the many brilliant taller screens on the market; I use the Cee Bailey eurocut, I like the adjustment from 'windy' to 'silent' on a trip

on the other points you make:
- Value (it is a Kawasaki, after all)

- Performance (mmm, delicious )

- Handling (sure footed, secure, amazing yet so light in traffic too!!!
this would be the lightest/easiest handling, yet heaviest bike I've had!!!)

- Quality (so far so good...)

- Relaibility (knowing the Kawasaki reliability and my experience with them, one main reason for my choice)

apart from all the good knowledge and info on this website, here's a fellow Aussie who's done a few miles on one... (link)

You'll love it!!!

[FBRR]

I really do not see it as "going to the dark side" as much as SEEING the LIGHT!!!!

I agree with those above. It's a great bike.

From a "HARLEY Onwer. that saw the light!!"

( the trick is to avoid seeing the red and blue flashing lights!!!)

[CRWDDYZ]

Quint -

I was in the same boat...considered the FJR, GT, ST and the Kawi C-14/GTR.

FJR was out after the first test ride...buzzy everywhere...terrible windscreen.

ST - I ride one everyday for work....need something different for off-duty. The ST feels heavy and underpowered compared to the C-14.

GT - I had decided this would be my next bike....moved up from cruisers. Needed a long distance machine. But then I heard Kawi was coming out wit a new bike....the C-14. So I waited one year till it came out....the press reports were that good.

C-14/GTR - I did two demo rides to be sure, but was really sold after the first demo ride. The bike is smooth everywhere..when I got off the bike I commented it was was like riding an ice cube on a on glass....no BS its really that good....really a seamless powerband too. The power...WOW....its a very controllable ROCKET SHIP !

The features missing compared to the GT are annoying. For what is advertised as a Transcontential Sport Touring Bike....it should have a cruise control at minimum. Heated grips....nice...have them on my ST and love them. Heated seat....dont care either way, but the wife would like it. The suspension....yeah that is cool, but once I set mine up on the Kawi....I doubt I'll ever adjust it. Never have on any bike I have owned once set-up to my liking. Ergos...adjustable is cool...but this bike fits me perfect at 5-11.

I'll add grip heaters and probally the Corbin heated seat...easy enough and still way less money than the GT. Cruise control is an issue with me however, I had the Brakeaway cruise control on all my previous cruisers. They don't have one that will work on the C-14 due to the low bars and high tank on the sport touring bikes. If I throw on a set of bar risers....adding 1 inch in height and 3/4 inch back....the Brakeaway will work. Plus I'll have a more comfortable riding position....but really don't need that because it is extremely comfortable as is. So for another $ 1000 I'll have heat and improved seat comfort (but stock is very good so far) and cruise.

I will add a Cee Bailey windscreen to get a taller height and more protection. The winscreen on my Honda ST is perfect...way better than the stock Kawi...speking to the taller height only. The Kawi windscreen is very good...just to short.

Engine vibration....I have zero...none....nothing....feels electric..very fast electric mind you

Engine heat....bought mine at end of November....too cold outside to comment so far. My ST is way cooler than the Harley I used to ride...thats for sure. I feel no heat on the ST at all.

I paid 13,899 OTD for my C-14 ABS. Have seen them go for less recently.
I'll put in $ 1200 and have a near perfect, very fast, very comfortable long distance sport touring bike....emphasis on sport. The only other thing I miss from the ST is the digital outside temp guage.....got used to having it on the ST I guess.

I would only buy the GT if you have that extra disposable cash, you desire a slower bike and that BMW logo is really important to you. Otherwise I would buy the C-14 all over again !

Oh and I wish it was available in black....if they add black, heated grips and cruise for 2009, I'll be trading mine in.

Good luck Quint....you really will enjoy the C-14.....errr 1400GTR.....I put the Euro badging on mine

[Quint]

Originally Posted by CRWDDYZ

Quint -

I was in the same boat...considered the FJR, GT, ST and the Kawi C-14/GTR.

FJR was out after the first test ride...buzzy everywhere...terrible windscreen.

ST - I ride one everyday for work....need something different for off-duty. The ST feels heavy and underpowered compared to the C-14.

GT - I had decided this would be my next bike....moved up from cruisers. Needed a long distance machine. But then I heard Kawi was coming out wit a new bike....the C-14. So I waited one year till it came out....the press reports were that good.

C-14/GTR - I did two demo rides to be sure, but was really sold after the first demo ride. The bike is smooth everywhere..when I got off the bike I commented it was was like riding an ice cube on a on glass....no BS its really that good....really a seamless powerband too. The power...WOW....its a very controllable ROCKET SHIP !

The features missing compared to the GT are annoying. For what is advertised as a Transcontential Sport Touring Bike....it should have a cruise control at minimum. Heated grips....nice...have them on my ST and love them. Heated seat....dont care either way, but the wife would like it. The suspension....yeah that is cool, but once I set mine up on the Kawi....I doubt I'll ever adjust it. Never have on any bike I have owned once set-up to my liking. Ergos...adjustable is cool...but this bike fits me perfect at 5-11.

I'll add grip heaters and probally the Corbin heated seat...easy enough and still way less money than the GT. Cruise control is an issue with me however, I had the Brakeaway cruise control on all my previous cruisers. They don't have one that will work on the C-14 due to the low bars and high tank on the sport touring bikes. If I throw on a set of bar risers....adding 1 inch in height and 3/4 inch back....the Brakeaway will work. Plus I'll have a more comfortable riding position....but really don't need that because it is extremely comfortable as is. So for another $ 1000 I'll have heat and improved seat comfort (but stock is very good so far) and cruise.

I will add a Cee Bailey windscreen to get a taller height and more protection. The winscreen on my Honda ST is perfect...way better than the stock Kawi...speking to the taller height only. The Kawi windscreen is very good...just to short.

Engine vibration....I have zero...none....nothing....feels electric..very fast electric mind you

Engine heat....bought mine at end of November....too cold outside to comment so far. My ST is way cooler than the Harley I used to ride...thats for sure. I feel no heat on the ST at all.

I paid 13,899 OTD for my C-14 ABS. Have seen them go for less recently.
I'll put in $ 1200 and have a near perfect, very fast, very comfortable long distance sport touring bike....emphasis on sport. The only other thing I miss from the ST is the digital outside temp guage.....got used to having it on the ST I guess.

I would only buy the GT if you have that extra disposable cash, you desire a slower bike and that BMW logo is really important to you. Otherwise I would buy the C-14 all over again !

Oh and I wish it was available in black....if they add black, heated grips and cruise for 2009, I'll be trading mine in.

Good luck Quint....you really will enjoy the C-14.....errr 1400GTR.....I put the Euro badging on mine

Thanks CRWDDYZ - that's an excellent write-up. I think there are some things that BMW does well, but there's a helluva lot that concerns me. I have heard of airbox problems causing the "bucking bronco syndrome" and "high idle club". There's also reported problems with the final drive, and even possibilities of complete failure. I have heard road testers say the engine feels like every moving part is coated with sandpaper. And I myself know of the crappy clutch and lean part throttle fueling which leads to hunting and uneven accel/decel.

It seems like C-14 owners are pretty darned happy with their mounts, reporting turbine engine smoothness, jewel-like quality and big time performance - with a torque curve as a flat as a mesa.

In terms of gripes, I don't really care about heated grips or seats (although, these can be added) or electronic suspension adjustment (as you say, once you have it dialled in, you pretty much forget about it. My chief concern is lack of cruise control, and while the ThrottleMeister gives your right hand a rest, it still ain't cruise control. I know that McCruise and Audivox and aftermarket cruise controls - but they LOOK aftermarket too. Anyone who says different hasn't owned a BMW with its totally integrated cruise switches. Hell, even my stone-age Harley has cruise control.

I would love nothing more than to SAVE $8,000+ and get a machine which is more powerful, faster, smoother and more fun to ride than a GT. I think the only real thing I've got to get over is the cruise control.

Maybe ThrottleMeister is enough to ge the job done....

Anyway, thanks again for the well written thoughts - very helpful indeed.


UPDATE!

On another forum, I found a reference to website called Murph's Kits (you old hands would know it already) that includes a $107 Audiovox CC, complete with smaller vacuum canister to suit a bike, and handlebar risers to bring the bars up 1 3/8". This might be the way to go...
http://murpskits.com/catalog/product...8b2211b5186809

[CRWDDYZ]

Quint...Thnaks for the link to the Audiovoc CC. I am going to look into that unit for sure. Sounds very good.

[Hitman]

Here is another cruise controller for the C-14 / 1400GTR

http://www.mccruise.com/Kawasaki-Z14...rol-p-131.html

and brochure

http://www.mccruise.com/shop/pdf_bin...%20mcs4490.pdf

[Quint]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Here is another cruise controller for the C-14 / 1400GTR

http://www.mccruise.com/Kawasaki-Z14...rol-p-131.html

and brochure

http://www.mccruise.com/shop/pdf_bin...%20mcs4490.pdf

Hitman

The MC Cruise looks a lot more sophisticated and integrated than the Audiovox unit - but it is also 8 times the price. It seems like they have done R&D specifically for the Concours rather than a "one unit fits all" approach. Definitely worth a look.

Here's where I'm at:
1. Let's say an OTD price on the Concours is $13,500
2. Add roughly $1,000 for MC Cruise
3. Add $200 for different windshield (Cee Bailey Euro cut?)
4. Add some Helibars for another coupla hundred
5. A Sargent heated seat for a grand or so

For a little less than $16,000, I can have the performance, quality and fun of the Concours with the creature comforts of the Beemer. Now all I gotta do is find one with an OTD of $13,500 - any ideas anyone???

[JIS]

Hi Quint; did you go for the GTR1400? I too have a K1200GT and I need to change it for many reasons; not the least of which is because the riding position on the GT is causing me problems and the more upright position of the GTR is much better!

However, I too will miss the heated grips. I don't use the Cruise much here in UK and have only used the heated seat on occasion. I think I will definitely need to replace the stock seat though; the one on my GT is wonderfully comfortable for my 16 stones

Looking forward to reading your thoughts

John