Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => The Bike - C10 => Topic started by: gpineau on June 12, 2018, 05:56:22 PM

Title: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: gpineau on June 12, 2018, 05:56:22 PM
I have read lots of info (Pros and cons) about  changing the dogbone links on a C10 to change the height.

I want to lower my ride 2 inches.

I would rather buy a different seat or other option before changing the suspension.

Are there any other options other than changing the links?
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: route66tc on June 13, 2018, 02:40:49 AM
I've not done any measuring, but after the ZX-9 front end swap and 17" wheels front and rear, it sure feels considerably lower on my son's 87 C10.  He's running angel gt's.  Completely transformed the bike!
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: gpineau on June 13, 2018, 07:02:22 AM
Thanks, I will look into that. I checked my seat and there is about 3.4- 4 inches of foam pad there. I was thinking of shaving off half . Has anyone ever tried that?
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: gpineau on June 26, 2018, 11:17:15 PM
Just sold my 1995 C10. ($900) ...

While the guy was looking at my connie he fell in love with my shadow too. He bought both of them.
The 1999 c10 is up for sale soon.  ($1400)
Really hate to do this but It is just too dangerous for short people.  I have had too many close calls just riding it around locally.

Now I am down to my C10 , magna 750, and my fuel injector experiment. Someone made me an offer on the magna so it will probably be leaving soon.

Soon that will leave me with only my project bike and a hand full of cash.  I will be looking for my next bike. I really liked the connie but I am not tall enough. Are there any other touring bikes like the connie that are suitable for shorter people?



Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: connie_rider on June 27, 2018, 07:25:07 AM
Seat;
I have a lowered seat on my C-10. Mine is a older/softer Corbin.
Other seat Mfg's make them, you can have a local shop remove some of the padding, or do it yourself.
  Seats are available on the COG Forum occasionally. I recently sold one there.
Another (possibly better option) is narrowing the front of the seat.
  This allows you to plant your feet when stopped without losing padding.

Suspension;
The rear is EZ to lower.
  Just install a Norm Soucy Lowering Rocker.
     They are available it whatever increment you want.
       I think I can find Norm's phone number if interested.
The Front is also EZ to lower.
  Just slide the tubes up in the Tripple Tree's.

Ride safe, Ted

Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: gpineau on June 27, 2018, 08:17:42 PM
Seat;
I have a lowered seat on my C-10. Mine is a older/softer Corbin.
Other seat Mfg's make them, you can have a local shop remove some of the padding, or do it yourself.
  Seats are available on the COG Forum occasionally. I recently sold one there.
Another (possibly better option) is narrowing the front of the seat.
  This allows you to plant your feet when stopped without losing padding.

Suspension;
The rear is EZ to lower.
  Just install a Norm Soucy Lowering Rocker.
     They are available it whatever increment you want.
       I think I can find Norm's phone number if interested.
The Front is also EZ to lower.
  Just slide the tubes up in the Tripple Tree's.

Ride safe, Ted
I dont know how tall you are but it is a matter of inseam. Mine is 28.5 and I cant touch the ground with either foot. If the bike is straight up both feet are 2 inches off the ground. If I try to tip toe I still can just barely reach the pavement with one foot if I lean the bike..  I have heard lost os negative comments about using lowering links. They mess up the ride. I will just sell the connie and get me something along the same style but a little closer to the ground.

BTW I just sold my magna so the connie is all I have left until I am without a bike. (except for the project bike)
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: gpineau on June 27, 2018, 10:04:32 PM
https://boulder.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1999-kawasaki-concours-zg1000/6615554830.html
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: giff57 on June 28, 2018, 08:29:42 AM
I bought a set of these,http://soupysperformance.com/kawasaki/concours-1000-zg1000.html (http://soupysperformance.com/kawasaki/concours-1000-zg1000.html) along with the adjustable side stand.  I have not noticed much difference in ride or handling.  I dropped the rear 1.5 inches.
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on June 28, 2018, 12:38:14 PM
https://boulder.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1999-kawasaki-concours-zg1000/6615554830.html (https://boulder.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1999-kawasaki-concours-zg1000/6615554830.html)

I know you absolutely hate me for being honest, but do you seriously think anyone here, would even consider your ad to be truthful?

oh man.

what a web...
the paper trail, and keystrokes made, about this bike, and it's "history" are forever etched.

started out like this
I've a 1999 ZG1000. The cam is shot and I have ordered a replacement.
Two of the followers are damaged and need to be replaced along with the new cam.
But I am unable to find online replacement cam followers. 
Anyone have a zg1000 engine they are parting out? I could use 2 cam followers.

moved on to this

Thanks everyone for all the advice and good suggestions.

Just buttoned it up. (except for the tank and seat.  Bad lifter did the trick. Sounds like a new bike. !!!

I just changed the one bad follower and left the others alone. So I have 7 back ups.

Decided against the flush. I am just going to change the oil with some really cheap  stuff and run it for a while then change it again.

This $300 parts bike just turned into a $2k Connie.

Thanks again guys.

then to this....

Its been a long road of discovery. I got the new cam installed with two new followers. Started it and it was making horrible noise. Turned out the be the cam chain tensioner. Got that fixed and noticed the carbs were peeing on the garage floor. Pulled the carbs, cleaned them and adjusted the floats at least 5 times. Still peeing on the floor. Ended up putting new float needles and that fixed that. So now I was on the fast track of finishing up and while syncing the carbs on the bike I had a cylinder that I could not adjust.  DAMN. What now. I was getting blowback on cylinder two on compression strike (and power stroke).  Turns out that cam and followers were trashed for a reason. I pulled the head and sure enough a bent valve cylinder two. A lot of damned work for a used motorcycle.

New valve on order. I will spend the rest of the weekend cleaning the filth from inside the engine.

then on to this...

I am wanting to upgrade to a 14 but first I need to raise some money so I am selling one or both of my C10s.

I have a 1995 for $1100 (no saddle bags)
I have a 1999 for $1600 (saddle bags)

They look identical. Both in good condition and have clean title.  The 1999 has aftermarket mirrors.
Only one set of side bags.
Recently done a valve adjust and carburetor cleaning on both.

If you are in the Denver area then stop by and have a look.

C/L ad says....
"Since I am only 5'4" tall the Connie has been difficult for me to ride so it is my choice for the first one that must go. No Saddle bags included.

These are popular machines and a price of $2200 is fair for the condition of this bike. "

 :rotflmao:
fair? $600 more, and no bags, which you gave to the guy that bought the other bike for $900?

good luck straddling a C14... :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

then.....

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=23452.msg292716#msg292716 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=23452.msg292716#msg292716)

locked, but not forgotten...
and this folks, is why we don't buy bikes off Craig's List...

if this bike pops up on the COG site, I'll be the first person to say the same thing there.

your documentation has been soooo forthcoming.
https://motostuff.shutterfly.com/pictures/409 (https://motostuff.shutterfly.com/pictures/409)

and to think you accused me of hubris.

unbelievable.... and despicable.
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: connie_rider on June 28, 2018, 02:52:54 PM
I bought a set of these,http://soupysperformance.com/kawasaki/concours-1000-zg1000.html (http://soupysperformance.com/kawasaki/concours-1000-zg1000.html) along with the adjustable side stand.  I have not noticed much difference in ride or handling.  I dropped the rear 1.5 inches.

giff57, it's been reported that the C-10 center stand will not work with the Soupy lowering links.
   {At the time I did mine, I was not aware of any lowering links for a C-10 that work with a center stand}.
The rocker does work with it. That is why I/most preferred to use the lowering Rocker for a C-10.

Does your center stand work with the Soupy's Lowering Link's?

Ride safe, Ted
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: giff57 on June 29, 2018, 11:50:20 AM
I'm not sure you could use the center stand solo, but with the rear wheel on a 2X8 and my son's assistance I was able to use the center stand.
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: gpineau on July 01, 2018, 09:41:40 AM
Busy making assumptions again man of blues.  You simply can't resist making disparaging remarks about me can you. You insinuating that I am trying to hide something about the history of this bike are complete lies. You are mixing and confusing the history of two different bikes. 

What's this about no saddle bags? Did you actually read the ad? Or are you one of those that just looks at the pictures?  "Saddle bags are included although they are not shown in the pictures. "


The "$300 parts"  bike I have already sold to a very happy buyer. He drove it home about 70 miles from here. He was so pleased with it he came back and bought my honda shadow. The only thing I ever had to do to it was to change one cam lifter.  Done - end of story..!

The bike I have for sale now it the first connie that I purchased last fall. It came to me in a heap of parts.  I worked on it this past winter. It had a bad valve and a trashed cam and a couple gouged cam  followers all of which I replaced.  Valve replacement  was a total failure as attested in another thread.
 
I have replaced the head (Per Your Recommendation) and now it is in good condition and ready for a new owner.  I drove it about 50 miles yesterday and it is running fine. It is a good bike now and worth the price I am asking.

Your disparaging remarks about this bike are misguided and completely incorrect and may well have cost me money in a lost sale.

You've gone from expressing a dissenting opinion to only posting to antagonize which is shameful.
You owe me an apology and  I really do wish you would shut your trap and quit trying to torpedo everything I post and my efforts to sell my bike.

The history of this bike is and has always been public from the very beginning.
https://youtu.be/SRLVX9z9bfA
https://youtu.be/dzwsC6CLLWw
https://youtu.be/RW7q0KiR-Fs
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on July 02, 2018, 02:16:19 PM
Busy making assumptions again man of blues.  You simply can't resist making disparaging remarks about me can you. You insinuating that I am trying to hide something about the history of this bike are complete lies. You are mixing and confusing the history of two different bikes. 


NOPE
didn't assume anything, just read every post related to the 99, every one... and quoted verbatim what you wrote.


I am not making up Lies...



What's this about no saddle bags? Did you actually read the ad? Or are you one of those that just looks at the pictures?  "Saddle bags are included although they are not shown in the pictures. "




yep, I read the ad... fully, and I actually copy/pasted your exact words printed in the C/L post, as of the day I made my posting containing my commentary on your actions.. I would have copied the complete ad, and pasted it, as the "quote" I posted, but it would have been a waste of time... again, I didn't lie... you sir, modified your ad to suite your current accusation, if that works to your advantage to make it look like I lied, so be it... some other folks actually read your C/L ad, prior to modification...

so I know you are going to roll this one off saying you just changed the "price" in the ad... but that just ain't true.

you see, people that lie, are usually so predictable, with the propensity to keep lying in order to defend themselves... my suggestion is to stop while you are ahead...

even I can see what you did, at the bottom of the C/L page...

updated: 2018-07-02 9:18am
and
updated: about 5 hours ago



Your disparaging remarks about this bike are misguided and completely incorrect and may well have cost me money in a lost sale.


as for which bike you did what to, I'm not gonna dig them all up again, the quotes I had in my post, document them by date, and which bike was being referred to..

I could care less about the '95 you sold,
I just don't expect someone here, or some other respected co member of COG, to be duped. Craigslist however, is a different story, and I suppose if someone called you, and asked you if there were any major issues ever with the bike, you would completely describe all the work you did... correct?


You owe me an apology and  I really do wish you would shut your trap and quit trying to torpedo everything I post and my efforts to sell my bike.



apology? from me? ain't happening sir... I don't apologize on someones demand, when deception is involved.

if you really wanted to "sell your bike here", answer this..
why didn't you re post it in the for sale section? Instead of the middle of a thread about suspension lowering???

the only thing I'm sorry for, is the time people spent trying to help you.

have a great day, best of luck to whomever buys your bike...
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on July 02, 2018, 03:51:35 PM
might as well ask Jim to lock this one down also, to prevent any further discourse you may find objectionable.
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: gpineau on July 02, 2018, 10:04:11 PM
What you missed was that the Craigslist post for the 1995 was reused for the 1999. It took a couple tries to get all the information correct for the new bike. You weren't the only one to notice. A couple of interested people pointed out to the the contradictions which I have corrected. It was a shortcut and the first pass had a couple of errors in it that have since been corrected. 

You know I am allowed to make mistakes and later fix them and I can change the price to anything I want at anytime between your snapshots of my CL posts. But you are looking under every rock to find some sinister plot from me to misrepresent my bike.  It simply isn't true.  It is what I say it is and that is the simple truth.

So go ahead with your preoccupation to play Craigslist detective and place everything i say under a microscope. I makes no difference to me. It is a decent bike and I will sell my bike at a price that the buyer and I agree on. Or I may decide to keep it and lower it to suit my fancy. It is really of no consequence to you and not worth near the effort you are putting into it. Stop obsessing over it and apologize. That's the right thing to do.
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: gpineau on July 04, 2018, 08:39:25 AM
I listed my 1995 C10 on craigslist and after I sold it ......Rather that create a new add I just started modifying the existing add for the new bike.  Correcting the mistakes took a couple of days.

What you show in your post and used to try to publicly shame me as a dishonest person are mere snapshots of the Craigslist ad while I was transitioning it from one bike to the next.

I still have the original Craigslist listing and the current listing. 

Seriously you have slandered me, called me a liar and attempted to portray me as dishonest. You owe me an apology..
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on July 04, 2018, 03:17:35 PM

Seriously you have slandered me, called me a liar and attempted to portray me as dishonest. You owe me an apology..

just drop it... ok? and I won't continue.. but if not, then sue me...

go ahead Brainiac..

might want to study law a bit first tho...

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/defamation-slander-libel (https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/defamation-slander-libel)

best of luck,
"the opinions I have expressed herein, are all based on prior disclosed facts, and writings, and are for the express entertainment purposes only, of those reading them"

Caveate Emptor.


as for an apology...
don't hold your breath.

http://youtu.be/GG_pq4RzIG4 (http://youtu.be/GG_pq4RzIG4)

https://youtu.be/GG_pq4RzIG4 (https://youtu.be/GG_pq4RzIG4)
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: Rick Hall on July 04, 2018, 10:38:19 PM
There is no winner in a urinary yardage competition. You could think a "spot landing" if you're into aviation crap.

MOB fails, gpineau a close second with bonus points for civility.

Thread locked, **** in your own pool.

Rick
Title: Re: Methods to lower a C10
Post by: VirginiaJim on July 05, 2018, 06:11:23 AM
Geez..