Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => The Bike - C10 => Topic started by: ZG on June 14, 2011, 05:20:00 PM
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Hey guys,
I have a C14 but am trying to help my brother in-law find a C10...
We are currently looking at one that has 60k miles, do you think that is at or getting to the point of worry for miles on it??
I know there are many factors to this question like how it was mantained etc, this would be a private party purchase and the seller doesn't have records from prior to him, he's had it for a couple years. So just in general what are your guys thoughts on a C10 with that many miles??
Thanks in advance for any help and opinions.
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I think I'd worry more about a low mileage older one than a mid-mileage newer one.... 60k is barely starting to get into it's stride...
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I don't know where you're located, but this one-owner popped up on CL's today. North Chicago suburbs.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/mcy/2438560985.html (http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/mcy/2438560985.html)
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Bought mine with 75k on it. I was concerned. I used that "concern" to get a great price ($1600). The minimal work I've done to it is due to age, not mileage. We opened the valve cover and it looks like new inside. I see no reason it can't go another 100k easy. It's more about condition than mileage.
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Man I hope that 60,000 isn't a cause for worry, because my bile has 64800 in it and I'm about to drop another $700 in power cams and tires. Seriously though, I too would be worried about a 94 with 5500 miles than a 2004 with 55000 miles.
Once he finds a C10, send him over to SiSF for overflow tubes at least and the whole shebang if he can swing it. Great guy and make the bike a whole 'nother beast.
Brian
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I just got back from a big loop from Orlando through Amarillo, up Independance Pass to Rushmore and Crazy Horse. 4916 miles. Bike had ~75K to start with. Pretty close to 80K today. Independace pass is 12,100 feet. Hardly had to downshift -- and that just for speed control.
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As said it's more about routine maintenance then miles, my 86 is close to 68k and still runs great even though it needs carbs cleaned or rebuilt i still ride all over on this thing, problems will crop up but most are minor and can be fixed as i keep learning like yesterday when the horn died.
This is the best place to talk about the connie and get help when needed.
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;)
Bought my '86 with 59K on the clock from original owner in '03. Currently has 92K on it with very few trips to the dealer. I'm lucky enough to have a few mechanical skills and a whole bunch of "wrenchs" for friends. Unless something very bad happens, I don't see getting rid of this bike for a long, long time.
I think good maintenance is the key.
Take care and ride safe,
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I saw a '94 last Sunday...it had 164k on it...if I remember correctly...my '88 is just getting broken-in at 47k!
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When you buy an older bike keep in mind you will have to do maintainence and repair yourself. Some parts will wear out and have to be replaced. A dealer will charge you more $$ than what the bike is worth!! The C10 is a very good reliable bike but sooner or later you will need to do some wrenching. Your first accessory is a shop manual.
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I bought mine with 95k and I used it to bargain the price down. I was a little worried until I read that these bikes can do 200k or more if cared for. A really good pre sale inspection helps, too.
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We are currently looking at one that has 60k miles, do you think that is at or getting to the point of worry for miles on it??
It should be fine, just look for signs of previous damage and repairs.
D.
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It should be fine, just look for signs of previous damage and repairs.
D.
She has been down before, to the point of even a reconstructed title, but it was "supposedly" just cosmetic and all the damaged plastic was replaced with new oem. The bike looks clean, and the 60k miles plus the recon title is making it a very low price that it's for sale for, which is why we're considering it... My brother in-law doesn't have much money, but doesn't want to buy a lemon either... :-\
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Insurance companies will total a bike for almost any accident. The salvage title is a good bargaining tool for price. Attempt to run a check on the title. Look for a lot of time between the insurance company taking title and the next owner. Many times a salvaged bike will sit on a lot awaiting auction. Take a flashlight and check the tank for rust. Rust will cause problems in the future and could be costly. A salvaged title may make resale difficult in the future.
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My bike has a salvaged title and all new plastics - I got it cheap. If the maintenance has been kept up, I'd probably start to worry when compression readings got below 100psi or it used more than a quart of oil between oil changes, which on these bikes is probably somewhere around 500,000 I'll bet. Jew them down hard and ride the wheels off her!
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Here is the bike in question.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/2439230950.html (http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/2439230950.html)
What are your thoughts, concerns, questions I should be asking??
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Seems decent for the price, a test ride will tell a lot. If maintenance records are available, that's a huge plus. Shows someone actually cared about it.
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Buy it and put another 60K on it. Then let us know how it worked out!
I just bought an '02 with 50K and a rebuilt title. I had her down to the bones and couldn't find any probs. I aint skeered.
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I eode SteveJ's 146,000 mile 99 yesterday. Man, that bike ran great - he rides it all over the US. Canada and doesn't think twice about it - Now I see why! Steve
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My 87 turned 70,000 yesterday. Had it since new. I've replaced the fan switch 3 times, coils last year with stic caps/coils, cam chain adjuster with the APE unit. Routine/preventative maintenance items like wheel bearing changes, oil/filter changes, valve adjusts, etc. Has been a very good machine thus far.
Look at the sellers other older items sitting around for an indicator of whether maintenance was done.
If it looks good, starts good and runs good, I'm sure it is ok.
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I bought an 86 a few (5) years back. I had to change the head shortly after because I could not adjust the valves anymore. Only showed 27,000 on the clock then but I am beginning to wonder if it had turned over once.. I contributed it to the early head and soft valves at first.. Now with close to 60,000 showing it is using about a quart to a 1,000. It runs great,fast,great throttle response and such. I only put on about 4-5,000 a year here in ND so the oil usage is more of a nuisance then anything. When a decent used one comes up for sale I will prolly buy it and transfer all my farkles over. That said I have gotten a lot of bang for a $1500 bike and have no regrets thou it sounds like an oil burner is a rare one.
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I bought my first '95 Connie new/used with hardly no miles on it in '95. I put 101K on that bike with absolutely no problems with it. I sold it for a '2000 Connie new/used with hardly no miles on it, (in '2001), and I have put 70K on it and I am currently still riding this one. I commute to work everyday to work on my Connie, (Bay Area San Francisco, CA). I have had no issues at all with this bike either. I am rather good at following the recommended maintenance schedules for this bike and I do my own wrenching. I did not replace my J box on the '95, but I think I might on the '2000 C-10. I put some med lock tight on the speedometer cable to keep it from occassionally unscrewing. I have replaced the lights in the dash on both my C-10's. After 30K (both bikes)I have found that my valves are rock solid, (I still check them), but I have not had to adjust them. I replaced the timing chain tensioner on my '95 (no big deal to replace) but not on my '2000 yet. I have had the carbs off both bikes and the idle jets cleaned to correct a "lag" when giving it throttle. The front shock springs, (OEM), have all sorts of preload and I had a "Pro" shorten these OEM springs and set up the '2000 Connie suspension to fit my riding style and habits. This suspension work made the Connie feel like a whole new bike. Watchout for the wheel bearings, they can sneak up on you...I check them every 15K or so. The bike is "bullet proof" and is sooooooo good for what you have to pay for it and the lack of time you have to wrench on it.... the bike never never breaks. Have fun riding the bike. :)