Your wariness is a result of this forum. It is a great place, with great people but it tends to be a little delicate as if all the posts were made by Mary Jane Tinklepants, and there is a LOT of hand wringing around here about events that not only have not happened yet but are unlikely to happen. For example, a lot of C-14s show very small amounts of corrosion on the fuel tank under the seat. Way back when the bikes were new there were cries of gloom and doom regarding this; worries about rusting through the tank and similar. Really incredible. So now the bike is four years old and this fuel tank "issue" (there never WAS an ISSUE!) seems to be forgotten.... until someone brings it up again and there are 9 pages of posts about what might happen.
If you can be objective about it, the C-14 is extremely reliable. Go to the FJR forum and read the list of actual recalls on that bike, there have been a lot and it is ongoing. But the overall attitude on that forum is much less delicate and the participants are more likely to talk about solutions to problems than worrying about them.
A great example of this is the time spent on driveshaft noises. To the very best of my knowledge, there has been one catastrophic failure of a C-14 driveshaft, and one other mechanical failure that did not result in any damage. Both were handled by warranty and neither one caused any injury to anyone. Yet the posts, worry, concern and outright paranoia go on for YEARS. Frankly I think there is more risk of getting cancer of the testicals from the radiation of the ECU under the seat, and there is not much chance of that. But as a group, C-14 owners seem to be a worrying lot and I find this odd because it does not seem that earlier Concours owners (C-10) were or are that way.
Either way, my suggestion would be to buy the bike you like best and the one that you are worried about the least. If ANY bike makes you wary, buy something else. There is no need for any mechanical device to hold you emotionally hostage- it is just is not worth it in my opinion.
Brian
Now I know that issues tend to overpower all the good aspects of a vehicle, but let me tell you my story. I have been riding Honda,Yamaha Suzuki for 22 years. Total of 7 bikes. Only had two brand new bikes .
I am the mimurph that got rear ended and my bike will probably be totaled. I am reading as much info on the c-14 as I can because im a fanatic when it come to that. To tell you the truth, I dont get the same warm fuzzy feeling that i had with most of my other bikes. The concourse seems to have some quirks, like the brakes, valve adjustments, Kipass and stuff that I really have'nt seen on most other manufacturers. Granted, all bikes have issues. My other bike I have now is a Yamaha Roadstar with 73000 miles. Original rotors Had trans recall. Other then that no other problems. Please dont take this wrong. But would you considered the c-14 a high maint. bike, or am I blowing this out of proportion.
I guess what Im asking is, If you had to do it again, Would you? Thanks Murph
