Kawasaki ticket to ride = WOW

[soyjim]

I am a c10 rider. Got my2001 bike running this spring and am working on finding a comfortable seating position. Love the bike except that it is a little heavy and I am nowhere near enough daring a rider to exploit all the c10 handling capabilities.

In the site crash time I learned about the Kawasaki ticket to ride program. Kawasaki is offering free demo rides on there bikes at different locations around the country.  I went to the one in St Louis last weekend. For me it was more fun than going to the six flags amusement park. You get to ride on new bikes over a 20 to 30 minute road course with leaders that really want you to get the feel of what the bikes can do. The nice thing about having a leader is that you don't have to think about where you are going and he is making it fun. The route was over urban roads with a few lights, an interstate section and some surprising neat rural type roads that they found near Harrah's Casino. The tent and waiting area was on the parking lot of the casino.

One section of the route was on a tree canopied twisty section of road that was down the bluffs of the Missouri river. I road three bikes. The first time I cam onto this road I was on a Vulcan 900 LT.  I was real careful. In the heat I did not push myself to ride more than 3 bikes which was what they would let you sigh up for at the start. I went over wanting to ride the Vulcan 900 and the Versys. Those were the two bikes I initally signed up for. I could actually see myself putting out the money for one of those but I really want to stay happy with my frugal c10. Also rode a vulcan 1700 that was really something. After two rides and the hour ride over there I delayed the start of the Versys ride so I could get out of the heat and eat a light lunch and drink a mix of diet and regular coke for liquid. i put salt on the slice of sauge pizza I got for three bucks at the casino. I got back in time for my versys ride which was a real blast  Some how that bike had gotten up to the front of the line, They had me wait until all the faster sport bikes that were in that grouping went ahead. In that group I was second to last in front of the Ninja 650 and behind the C14. On the vulcan 1700  ride I was right after the leader, what a bike!  The small fared  versis was really fun, my skin was tingling after the ride. The guy behind me was a newly licensed rider that had just completed the safety licensing course and was looking to get his first bike, When we got done I don't Know if he or I had the biggest grin.  This brought  me to the end of the ticket to ride. They had a few more rides still and I lounged around in the hot tent with cool water for a while. They told me on Saturday cruisers had been the popular bike and on sunday it was the sport bikes.

On the way home I stopped at the cycle gear store on St charles rock road near where I used to live in St Ann. Had a ham sandwhich and a quart of sweet tea at a burger joint. Put my legs up in a booth and enjoyed the Air conditioned cool for a while. Headed back home where I talked with my C14 riding neighbor that I had talked with right before I went out.
 
While I was over there some Honcho of the ride took the clip off my left peg so I could change out the peg with one of murphs peg lowerers. It had take me an hour and 45 minutes to get the clip off the other side but I had to do that one cause I broke that one in my CDA event which I posted right before the data losing crash. I guess I am supposed to keep quiet about that.

If the ticket to ride is still coming to you area, I think you could have a good time. Thanks Kawasaki.

[DkKnight]

They are def a good way to get a test ride on Kawasaki's that you are considering.
After attending the one in my area, it got me to a dealer for a closer look and eventual purchase of my 2011 C14.
It looks like other manufacturers are starting to send out demo trucks ie: Suzuki and Yamaha starting this year, Ducati and Triumph continuing as in years past, as the need for a test ride was pretty crucial to my purchase decision, and I am sure it is to others.
Hopefully this continues in the future.

Paul in MD

[stevewfl]

Actually the japs are behind in regards to demo bikes. BMW, triumph, and Ducati has demo rides at dealerships like car dealers.  No chasing down the kawasaki tents.

[Cold Streak]

I posted about the Kawi event in MN.  I rode 5 different bikes.  It was very well organized and run.  Highly recommended event.  I liked the Versys also, but wished it had more power.  Don't forget to go to the dealer and sign up for the bike giveaways.

[soyjim]

I guess I will go over to the dealer. I am really not in the market for a new bike. My old c10 is still a great, fun bike. That was one of the nice things about the ticket to ride event, it was not at the dealer.  They even gave me 5 minutes of there time to help me change out my pegs. I know that those guys at the dealer have got to make a living but it is just not a comfortable place to go. Everyone there is in sales. A good part of what they offer is their knowledge of motor cycling. The ticket to ride event made me feel welcome and any pressure to buy was almost non existant. It did make me more loyal to the Kawasaki brand. As a used bike buyer I like the way Kawasaki comes out with good products and doesn't make little tweak changes every few years that means parts are changing.

At the event Kawasaki seemed to realize that having happy motorcyclist look at there products was in itself good for the company. If you go be prepared to spend some fun time there. You may not be able to get on the bike you want to ride right away. maybe after you register you can figure on going out to eat or take a sandwhich with you in case the bike You really want to ride is availabe right away. 

I came away from the event realizing that I am happy to ride around on two wheels where you lean in the curves. I even like bicycling. (talk about underpowered) I could be happy on a cruiser but my c10 still makes me happy. I also think I learned what the connie buzz is and I am not at all bothered by it

It is interesting that Kawasaki held there Minnesota event in may where we St. louis area riders would consider the weather to be winter conditions and the St Louis event was held at a time when our area is often under a heat warning.

[Cold Streak]

Just to clarify, the Minnesota event was in July and it was plenty hot.  I took a break in an air conditioned restaurant and drank plenty of liquids, had a little lunch with a bag of really salty chips.

[soyjim]

Just to clarify, the Minnesota event was in July and it was plenty hot.  I took a break in an air conditioned restaurant and drank plenty of liquids, had a little lunch with a bag of really salty chips.

I must have interpreted you registration as the posting date. July would have been hot. I missed out on signing up for the give aways, that ended july 31. They had a 2009 versys on the floor listed for about $5400. If I did not already have a good concours, that is tempting. It was a fun ride with a good seat position for me. My next bike will probably be a cruiser though cause I really liked there laid back seating. Good thing the c10 makes me happy. Hope I don't use that $500 coupon they gave out at the ride.

[Two Skies]

When the ticket to ride event came here, I rode the Ninja 1000 and a C14.  Leaving the event, while I absolutely loved the torque curve of the Ninja1000, and the C14 felt like an old friend to me, I found myself quite satisfied leaving on my C10.

As I've posted in other threads, what I didn't like about the Ninja 1000 was a lack of wind protection, and the fact that bumps and such telegraph through the bike a lot more heavily than they do on the C10-C14, which tend to ride them out due to their heavier weights.  Also, riding the Ninja 1000 felt a little like riding a 10 Speed upright, so I wasn't getting the feedback from the road which I've grown accustomed to.  That riding position seems to me like it'd be a little fatiguing on a longer ride.  The Ninja 1000 seems like it'd be a lot of fun to commute on, though!

I'm not one of those who needs fancy digital gauges to keep me happy.  Ye olde Analog C10 gauges do well enough!

The C14 is a nice bike and all, and may very well be the bike I get after my C10 gives up the ghost.  But until then I'm good.

[Rhino]

I have done twice with BMW factory demo truck and loved it both times. I really wanted to do the Ticket to ride but was on a 3700 miles road trip on my C14 when the truck came through Denver. Really wanted to try the Z1000, Ninja 1000 and the new ZX10R. sigh... maybe next time

[Rasmith]

Coming up on this years Maryland Heights Demo ride.

Was going to make this to make sure the C14 was for me but last years ride left a lasting impression.