Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: ZG on April 21, 2012, 07:28:28 PM

Title: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 21, 2012, 07:28:28 PM
Well, it happened...  :o     But yet it has a very happy ending!!   :)

I backed my Connie down to the end of the driveway for some other pics, I was wearing shorts and sandals, after I took some pics went to bring her back in the garage (in between mama & daughters cars in the driveway), bad angle, bars turned all the way to the left, slippery sandals, and yep she starts to go down and nothing I can do to save this gigantic behemoth...  :'(
 
 
Heart pounding out of my chest for a brief second until I saw that the Top Block protection had done it's job!! NO DAMAGE AT ALL!! ZERO!!   ;D 8)
 
Nothing other than the Top Block points hit the ground at all, not to my left side Muzzys, not to my left side bag, not even to my left side mirror, ME HAPPY!!  :thumbs: :hail:
 
 
I really think what saved it was a two part combo of both the Top Block slider kit...
 
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=314.msg95590#msg95590 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=314.msg95590#msg95590)
 
AND
 
the just installed last week Top Block swing arm sliders...
 
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7642.msg98456#msg98456 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7642.msg98456#msg98456)
 

Here's the pics for proof! Don't anybody ever try to tell me going forward that the Top Block protection isn't worth the $$, it totally is and did it's job just as I'd always hoped to never test...   ;)
 
 
Enjoy the pics... This was the hardest part for me, instead of immediately picking her up to stop and take pics...  :-\ :( :'(
 

(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01050-20120421-1648.jpg)

Notice the mirror not touching the ground!!
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01049-20120421-1648.jpg)
 
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01048-20120421-1648.jpg)
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01045-20120421-1647.jpg)
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01044-20120421-1647.jpg)
 
 
Notice the rear bag off the ground!! 8)
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01046-20120421-1647.jpg)
 
 

Notice the rear swing arm slider keeping my Muzzys off the ground!!  8)
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01043-20120421-1647.jpg)
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01047-20120421-1648.jpg)
 
 
 
 
Very minimal scuffing to the Top Block points, they are a soft plastic so I should be able to buff them out with some fine grit sand paper and be good as new!  :chugbeer:
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01051-20120421-1649.jpg)
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01053-20120421-1650.jpg)

 
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: gPink on April 21, 2012, 07:34:14 PM
Glad everything is ok. I gotta ask... Was it all in slow motion? ;)
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 21, 2012, 07:37:37 PM
Glad everything is ok. I gotta ask... Was it all in slow motion? ;)

Indeed! Very slow but very heavy...  ;D
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: VirginiaJim on April 21, 2012, 08:02:10 PM
Geez, glad you and the bike are ok!
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Gumby on April 21, 2012, 08:25:58 PM
(http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll112/tomdvaughan/Whew.jpg)

Do you own sandpaper?
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: geebo on April 21, 2012, 08:53:27 PM
Wow! Thanks for sharing... I won't be surprised if there is a sudden surge in sales of those sliders. I had a close call last weekend in a similar situation, but managed to save it. I think this is a sign that I should just pull the trigger on those sliders.

Glad you and the bike are alright.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: rcannon409 on April 21, 2012, 08:55:52 PM
ZG, glad all is well.  I'm shocked at how well the top blocks did.  Well worth the $$$$.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: GVmerle on April 21, 2012, 09:05:38 PM
Gee I hate to see a motorcycle laying down, but not so bad when no damage is done.  They are a bit heavy.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: dirt_biker on April 21, 2012, 09:11:19 PM
Great investment 8)
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: maxtog on April 21, 2012, 09:39:19 PM
Jay- that is GREAT news.  Thanks for all the neat pics!   Did you help it down some?
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 21, 2012, 09:43:43 PM
Jay- that is GREAT news.  Thanks for all the neat pics!   Did you help it down some?

Not much Max, she landed pretty hard thanks to a half dozen beers, me not thinking or even paying attention, and wearing my summer sandles since we finally broke 70 degrees in the PNW today...  :-\
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: rcannon409 on April 21, 2012, 09:51:04 PM
ZG, did you ever notice this. Jesus is about the only person to pull off wearing sandals with any success.

I'm seriously thinking of sellign my gsg's and gettign the Top Blocks.  In lookign at the GSG's , I cannot see how they would work this well in the same situation.  If they dont work, whats the point, right?
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 21, 2012, 09:54:39 PM
Geez, glad you and the bike are ok!

Wow! Thanks for sharing... I won't be surprised if there is a sudden surge in sales of those sliders. I had a close call last weekend in a similar situation, but managed to save it. I think this is a sign that I should just pull the trigger on those sliders.

Glad you and the bike are alright.


ZG, glad all is well.  I'm shocked at how well the top blocks did.  Well worth the $$$$.

Gee I hate to see a motorcycle laying down, but not so bad when no damage is done.  They are a bit heavy.

Great investment 8)

 
 :grouphug:
 
 
Thanks brutha's!! I'm good to go and actually for the first time in my lifetime of bikes going down (many bikes & many times) not even upset in the slightest! I'd even go so far as to say happy, I just have this awesome piece of mind that nothing on my Connie got damaged, it's very rewarding in a very weird way...  ???   :)    :chugbeer: 
 
 
Do you own sandpaper?

I think Mama has some in her craft box!  ;D
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Pokey on April 22, 2012, 12:09:30 AM
So much fail.......and I am glad that I have a son!!!! ;)
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Rhino on April 22, 2012, 03:39:40 AM
So the plot thickens! I read this thread before the senior prom thread. I would say you were definitely wearing the appropriate T-shirt ;D
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: BlkBird on April 22, 2012, 06:52:12 AM
Now you can tell anyone who ever questioned the logic in spending so much for the extra parts every penny was justified.  Glad you had a happy ending.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: daringdave on April 22, 2012, 12:10:59 PM
What a great testimony to the Top Block system. I'm sitting here waiting for at least another month or more for Ryan's Canyon Cage bars... with no absolute guarantee they'll work as well as the TB... Meanwhile, riding around clamping my cheeks  every time I have to go thru gravel on roads up on the Mountain getting to Santa Cruz.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: mikeboileau on April 22, 2012, 12:48:20 PM
Anybody else see that he was moving it to take more pics of it?

 :o

Glad it went ok, and the gear protected it.

Flip-flops?

 :rotflmao:
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: maxtog on April 22, 2012, 02:43:41 PM
What a great testimony to the Top Block system. I'm sitting here waiting for at least another month or more for Ryan's Canyon Cage bars...

The Top Blocks are a great design and fantastic looking.  But this is a testimony only to a slightly-helped, zero speed tip-over.  As I have said several times in the past, in a push-over or while moving at any speed, it is highly likely the bike will roll/rock over the Top Block and smash the mirrors, bags, and upper fairing.

I said all this BEFORE it was also essentially said by Ryan, and you can see what I mean here:  http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7593.msg98038#msg98038 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7593.msg98038#msg98038)

Yes, it is WONDERFUL and IMPRESSIVE to see the Top Block in action!  And they offer a lot of protection for something so minimal and stylish.  I dare say, you probably can't buy, get, or design something better for the profile/protection ratio.  But they do not offer the protection afforded by something like the Canyon Carvers.  Nor are they as inexpensive or as easy to remove for service and they require cutting the fairing.  And the Canyons won't offer the level of protection of the hideous bathroom bars.

Quote
with no absolute guarantee they'll work as well as the TB...

The Canyons *will* work at LEAST as good but likely far better at protecting than the Top Blocks.   Given the level of competency shown by McEnterprises, you will likely find nobody who will disagree with my statement.  About the only real question is level of protection if used WITHOUT the small rears.  As far as to the aesthetics of them, that is going to be the key deciding factor for most people:  If money is no object, then what level of protection can you tolerate vs. how they look?

Model         Aesthetics    Level of protection    Cost     Availability    Removability
GSG            B                  D                               B          B                   A (N/A)
TopBlock     A                  C                               D          D                  C
BathBars    D                  A                               A           A                  B
Canyon      C                  B                               A           A                  B
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Makz58 on April 22, 2012, 03:34:43 PM
I don't think there is a product made that will safely protect a bike in any kind of speed drop...these kind of protectors the Canyon carvers the laundry type protectors or the top blocks now protecting in a tip over with little or no speed that is another situation and I believe all three would do the job really well. I for one bought mine for the stopped or very low speed tip over protection,
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Smokeyzx on April 22, 2012, 03:45:48 PM
Well that makes up my mind. I'm going with the Top Block front & rear sliders and MC Canyon Cage. It seems that combination will give decent protection.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 22, 2012, 03:54:26 PM

Model         Aesthetics    Level of protection    Cost     Availability    Removability
TopBlock     A                  C                               D          D                  C


Well, once again I totally disagree with you Max...  :)
 
 
Level of protection you give a C??  ???  Did you see the pics I posted and I have ZERO damage to anything on my Connie...
 
Cost you give a D??  ???  Had I not had the Top Blocks on I would have done about $3k in damage to the bodywork and exhaust etc, so I'd say they are cheap insurance...
 
Availability you give a D??  ???  How do you figure this?? Send an email to Tatiana at Top Block, send $ via Paypal, 2 weeks later they deliver to your door step...
 
Removability you give a C??  ???  Have you ever removed them, I think not... I'm told by my shop it's about a 10 minute job to get the lower fairing off if needed, you don't have to completely remove the entire kit, only that outer arm...
 
 
 
I give Top Block an A+ for all categories!!  ;D   :thumbs: :thumbs:
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/zsnap.jpg)
 
 
 
 
I think you're just jealous and totally wrong Max...
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/sdjiweurw.jpg)
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Makz58 on April 22, 2012, 04:02:34 PM
Actually you could remove the lower fairing by removing two bolts from the Top Block one on each side....interference with servicing your bike very minimal.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Gumby on April 22, 2012, 04:13:23 PM
I'm told by my shop it's about a 10 minute job to get the lower fairing off if needed, you don't have to completely remove the entire kit, only that outer arm...
:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
Does anybody else find this as amusing as me?

Sorry Jay, you left yourself wide open.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 22, 2012, 04:40:01 PM
:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
Does anybody else find this as amusing as me?

Sorry Jay, you left yourself wide open.

 ;D ;D ;D  (http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/swiqe.gif)  :chugbeer:
 
Sorry I'm not a wrencher like you...  ;)   
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: maxtog on April 22, 2012, 04:52:15 PM

Well, once again I totally disagree with you Max...  :)

That's OK.   It happens sometimes.
 
Quote
Level of protection you give a C??  ???  Did you see the pics I posted and I have ZERO damage to anything on my Connie...

It is a comparison, not an absolute.  I am talking about in all possible situations, not just one.  The "C" doesn't mean it is bad, just not as good as an "A" or "B".
 
Quote
Cost you give a D??  ???  Had I not had the Top Blocks on I would have done about $3k in damage to the bodywork and exhaust etc, so I'd say they are cheap insurance...

Again, just a comparison.  It is three times the expected expense of the Canyons or the actual cost of the bathroom bars, for example.  I am not saying it isn't a good value for what it does.  And for some people (like me), the cost difference really isn't all that important; for others, it is.
 
Quote
Availability you give a D??  ???  How do you figure this?? Send an email to Tatiana at Top Block, send $ via Paypal, 2 weeks later they deliver to your door step...

Comparison- not absolute.  Compared to the others, you have to deal via Email not phone, with people out of the country, not local, with a company that provides instructions that are not in English, and offer probably no tech support, take a payment fee hit and risk, and then take at least twice as long to get delivery as the others.  If something goes wrong (wrong part, damaged/missing goods, bad fit, etc), it could get much, much worse.  In fact, the only way I can think of to make availability be much worse is if they were also on perpetual backorder or something.

Quote
Removability you give a C??  ???  Have you ever removed them, I think not... I'm told by my shop it's about a 10 minute job to get the lower fairing off if needed, you don't have to completely remove the entire kit, only that outer arm...

COMPARISON!!!  What if an alternative is a 5 minute job?  That is twice as good.  But both or neither might be just fine.  I think my mistake is that I should have just used a ranking instead of trying to weigh them against each other with a score.

Quote
I think you're just jealous and totally wrong Max...

Illogical- I have nothing to be jealous of, since I have no protection right now at all.  I am in the market, and comparing options.  I have not decided what I am going to do yet.  The Top Blocks are very compelling, and have been all along.  The reasons I don't already have them on my bike are exactly those I already explained.  I am extremely averse to cutting my fairing and that is probably the worse thing for me to swallow.  But what is right for me or you can and will be different sometimes ;)

The information you have provided has gone a LONG way to showing just how viable the Top Blocks really are and made this whole decision extremely difficult for me.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: maxtog on April 22, 2012, 05:01:45 PM
Well that makes up my mind. I'm going with the Top Block front & rear sliders and MC Canyon Cage. It seems that combination will give decent protection.

The Top Blocks can also give decent protection (as illustrated in this thread).  It all depends on how much protection and in what situations.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: OregonLAN on April 22, 2012, 05:03:13 PM
While you were taking pictures of your bike laying on the pavement, I was out ridding mine upright.  ;D

Did your wife help you get it upright?

Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: maxtog on April 22, 2012, 05:03:59 PM
While you were taking pictures of your bike laying on the pavement, I was out ridding mine upright.  ;D

Did your wife help you get it upright?

Ooooh, that is low.....
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: OregonLAN on April 22, 2012, 05:07:04 PM
Ooooh, that is low.....

Hehe, I'm just glad he and his bike are OK so I can poke some fun.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Gumby on April 22, 2012, 05:09:52 PM
Ooooh, that is low.....
   8)

Ahhhh yes, even I left that one alone.....
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 22, 2012, 05:10:01 PM
Did your wife help you get it upright?

Actually to my great suprise it came up very easy with just me (in my sandals), shockingly I remembered seeing that thread about facing away from the Connie and putting my butt up to the seat and grabbing the passengar grab rail with left hand and handle bar with the right hand, then just back up using legs only! Worked perfect and was not straining at all!  :) :thumbs:
 
 
As for my wife getting me upright that came later in the night...  ;) ;D
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: maxtog on April 22, 2012, 05:10:49 PM
ZG- why did you remove the posting of the pictures after you cleaned up with the file?  They were good!

I went to comment on the posting, and it disappeared!  What I was going to say is I think nobody will ever really notice that little bit of rub.  I imagine it will be far less visible than what one would end up on chrome Canyons in the same situation...
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: OregonLAN on April 22, 2012, 05:13:06 PM

Actually to my great suprise it came up very easy with just me (in my sandals), shockingly I remembered seeing that thread about facing away from the Connie and putting my butt up to the seat and grabbing the passengar grab rail with left hand and handle bar with the right hand, then just back up using legs only! Worked perfect and was not straining at all!  :) :thumbs:

Yeah, that method works well. I've had to use it when a vehicle knocked over my cruiser.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 22, 2012, 05:13:22 PM
ZG- why did you remove the posting of the pictures after you cleaned up with the file?  They were good!

I went to comment on the posting, and it disappeared!  What I was going to say is I think nobody will ever really notice that little bit of rub.  I imagine it will be far less visible than what one would end up on chrome Canyons in the same situation...

Well I thought they were good when I looked at my BB but once I posted em they didn't really have the detail I'd hoped for, too much glare I think, I'm gonna take some better ones and post em up...
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: mikeboileau on April 22, 2012, 06:23:33 PM
Anybody else see that he was moving it to take more pics of it?

 :o

Glad it went ok, and the gear protected it.

Flip-flops?

 :rotflmao:


I'm sorry......what were you doing when this happened?

 :rotflmao:
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 22, 2012, 06:35:46 PM
I took one of mama's finger nail file and buffer things to the plastic section of the Top Block slider where it hit it ground, then buffed it out with some pollishing compound, unless you new it was there you can't even really see it!!  8)
 
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01086-20120422-1709.jpg)
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01088-20120422-1711.jpg)
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01084-20120422-1708.jpg)
 
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG01082-20120422-1707.jpg)
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Gumby on April 22, 2012, 06:38:37 PM
That looks good Jay. I knew you didnt own any sandpaper.  :-\
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 22, 2012, 06:41:08 PM

I'm sorry......what were you doing when this happened?

 :rotflmao:

Check the open forum section Mike, look for a "senior prom" thread...  ;)
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 22, 2012, 06:55:59 PM
That looks good Jay. I knew you didnt own any sandpaper.  :-\

Thanks bro.  :chugbeer:
 
 
Yet another advantage to the Top Block, if a metal protection bar went down it would surely leave dings in it that couldn't just be sanded and buffed out, and even if they could you would have to re powder coat or paint them...
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: maxtog on April 22, 2012, 08:14:06 PM
Yet another advantage to the Top Block, if a metal protection bar went down it would surely leave dings in it that couldn't just be sanded and buffed out, and even if they could you would have to re powder coat or paint them...

That was kinda what I was saying in my last post.  Glad you picked up on it :)

Of course, if the bar is strong, it likely won't ding.  But the paint or chrome would have a scrape.  Paint touchup is easy/fast/cheap.  But if they are chrome..... that could leave a difficult situation.  Not really sure what one would do.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Son of Pappy on April 22, 2012, 08:40:23 PM
Look what happens when I leave for a weekend?  Jay, I told you, time and again, DO NOT USE TIRE SHINE, this applies to your slow black sandals as well ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 22, 2012, 08:42:25 PM
Look what happens when I leave for a weekend?  Jay, I told you, time and again, DO NOT USE TIRE SHINE, this applies to your slow black sandals as well ;D ;D ;D

 :rotflmao: :chugbeer:
 
Actually the sandals are a dark green, but agreed not meant for being on a bike...  ;D
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Son of Pappy on April 22, 2012, 08:43:37 PM

 :rotflmao: :chugbeer:
 
Actually the sandals are a dark green, but agreed not meant for being on a bike...  ;D
There ya have it, your bike couldn't keep up with the sandals ;)
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: pbenson on April 23, 2012, 04:12:34 AM
Jay - we sure had a beautiful weekend - too bad you had to start out with a drop.  I''ve been there and done the same thing with my old Honda ST1300.  I am living in  fear that it could happen with the Concours.  I am watching MC Enterprise Canyons forum page and waiting for them to finish up, so I can get a set ordered.  I'm glad you didn't do any damage.  I am impressed that you had the forethought to not immediately try to lift the bike.  Your photo documentation is excellent as usual.  You should send a link to Tatiana and perhaps they will want to reward you for being their demo center in the US.  With the amount of readership on this site, they couldn't have a better testimonial for their products.  Enjoy the daughter's prom prep next week!! 
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: wipfel on April 23, 2012, 06:49:23 AM
I'm still somewhat shocked the ground had the audacity to make contact with Jay's bike.  That's too beautiful a bike for such behavior.  ;)
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: gPink on April 23, 2012, 06:53:36 AM
I didn't notice but was ZG's driveway BLACKtop or the faster silver concrete color?
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Jeremy Mitchell on April 23, 2012, 07:47:42 AM
I didn't notice but was ZG's driveway BLACKtop or the faster silver concrete color?

The pavement might have had something to do with it, but I think Jay's bike was just rebelling since all it does is pull photo duty instead of getting ridden.    ;D

It just threw itself on it's side and stayed there, and Jay STILL took pictures!  I wouldn't want to be the next person to climb on, that black bike has an attitude and there is no telling what it will do now.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: danvforce on April 23, 2012, 08:09:29 AM
ZG your bike even looks good lying on it's side, nice pic's
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Conrad on April 23, 2012, 09:19:47 AM
Jay, I'm really glad to hear, and see, that neither you nor your bike suffered any serious damage.    :thumbs:

With all that black on your bike, once it started to fall, ever-so-slowly, you should have had time to run into the house and grab a couple of the couch cushions then run back out and toss em under the bike before it hit the ground. Musta been the beers that slowed you down eh?
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: gPink on April 23, 2012, 09:51:15 AM
or the flip flops.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 23, 2012, 10:07:29 AM
Jay - we sure had a beautiful weekend - too bad you had to start out with a drop.  I''ve been there and done the same thing with my old Honda ST1300.  I am living in  fear that it could happen with the Concours.  I am watching MC Enterprise Canyons forum page and waiting for them to finish up, so I can get a set ordered.  I'm glad you didn't do any damage.  I am impressed that you had the forethought to not immediately try to lift the bike.  Your photo documentation is excellent as usual.  You should send a link to Tatiana and perhaps they will want to reward you for being their demo center in the US.  With the amount of readership on this site, they couldn't have a better testimonial for their products.  Enjoy the daughter's prom prep next week!!

Thanks Phil! Yep, I figured you made it out riding this weekend, weather was beautiful!!  8)
 
Yep, we had one prom last weekend and another one coming up next weekend, back to back duty for Dad...  :-\
 
Have fun riding out to the coast, hopefully the weather is just as great for you guys!  :)
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 23, 2012, 10:09:40 AM
I'm still somewhat shocked the ground had the audacity to make contact with Jay's bike.  That's too beautiful a bike for such behavior.  ;)

ZG your bike even looks good lying on it's side, nice pic's

Jay, I'm really glad to hear, and see, that neither you nor your bike suffered any serious damage.    :thumbs:

Thanks brutha's!  :grouphug:   :chugbeer:
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 23, 2012, 10:12:01 AM
I didn't notice but was ZG's driveway BLACKtop or the faster silver concrete color?

It's that small round rock stuff in cement GP, probably the slowness of grey cement color is what helped cushion the fall...  ;)
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: brianp on April 25, 2012, 11:34:42 PM
where is the link on where to buy?
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: ZG on April 26, 2012, 10:35:39 AM
where is the link on where to buy?

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=314.msg95590#msg95590 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=314.msg95590#msg95590)
 
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7642.msg98456#msg98456 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7642.msg98456#msg98456)
 
http://www.top-block.com/index.php (http://www.top-block.com/index.php)

 
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: just gone on April 27, 2012, 10:13:25 AM
  If money is no object, then what level of protection can you tolerate vs. how they look?

I think the perfect combo (balance of protection vs. looks regardless of $) for a '08-'09 is the MCE rear saddlebag protectors and the Top Block sliders on the side. Perhaps for the '10+ models as well but less so without some dressing up of the Top Blocks.

Now as to the cutting of the fairing (that bothers many about the Top Block), let's keep in mind that we are talking about a 1 inch round hole down low on the flat black lower fairing. Remove the Top Blocks and most non-Connie watchers wouldn't even notice the hole. One could get a blank sink hole plug from Home Depot, paint it flat black and cover the hole.

There ya have it, your bike couldn't keep up with the sandals ;)

 :rotflmao:  SoP you're killin' me.
Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: roadkoan on May 04, 2012, 02:02:39 PM
Jesus is about the only person to pull off wearing sandals with any success.
Ha Ha Ha!!!! 
He'd be the only one who could stop 'er once she starts to go over too.

Title: Re: ZG goes down!! Top Block saves my Connie!!
Post by: Conrad on May 04, 2012, 03:07:00 PM
Ha Ha Ha!!!! 
He'd be the only one who could stop 'er once she starts to go over too.

That may be true but if Chuck Norris were to ride a Connie, she would never ever think about falling over for fear of his roundhouse kick.