Kawi sucks!

[OKC-N1K]

When I purchased my 2010 C14 they had just come out with the new top case, it matched the bike so I ordered when I purchased the bike. 10 months later and still no top box so I purchased a Givi. Now, I purchased the new n1k and none of the accessories taunted in the reviews of the mags are available. When I asked the dealer when the side bags will be available they called Ma Kaw and was told "not sure". So am I going to have to wait 10 plus months to get the side bags and by then I'll be ready for the heatedgrips. It just chaps my backside that Kawi can't have the accessories available here in the US when they release the bike. The Europenans can get side cases and all the other accessories.

C'mon Kawi are you listening, I just purchased my second 10K plus bike form you in less than two years and you won't make the accessories available. You would think you would want my business and money, I tell you if GIVI makes the mount for the V35 cases before Kawi release theirs I'm purchasing the GIVI even if it costs twice as much.

Arrrrrgh!

[caddydaddy]

 The Europenans can get side cases and all the other accessories.

The top case for the new Triumph Sprint GT is just now becoming available.  So, I guess it's not just Kawi with accessory problems!

[OKC-N1K]

Yea, I'm sure they're not the only one. I just had to rant because I really want the cases for my commute to work and for my short trips and my loger excursion to Indy in August. I certainly hope I can get them by August.

By the way how you liking your GT? I had an '07 sprint but no matter what seat I had on it it would kill my backside after an hour or so in the saddle. I really wanted to love that bike, it handled, had great torque and good power and looked sexy.

The top case for the new Triumph Sprint GT is just now becoming available.  So, I guess it's not just Kawi with accessory problems!

[caddydaddy]

By the way how you liking your GT?

I have an '08 ST.  I've ridden the GT, and it's a nice improvement over the ST.

[Squidlius]

I have an '08 ST.  I've ridden the GT, and it's a nice improvement over the ST.

How so?

.

[caddydaddy]

How so?

The part that I liked most was the saddle bags.  They are much bigger and don't look so much like an afterthought as they do on the ST.  They fit a full face helmet easily, and have a nicer locking system.  They remind me of the bags on a BMW R1200RT.  The headlight is improved, but I didn't get to test that.  The transmission was much smoother shifting than my ST.  
  Even though the GT was bigger, it still handled and felt like the ST.  I really couldn't tell much difference between riding the two.

[JSharp]

When I purchased my 2010 C14 they had just come out with the new top case, it matched the bike so I ordered when I purchased the bike. 10 months later and still no top box so I purchased a Givi. Now, I purchased the new n1k and none of the accessories taunted in the reviews of the mags are available. When I asked the dealer when the side bags will be available they called Ma Kaw and was told "not sure". So am I going to have to wait 10 plus months to get the side bags and by then I'll be ready for the heatedgrips. It just chaps my backside that Kawi can't have the accessories available here in the US when they release the bike. The Europenans can get side cases and all the other accessories.

C'mon Kawi are you listening, I just purchased my second 10K plus bike form you in less than two years and you won't make the accessories available. You would think you would want my business and money, I tell you if GIVI makes the mount for the V35 cases before Kawi release theirs I'm purchasing the GIVI even if it costs twice as much.

Arrrrrgh!

I don't think the Euros can get those items yet either. Only magazines get them for tests.   I read somewhere that the problem is with the mounts. Either Givi or one of their suppliers is having trouble supplying them. Once the items become available I doubt just buying Givi parts will cost more given what Kawasaki markup is at their dealers.

I asked the dealer about grip heaters when I bought my N1K. He had a p/n in the system but no idea if they were actually available. I was not surprised.  This always seems to happen when the aftermarket is the actual supplier instead of the OEM.

You can always throw $100 worth of soft bags on it until you get your hard cases. That's my intention since I want to see the bag setup before I buy. If it's a plumbers nightmare with the bags removed I'll pass.

[Sprintboy]

They are not the only ones - Honda did the exact same thing for the VFR in 2003.  Took months before the saddlebags got to the dealers.

[OKC-N1K]

I don't think the Euros can get those items yet either. Only magazines get them for tests.   I read somewhere that the problem is with the mounts. Either Givi or one of their suppliers is having trouble supplying them. Once the items become available I doubt just buying Givi parts will cost more given what Kawasaki markup is at their dealers.

Friend of mine in England has his N1K with bags and heated grips already. And the comment about paying twice as much, I know the Givi's are not goint to cost twice as much, I was ranting and trying to make a point. Don't take everything so literal.

[Mr.Black]

Friend of mine in England has his N1K with bags and heated grips already. And the comment about paying twice as much, I know the Givi's are not goint to cost twice as much, I was ranting and trying to make a point. Don't take everything so literal.

New here eh?

[jbird666]

My Kawi dealer has told me my side bags are going to ship mid-April.........we will see

[Tyrroneous]

When I was searching for OEM hard bags for my VFR, I found a dealer in England that would sell AND ship the bags and brackets to me for about $300 cheaper than US dealers would sell me the bags.  Perhaps you can find a similar dealer in Europe that would sell you the parts?

[knuckledonkey]

I've read that the Ninja 1000 would have heated grips here in North America.

Nothing but blank looks from the dealers.

Would love to have them, but not a deal breaker.

I don't want the luggage. Waiting for the Trax stuff from SW-Motech.

[Dan K]

They got your money twice already, so why should they change their modus operundi?

- Dan

[JSharp]

Friend of mine in England has his N1K with bags and heated grips already. And the comment about paying twice as much, I know the Givi's are not goint to cost twice as much, I was ranting and trying to make a point. Don't take everything so literal.

I didn't think anyone could get the items yet no matter where they lived. That's a new piece of news for me.
 
I understood the point you made about price completely. I doubt the parts purchased from Givi will cost as much as if they were purchased from Kawasaki. That was my point.  

Any chance your friend can get some pics of the mounting hardware with the bags removed? The stuff that always has to stay on the bike. I'd love to see what it looks like...

[JSharp]

I've read that the Ninja 1000 would have heated grips here in North America.

Nothing but blank looks from the dealers.

Would love to have them, but not a deal breaker.

I don't want the luggage. Waiting for the Trax stuff from SW-Motech.

99994-0204 KIT-ACCESSORY,HEAT GRIP

Tell him to look that P/N up and see what he finds.

I'm 50/50 on the luggage. If it's not a mess with the bags removed and the price isn't too high I might be interested.

[jbird666]

I installed heated grips on mine today.......oxford grips with a heat-troller module......they worked very well....40 degrees out toady.

[OKC-N1K]

My Kawi dealer has told me my side bags are going to ship mid-April.........we will see

Where you located? I ask because two dealers here in OKC are telling me there is not a part number in the sytem for the side bags so that they can't order them.

If you can come up with a part number I would be forever greatful.  

[OKC-N1K]

I installed heated grips on mine today.......oxford grips with a heat-troller module......they worked very well....40 degrees out toady.

That's good to know, but I figure by the time I need them they should (key word "should") be available by then.

[jbird666]

I'm in NH

sidebags.......131LUU-0004C

trim kit.......K16160-0007

support kit......99994-0207

Hope that helps

[OKC-N1K]

I'm in NH

sidebags.......131LUU-0004C

trim kit.......K16160-0007

support kit......99994-0207

Hope that helps

Yes it does, thank you very much.

[OKC-N1K]

I'm in NH

sidebags.......131LUU-0004C

trim kit.......K16160-0007

support kit......99994-0207

Hope that helps

I took these part numbers to my dealer yesterday and they were in the system, but the sidbags were noted as not available. some research and a phone call later he found out that the sidebag part number is the same as the ones for  the Versys and the reason for not being availalabe is that Kawi is not happy with the mounting system, so they held off making them available and putting them in the catalog (apparently Givi is working on the mounting systems and just about has it ready for release). My understanding is that Kawi will be releasing a new parts catalog in about four weeks which will list all the accessories available for the Ninja and at that time the dealers will be able to place orders at that time. Dealer was told that Kawi may even change the part number for the sidebags to a different number from that of the ones for the Versys.

Anyway that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Thanks Jbird for the info, you got me going in the right direction and looks like I could have the bags in time for my next long haul.

[jbird666]

Interesting.......I'll keep everyone updated.......I hate being sold something that doesn't exist.

[Sprintboy]

So, are they going to use the same mounting system that Givi normally sells?  You know, the one that leaves a big metal square on the side of the bike when the bags aren't mounted?  I, for one, hope that the mounting brackets are almost invisible when the bags aren't on the bike.

Please, Kawasaki, don't disappoint!

[Giaka]

Kawasaki needs to get off of Givis nuts and sell SWMOTECH mounts exclusively.  Sorry but Germans engineer brackets way better than those silly Italians.  

[Smoker]

Kawasaki needs to get off of Givis nuts and sell SWMOTECH mounts exclusively.  Sorry but Germans engineer brackets way better than those silly Italians.  

Agreed. SW Motech is where it's at. Their quick release system is fantastic.

[JSharp]

Kawasaki needs to get off of Givis nuts and sell SWMOTECH mounts exclusively.  Sorry but Germans engineer brackets way better than those silly Italians.  

I'm not sure where all the Givi love comes from either. The mounting hardware always seems rigged and their unpainted plastic turns white in a few months from lack of UV resistance.  I'm underwhelmed by the stuff especially when the price is considered.

[ray916mn]

Here's an update on the bags.

The bags are the same as the Versys bags, which are the same as Givi V35 bags. The only difference between the bags are the badging.

There are two part numbers for the supports. I suspect the difference in part numbers reflects the differences in rear fenders between the two markets.

U.S./Canada - 99994-0207

Europe - 99994-0201

For the U.S. market, the supports are on back order and expected in early to mid June, according to the district rep. for my area. In the U.S. market, although the support part number is not shown on the factory website and the 2011 Kawasaki accessories catalog has not been published, the parts can be ordered.