Looking at a C10. What's to know.

[2DFlyer]

You've heard the expression cheap at twice the price?  The wife would love me bringing home two!

I'm hoping to see the connie this weekend and the BMW next somehow or another.  The C10 is only a couple of hours away and right around the corner from UNC Charlotte where my daughter is a freshman so I can drop in on her.  The beemer is in backwoods SC about 5 hours away.  I know someone who lives close might have a look but I'll have to figure out how to get my butt down there to bring it home if that's what I do.

[Gary B.]

Atta boy! Can't make a decision? Buy 'em both!

[mjrfd99]

05 C-10 here. Only 2 valve adjust [easy] tires, oil and brake pads in 50k.  Great bang for the buck, espically a low mile used one.

[Giaka]

I had a 2005, as con pilot said things can be hit or miss on them. Mine buzzed so bad the the top of the RPM range it made you want to lift your feet off the pegs. Actually my wife did just that all the time. She hated the buzz.

I put a ZZR rear shock on mine with race tech front end. I also put ZZR1400 disk up front with 6 piston calipers and braided lines. To be honest the stock brakes are so bad that you cannot lock it up if you wanted. After almost plowing through a buddy of mine who went down I added the larger disk and real calipers. The bike almost had to much stopping power at that point but I loved it. The rear shock from the ZZR was the perfect setup for the rear.

The wind protection is awesome, the bags are awesome, mine was not overly hot, the huge gas tank is great, the tires are not that big of a deal if you run the oversize ones (the selection is fine for the kind of riding 90% of the people do).

Having said all that the ergos just never worked for me. I always felt like I had been beat up after a half day ride. Every bone and muscle on my body would be sore. Any yeah I put some time on mine so it wasn't that.  Something about that bike contorts my arms, shoulders and legs. The pain between my shoulder blades was really bad and my knees always hurt. So I sent the thing packing and bought a ST1300ABS and never looked back. It would be nice if you could "borrow" one for a while because you stand a 55% chance of hating it.  

FWIW none of the issues I had with ergos on the C10 have ever shown up while riding the ST1300.  

[2DFlyer]

I had a 2005, as con pilot said things can be hit or miss on them. Mine buzzed so bad the the top of the RPM range it made you want to lift your feet off the pegs. Actually my wife did just that all the time. She hated the buzz.

I put a ZZR rear shock on mine with race tech front end. I also put ZZR1400 disk up front with 6 piston calipers and braided lines. To be honest the stock brakes are so bad that you cannot lock it up if you wanted. After almost plowing through a buddy of mine who went down I added the larger disk and real calipers. The bike almost had to much stopping power at that point but I loved it. The rear shock from the ZZR was the perfect setup for the rear.

The wind protection is awesome, the bags are awesome, mine was not overly hot, the huge gas tank is great, the tires are not that big of a deal if you run the oversize ones (the selection is fine for the kind of riding 90% of the people do).

Having said all that the ergos just never worked for me. I always felt like I had been beat up after a half day ride. Every bone and muscle on my body would be sore. Any yeah I put some time on mine so it wasn't that.  Something about that bike contorts my arms, shoulders and legs. The pain between my shoulder blades was really bad and my knees always hurt. So I sent the thing packing and bought a ST1300ABS and never looked back. It would be nice if you could "borrow" one for a while because you stand a 55% chance of hating it.  

FWIW none of the issues I had with ergos on the C10 have ever shown up while riding the ST1300.  

Interesting you'd comment on feeling like you've been beat up.  Even as relaxed as the ZRX is I feel it across my shoulders after half an hour or so.  The ST1300 is also on the look see list.  Most of my riding will be commuting.  How is it as a daily driver?  Besides the price the simplicity of the C10 is one of it's main attractions.  It's functional.

[Windblown]

Riding one if you haven't yet is excellent advice (as always).  Folks are built different and like different things. I owned the Concours. Was reading all the glowing reviews about the ST1300 and decided I HAD to have one. Located a nice used model at a fair price and went to go see it with the money in my pocket to buy it. I hopped on the ST and rode it for 30 minutes. I came back and handed the guy the keys and got back on my C10 and rode home smiling all the way to be back on the C10.  I disliked almost everything about the ST.

[jetapumper]

Just finishing up my 5th summer on my '06 C-10. $8000 out the dealer door back then. Farckeled it lightly with bar risers and peg extenders, a rifle windshield and a throttle meister cc. Love it. Next step (eventually) is a fork brace and steel brake lines. CP-1 is right, rides better 2 up and loaded, top heavy when full of gas and mine is a bit of a buzzer. Otherwise it's rock solid and bullet proof.

[Giaka]

 Most of my riding will be commuting.  How is it as a daily driver?  Besides the price the simplicity of the C10 is one of it's main attractions.  It's functional.

Its a great commuter. I commuted on mine for two years. Right now my commute is 60 miles one way which might be the limit on my old C10.  


If you test ride a ST1300 make sure the tires are in good shape and properly inflated. If the ST has one flaw it is that it is hyper sensitive to the air pressure in the tires and that they have decent evenly worn tread.  

[ConPilot1]

Its a great commuter. I commuted on mine for two years. Right now my commute is 60 miles one way which might be the limit on my old C10.  


If you test ride a ST1300 make sure the tires are in good shape and properly inflated. If the ST has one flaw it is that it is hyper sensitive to the air pressure in the tires and that they have decent evenly worn tread.  

Shit i've done almost a 500 mile day on mine and felt great. 300 miles is a cake walk on the C10 and that's with the stocker seat which I've always found comfy, the ergos are right on the money for me with my 1.5 inch bar risers.

+1 on the ST comment. I've heard the same thing.

[spd2918]

If you test ride a ST1300 make sure the tires are in good shape and properly inflated. If the ST has one flaw it is that it is hyper sensitive to the air pressure in the tires and that they have decent evenly worn tread.  

Funny, I found my C10 was more tire sensitive then my 1300.  Metz Z-6s are the bomb on the ST.

[Giaka]

Funny, I found my C10 was more tire sensitive then my 1300.  Metz Z-6s are the bomb on the ST.

I will have to try those next time. What kind of mileage do you get out of them?

[2DFlyer]

Interesting all the comments on bar risers and peg extenders.  On paper stock egos look perfect.  The bike that opened this thread has both risers, extenders and extenders.  

I'm going to look at an '04 with 20K on the clock next weekend that's a couple of hours away.  Weird thing about this one is the owner says he put $900 into a 17" rear conversion and new PR2 front and back, but he didn't put $20 into the registration to keep it current.  So he only rides it around close to home once a month to keep it wet.  Being unregistered will make a test ride problematic.  Around here that means a temporary registration so it can be ridden to get an inspection before DMV will allow the registration renewal.

[Giaka]

I'm going to look at an '04 with 20K on the clock next weekend that's a couple of hours away.  Weird thing about this one is the owner says he put $900 into a 17" rear conversion and new PR2 front and back, but he didn't put $20 into the registration to keep it current.  

17 inch conversion was my next step. Its a great mod (if done by KOSMAN).

[2DFlyer]

Looks like I'll be coming home with an '04 R1150RT sometime next week instead of a connie.  Somewhat mixed emotions but I'm pretty psyched on the RT.

[spd2918]

I will have to try those next time. What kind of mileage do you get out of them?

6 to 7 on the back.  I change out the front every other time I do the rear.  I am hard on tires (YMMV).

[max1138]

im at 128k on my blue 01( bought new in 02), replaced a water pump at 40k (odd thing there, most go the lifetime of the bike but a small percentage go at 40k or sooner)
like the man said stone simple to work on, spend the money for the springs and emulators  for the front its worth it.
go with 15w belray-rsf in the rear shock and its good well past the point where reason is out the window as far as twisting the throttle down a winding road.
tires are getting to be a problem with the avon rear the only real choice left in a 150/16/80  there are a few 110/120-18 options left for the front
kosman wheelworks will build you a weldup 17 rear from your stock that will take a 160/170-17 and opens up a whole lot of choices there for about 600 bucks shipped.

SS brakelines will make the most of whats there, ebc HH+ pads are about as good as it gets in that model bike.

after 9 years and 128k miles if mine fell apart in the garage right now  I couldnt complain,I haven't spent $500 on repairs yet with me turning the wrenches.
: NOTE thats repairs only, theres substantially more in farkles on it
however i know of examples with over 200k on them still running strong so  Im hoping to make it to 2012 whereupon I will buy a new bike and give this one to my nephew.

there are options for better braking with 4 and 6 pot nissin and tokios  using an adapter that bolts to the stock mounting brackets, I have 6 pot nissins of an 03 zx9r on mine with ss lines  and ebc hh pads it will lust almost do a stoppie, it may can, im just not brave enough to go there on a 650# bike

look over on the zg fanatics forum and you will find all you ever wanted to know and them some, its a mature platform and those guys have answered every question possible about connies at one time or another