Anybody use one? I like the idea of it being low but gel would keep it comfy. Looking for feedback. If you have a different seat let me know

Concours seat worked for me.

I got the Kawk 2010 C14 Lo Gel Seat, put my ZX14 latch on it, changed out the rear bumpers for the round ones from my stock seat, and have been VERY happy with it.

I ride as much as 10 hours in a day on some trips. Actually nothing feels great after that long, but the Connie gel seat comes darn close.

Hey Slow...I think you'd be happier with the regular Concours 14 seat.I used the Low Gel as privateer said.My experience was different than his though.After one afternoon of using it...I sent it back.STILL too firm for me.I didn't notice hardly any difference in comfort with mine compared to the factory zx14 seat.And I could only ride with the factory seat for around one hour before my azz began to hurt big time.Never a prob with the C-14 seat.(the stock C-14).

It is possible that Kawasaki actually upgraded the Low Gel seat to their Connie foam.If that's the case...then it most likely would be a good buy.But if not...you've been warned!I've e-mailed Kawasaki at least once concerning their stock 14 foam.You know ,suggested they might use the C-14 foam instead(on their 14's)...it seems to actually work great even at minimal thicknesses.I didn't expect a response...and I imagine I'm not the only one who's mentioned this to em either.I think if enough people said something...they might actually start doing it.Just like the "fly" performance issues.They corrected that....unhappy people do not buy repeat model bikes.Course,a seat's nothing compared to an engine.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 3/4/2011 @ 11:42 PM *

The seat I purchased was, by part number, for the 2010 Concours 14, and was labeled Factory Low Gel C14.

So of course it has the Concours foam and not the ZX14 foam.

At one time Kawk sold a Gel and Low Gel for the ZX14 specifically. AFAIK they have discontinued it, because the C14 version is superior.

there is a connie low gel seat on ebay, which is why i ask. It's labled for teh c14 but says it will fit the zx14

The pans are all the same.Yes...it'll fit your 14.You'll sit lower...some...but methinks yer arse is STILL gonna hurt...if only starting a bit later in your ride.You're coming from a drag bike...way low seat...so I wouldn't expect it to feel as "part of the bike" as your drag setup.Here's a thought...keep your drag seat.Reupholster with the C14 foam,cut down for heigth.Recover.Use that lowered drag seat pan and you'll be good to go for having a true Lowered position.Might be worth a shot?I thought about doing that myself...using a drag seat pan.But I cut my Connie foam down real far...like only 1" thick...and that works great for lowering and staying comfortable(for me anyway).

The term "gel seat" is misleading IMO.It's(mine was) standard zx14 foam,not C-14 foam.There IS a difference.I know this because I compared the zx14 foam with the C-14 foam...on BOTH seat models.I had one extra of each(not the Low Gel...only the one of those),but I had a Connie 14 seat,and my stock foam seat.The foam was the same in the Low Gel and the stock seat.When I cut down my C-14 seat foam...as I mentioned..to like 1"(that's LESS when you're sitting on it)...it was a completely different feeling seat than the Low Gel.Meaning.....soft and comfy.All day long.

My opinion on this is...The two foams are different.Similar looking,but different.You CAN look at the holes under the seat,on the pan,and notice the foam color is also different from the C14 and ZX14/Low Gel 14 as well.At around 500 dollars..Kawasaki(interestingly enough they both have the SAME pan)is making A LOT of bucks selling C-14 seats.They are.It wouldn't be profit wise to replace the stock zx14 foam seat with the Connie foam from the factory...shipped on their bikes.They wouldn't have that "extra" profit coming in that they do now.And it's A LOT of profit...you can bet on that.Hell...I bought three myself over the last 4 years.Not at 500 something a shot...but still...from Kawasaki...400 something.That Low Gel was 439 or something like that,and all it was was a "lowered" zx14 seat.Shaped a bit different...but still (for me) painful after about two hours as opposed to one hour with the stocker.Now...if you could remove the pilot seat area foam,and mold that Connie seat foam on there(the low gel setup shape),then you'd have a nice seat and the cowl would fit as well.

I'm not trying to discount Privateer's experience here...no way.If he says his is the cat's meow...then it is...for him.I had a different experience with mine.It was a pain shipping it back.And I really didn't want to.The fit and finish was excellent...very nice.But I couldn't accept the ass pain like it was with my stock seat.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 3/5/2011 @ 4:19 PM *

I went for a 2hr blast today with the C14 seat I purchased from Loaded...I can't believe I rode 2yrs without one. I had been trying to make up my mind to either buy a Sargent or Corbin. First, I didn't like the prices then I read on the Sargent seat and it was a lower ride height. With the C14, it seems taller and I need all the leg room I can get.
Was going to send the stock seat to Mean City Cycles in Marion, NC (check them out online) to have better foam installed but glad I waited for C14 seat....May still send the Zx14 stock seat out to them so I can ride with the cowl on when solo......

Does the back seat cowl still go on if you use the kawasaki gel low seat?

blue07 wrote:

The term "gel seat" is misleading IMO.It's(mine was) standard zx14 foam,not C-14 foam.There IS a difference.I know this because I compared the zx14 foam with the C-14 foam...on BOTH seat models.I had one extra of each(not the Low Gel...only the one of those),but I had a Connie 14 seat,and my stock foam seat.The foam was the same in the Low Gel and the stock seat.When I cut down my C-14 seat foam...as I mentioned..to like 1"(that's LESS when you're sitting on it)...it was a completely different feeling seat than the Low Gel.Meaning.....soft and comfy.All day long.

Blue, what seat are you talking about ? What part number, model year, from whom ? Was it fitted with ZX14 hardware as delivered?

I'm trying to understand if you are talking about the factory Low Gel ZX14 seat (sold that way, under its own part number) or the factory Low Gel C14 seat, which is not the same.

And then, in 2010, according to the COG guys, who would know, the C14 factory gel seats changed for the better. They told me in 2010 to buy the new 2010 factory low gel C14 seat, specifically, and they were right.

Would it have been even more comfortable if it was not the "Low" version? Of course.

Anyway, you are all over the place on this, and I want to understand exactly which version seat you are talking about.

Well...the Kawasaki "Low Gel Seat"...with the 4 little silver hash marks on it..that's the one I bought.That was I think around 08 sometime.It was as hard as the stock seat...except it took 2 hours instead of one to bust my butt.I am pretty sure it included(installed)the zx14 brackets on it...but I'm not certain.I don't remember switching out the hardware...maybe I did...IDK.It was the one on their website under "accessories"...and the one that says"will fit zx14".

It's listed on BOTH motorcycle accessory parts lists on the website(Kawasaki)....the zx14,and the C-14.I guess it's the same seat...at least at that time.Maybe they have changed things since then.Very possible.I still think the labeling is a tad misleading..."gel".I bought a "gel" pad from some bike store.The real "gel"...it wasn't foam.That "Low Gel"seat was foam...the one I had.Wasn't any gel pad in it.So IDK...maybe that's a "special" type of foam...gel foam?Guess it could be.

K53001-197 ...says it fits Concours and zx14.(06 on up to 11)
Low Gel seat

And for Hoopie...I do believe(not positive)the seat cowl WILL fit on that Low Gel seat...the pillion compares pretty close to the stock zx14 pillion shape.

As far as I know...the stock C-14 comes from the factory with it's C-14 seat.Not a Low Gel.So IDK.That seat above is in the "accessory" list.Separate from the stock items.???????????????????I'll say right here....IF that Low Gel HAS been upgraded with the factory C-14 foam,I'd try one in a heartbeat.It's a very nice design.It's possible they did take consumer complaints and actually change the seating foam on that seat.It does say"fits 2011's.

What's kinda amazing to me,is that with all the MILLIONS of consumers complaining about the zx14 stock seat hardness...that they haven't addressed this deal and just switched over to the Concours foam on their zx's.I personally KNOW the C-14 foam will work great even at minimal thicknesses.

It's VERY difficult to make an assessment about something that is so able to feel different with every rider.I'm 175lbs.I'm kinda tall in the torso.My weight angle is ..well...mine.My butt is on the "not too big" side.What hurt me with the stock seat was right where the bones connect to my hips.On my azz.That area right there.Just alot of pressure right there...which made my rides...well...unacceptable.Seat shape,thickness,how a guy sits on the seat,how his weight is transferred to the pad...that's very hard to determine how a seat pad is gonna react.Sitting upright.Leaning in.It all changes the geometry of the contact points of the seat.My arse isn't very wide.Some guys have a wide body.That's gonna change how the seat foam absorbs the contact.So IDK.My arse works great with the shaved off,1" thick C-14 foam on there.It may not work for a bigger guy.My seat right now is thinner than the factory zx14 seat pads.It compresses even more when I sit on my bike.It IS pretty low.But it feels excellent...no discomfort at all.My thighs are almost parallel with the ground while riding.That angle there,that makes a BIG difference in how the seat is gonna act.You could never get away with shaving a stock foam zx14 seat down and still retain any softness...I tried.Just won't work with that foam construction.But the C-14 foam....for some reason...it still retains it's plushness even as thin as I've gone with mine.

I've experimented with several seat configurations.Right now I've got 4 seats in my garage.They're all shaped a tad differently.There are ways to shape the seat foam that will eliminate pressure points...that's mainly what I've attempted to find....that and having as low a seat as possible.I'd have to say...my current seat is perfect for me.It may not work at all for someone else though.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 3/8/2011 @ 3:36 PM *

Ok, you bought the old ZX14 optional factory seat.

I purchased the 2010 Concours 14 factory low gel seat.

Big difference.

Correct, the Connie didn't come with the low gel seat, but it is a part number in the Connie fiche, and I never said it came stock with the Connie. You can order a C14 with a 2010 low gel seat installed, today, if you wish.

About a hundred members of Concours Owners Group (COG) so far have told me that the 2010 C14 optional factory low gel seats are great, and I have ridden on one enough to concur.

Ya..that sounds right.Thanks Privateer..My look into that Connie Low Gel then.

I'm getting tired of people suggesting it would be good to graft the C14 foam onto the ZX14 seat. If you had the C14 seat to get the foam from in the first place, why would you cut it off and put it on the ZX14 seat? Damn it! Now if someone happens to know of a place to buy seat foam I'll shut up. lol

Edgecrusher...checkout the website for Mean City Cycles. If I didn't find the C14 seat, my stock seat was going to them. Many different options with foam and even gel inserts. I thought pricing was reasonable and still under a Corbin or Sargent seat.

Gonna call my buddy at the kawi dealership and see what it would cost me direct from kawasaki.

Slow...539 bucks for the Low Gel.

Edgecrusher....you fashion a nice LOW seat position by shaping and cutting down the C-14 seat.You use the C-14 foam because.....IT ROCKS!Unfortunately....Kawi doesn't sell "just the foam"...hence...having to BUY the seat.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 3/10/2011 @ 12:28 PM *

$439 my price and i can get it next week. I think i may do that.

Well if you do, please give us a quick review! Springs comin' and my GF is gonna make me trade my 14 in for something more rio friendly if I don't get the right saddle!
Thanks!

Good price on that seat Slow...excellent!Mind tellin moia where this place is?
"Ok, you bought the old ZX14 optional factory seat.
I purchased the 2010 Concours 14 factory low gel seat."
Hey Privateer...do you have a part # for your C-14 Low seat?

* Last updated by: blue07 on 3/10/2011 @ 10:10 PM *

Connie seat is K53001-197

I ordered it today. Should be here next week.

Its a local kawi dealership here. I get a pretty sweet discount lol

Got my seat in today.

Unfortunately, My bike is still in pieces and i can't tell you how comfortable it is.

However, it is definitely a different padding then the 14 seat. I think i'm going to like it.

PICS....we must have PICS!!!!!!

Pics in the thread titled "Jumped off the deep end"

Check out Spencers Motorcycle Seat Mods

http://greatdaytoride.com/Home_Page.php

Alot of people on other Kawi Forums have used him. I am going to send my wifes 650R seat to him next week.