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 *