Kawasaki Concours - the new one

[Rider_of_the_Strom]

After reading the recent Cycle World article on this, I am just amazed at what they pack into this bike technology-wise, and then couldn't believe the price. The styling is a little too Flash Gordon for me, it looks like an early 2000s Pontiac Bonneville. I would really consider this bike, except for one thing....

Does it really need to have 1.4 LITERS??

I think the displacement wars are out of control. Go ahead and call me a pansy, I don't care. But some quick ratio calculations show that an equivalent Toyota Camry would have 8 liters of displacement and over 800 horsepower! Overkill? Without question.

If they made a version of this bike with 800-1000 cc's and without all those funky fins I'd be all over it.

[Mike D.]

After reading the recent Cycle World article on this, I am just amazed at what they pack into this bike technology-wise, and then couldn't believe the price. The styling is a little too Flash Gordon for me, it looks like an early 2000s Pontiac Bonneville. I would really consider this bike, except for one thing....

Does it really need to have 1.4 LITERS??

I think the displacement wars are out of control. Go ahead and call me a pansy, I don't care. But some quick ratio calculations show that an equivalent Toyota Camry would have 8 liters of displacement and over 800 horsepower! Overkill? Without question.

If they made a version of this bike with 800-1000 cc's and without all those funky fins I'd be all over it.

I saw an article about the new Kawi and they said the luggage looked like George Forman Grills. Yes, I agree the look of the bike is a bit over the top. I also believe 1 litre is enough displacement for a sport touring bike.

[Big B]

There is...its called a VFR!!!!!:mrgreen:

[O-9]

I've had the biggest/fastest in the land. My WEE is more fun.

[Packa-strom]

I saw one sitting next to a new ST1300 at our dealer... they'll never sell that ST1300 given the price of the C14.

It's enough horsepower to raise a house!

[Tommy]

Does it really need to have 1.4 LITERS??




Yes, of course, it's in-line four, i wouldn't even consider anything smaller for that type of bike.
That thing is meant to ride on the Autobahn over 120mph two up for hours and hours, anything smaller would run out of breath.

[roger123]

I really like the bike but I went with a "Less is More" strategy this time. Maybe for my next bike.

[GrayStrom]

I have a similar complaint against the manufacturers. I want a hayabusa with about 100-110hp! I need the bigger bike to fit good on it, but I don't need 150-180hp at the rear wheel. To me that kind of power is more of a liability than a asset.
Nobody seems to make a bike like that (at least not the Japanese big 4. I can't afford the BMW equivalent!)

[Rider_of_the_Strom]

There is...its called a VFR!!!!!:mrgreen:

The Viffer is a cool lookin bike. I haven't sat on one though. Looks a little too forward to be comfortable.

[nationwide]

I agree that it's hardly necessary, but some would say it's better to have it and not need it than the other way around... ;)

I have a similar complaint against the manufacturers. I want a hayabusa with about 100-110hp! I need the bigger bike to fit good on it, but I don't need 150-180hp at the rear wheel. To me that kind of power is more of a liability than a asset.
Nobody seems to make a bike like that (at least not the Japanese big 4. I can't afford the BMW equivalent!)

[Berserker]

fuel capacity...a friend of mine has the new Concours and a VRod. He said he feels like he spends more time gassing up than riding. The upside...he never gets monkey butt!

[Rider_of_the_Strom]

Lemme just hijack my own thread here. I got back last week from a 10 day trip down the Pacific Coast (http://www.stromtrooper.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16545) and I just can't say enough good things about the Wee. I took 6 days to go down the coast to San Diego, averaging about 250 miles a day. I rode the Lost Coast which was a badly broken up and - in portions - washed out gravelly road that is very twisty and remote. As bad as the road was I couldn't bottom the suspension out. Later that day I finally touched a peg down on CA-1. I was really hustlin around those curves. I packed probably 100 lbs worth of clothes, laptop, tent, sleeping bag, etc and there was room to spare. My trip back was two days of I-5, the first day 700 miles worth of 5500-6000 RPM and she didn't burn a drop of oil.

It does so many things so well. Lazy back roads. Twisties. Making time on the superslab. Two up rides. Better gas mileage than most other "real" motorcycles. It's incredibly versatile. It's like the 4 door pickup truck of motorcycles. Except fun!

The more I look at other bikes the more I like what I have.

[dirtgeek]

hate to say it but i've been jonesing for a connie (not a new one) but i'll keep the wee. it sounds like the wee can do everything the connie does though. does the collective think the two bikes are similar enough that i would be wasting my money.

[Ogre_FL]

They really aren't similar.

However, the only thing the old connie does better than the DL650, in my opinion, is cover mass mileage at speeds over 90 mph or travel 2 up at speeds over 90 mph.

I'm in the south, so the added wind/weather protection was more of a curse than a blessing on the connie for me.

If you have the desire to comfortably rip off 400 miles or more as quickly as you can get away with, get a connie.
Oh ........and a radar detector.;)

[Toto]

Yes, of course, it's in-line four, i wouldn't even consider anything smaller for that type of bike.
That thing is meant to ride on the Autobahn over 120mph two up for hours and hours, anything smaller would run out of breath.

Tommy, just how many of these bikes world wide will ever see the autobahn, two up and 120 mph?
My guess is next to non in the big scheme of things.
Not bashing ya...just posing a question.
However if I could get away with it I would have one...a beauty of a bike!
The wife would kill me.:sad1:

[Chuck in Indiana]

Good Evening Guys,

I've had a Concours C-14 ABS for a bit over a year now -- almost 16K miles. It is really a pretty nice bike with a very solid suspension and handling, fantastic brakes with ABS, more than adequate luggage space and an extremely smooth, powerful engine. Naturally, it's a bit heavier than a Wee-Strom -- mine weighed in at 690# Wet -- but it offers good solid transportation for anywhere I want to travel.

My use for a cycle is long distance touring, camping trips and motorcycle rallies. For those purposes, the C-14 has been a very good fit for me.

[cbrxxcess]

Tommy, just how many of these bikes world wide will ever see the autobahn, two up and 120 mph?
My guess is next to non in the big scheme of things.
Not bashing ya...just posing a question.
However if I could get away with it I would have one...a beauty of a bike!
The wife would kill me.:sad1:

My XX has never seen the autobahn but it has seen two up and 120+. The thing is with extra horsepower even cruising at legal speed is a breeze. But I love the hit of heavy horse power it is lots of fun.

[shawmutt]

I couldn't afford the maintenance costs of the new Connie. Tires alone would kill me.

[Tollster]

Its abit more sport than tour, at least an 80/20 I would have to say. Seems like a good time to pick up an older 1000 for a decent price.

[roger123]

Its abit more sport than tour, at least an 80/20 I would have to say. Seems like a good time to pick up an older 1000 for a decent price.

Tell me about, last year I sold my MINT '01 for 3800, the new owner put a grand or so into it (upgraded brakes, springs, etc.) and sold it for 3K!! I should have bought it back, but after having the Wee the Connie would just sit there.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Roger,

I agree with you. Having a Connie -- either a C-10 or C-14 -- at the same time as I have a Wee-Strom doesn't make sense for me. I would use either one for the same purposes -- long distance touring, camping trips and cycle rallies. One of them would always be sitting.

I am going to keep my C-14 for awhile longer (don't know what that means, it's a wonderful bike) and then change it out for a Wee-Strom with ABS.

[bempey]

I drove 2008 DL-1000 and Concours models back-to-back yesterday. The concours is so smooth ... the engine, the clutch, the shifting are miles ahead of the vStrom demo that I drove (not sure if that's normal or not). The DL-1000 shook below 3k revs until it warmed up, probably normal for a big V-twin.???
It was impossible for me to drive traffic speed on the highway in the Concours ... breathe on the throttle and its going 50 MPH over the limit NOW! Fun, yes. Practical ... maybe not.
Both bikes offer very sporty handling at speeds ranging from legal to hand-cuffs.
I'm on pavement 90% of the time, and 2-up every weekend, but my cabin has an 800+foot long driveway that is really a 30-year-old logging road, and its uphill all the way ... steep enough that my old Land Cruiser Diesel struggled up in 4WD. And that's off a gravel road too.
I wouldn't take a Concours near there.
Give me a DL-1000 with skid-plate, crash-bar/engine-protection, a real wind-screen up front, big top-box on the back, and I think I'll be able to do everything that I want, my insurance and fuel will cost less (compared to a Concours), and I'll still risk losing my license without pushing its performance limits. (its plenty fast enough)
The Concours was a hot date. The vStrom is a long-term partner.
My 2 cents.
PS: Riding my Majesty to 7-11 for milk a few hours later, I gained even more appreciation for it. For in-town use, the big 400cc scooter is quicker (no warm-up, turn the key and go), it does low-speed handling better, squirts off the line quickly, is just as comfortable, and offers much better protection. If I sell it, it will be missed for its ultimate practicality ... at least, in town ... on pavement (actually, smooth pavement ... suspension travel is very short). Seems you can't have everything, but the vStrom is very close.

[ManiacSucks]

Give me a DL-1000 with skid-plate, crash-bar/engine-protection, a real wind-screen up front, big top-box on the back, and I think I'll be able to do everything that I want, my insurance and fuel will cost less (compared to a Concours), and I'll still risk losing my license without pushing its performance limits. (its plenty fast enough)
The Concours was a hot date. The vStrom is a long-term partner.

That's quite a good point. When I bought my DL1000, I was between it and a very nice Aprilia Futura (gorgeous bike I think). Well, as soon as I got the insurance quotes, the decision was made. A liter bike with 100hp for the insurance cost of my KLR650 - it was no contest. And said V-Strom went like a scalded cat; probably with less labor intensiveness than the Futura.

[Berserker]

Slight hijack...

I'll have a little change in my pocket after the first of the year, so I've been looking at a couple of other 2 wheelers and the FJR really grabbed my attention. The local stealer had a FJR AE ABS heavily discounted and I took it for a spin. WOW...the sitting position is a little too much forward lean, but risers are available. Not sure about the automatic shifting, that would take some getting used to. But I can see this as a great cross country tourer. Garage is a little crowded, might have to sell the Vee just to make room (keeping the Wee), but I am giving the FJR some serious thought.

[Motorpsycho Jim]

and the FJR ... ...
But I can see this as a great cross country tourer.

its just a sport-bike with bags. and its heavy. ok if ya got a long way to go and want to get there really fast. but, here in ohio we cant get away with 56mph in a 55 zone. i'd have to live in the desert before i could ride that bike like it should be ridden.

[MTNAdventureRider]

A touring bike is in my future, one that is extremely comfortable for the wife and I to easily cover 500-600 miles a day....day after day after day. We want to make a big circle of the US and Canada and a big tourer is the ticket.

So...I have shopped Big Tourers and Sport Tourers a lot in the last year. In the Sport category...it is really a tough decision between the Honda, Kawasaki, the Yamama and the BMW. For me, it will honestly come down to comfort. Unfortunately, the Concours feels the smallest and most compact and at 6'4" with a 5'10" wife....it is out. But man did I like the test ride!!!!!

I agree that 1.2 to 1.4 liters seems to be over kill, but it sure is nice to drop the bike in 'over-drive' where the engine is barely turning over and smoothly, slip down the interstate. Compare that to my Wee which has to turn 7k RPMs at 80 mph. The big engine was greatly appreciated.

For me, I will probably go with the Beemer, as it fits big guys the best in my opinion and experience.

[FJR/V-strom trooper]

The FJR has dominated the sport touring market for a number of years now. Properly set up with personal ergonomics, suspension and windshield it is hard to be for a long distance platform. 1000 mile days are easy and quick. Add a fuel cell and 450+ miles on a tank are very attainable. Although my Wee is probably the best for a one bike stable it doesn't come close to the mile eater the FJR is when traveling cross country. But I wouldn't give up my Wee to get the FJR. I love them both. Just for different reasons.

[Kawi-G]

I'm sure they said the same thing when they introduced the first V8 engine"...who needs a V8?...", or when the cell phone first came out"...why would I need to call someone from the car?..."

[Dorzok]

...Does it really need to have 1.4 LITERS??

I think the displacement wars are out of control. Go ahead and call me a pansy, I don't care. But some quick ratio calculations show that an equivalent Toyota Camry would have 8 liters of displacement and over 800 horsepower! Overkill? Without question.

If they made a version of this bike with 800-1000 cc's and without all those funky fins I'd be all over it.

they used to build the exact bike you're looking for. late '80s, FJ and Interceptor. can be had for less than three grand.

[Highveelocity]

My XX has never seen the autobahn but it has seen two up and 120+. The thing is with extra horsepower even cruising at legal speed is a breeze. But I love the hit of heavy horse power it is lots of fun.

My brother in law has a 1999 XX with 95,000 miles on it. He commutes to Rancho Mirage with it every day