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bmadson
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  		   Posted 8/6/2007 8:43 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
It's got a monster motor and nice lines, but does the Concours 14 live up to its hype as the new "Transcontinental Supersport Tourer" it claims to be? Check out MotorcycleUSA's 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 - First Ride to find out.
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CurtP
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  		   Posted 8/6/2007 9:15 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Good report. It is nice to see that you guys didn't simply regurgitate the Kawasaki press kit as some other reviewers have done. This bike has my attention as I am the owner of a 1986 Concours with 81,000 miles on it. So do the shootout comparison so I can make up my mind before I drive my wife crazier.

Curt

Fredericktown, Mo

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jon
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  		   Posted 8/6/2007 9:31 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
nice report...pro-frugal pricing compared to other st in the same class, con-small gas tank...overall-kawasaki did a great job updating the connie.  love the idea of not having to carry a key. 

Post Edited (jon) : 8/6/2007 5:34:43 PM GMT

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gagster
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  		   Posted 8/6/2007 3:42 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Yes, this was a very good report.  I like this bike.  Anybody should be proud to own one of these.
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Desmolicious
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  		   Posted 8/6/2007 5:05 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Bike looks better in the flesh than in pics. Actual owners of the new C14 have complained about a little disappointing bottom end powah, excessive heat around the right ankle and too low mirrors that show a lot of the bags.

Børk! Børk! Børk!

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bmwmick
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  		   Posted 8/6/2007 6:00 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
The only problem I found with the report was the reference to the VVT changing the cam profile on the fly.
It changes the timing on the Intake cam up to 23 degrees but it does not change the profile. :)

I 'think' we have learned the output capacity of the alternator (missing in ALL the latest reviews) as 581 Watts or
41.5Amps at 14Volts. Not sure why the owners manual warns against adding any more than 70 Watts in total
accessories. One heated Liner is 77 Watts. Can you guys look into that? It would be a shame if it couldn't support
two liners and heated grips at the same time.

Thanks,
Mick
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flickmeister
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  		   Posted 8/6/2007 7:04 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
There are more than a few times I think a bike of this type may be ideal for me. It would have to handle and haul-ass. I would also have to retrain my eyeballs when looking at that muffler, but if you are aboard her and having a great time, that can quickly be forgiven. Since I like quiet, I'd probably learn to live with it. The odds for it happening really suck, but a test ride would be in order before making that big of a change, besides there's this rumor goin' 'round that the new Dunlop GP Racer tires are made for the street and will fit this Connie, very interesting.....
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Ferrit
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  		   Posted 8/7/2007 1:54 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I agree with Desmo that this bike looks better in person than in pics. Now when is Kawi going to bring out the Connie Lite, an under 1000 cc version of this bike?
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Moto-Pat
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  		   Posted 8/7/2007 8:30 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I agree it looks nice but when I sat on one all I could think was this thing is big. It made the FJR next to it look small. It really is more of the ST1300 size. I liked the easy varible rear preload adjust. I mentioned to the sales slug that folks have complained about the mirrors and I couldn't believe he said it was not a problem while I was setting on the bike looking at the mirror which was 40% filled by the bag.

 

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bmadson
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  		   Posted 8/7/2007 9:01 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
You guys are right about the mirrors. Our test rider mentioned the obstructed mirror view in his notes, but I neglected to add it to the review. I'm going to add in a line to the test. Tom mentined the C14s mirrors provided a good view... of the top of the luggage.
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louemc
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  		   Posted 8/7/2007 9:24 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Moto-Pat said...
I agree it looks nice but when I sat on one all I could think was this thing is big. It made the FJR next to it look small. It really is more of the ST1300 size. I liked the easy varible rear preload adjust. I mentioned to the sales slug that folks have complained about the mirrors and I couldn't believe he said it was not a problem while I was setting on the bike looking at the mirror which was 40% filled by the bag.

 
lol That is so salesperson typical lol , I rarely can carry on a conversation with a sales person for more than 10 seconds, before going in for the kill lol .
 
When I was making the dealership rounds (about 7 years ago) I gave my "requirements of use" to a salesman. One of the items was splitting lanes (and I had done more intense lane splitting in the San Francisco bay area than most anyone)  He said, the bike I wanted was that naked Goldwing.  I said it's too wide.  He said, it's not that wide.  I didn't think there would be a point in asking him to show me something wider, that made that naked Gold Wing, a "not that wide"  lol .

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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SilverStreak
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  		   Posted 8/7/2007 9:54 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Thank you for the new Test Report! 
 
Some of the issues that interest me are:  1) What is the range and gas mileage?  I've heard it has a smallish tank, is a bit thirsty and runs on premium gas  - very important details for a long-distance touring bike.  2) How does it compare to the competition (ST1300, FJR1300, BMW1200) in dealing with the HEAT radiating from this big engine in hot weather climates such as the South and Southwest?  Your test in Santa Rosa, CA may have been cool.  3) Weight.  The FJR1300 Owner's Manual & specifications shows that the CA model to actually weigh 653 lbs. dry.  The Connie-14 may weigh even more!
 
P.S.:  I watched the Tour De France last month for 26 days, where the two police escorts rode the new Concours-14.  They started out in London wearing full riding gear.  By the time they got to southern France, they were wearing T-shirts.  ???
 
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Ada Ada
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  		   Posted 8/7/2007 11:28 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Not to be a downer among all these must-haves, but i don't really like it.  I want a top-case on a tourer, for one thing.  And from the 'sport' half of the equation, I want lighter weight.  Those big Hondas, if it's anything like those, are rather large for any zippy fun.  For personality sake I'd look for a twin or triple rather than the non-descript hummings of an in line four.  I don't need and can't use anything like the horsepower that the new Concours produces at, what, 11,000 rpm?  When do I, when do you, drive 11,000 rpm? 
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louemc
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  		   Posted 8/8/2007 10:33 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
No problem Ada Ada, get what does work for you, (does anything?)

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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Kenny
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  		   Posted 8/8/2007 12:28 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Ada...I guarantee that bike makes more power than you need at 6000 rpm - it wouldn't be wise to ride it aorund at 11K everywhere - if that was the case you might as well get a press-on mohawk for your lid, rip the arms off your shirt and wear slippers on the tour while you're at it. Ha ha ha.

The Connie looks bad-ass to me though. Top case aside (Surely Corbin is on it already) I cant wait to see how it stacks up against the competition.

I like to think of Jesus like, with giant eagles wings, and singin' lead vocals for Lynyrd Skynyrd with like an angel band and I'm in the front row and I'm hammered drunk!

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jimmihaffa
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  		   Posted 8/8/2007 1:10 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I don't understand how a bike with so much goodness of engineering built into it, can garner so many complaints...at under a $13K price point, this thing is a steal.  If this were a BMW, I think we'd be looking at a $20K bike, that is if they'd even build it.  Small flaws aside, I can't wait to take this baby for a test ride.
 
Addendum:  $19K for the K1200GT...

Post Edited (jimmihaffa) : 8/8/2007 9:13:34 PM GMT

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Ada Ada
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  		   Posted 8/8/2007 1:17 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
louemc said...
No problem Ada Ada, get what does work for you, (does anything?)

No. THank you for recognizing that I'm a 'glass is 10% empty' kind of guy and commenting on it.  Just let me be negative and I'll be happy and not bother anyone. 
 
Really, I know that it's a wonderful motorcycle.
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Desmolicious
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  		   Posted 8/8/2007 1:34 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
jimmihaffa said...
I don't understand how a bike with so much goodness of engineering built into it, can garner so many complaints...at under a $13K price point, this thing is a steal.  If this were a BMW, I think we'd be looking at a $20K bike, that is if they'd even build it.  Small flaws aside, I can't wait to take this baby for a test ride.
 
Good point jimmi!  People, stop harshing on the Conk's mellow vibe!
yeah 

Børk! Børk! Børk!

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OhioSteve
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  		   Posted 8/8/2007 5:41 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Yeah, well, this website is the official home of the moto-crumudgeons.

Based on what I've read so far, I suspect that this bike will win "bike of the year" from multiple publications. It is as fast in a straight line as a serious sportbike, and it is big enough to ride in comfort all day. Plus, everyone who rides it raves about the transmission, final drive, and brakes. Admittedly it gets awful mpg, but other than that I just don't see a downside if you are in the market for a touring bike.

I am the foremost expert on my opinion.

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jon
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  		   Posted 8/8/2007 9:00 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
jimmihaffa said...
I don't understand how a bike with so much goodness of engineering built into it, can garner so many complaints...at under a $13K price point, this thing is a steal. 
yep, the dollar per value, performance, etc., ratio should favor the connie...even when compared to it's closest competitor, the fjr 1300.
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K12S - OR
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  		   Posted 8/8/2007 9:32 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Great review the new Connie!  Thanks for a meaningful report!  I've read the Cycle World reports of the past 3 months, including their brief "ride" report of July and the current Sept issue of their "exclusive technical review...." of the Concours.  Thank you very much, CW, but I'll take the word of the guy who's actually ridden the bike for 500 miles!!!  Thanks to you and T. Lavine for some worthwhile reading!  Keep up the good work and keep 'em coming!
 
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Medly
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  		   Posted 8/10/2007 7:15 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I am really excited to see the new Connie.  However, there are three things I that should be available on it, as well as the FJR1300.  Both bikes need electronic cruise control and a GPS navigation system.  One other thing I would like is homelink or some other type of garage door opening system.  I have drilled a hole in the fairing of every bike I have owned to install a switch for a garage door opener that is velcroed inside the fairing.  These are things that Kawasaki and Yamaha are going to have to add to there bikes to make them competitive with the BMW K1200GT.
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EdbearNZ
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  		   Posted 8/11/2007 1:11 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
OhioSteve said...
....Admittedly it gets awful mpg, but other than that I just don't see a downside if you are in the market for a touring bike...

Mmmm! While I agree it is without a doubt a great motorcycle and should sell by the shedload, this makes a pretty serious downside for a long distance tourer. There are large capacity tourers that get good mileage and if I was in the market for such a bike I'd be considering good gas-mileage as one of the prerequisites.
 
It's a bit of a conundrum bike to me - incredible power and performance knobbled by slow handling due to the chassis set-up. All day comfort in the saddle knobbled by fuel range.
 
I'd like to see a comparo with a variety of long distance tourers like the BMW1200, Harley Electra-Glide, (and/or similar, I'm referring to the style of bike, not the make),, Goldwing, FJR1300, Nomad, etc.
 
Do you see what I'm trying to get at? Is the Connie an answer to a question that nobody has asked? If one wants a hyper-sports, there're the ZX14 and that new Busa, if a tourer, there're the Goldwing type or the Nomad type. A GSX-R1000 will spank just about anything in accelleration and a video I saw of one on the track showed 186mph in 5th with one gear to go!
 
So would I buy one? I like it a lot but the answer is probably "no". For my touring with the Missus on back, our Boulevard is great! Roomy, comfy, enough power, economical, able to cruise nicely at around the legal limit, (How frustrating is it to ride a hyper-bike at the legal speed limit?:p ), but capable of cruising at 75+ if desired. It's cheap to buy and service, has liquid-cooling, fuel injection and shaft drive. (See pics)
 
Medly! lol lol  I'm getting the aftermarket tank protector for mine as it has a pocket that will nicely fit my spare garage door opener!

They say you're only young once! I'm trying to make it last...


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louemc
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  		   Posted 8/11/2007 9:20 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
The available choices for a bike are a great thing, sure it puts a load on the buyer to decide which one is the "one", but that beats the crap out of not having the available choices (I'm a hold over from the build your own out of necessity era).
Even with all these available choices, a savy rider will tailor the bike to their own exact desires, not put up with a average for every other buyer of that make and model bike.
The "speed" of steering response can be speeded up, quite a lot on the 14. It doesn't come that way because very few owners want or can do better with a speeded up response. Or even know what they want, they just enjoy what they have as is.

Sure the weight will never disappear, to ZX10 ishness, but, if a rider lusts for a more responsive 14, the only thing preventing that is, that they won't lift a finger to change it (or learn how to change anything)  ;-)

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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CurtP
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  		   Posted 8/11/2007 9:07 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I pick mine up on Tuesday. This thing has tons of power that I may never need, goes way faster than I will ever ride, is an unproven performer and like all new models will have some issues that will most likely be addressed in future models. But I want it. I bought it.

Fredericktown, Mo

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