Editor
Administrator
Posts: 914
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posted August 03, 2009 12:03 PM
 Edited By: Editor on 14 Aug 2009 03:10
Kawasaki's Concours14 - Bikeland's Longterm Review
Here's our Longterm Review of Kawasaki's Concours14 with our Likes and Dislikes listed below...
What we liked...
- The Concours14 absolutely DEVOURS miles - you will travel faster and farther on this bike than any bike you've ever owned
- Amazing brakes with the ABS model (as tested)
- Fantastic, responsive handling
- ZX-14 lineage
- Piles of storage space / Hard Bags
- Excellent fuel economy
- Fantastic, smooth power delivery
- Shaft drive
- Pleasing to the eye
- Easy mods to get more power
- Lots of wind and weather protection for Pilot & Pillion
- Smooth acceleration added to pillion comfort
What we didn't like...
- A little on the heavy side for our liking
- Bike feels detuned - if you're used to a ZX-14 or Busa, you'll be wanting more -easy mods are available to solve this
- Stock windscreen too short for taller riders
- On some bikes. engine heat seemingly randomly dissipated onto pilot's legs
- Inconsistent fit and finish - had several items fall off or become loose.
- Frustrating key/latching process for hard bags if they are removed
- Keyless "KIPASS" start system needs considerably development. Key still needed to lock/unlock bags and fuel so we felt there was little point to the keyless system as a key was still required.
- Passenger seat may be uncomfortable for some pillions for extremely long rides
- Pillion felt rear footpeg position placed pillion's feet in pilot's operating space
- Awkward for pillion to get on/off bike with bags attached
Visit our Concours14 forum at ... http://www.concours14.com
Source: Bikeland.org & Concours14.com
   
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fish_antlers
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posted August 11, 2009 08:22 PM
good song!
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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jhinderliter
Zone Head
Hacksaw
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posted August 13, 2009 11:58 AM
still digging the FJR here
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My other ride is big and green too!!
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rich s
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posted August 13, 2009 12:18 PM
I looked at a Red Concours last night when i picked up my 14. No doubt that will be my next bike. The 14 will be with me for a while yet though.
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Fifty Thousand
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Lovin My Family.
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posted August 13, 2009 06:42 PM
FJR?????? LOL
1st gen Connie 14 had a recall causing the saddle bags to rip off at 175+ mph.....
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jhinderliter
Zone Head
Hacksaw
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posted August 20, 2009 08:49 AM
quote:
1st gen Connie 14 had a recall causing the saddle bags to rip off at 175+ mph.....
let me see if i got this straight...
a recall that kawasaki did on the connie caused the bags to fall off?
that sucks man... hope they gave you some free bags and recalled the recall...
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My other ride is big and green too!!
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LAB3
Needs a job
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posted August 20, 2009 09:04 AM
I think he was kidding.
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Fifty Thousand
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posted August 20, 2009 05:36 PM
Sorry.......... I meant to say that at 175+ mph the saddle bags have ripped off.......... Causing them to issue a recall.
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TedG
Moderator
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posted August 20, 2009 10:28 PM
Edited By: TedG on 21 Aug 2009 06:35
The C14 is by far the best motorcycle I have ever ridden and I have ridden a pile of motorcycles. Is it perfect?? ....no, but the basics are there.Smooth, relatively fast, great handling, no shaft jacking, and most of all that slipper clutch which someone failed to mention in their likes, Those are things you would have to spend big money to make any other bike do. The others can be fixed with very little dollars. The heat issue fades with time and the foam must be sealed up (as fish found long ago),
And KIPASS is one of the best features of the bike, I hate fumbling for keys in my pockets. The removable key is great when you need it. But 90% of the time you don't need it, just walk away and you don't have to fiddle with the key. I just love it. I don't understand why people think it is so hard, Do they just like messing with keys each and every time they get off the bike?
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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fish_antlers
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posted August 21, 2009 05:17 AM
re: Kipass ... I've got a prius which features a fantastic execution of what a fully keyless system should be like. unfortunately toyota & lexus have set the bar and it's pretty high, so sadly I'm unimpressed with Kipass...
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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rich s
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posted August 21, 2009 07:57 AM
I did not know Toyota and Lexus made motorcycles? You have a link?
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Old Guy
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posted August 21, 2009 09:23 AM
Pretty nice bike. Pretty worthless write up for anyone needing some more input. Get that elsewhere. Glad you folks had fun. I still aint buyin nothin to subsidize your ridin.
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Living the good life...,
On a XZ !!!!!
Tsukigi stainless full system
pcIII w/custom map
NO freakin flies!!
GP suspension forks
Penske rear shock
Rich's custom seat
And a whole bunch of other stuff.
97 zx6r full race bike with all the
good stuff
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fish_antlers
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posted August 21, 2009 09:47 AM
Edited By: fish_antlers on 21 Aug 2009 23:30
how sassy!
there's a ton of info in the forum already! don't think the write up is worthless at all... pretty much sums it up...
we could throw lots of extra not-needed words in there to drag it out to three pages for no reason if you want 
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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Fifty Thousand
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Lovin My Family.
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posted August 21, 2009 03:50 PM
I for 1 thought it was a pretty good write-up. I own an 2007 zx14 and a 2008 C14. I absolutely love the zx14. But its only got 9,900 miles on it. My Connie just turned 16,000. And the fact that im only 25 and ride a C14 amazes people
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masszx14
Pro
A mind beside itself!
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posted August 21, 2009 04:00 PM
quote:
re: Kipass ... I've got a prius which features a fantastic execution of what a fully keyless system should be like. unfortunately toyota & lexus have set the bar and it's pretty high, so sadly I'm unimpressed with Kipass...
Prius drivers... always strong feelings towards them! 
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universal@mind
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fish_antlers
Administrator
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posted August 21, 2009 07:46 PM
also available on the lexus and lots of other new cars... once you get used to never using a key for anything (doors, trunk, gas, ignition) then you'll know what I mean...
actually it's pretty darn cool when executed correctly!
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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TedG
Moderator
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posted August 22, 2009 08:12 PM
quote:
also available on the lexus and lots of other new cars... once you get used to never using a key for anything (doors, trunk, gas, ignition) then you'll know what I mean...
actually it's pretty darn cool when executed correctly!
That is too much functionality for a bike. The key being available for use with the tank and bags is just fine. I like the idea that I dont have to play the key game when I walk away from the bike. Just today I went for a ride with a friend and he dropped his key in the restaurant and we had to go back in and find it. If all the other stuff was electronic everyone would be bitching about that and how it is going to fail. IMO KIPASS is perfect for a bike. I have basically the same thing in my Vette and just love it.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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fish_antlers
Administrator
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posted August 22, 2009 08:37 PM
For me, I disagree... having lived with the full functionality of the prius keyless system for over 3 years, I was really looking forward to the KIPASS, hoping it was the motorcycling equivalent, but it's not.... I suppose that if you havent had the good fortune of owning a completely keyless vehicle then you dont have anything to compare the KIPASS to, and you'd probably think it was pretty cool... being on the other side of the fence - I was let down.
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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KawaBonzai
Zone Head
Leader of the Back.
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posted August 23, 2009 12:39 PM
Didn't I hear a drawback to the KIPASS that if you are near your bike such as a bike night, hotel room, inside your house that the bike can be started and riden off?
Thought I heard a horror story about a guy who parked his Conny outside his hotel room which was close enough to the bike where thieves started and drove off. Another horror story about a guy who kept his spare key locked in his saddlebag, and the bike got stolen too.
???
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PC-III w/USB, Muzzys M14 + Carbon Oval + M10, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Buell Pegs, Heli Risers
www.TucsonSportRiders.com - Tucson's Premier SportRider Community
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FastestBusaAround
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posted August 23, 2009 06:42 PM
No, you have to be within 5-6ft or so....any more than that and it won't work for the most part.
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FYYFF!!!
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SteveWFL
Moderator
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posted August 23, 2009 07:02 PM
great write-up!
I did 14 hours in the saddle of the 600RR in one day through WV backroads/mountains, about hour 8-9 and I was wishin' I had a Connie!
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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Fifty Thousand
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posted August 23, 2009 07:25 PM
Steve, got 1 that might be for sale here shortly. AND I CAN LET YOU "TEST RIDE" UNLIKE STEALERSHIPS.
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Fifty Thousand
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posted August 23, 2009 07:26 PM
Its only a small trip to Lakeland
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted August 23, 2009 08:09 PM
I'm in the mountains of Asheville NC for the summer months ....quite a distance from Lakeland
Honestly I don't want to do a 3rd bike I can't stand one sitting in FL back in the garage for months on a battery tender
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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Silver Hawk
Zone Head
addition to riding no rehab4me
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posted August 24, 2009 07:08 PM
steves the moderator of th econnie forum and has no connie?...hmmmmm..lol
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2008 Concours ABS 23k miles in a yr Sold
2009 R1 16k miles in a yr Sold
2005 Honda Goldwing..6k miles in 2 months ..Sold
2012 Concours ABS 5k in 1 month..Sold
2011 ZX 10r 2k in 1 month...Sold..
2012 ZX 10R ABS black and red 144 miles as of 4-23-2013 sold.
2013 F6B deluxe sold
Back to the 2012 Connie present
2014 Green and Black ZX14r ..Beast mode!! present.
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