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| Kawasaki Concours 14 |
Fellow riders; I am writing this for you to hear about a motorcycle from the viewpoint of a rider/writer not a writer/rider. I won’t labor you with eloquent verbiage to impress my editor, just straight talk about this bike. When you think about buying a new bike you will have the opinion of someone like you.
This is my 16th motorcycle, I have mostly ridden sportbikes, aside from the last two which were Honda ST1300.
The Good Points
The thing that catches you first and foremost about this bike is the motor. This bike is fast in every sense of the word. What impresses you most is the power is everywhere in the rev range, but from 4000 and up its hang-on time. If you ride with a passenger or heavy touring gear, don’t worry the bike really doesn’t mind a bit. There are no vibrations from the engine at all, it is very electric feeling.
I am six feet even with a thirty one inch inseam and feel comfortable. The windshield appears as though it would be useless but that is furthest from the truth. After 100s of thousands of miles I have spent on the ST1300 I can tell you without hesitation that the aerodynamics of this bike are superb. No buffeting from semis when you pass, much less pushing from crosswinds.
The transmission is terrific not just because it shifts very smoothly but most importantly because of the choice of ratios. You are always in the right gear, now I understand that some of this is the wide powerband but, it is also the perfect choice of gear ratios right through the overdrive 6th gear.
Then there’s the hydraulically controlled slipper clutch MAGNIFICENT! The clutch pull at the lever is not going to have you shifting to neutral as you ride from light to light either.
Brakes are very powerful yet linear in their stopping force, you won’t be disappointed. The seat and ergo’s are very good, I needed to use a Airhawk on my ST1300 seat which I will no longer need, very comfortable and also has a no slide surface which is pretty cool.
The seating position is somewhat forward some may find it fatiguing if they prefer a more vertical riding position.
The Bad Points
Storage is terrible, they just dropped the ball here. The surprising thing is that when you look at the fairing, you will see many places where there could have been pockets and enclosures placed. A touring bike with poor storage, oh well most bikes are a compromise so whats new.
Good luggage easy to use and large enough for plenty of clothes and tour gear.
Engine Heat is a problem, probably the biggest this bike has. It just flat does not like riding in the city in 90 degree weather, it’s a rolling convection oven. The engine heats up right now and the convection fan will have you well done in short order. In the 80s and below its no problem. You just need to take this in consideration if you live where 90s are not uncommon.
Summary
I have told you about the things that most riders want to know and not spoken about the rest feeling that those aspects of the bike were good enough not to be either a problem or a good point.
This bike for me fills every need I have for a motorcycle, it has extraordinary power, handling that makes you feel like Nicky Hayden, ergonomics that let you ride until you are ready to stop not your aching ass that has you begging for a pull off.
If you don’t live where the heat factor will be a problem don’t hesitate to buy one and get ready to grin and have your riding buddies overwhelmed with envy.
On a 1 to 10 basis give it an 8.
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