3,000+ mile ride report - 2008 Kawasaki Concours

[GG54172]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/2008%20Concours/DSC04960_zpsdb17266c.jpg

 

I gotta say, this bike reminds me of the things I loved about the first gen venture.

 

Gear indicator, clock, detachable luggage, great power

 

The concours handles very well, making my 18 mile curvy commute almost too easy. Tires were used when I got the bike, and an additional 3,000 miles hasn't seemed to scrub too much more rubber out of the tread. I was replacing the RSV tires at 5-7k miles. I think the sport touring bike is more suited to my riding style.

 

I have access to a private police course training track, on the back straight I could get 90mph on the RSV, trying everything I could, with the concours, I hit 115 leaving the turn 20mph slow and braking 200ft early. Of course, fuel economy drops into the teens when you ride like that.

 

Speaking of fuel economy, the bike has an instantaneous and average fuel economy meter (as well as a tire pressure gage...that works!) Right now the average economy number is about 39.4MPG, which isn't a bad as it sounds considering the way I ride (see comments about tire life above). I kept notes and averaged about 35MPG on my 2001 RSV. The concours holds about 4.5 gallons of fuel before the low fuel warning comes on. The bike does require 91 octane. So even though my fuel economy improved, my total fuel spend is about the same.

 

It seems strange, but I am not as thrilled as I thought I would be about the six speed transmission. If you ride at a legal pace, you stop accelerating by the time you hit 4th gear, but you still have two more to go to hit over drive. If you ride at an illegal pace, you still hit top end of the bike well before shifting out of 4th. Two more gears are much better for fuel economy, as the fuel consumption increases noticeably with increase in engine speed. The transmission on the RSV was very forgiving, you could clutch, reduce throttle, shift, increase throttle, ease out clutch in just about any order and with any level of competence you could accomplish a smooth shift. My concours may need new oil, but it takes effort to shift smooth. Best I can do I have to apply pressure to the shifter before clutching, and I have to reapply throttle before easing out the clutch, I can't complete a clean-smooth shift any other way. 3rd gear is the best passing gear for both bikes, 4th on the concours has plenty, but I like having reserve power when passing.

 

Luggage space: two stock side backs look, feel, and hold about the same as the first gen venture. However, they are wider as I can fit my 3XL HJC full face in the side bag. My bike does not have a trunk, but I plan to purchase a 30L Givi.

 

Handling, even on aggressive curves, the bike is flawless compared to the RSV. I have ridden an R1, and the SS liter/600 class bikes are about the only way you can achieve better handling. For halfway sane street riding, the concours in outstanding. I can lean the bike far enough over that I cannot shift up, because my foot doesnt fit between the ground and the shift lever. Brakes are good too, but the rear brake doesn't do a whole lot if you can get maximum stopping force out of the front.

 

Right now my handlebars are at stock height, I plan to raise them about 1.5". My wrist/back feel fine on 1-1.5 hour rides, but I am laying on the fuel tank at 2.5 hours. The seat is after market, a lowered Sargent gel seat. Very nice, but I want the non-lowered model.

 

I really like the concours, and with just a couple more farkles it will be a great ride.

Edited August 17, 2013 by GG54172

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Thanks for the write-up.

 

I have never ridden one, but I see a few of them in the Black Hills of South Dakota every year during the rally, and the riders seem to be having fun passing almost everything else on the road. The bike and rider seem to be 'one' and well composed even over 'whoop-de-doos' and bumps during curves.

 

What little I know about them, they seem like a great ride.