Owned a 2015 for a few years. These are ABSOLUTE rocket ships. Don’t let anyone say they don’t have a lot of get up and go. 1st gear to 70, 2nd gear well over 100 mph…in about 5 seconds. Great bike.
Not enough power ??? .... you only had the tachometer at 2,000 to 3,000 RPM most of the time. Since it redlines at 10,500 RPM try to get it over 9,000 before you shift gears. This will change your mind when the front wheel lifts off the ground.
I imagine she is referring to low down grunt rather than peak power. I believe she owns a bandit 1200 (so do I) which makes max torque between 3-4K rpm.
I guess I just wasn't impressed. I prefer power off the line, instead of revving all the way out to reach the power band. It's got power, just not where I wanted it.
@@JohnnyQPublic001 I’ve just looked at some dyno charts for the GTR. It makes more torque than a bandit. 80 ft lbs is reached by 3500 rpm. I guess this bike is both heavier and smoother so it may not feel as sharp off the line, although I suspect the speed is deceptive
At 75 with a bad back and diminished strength, I'm looking to downsize from my Electra Glide to a lighter weight bike that I can ride for up to 8 hours at a time. The absence of cruise control is a concern, as I have carpal tunnel and my hands may cramp if strained, so I'd need a device to lock the throttle from time to time. Thanks for a great video!
Little sista... with an ECU flash by either Ivan or Shoodaben's Steve, and a slip-on muffler, these C14s will flat out decimate your Bandit, Triumph, BMW, or any other 'Sport-Tourer." First, you never let it's detuned ZX14 engine stretch its legs. It starts pulling HARD above 4500 RPM. Second, who on Earth wants a striped-up/flamed out circus machine to scream to the world you just got pubes a few years ago? These bikes are FAST, reliable, look good, and kick major buttock!
KQ, not for me, I'm 5-5 but probably have shorter legs than you do. That aside, it's a really great machine that you presented very well. Good luck for your friend on the sale. Somebody is in for a real treat.
This bike will cruise at 120mph all day without breaking a sweat with sprints of 150+mph with one hand, Yes this is your Daddy's bike! Limited of course, after all he is a gentleman 😉
Good grief I have ridden competitive 900 Z-1 based drag bikes in the 80's that don't produce the power of a C14! Not to mention my 2011 Concours 1400 will outrun your "Bandit" Killswitch - in 3rd gear! And while the Triumph is a great bike, it is in no way competition for the C14 even with the bags on board. Maybe it could be doing some serious canyon riding, but definitely not out where they can stretch their legs - not even close. This bike is napping between 1500 and 5000 RPM, but when you pass 6000 RPM it feels like the bike suddenly found a another engine it produces so much power. After all, the engine is a base ZX-14 modified to produce more torque while getting better fuel mileage, and the chassis is also from a ZX-14 with some changes to adapt it for touring. The Connie is nimble and fast in a stock config, and if you have an aftermarket exhaust and an ECU flash it is down right wicked when you ask it to perform. It is a quiet commuter sleeper below 5K and a raging beast when things move into it's power band. I think you need to change your riding style to fully understand this machine. I'm a 300 pounder, so I am basically "two up" all the time and I have a hard time keeping the front wheel on the ground past 6000 RPM in 1st, 2nd, and sometimes 3rd gear just rolling on the power. There is a video called "bikes with too much power" (or something like that) and it features a C-14 easily lifting the front wheel off the ground just rolling on the power as I have said. I call that proof that this video did not reach an accurate conclusion when assessing Connie's engine. But you did a great job on the other elements in the video. Unfortunately the engine and chassis are highlights of the C-14.
I have a 2009 Concours and I have ridden it 752 miles in one day. It has a lot of power and I usually get about 45 mpg. I put a trunk on it too and this gives me plenty of storage along with my tankbag.
The GTR/Concourse has secondary throttle body butterfly's that remain closed under 4k, so that's why it doesn't go down there. All the major remaps (Guhl, Ivan's etc.) Remove this effect and give you the full steam down low, at which point it will eat a Bandit 12 in that rev range.
Yes I have the new C-14 with Ivan's tune only, no pipe and it's a world of difference bottom and top end. Better gas mileage and crisper torque throughout all gears
i have a 2017 kawasaki concours and been riding motorcycles for about 40 years now custom bike to supersports and i can say that the Concours is the best bike i ever own smooth fast comfortable can ask for more awesome bike.
Lmao. Nice Funny Video. Connie doesn’t even wake up until 4.5k rpm. RAM AiR kicks in and she is a rocket. I mean she is still a top 10-15 fastest bike in the world and that’s with storage.
I've had this bike for 6 years. I don't just joy ride, I do funeral escorts where I have to get up and go! Every time I think I understand how hard it pulls, it surprises me. It's as tame as a scooter at low RPMs due to 2nd set of butterflies. But it also can go 0-60 in 3 seconds if you want. Still faster than 98% of bikes on the road. Take out the 2nd set of butterflies to open it up and you have all the power all the time. I don't have the balls ride like that. It's the reason cops love it. I've a had a few come up to me now that they ride a BMW and tell me how much they miss the bike. I ride with ear plugs and I love love love to just ride this thing on the feel of the engine bc there is no engine or wind noise and it feels like you are flying right above the ground.
Good review. I kinda agree what you're saying about power, but remember you're lugging around town at 3500-4000 rpm, where it is nice and mellow and predictable. Spin it up to 8000+ and it's fast enough for everyone but squids. I love mine. I'll keep it for as long as I have the strength to push it around..
Excellent observations -- An ECU reflash will take care of any notion of lower RPM sluggishness, which isn't really an issue -- but the ECU reflash will allow it to pull from 2500-2800 on up if one is so inclined, but with a 10500 RPM range, one really should be in the 4500 RPM and up range if one want's to ride it properly for acceleration -- otherwise the observations are on the money -- I'm in my mid-70s and this bike wakes you up, yet will handle nicely at clutch slipping speeds, yet will carve a corner (maybe not truelly flickable, but, hey, it has saddle bags). Not quite as much of a pure tourer as the C10, it will nonethless happily log the miles and is quite happy well above posted limites -- the sweet spot on mine seems to be just short of tripple didgets, so it needs a reasonably disciplined rider.
@@dcstrng1 Yeah -- in my honest opinion, if anyone wants more arm-pulling acceleration than what the C14 provides, they've picked the wrong bike and probably shouldn't ride a 4-cylinder sports tourer, but a KTM1290, or a Ducati V-twin. This bike does everything pretty darn well - including all the acceleration anyone could resonably ask of a bike that also does long haul touring, daily commutes etc.
@@dcstrng1 yeh, it has saddlebags when you have them on. They ARE detachable you know! What's with the idea of having them on the whole time like most Americans do? The bike looks like a sports-bike without those.
This is why I love my Connie, I've smoked squids who think they are fast in their 600s. I've even smoked riders on 1000cc who think they know how to ride because they own a 1000cc, an experienced rider on a connie will smoke average squids in their 1000cc, and the best part about it is I'm sitting upright while they are all tucked in
Comfort=miles. Miles=Smiles. Every review I have seen on the Concourse has been nothing but positive. Everyone who rides it seems to love it for the most part.
Ive had my 08 connie for 2 and a half years, put 40 thousand miles on it and love it more now than the day i bought it. If there is a better bike in the world id love to see it.
@@trent3872 Interesting. I've had my '09 for 6 years now and hate it. The single most uncomfortable stock seat I've ever ridden on, and I've been riding bikes for 45+ years. The inline four is fast and powerful, but whines and buzzes at highway speeds so much so I keep looking for another gear to shift into, but I'm already in OD. No cruise control. TPMS batteries wear out quickly and are not user-replaceable. Very, very few after-market accessories available for the Concours, which really surprised me....no frame protectors, no highway pegs, very few top box/bag options, etc. I'm looking hard at the Yamaha FJR1300, which has all the things my Connie doesn't....comfortable seat, cruise control, lots of after-market accessories. What I find most disappointing is the potential this bike had....it could have been great. Because of some bizarre choices by Kawasaki with respect to the seat, lack of cruise control, etc, the bike is just sorta "meh".
@@davervatx8814 I have a 09.and I'm never looking for another gear and she dont whine. I'm not sure if the seat is stock.i bought it used .but it's very comfortable. I have goldwong 1800.and a indian chieftan.and a vulcan.and a 1400rr.but nothing beats the connie.
@@davervatx8814 How can it whine on OD when on the red line there would be 360 km/h? It's not whining at all. Seat could be better and there's no cruise control, yes I agree. FJR1300 is good but it's a little bit too sophisticated, I've had two of them.
I brought a 60 lb bag of dog food home from the store strapped on my Connie’s back seat. They carry a ridiculous amount of stuff it’s hilarious. Also kudos for being 5’4” and jumping right on that thing. I’m 5’9” and it took me weeks to get comfortable with the extra weight when I first got it. (Last bike only weighed like 450 lbs)
I've gone grocery shopping on my Concourse many times. Great bike. Want acceleration? Drop a gear or 2 and wind it up! Don't be surprised when you look down and find yourself doing 90 mph.
I bought mine in 2010; the first time I passed a car doing 60 I just twisted the throttle and shifted a few seconds later. When I looked at the speedometer I was doing 90! It's a stealth rocketship at higher revs.
i feel kinda attacked by this lol. my bestfriend and i just bought matching 2015's in spark black. we put down the miles and tear it up around town on our "old man bikes." at 3.5k-4k it is lacking but get her up around 6k and above and it SCREAMS!!!
I’m a little confused. “It throws me back in the seat, I’m blown away”. “It doesn’t pull the way I expected”. I see very little twist of the throttle and short shifting of gears as well. I really think once you get past the intimidation (you brought that up first, not me) period and control this bike for what its worth you will realize there is no comparison to the other bikes mentioned.
Not to mention... you never turned off the traction control... turn off the traction control, and the bike has enough power to make a 750gsxr eat you exhaust, maybe even a stock gsxr1k, but not likely. Something to be said for chain driven vs shaft.
I've had my 2013 for 7 years now and I still love it. I'm a father of 4 adult children so I'm good with the label, especially when they watch me disappear into the distance.
I’m 28 years old no kids but I’m seriously considering this bike. I just sold my fz 09, great bike, suspension was a little soft, but Concours are affordable, probably reliable, probably easy maintenance, it’s just the LABEL I can’t get past. Everyone says it’s a grandpa bike, but I can’t imagine how fun it would be to hit the backroad twisties on one of these things. COMFORT is a BIG deal to me and reliability. Please tell me I’m not overpaying on a 2008 Connie for 3800…with a lot of extras…I REALLY want one but for some reason I can’t get myself to BUY it!!!
@@joseamaya2697 It's a great bike and very reliable with very little maintenance. Extras are ok as long as it's done right, mileage and proper maintenance are more important for me. It's all a personal thing
@@KillswitchQueen didn't really agree with your review, dad comments saying it got no torque, saying it's a couch, I found all those comments to be false. The bike handles amazing and does quarter mile in low 10s.
@@KillswitchQueen not opinions at all, we’re talking about speed, and as a matter of fact it 100% is able to accomplish that. These bikes absolutely scream when you ride them properly.
Ah man, I'm 24, I love this bike, you can pick it up for quite the bargain too. I hate when bikes are stereotyped as "Dad bikes" or "old man bikes". To me is looks pretty sporty without the saddle bags, like a Hayabusa. I hate the adventure styling that most sport touring bikes have, so this bike is one of the very few options I have in the category of sport touring. Currently I'm riding a FZ6, so definitely considering this a holy grail bike.
@@jamalraja9157 I got lucky and bought my C14 during the Pandemic. May of 2020 when prices were low. I paid $6,000 for a 2012 with only 4,000 miles on it. Now my bike is worth 8 or 9k on the used market. Everything is so expensive now. But yeah man the luggage is a game changer. I haven't had a car in 10 years. Just bikes and this is my first one with luggage and it makes my life so much easier.
I have a 2009 Concours that I purchased new. I also own a 2014 Triumph Street Triple R. I feel like I have the best of both worlds owning both of these bikes. The Kawasaki has been such an amazing all around bike. I have had very few issues with it over the years. Mostly tire pressure sensors going dead. The valve cover gasket will start leaking around 12,000 miles or so but it generally coincides with a valve lash inspection. The only real issue I had was the bottom row of the radiator became partially clogged around 50K miles. I had it checked when the bike started running one bar hotter than usual. I was a little surprised as I have had the Kawasaki dealer change the coolant every two years. Other than that this bike has been perfect. It still looks as good as the day I bought it. I have an Area P slip-on exhaust with an Ivan's flash. I just had the bike flashed about a year ago. It has been an improvement with on/off throttle response and I find that the bike has more power throughout the rev range. I honestly didn't think there was anything wrong with the bike before it was flashed. I just wanted to give it a try. It was money well spent. Stock, in my opinion, the bike was never short on power. I also have a Sargent low profile seat. I felt like I was sitting on top of the bike with the stock seat. The engine really starts to wake up over 4K rpm and really turns on between 6 and 8. Generally, I don't find myself lingering up in the 6K rpm range often. Cruising on the highway I'm generally sitting around 4K rpm in 6th gear. If I am in heavy crazy highway traffic I sometimes run it in fifth and keep the rpms at around 5K so I have immediate power. You won't go wrong with this bike new or used. I think it is more of a fat Ninja instead of a dad bike btw. Thanks for the review.
Great assessment. I concur. I'll add and you may already know this, but the TPMS batteries in the wheels can be replaced for the 08-09 models. It's annoying af when they go out and you have lots of tread left.
@@johnhamilton6661 I have had my TPS sensors replaced maybe twice. I'm note sure if I still have the kind with the batteries than be surgically removed. Thanks for the reply.
I have a 2009 Concours . In my view it's such a nice bike.. whether your out to ride solo or 2 up ..great speed great handling and comfortable.. and in Candy Diamond Red it looks incredible . It's not too much / and not too little . Just a Very cool bike👍🏽.
Wow as a lady rider ,you surely have such experience and opinions based on real life riding👍❤️ my thoughts exactly, and this kawa14 is a versatile and do it all bike in my opinion ,so perfect👍. Shaft drive is practical. Bike stays clean, need periodical gear oil change. Also a clean swing arm allows for ease of inspection of the bike tyres. Chain drive needs lubing or it will loosen up or self destruct. Lubing systems are just a nightmare to use and spills ,buildup of lube+ dirt= more misery! It seems to add up this bike for the type of rider, intelligent, practical one.
You really need to stop talking with your hands while on a motorcycle. Not only do you look crazy waving your arms around, you are confusing everyone around you trying to figure out what you're trying to signal. Are you trying to get somebodies attention, pointing at something.... it's just awkward. It's just not a good idea.
Just picked up a 2015 with only 4,500 miles in December. You gotta remember this thing has VVT. Below the threshold its useable torque. When you pull the pin on this thing and the VVT opens up, the thing is blisteringly fast. Especially with a pipe and flash.
Gotta remember the 2011 and up was the redesign along with better faster engine mapping so her '09 isn't all it can be... The Ivan's flash also removes the limiters and is redonculous and a must
Before I got into adventure riding off road , I had a Yamaha FJR 1300. It was perfect except that it felt like I was doing 30 MPH when the Speedometer said 100 MPH, no good if one needs his license for his Job.
Dude she kept talking using hand motions with her left hand which made me uneasy to say the least. I kept thinking she was about to crash even though I know well enough that she’s not given the video premise but still either way for those getting into riding it’s not something to promote like it’s no big deal. Sure, every here and thee maybe while you’re doing a long easy brake you relax your throttle hand, but dam on the highway doing whatever she said she was doing (90mph or 70, I forget) I was like “please grab the other bar.” Some noob is gonna see this and think its all good and find out what a bad time is.
No where did I promote or encourage how I ride. Motorcycles are inherently “ride your own ride” and ride at your own risk. I have years of experience and am comfortable using one hand at times. I’m not saying you have to like it or emulate me. I appreciate you looking out for beginners!
i have had mine for 2 years. honestly , yes , it gets grandpa bike jokes,. but those jokes disspiate when you out ride them , pass them with power and on top of that i can ride with my face shield open 99% of the times unless riding behidn a dump truck or if it is raining. And when it is cold is not issue for me blocks all the wind out. I don't think i can buy a regular bike again just because i enjoy the freedom of riding with my shield open and not being obstructed by the helmet shield. it really feels more free , my windshield sits bellow my eyes and still nothing hits my face.. my friends with the naked bikes have bugs all over the glasses and helmets . not me. I have taken it to new orleans from miami, savanha, athens , key west. this bike is awesome.
Best bike review EVER! 🥳 I’m surprised you didn’t try out the aftermarket throttle lock on the freeway though for cruising... or try some dank whoolies at the top end 😉 I read about a bunch of people that would add a power commander and retune it to bring the power band to the lower revs, but I was always satisfied with airliner taking off feel lol. Thanks so much for taking the Dadmobile out for a romp and sharing your insights!
You don't really want to wheely on shaft driven bikes. Not only is it extremely difficult on them (transfer of power to the wheels is perpendicular versus parallel), doing so can easily bend shafts and/or bust the final drive on the wheel hub, easily causing hundreds if not thousands of dollars in reckless damage to your bike. Also it's not her bike, not really responsible of her to do it...I know I'd be pissed if someone pulled wheelies on a bike they were test riding...
156 HP 152. Top speed. I am 6-2. My back isn’t that great but with this bike I can ride for hours. Had a Suzuki M1 09 R. After a hour ride. I was hurting from lower back pain. It was the Concorde style riding that made my back feel great. I think it’s one of the best bikes on the road. You must have control. This bike is fast. Ticket on this bike will cost you. They also are very reliable . Keep changing the oil to mobile one synthetic.
This is seriously one of the best motorcycle review clips I've seen. Was thinking about upgrading from my 1988 Concours to a later year model. Definitely interested in the 09' after watching this one. I like that you pointed out your likes and dislikes. And stuck to THIS specific bike. A lot of bike reviewers will spend almost the 1st half of these video reviews boring me w/ their history of what they owned before getting to the point of the friggin' video! Thank you for taking the time to make this. Btw, the lite hearted dance at the end was a nice finishing touch...lol. Much respect.
Nice Review. I have a 2010, the year they made a few changes, and love it. Then again I got it when I was 40 :P I can attest that you can lay down miles, commute, and grocery shop on a Connie. I am going to be selling mine this spring to get a lighter dual sport to go along with the R1250GSA (insert mid life crisis jokes here) but she will be missed!
I've been really close to pulling the trigger on an older Concours to try out as I loved the Bandit and Fz1 I had. I know they are still different but more comfort will keep me riding! Great vid O!
Get some Helibars, a Brothers all day aftermarket seat, Shoodaben ECU flash and Area P full racing exhaust.. It's Fun-Fast and as comfortable as a recliner
Agreed on the power, it kind of feels underwhelming initially. I think they could have detuned it further to make that torque accessible really down low. Otherwise you need to be way above speed limits to just start using the engine. It's by no means underpowered or slow, but I think my DR650 could out accelerate it in the first 25 feet :)
My only real complaint about the early years (08-09) is the godawful engine heat that comes back on the riders legs in temperatures over 80 degrees and its propensity to heat up in traffic...other than that I love mine. A reflashed ecu and reasonable riding habits will net you approximately 50 mpg on midgrade fuel which gives you decent range on the 5.8 gallon tank. All that said, if you are a cooler weather rider anyway as I tend to want to be, the heat issue is less important than if I rode all summer long. Its stupidly quick if you use the available rev range and its a way faster bike than I am a rider. Anyone that thinks these things are slow has a seriously warped sense of normal performance. Just saying. Its faster than almost ANY car on the planet and given the performance of some the hotter teslas and cars in that category, thats mighty damn quick. If I had it to do over again I would look for a circa 2012-2015 model for the better fairing design that routes the hot air from the engine away from the rider and has some rider aids like traction control and such...do your research and choose accordingly. They are good solid bikes and run and handle well. Like anything, they have their quirks, but you will look long and hard to find anything that performs better for the money. Finding competent maintenance facilities near you may be an issue. I have struggled with that where I live and continue to do so.
@@herkko61 where can I find these parts? I looked around for solutions but never found anything I thought would work...if you can make a recommendation I'll definitely throw some money at it, the bike is too good otherwise to let it sit and go to ruin, which is basically what it has done for two years because I got tired of fighting the heat problems.
Awesome job describing the bike. I lust picked up a 04 zg1000 its definitely a "dad" bike I'm not old or a dad but I wanted something to take long rides and cant do it with the other bikes I own and a goldwing was just not me.
Rode a C14 for 6 years.... switched to a Versys 1000 LT SE+ last year. The Concours is a real mile-eater for sure. As to the power.... crank it and see what happens once you hit 6,000 rpm. Sure, there are faster bikes, but this one is an animal if you turn it loose.
Not enough go juice ? Hmmmmm I’ve owned five sports touring bikes. That 1400 is nastier power wise than any I’ve had. My Honda st1300 is much milder and it’s still way too fast.
Great review! My wallet has been trying to find a video to talk me OUT of making this big purchase to upgrade bikes and this definitely wasn’t it 😂 in terms of girth, do you think you can still lane filter, maybe without the side cases?
Hi There,the video was fabulose its very WELCOME for guy like me,Im very undecided at the moment,I have been lloking at differents bike like KTM,Versy,VFR, can not make my mind up,I have a big inclination for the Concord and after seing your video I am more encouraged. Probably the part of NOT been a bit agressive it will suit me(Im 67 years OLD),would you buy a 0 Km or a good second hand low milages(8549 miles). Many Thanks For Your Inputs!!!!!
Lady, if I may, I understand why you felt the relative lack of power. As others have already said, this bike has what I call a kind of a safety feature some larger capacity bikes have due to the electronic managed opening of the secondary butterflies in the throttle bodies, because of the amount of power these engines may deliver. Riding below a certain rpm threshhold she will, in fact, give you that feeling of not having enough power. But be aware! If you go behond that threshold, you'll get the power! On slippery surfaces it may not be easy to handle. And as others have already mentioned, if you want, there are ways to get all the power that is possible to get from the lower rpm range. Other way and one of the easiest, is just to shift down at will to rev it up and get the power...Please, take care!
Prefer the fjr to be honest especially the 2001/2002....those things are wicked fast compared to the gtr 1400, plus they don't have all the fancy tech to cut your riding short if some electric gremlin decides to ruin your day..... The bandit was never considered a sport touring, basic road bike, well except the 1250 that comes with panniers and a renthal style ha ndle bar
Not powerful enough? Haha you didnt have the minerals to open it up, this thing will rip your face off. I've got one and I love it. Ride all year round and it's a very powerful bike. Learn to ride it and open it up for the full gtr experience
Great review however these days most companies tame the lower end with secondary butterflies, either remove these and add a good fuel controller or get your ECU flashed, £250 all done then you have instant power all the way through, not that you really need to lol. beauty of this bike is it is so sedate lower down for the commute and towns, get in that 6k band and go go go! Jack of all trades!
I’d like to buy the 2022 model. But I’ll see if they got plans on doing some changes for 2023. If not, cool. Just snatch it up and enjoy rides from AL to Cali. Visit some highways in Washington state then go back to AL. What Kawasaki needs to do is put the 14R motor in it instead of the 1352cc motor. Change the dash a bit go full digital or something like that. Never ridden a shaft driven bike before so that’ll be a nice new experience for me.
I’d like to buy the 2022 model. But I’ll see if they got plans on doing some changes for 2023. If not, cool. Just snatch it up and enjoy rides from AL to Cali. Visit some highways in Washington state then go back to AL. What Kawasaki needs to do is put the 14R motor in it instead of the 1352cc motor. Change the dash a bit go full digital or something like that. Never ridden a shaft driven bike before so that’ll be a nice new experience for me.
the Ninja 1000SE is a lot lighter, a lot more up to date, and a lot less expensive. i took a test drive on one, and it's the most comfortable thing i've ever ridden. and it only has about 10 less ft-lbs and 10 less hp, but with significantly less weight, it might actually feel more powerful. (that's just a guess because i've never ridden the Concours.)
First step, turn off traction control or you will see the bike flash a red alert and shut down the power. If that doesn't happen with traction control on then you aren't exactly on a test ride.
Know this is a year later bjt she said she was shot any one know how short? I want one of these but I am worried about seat height I am 5ft9 short leg trouser size
Owned a 2015 for a few years. These are ABSOLUTE rocket ships. Don’t let anyone say they don’t have a lot of get up and go. 1st gear to 70, 2nd gear well over 100 mph…in about 5 seconds. Great bike.
Yeah, she has no idea, iive popped the wheel(by accident), at 70
Not enough power ??? .... you only had the tachometer at 2,000 to 3,000 RPM most of the time. Since it redlines at 10,500 RPM try to get it over 9,000 before you shift gears. This will change your mind when the front wheel lifts off the ground.
I imagine she is referring to low down grunt rather than peak power. I believe she owns a bandit 1200 (so do I) which makes max torque between 3-4K rpm.
He's not wrong though, the 1400 in the connie likes revvs.
I guess I just wasn't impressed. I prefer power off the line, instead of revving all the way out to reach the power band. It's got power, just not where I wanted it.
The only thing that builds power that way is a busa.
It's just got it everywhere.
Like a bandit.
Which is basically a dirt mall busa.
@@JohnnyQPublic001 I’ve just looked at some dyno charts for the GTR. It makes more torque than a bandit. 80 ft lbs is reached by 3500 rpm. I guess this bike is both heavier and smoother so it may not feel as sharp off the line, although I suspect the speed is deceptive
You get it above 7k rpms and it does come alive, scares the crap out me but I like it..
At 75 with a bad back and diminished strength, I'm looking to downsize from my Electra Glide to a lighter weight bike that I can ride for up to 8 hours at a time. The absence of cruise control is a concern, as I have carpal tunnel and my hands may cramp if strained, so I'd need a device to lock the throttle from time to time. Thanks for a great video!
Little sista... with an ECU flash by either Ivan or Shoodaben's Steve, and a slip-on muffler, these C14s will flat out decimate your Bandit, Triumph, BMW, or any other 'Sport-Tourer." First, you never let it's detuned ZX14 engine stretch its legs. It starts pulling HARD above 4500 RPM. Second, who on Earth wants a striped-up/flamed out circus machine to scream to the world you just got pubes a few years ago? These bikes are FAST, reliable, look good, and kick major buttock!
Great bike but as you can see from profile pic I prefer the V4 over the I4.
Good choice!
KQ, not for me, I'm 5-5 but probably have shorter legs than you do. That aside, it's a really great machine that you presented very well. Good luck for your friend on the sale. Somebody is in for a real treat.
Thank you! I agree, hopefully goes to a happy new owner
Shortshifting a bike that can make over 150 hp then saying it's not responsive enough... this review seems like it's about the rider, not the bike.
This bike will cruise at 120mph all day without breaking a sweat with sprints of 150+mph with one hand, Yes this is your Daddy's bike! Limited of course, after all he is a gentleman 😉
I have a 09 and it’s so hard to not cruise down the highway doing 100 mph
@CactusJack252 right. They feel like they want to be at 100+
Good grief I have ridden competitive 900 Z-1 based drag bikes in the 80's that don't produce the power of a C14! Not to mention my 2011 Concours 1400 will outrun your "Bandit" Killswitch - in 3rd gear! And while the Triumph is a great bike, it is in no way competition for the C14 even with the bags on board. Maybe it could be doing some serious canyon riding, but definitely not out where they can stretch their legs - not even close. This bike is napping between 1500 and 5000 RPM, but when you pass 6000 RPM it feels like the bike suddenly found a another engine it produces so much power. After all, the engine is a base ZX-14 modified to produce more torque while getting better fuel mileage, and the chassis is also from a ZX-14 with some changes to adapt it for touring. The Connie is nimble and fast in a stock config, and if you have an aftermarket exhaust and an ECU flash it is down right wicked when you ask it to perform. It is a quiet commuter sleeper below 5K and a raging beast when things move into it's power band. I think you need to change your riding style to fully understand this machine. I'm a 300 pounder, so I am basically "two up" all the time and I have a hard time keeping the front wheel on the ground past 6000 RPM in 1st, 2nd, and sometimes 3rd gear just rolling on the power. There is a video called "bikes with too much power" (or something like that) and it features a C-14 easily lifting the front wheel off the ground just rolling on the power as I have said. I call that proof that this video did not reach an accurate conclusion when assessing Connie's engine. But you did a great job on the other elements in the video. Unfortunately the engine and chassis are highlights of the C-14.
1000% Correct!
I always think of the engine as Jekyll and Hyde.👼😈
I have a 2009 Concours and I have ridden it 752 miles in one day. It has a lot of power and I usually get about 45 mpg. I put a trunk on it too and this gives me plenty of storage along with my tankbag.
Not aggressive enough for you. Lol you rode it like a grandma. Twist that throttle and red line it and shift a few gears that way.
The GTR/Concourse has secondary throttle body butterfly's that remain closed under 4k, so that's why it doesn't go down there. All the major remaps (Guhl, Ivan's etc.) Remove this effect and give you the full steam down low, at which point it will eat a Bandit 12 in that rev range.
Yes I have the new C-14 with Ivan's tune only, no pipe and it's a world of difference bottom and top end. Better gas mileage and crisper torque throughout all gears
i have a 2017 kawasaki concours and been riding motorcycles for about 40 years now custom bike to supersports and i can say that the Concours is the best bike i ever own smooth fast comfortable can ask for more awesome bike.
That's great. Did you reflash the ECU?
I'm looking at buying a 2017 currently.
@@EEEBA1 no but its in my plan i like IVANS ECU FLASH but im changing for a vance and hinces slip for now
@@shadwox9808 Nice. I have heard about Ivan's ECU flash.
I'm looking at buying a 2017 model. It looks like a great bike.
did they ever put cruise control on these bikes? fjr had it by 2014.
Lmao. Nice Funny Video. Connie doesn’t even wake up until 4.5k rpm. RAM AiR kicks in and she is a rocket. I mean she is still a top 10-15 fastest bike in the world and that’s with storage.
I've had this bike for 6 years. I don't just joy ride, I do funeral escorts where I have to get up and go! Every time I think I understand how hard it pulls, it surprises me. It's as tame as a scooter at low RPMs due to 2nd set of butterflies. But it also can go 0-60 in 3 seconds if you want. Still faster than 98% of bikes on the road. Take out the 2nd set of butterflies to open it up and you have all the power all the time. I don't have the balls ride like that. It's the reason cops love it. I've a had a few come up to me now that they ride a BMW and tell me how much they miss the bike. I ride with ear plugs and I love love love to just ride this thing on the feel of the engine bc there is no engine or wind noise and it feels like you are flying right above the ground.
Funny, she has no effing clue!!! Not aggressive enough for her she says, wow
Good review. I kinda agree what you're saying about power, but remember you're lugging around town at 3500-4000 rpm, where it is nice and mellow and predictable.
Spin it up to 8000+ and it's fast enough for everyone but squids. I love mine. I'll keep it for as long as I have the strength to push it around..
How old are you, I’m 62 & untill I don’t have the strength to ride it I will keep it!
Excellent observations -- An ECU reflash will take care of any notion of lower RPM sluggishness, which isn't really an issue -- but the ECU reflash will allow it to pull from 2500-2800 on up if one is so inclined, but with a 10500 RPM range, one really should be in the 4500 RPM and up range if one want's to ride it properly for acceleration -- otherwise the observations are on the money -- I'm in my mid-70s and this bike wakes you up, yet will handle nicely at clutch slipping speeds, yet will carve a corner (maybe not truelly flickable, but, hey, it has saddle bags). Not quite as much of a pure tourer as the C10, it will nonethless happily log the miles and is quite happy well above posted limites -- the sweet spot on mine seems to be just short of tripple didgets, so it needs a reasonably disciplined rider.
@@dcstrng1 Yeah -- in my honest opinion, if anyone wants more arm-pulling acceleration than what the C14 provides, they've picked the wrong bike and probably shouldn't ride a 4-cylinder sports tourer, but a KTM1290, or a Ducati V-twin. This bike does everything pretty darn well - including all the acceleration anyone could resonably ask of a bike that also does long haul touring, daily commutes etc.
@@dcstrng1 yeh, it has saddlebags when you have them on. They ARE detachable you know! What's with the idea of having them on the whole time like most Americans do? The bike looks like a sports-bike without those.
This is why I love my Connie, I've smoked squids who think they are fast in their 600s. I've even smoked riders on 1000cc who think they know how to ride because they own a 1000cc, an experienced rider on a connie will smoke average squids in their 1000cc, and the best part about it is I'm sitting upright while they are all tucked in
Comfort=miles. Miles=Smiles. Every review I have seen on the Concourse has been nothing but positive. Everyone who rides it seems to love it for the most part.
Ive had my 08 connie for 2 and a half years, put 40 thousand miles on it and love it more now than the day i bought it. If there is a better bike in the world id love to see it.
@@trent3872 Interesting. I've had my '09 for 6 years now and hate it. The single most uncomfortable stock seat I've ever ridden on, and I've been riding bikes for 45+ years. The inline four is fast and powerful, but whines and buzzes at highway speeds so much so I keep looking for another gear to shift into, but I'm already in OD. No cruise control. TPMS batteries wear out quickly and are not user-replaceable. Very, very few after-market accessories available for the Concours, which really surprised me....no frame protectors, no highway pegs, very few top box/bag options, etc. I'm looking hard at the Yamaha FJR1300, which has all the things my Connie doesn't....comfortable seat, cruise control, lots of after-market accessories. What I find most disappointing is the potential this bike had....it could have been great. Because of some bizarre choices by Kawasaki with respect to the seat, lack of cruise control, etc, the bike is just sorta "meh".
@@davervatx8814 I have a 09.and I'm never looking for another gear and she dont whine. I'm not sure if the seat is stock.i bought it used .but it's very comfortable. I have goldwong 1800.and a indian chieftan.and a vulcan.and a 1400rr.but nothing beats the connie.
@@davervatx8814 why would you keep a bike for six years that you hate?
@@davervatx8814 How can it whine on OD when on the red line there would be 360 km/h? It's not whining at all. Seat could be better and there's no cruise control, yes I agree. FJR1300 is good but it's a little bit too sophisticated, I've had two of them.
I brought a 60 lb bag of dog food home from the store strapped on my Connie’s back seat. They carry a ridiculous amount of stuff it’s hilarious.
Also kudos for being 5’4” and jumping right on that thing. I’m 5’9” and it took me weeks to get comfortable with the extra weight when I first got it. (Last bike only weighed like 450 lbs)
My neighbor told me that his neighbor ended up with his Concours.
Biggest mistake he ever made.
His nephew.
I've gone grocery shopping on my Concourse many times. Great bike. Want acceleration? Drop a gear or 2 and wind it up! Don't be surprised when you look down and find yourself doing 90 mph.
I bought mine in 2010; the first time I passed a car doing 60 I just twisted the throttle and shifted a few seconds later. When I looked at the speedometer I was doing 90! It's a stealth rocketship at higher revs.
i feel kinda attacked by this lol. my bestfriend and i just bought matching 2015's in spark black. we put down the miles and tear it up around town on our "old man bikes." at 3.5k-4k it is lacking but get her up around 6k and above and it SCREAMS!!!
Get a Shoodaben ECU flash, it will scream everywhere! :)
@@jimwhite8891 I love my Ivan's flash on my 08. Really woke it up
I’m a little confused. “It throws me back in the seat, I’m blown away”. “It doesn’t pull the way I expected”. I see very little twist of the throttle and short shifting of gears as well. I really think once you get past the intimidation (you brought that up first, not me) period and control this bike for what its worth you will realize there is no comparison to the other bikes mentioned.
Not to mention... you never turned off the traction control... turn off the traction control, and the bike has enough power to make a 750gsxr eat you exhaust, maybe even a stock gsxr1k, but not likely. Something to be said for chain driven vs shaft.
I've had my 2013 for 7 years now and I still love it. I'm a father of 4 adult children so I'm good with the label, especially when they watch me disappear into the distance.
I’m 28 years old no kids but I’m seriously considering this bike. I just sold my fz 09, great bike, suspension was a little soft, but Concours are affordable, probably reliable, probably easy maintenance, it’s just the LABEL I can’t get past. Everyone says it’s a grandpa bike, but I can’t imagine how fun it would be to hit the backroad twisties on one of these things. COMFORT is a BIG deal to me and reliability. Please tell me I’m not overpaying on a 2008 Connie for 3800…with a lot of extras…I REALLY want one but for some reason I can’t get myself to BUY it!!!
@@joseamaya2697 It's a great bike and very reliable with very little maintenance. Extras are ok as long as it's done right, mileage and proper maintenance are more important for me. It's all a personal thing
Funny you didn't even get on it. Short shifting! Let it roll all the way, I have a 2018 and I would smoke a speed triple or a bandit!
Sure it would... 🤣
@@KillswitchQueen didn't really agree with your review, dad comments saying it got no torque, saying it's a couch, I found all those comments to be false. The bike handles amazing and does quarter mile in low 10s.
Opinions opinions opinions!
Easy i have a 12 and she will break loose in 4 gear
@@KillswitchQueen not opinions at all, we’re talking about speed, and as a matter of fact it 100% is able to accomplish that. These bikes absolutely scream when you ride them properly.
Ah man, I'm 24, I love this bike, you can pick it up for quite the bargain too. I hate when bikes are stereotyped as "Dad bikes" or "old man bikes". To me is looks pretty sporty without the saddle bags, like a Hayabusa. I hate the adventure styling that most sport touring bikes have, so this bike is one of the very few options I have in the category of sport touring. Currently I'm riding a FZ6, so definitely considering this a holy grail bike.
I agree. It looks stunning when the bags are of.
Dude I bought my C14 at age 29. I LOVE the dad bike look...it's such a sleeper. I commit murder on my c14 and cops don't look twice.
@@IRLtrolls The luggage 🧳 iz so dang gangster. I want this bike fo sho.
@@jamalraja9157 I got lucky and bought my C14 during the Pandemic. May of 2020 when prices were low. I paid $6,000 for a 2012 with only 4,000 miles on it. Now my bike is worth 8 or 9k on the used market. Everything is so expensive now.
But yeah man the luggage is a game changer. I haven't had a car in 10 years. Just bikes and this is my first one with luggage and it makes my life so much easier.
@@IRLtrolls Yeah man, that's winning. Stole the bike practically.
👏👏 The good thing about those beasts is that they just eeeat up long highway miles.
Truth! But I worry trying to take it on some dirt roads may not be the best idea 😂
@@KillswitchQueen We'll never know until we try lol I didn't think the Shadow would be as good off-road as it turned out to be :P
I have a 2009 Concours that I purchased new. I also own a 2014 Triumph Street Triple R. I feel like I have the best of both worlds owning both of these bikes. The Kawasaki has been such an amazing all around bike. I have had very few issues with it over the years. Mostly tire pressure sensors going dead. The valve cover gasket will start leaking around 12,000 miles or so but it generally coincides with a valve lash inspection. The only real issue I had was the bottom row of the radiator became partially clogged around 50K miles. I had it checked when the bike started running one bar hotter than usual. I was a little surprised as I have had the Kawasaki dealer change the coolant every two years. Other than that this bike has been perfect. It still looks as good as the day I bought it.
I have an Area P slip-on exhaust with an Ivan's flash. I just had the bike flashed about a year ago. It has been an improvement with on/off throttle response and I find that the bike has more power throughout the rev range. I honestly didn't think there was anything wrong with the bike before it was flashed. I just wanted to give it a try. It was money well spent. Stock, in my opinion, the bike was never short on power. I also have a Sargent low profile seat. I felt like I was sitting on top of the bike with the stock seat.
The engine really starts to wake up over 4K rpm and really turns on between 6 and 8. Generally, I don't find myself lingering up in the 6K rpm range often. Cruising on the highway I'm generally sitting around 4K rpm in 6th gear. If I am in heavy crazy highway traffic I sometimes run it in fifth and keep the rpms at around 5K so I have immediate power.
You won't go wrong with this bike new or used.
I think it is more of a fat Ninja instead of a dad bike btw.
Thanks for the review.
Great assessment. I concur. I'll add and you may already know this, but the TPMS batteries in the wheels can be replaced for the 08-09 models. It's annoying af when they go out and you have lots of tread left.
@@johnhamilton6661 I have had my TPS sensors replaced maybe twice. I'm note sure if I still have the kind with the batteries than be surgically removed. Thanks for the reply.
I have a 2009 Concours . In my view it's such a nice bike.. whether your out to ride solo or 2 up ..great speed great handling and comfortable.. and in Candy Diamond Red it looks incredible . It's not too much / and not too little . Just a Very cool bike👍🏽.
Wow as a lady rider ,you surely have such experience and opinions based on real life riding👍❤️ my thoughts exactly, and this kawa14 is a versatile and do it all bike in my opinion ,so perfect👍. Shaft drive is practical. Bike stays clean, need periodical gear oil change. Also a clean swing arm allows for ease of inspection of the bike tyres. Chain drive needs lubing or it will loosen up or self destruct. Lubing systems are just a nightmare to use and spills ,buildup of lube+ dirt= more misery! It seems to add up this bike for the type of rider, intelligent, practical one.
One of the only other bikes I'd consider owning over my CBR1100XX Blackbird....
I have both. It's noticably heavier, but far more comfortable than the Bird. Get the flash and the power is much stronger.
Connie's are great.
Agreed!
Love my connie . Wasnin the market for a bmw rt1200 . A friend ask was the bmw 15k more better of a bike ? Purchased the connie all smiles.
I have an Ivan's Flash in a full exhaust on mines and it changed the bike from subtle to a monster
Came to post this. Ivan's flash makes this an entirely different motorcycle.
A quick question.
Should I install the slip on first and then send the ECU to Ivan?
@@EEEBA1 Up to you, but I would. Tuning is different for full sytem, slip on, and stock exhaust. Area P full system is worth it!
@@Xsheaffer Thank you.
If the battery goes dead do you need a whole new flash?
You really need to stop talking with your hands while on a motorcycle. Not only do you look crazy waving your arms around, you are confusing everyone around you trying to figure out what you're trying to signal. Are you trying to get somebodies attention, pointing at something.... it's just awkward. It's just not a good idea.
Just picked up a 2015 with only 4,500 miles in December. You gotta remember this thing has VVT. Below the threshold its useable torque. When you pull the pin on this thing and the VVT opens up, the thing is blisteringly fast. Especially with a pipe and flash.
Yeah I was looking where her rpms were at and I was like um yeah, you haven't even popped the cork yet sweet pea.
She kept shifting too early. Literally never got above 6k before dumoing it back down to 3k
Gotta remember the 2011 and up was the redesign along with better faster engine mapping so her '09 isn't all it can be... The Ivan's flash also removes the limiters and is redonculous and a must
Before I got into adventure riding off road , I had a Yamaha FJR 1300. It was perfect except that it felt like I was doing 30 MPH when the Speedometer said 100 MPH, no good if one needs his license for his Job.
Another great sport touring bike!
Best all-around bike I’ve ever ridden. I have an ‘09.
YOU HAVE TO REV IT DWEETY---YOU WILL FEEL IT !
Dude she kept talking using hand motions with her left hand which made me uneasy to say the least. I kept thinking she was about to crash even though I know well enough that she’s not given the video premise but still either way for those getting into riding it’s not something to promote like it’s no big deal. Sure, every here and thee maybe while you’re doing a long easy brake you relax your throttle hand, but dam on the highway doing whatever she said she was doing (90mph or 70, I forget) I was like “please grab the other bar.” Some noob is gonna see this and think its all good and find out what a bad time is.
No where did I promote or encourage how I ride. Motorcycles are inherently “ride your own ride” and ride at your own risk. I have years of experience and am comfortable using one hand at times. I’m not saying you have to like it or emulate me. I appreciate you looking out for beginners!
i have had mine for 2 years. honestly , yes , it gets grandpa bike jokes,. but those jokes disspiate when you out ride them , pass them with power and on top of that i can ride with my face shield open 99% of the times unless riding behidn a dump truck or if it is raining.
And when it is cold is not issue for me blocks all the wind out. I don't think i can buy a regular bike again just because i enjoy the freedom of riding with my shield open and not being obstructed by the helmet shield. it really feels more free , my windshield sits bellow my eyes and still nothing hits my face.. my friends with the naked bikes have bugs all over the glasses and helmets . not me.
I have taken it to new orleans from miami, savanha, athens , key west. this bike is awesome.
Nice!!! Loved the dance!!
I have it's cousin, (2008 ZX-14) and my R1 buddy calls it the Kouchasaki. THIS, is the true Kouchasaki. Wowza!!
Best bike review EVER! 🥳
I’m surprised you didn’t try out the aftermarket throttle lock on the freeway though for cruising... or try some dank whoolies at the top end 😉
I read about a bunch of people that would add a power commander and retune it to bring the power band to the lower revs, but I was always satisfied with airliner taking off feel lol. Thanks so much for taking the Dadmobile out for a romp and sharing your insights!
You don't really want to wheely on shaft driven bikes. Not only is it extremely difficult on them (transfer of power to the wheels is perpendicular versus parallel), doing so can easily bend shafts and/or bust the final drive on the wheel hub, easily causing hundreds if not thousands of dollars in reckless damage to your bike. Also it's not her bike, not really responsible of her to do it...I know I'd be pissed if someone pulled wheelies on a bike they were test riding...
Wheelie for glory! Also funny because it's actually his bike... 😆
156 HP 152. Top speed. I am 6-2. My back isn’t that great but with this bike I can ride for hours. Had a Suzuki M1 09 R. After a hour ride. I was hurting from lower back pain. It was the Concorde style riding that made my back feel great. I think it’s one of the best bikes on the road. You must have control. This bike is fast. Ticket on this bike will cost you. They also are very reliable . Keep changing the oil to mobile one synthetic.
Big dad energy....👌😂😂 I love it
Nothing says getting it done like the Concours
Lol this is both the allure and personal fear I have about liking this bike.
Some people should not be doing motorcycle reviews, this video is proof of that.
Thanks so much for watching! ☺️❤️
This is seriously one of the best motorcycle review clips I've seen. Was thinking about upgrading from my 1988 Concours to a later year model. Definitely interested in the
09' after watching this one. I like that you pointed out your likes and dislikes. And stuck to THIS specific bike. A lot of bike reviewers will spend almost the 1st half of these video reviews boring me w/ their history of what they owned before getting to the point of the friggin' video! Thank you for taking the time to make this. Btw, the lite hearted dance at the end was a nice finishing touch...lol. Much respect.
The report oon the BIKE was fantastic the dancing 'A LOT TO TALK ABOUT'
The 08 is much faster!
I will smoke any of the bikes she called fast on my 14
Ooo we got a dangerous fella here! He’s gonna smoke me on my bikes!! Sorry about your small wee wee hun :(
Nice Review. I have a 2010, the year they made a few changes, and love it. Then again I got it when I was 40 :P I can attest that you can lay down miles, commute, and grocery shop on a Connie. I am going to be selling mine this spring to get a lighter dual sport to go along with the R1250GSA (insert mid life crisis jokes here) but she will be missed!
Sometimes a light weight bike is the way to go!
I've been really close to pulling the trigger on an older Concours to try out as I loved the Bandit and Fz1 I had. I know they are still different but more comfort will keep me riding! Great vid O!
I had a bandit 12 before my 14 and the power is very similar.
Get some Helibars, a Brothers all day aftermarket seat, Shoodaben ECU flash and Area P full racing exhaust.. It's Fun-Fast and as comfortable as a recliner
Agreed on the power, it kind of feels underwhelming initially. I think they could have detuned it further to make that torque accessible really down low. Otherwise you need to be way above speed limits to just start using the engine. It's by no means underpowered or slow, but I think my DR650 could out accelerate it in the first 25 feet :)
My only real complaint about the early years (08-09) is the godawful engine heat that comes back on the riders legs in temperatures over 80 degrees and its propensity to heat up in traffic...other than that I love mine. A reflashed ecu and reasonable riding habits will net you approximately 50 mpg on midgrade fuel which gives you decent range on the 5.8 gallon tank. All that said, if you are a cooler weather rider anyway as I tend to want to be, the heat issue is less important than if I rode all summer long. Its stupidly quick if you use the available rev range and its a way faster bike than I am a rider. Anyone that thinks these things are slow has a seriously warped sense of normal performance. Just saying. Its faster than almost ANY car on the planet and given the performance of some the hotter teslas and cars in that category, thats mighty damn quick. If I had it to do over again I would look for a circa 2012-2015 model for the better fairing design that routes the hot air from the engine away from the rider and has some rider aids like traction control and such...do your research and choose accordingly. They are good solid bikes and run and handle well. Like anything, they have their quirks, but you will look long and hard to find anything that performs better for the money. Finding competent maintenance facilities near you may be an issue. I have struggled with that where I live and continue to do so.
There are foam add-on parts available to stop heat coming to your legs. Easy to put on and take off when needed and not expensive.
@@herkko61 where can I find these parts? I looked around for solutions but never found anything I thought would work...if you can make a recommendation I'll definitely throw some money at it, the bike is too good otherwise to let it sit and go to ruin, which is basically what it has done for two years because I got tired of fighting the heat problems.
Nice video review ... I rode a 2 new Yamaha FJRs, 08 and '12, for 8 years and just got a '21 GTR ... def an upgrade all round ...
Awesome job describing the bike. I lust picked up a 04 zg1000 its definitely a "dad" bike I'm not old or a dad but I wanted something to take long rides and cant do it with the other bikes I own and a goldwing was just not me.
Moore Mafia put the Connie on the dyno and found it mapped not to give full power till 9000 rpm.
Shoodaben tune will fix that torque you said. I just bought a 09 with 39k on it and its a beast all over the rev range
solid review....actually with windshield down and no luggage it pretends its a zx14...but yeah its such a great all rounder
Good old highway 50. On ramp from Sunrise. I've probably passed you a time or two.
I installed Steve's Flash ECU and now it's fly 👆
Rode a C14 for 6 years.... switched to a Versys 1000 LT SE+ last year. The Concours is a real mile-eater for sure. As to the power.... crank it and see what happens once you hit 6,000 rpm. Sure, there are faster bikes, but this one is an animal if you turn it loose.
yeah she didnt even hammer it down past 6000 on the videos before shifting up ..its no wonder
Yes my son said his Gixer 600 would serve Me lunch. Still waiting 😅.
This bike is a DAD Rocket ship.
Not enough go juice ? Hmmmmm I’ve owned five sports touring bikes. That 1400 is nastier power wise than any I’ve had. My Honda st1300 is much milder and it’s still way too fast.
Your complaining that it dont pull at 4000 rpm 😂. Take it the redline before you switch gears and tell us what you think?
I will always have a soft spot for the kawi 1400s
My 2010 is difficult to hold onto when i redline it off the jump. You seem a bit of a fearful rider.you need to twist the throttel.
5:39 It lugs because she's not downshifting correctly. Stop with the Dad bike crap, Windy. I'm single and I had a 1000 in my 40s. Dad bike crap!
Great review! My wallet has been trying to find a video to talk me OUT of making this big purchase to upgrade bikes and this definitely wasn’t it 😂 in terms of girth, do you think you can still lane filter, maybe without the side cases?
I have the 2008. The stock seat was very uncomfortable, but after I replaced it with a Corbin that problem was solved.
Owned a 2010 about 3years.
I only have a question….
Why do Kawasaki always leak oil from the cylinder head gasket?
A great bike, but now at 72, too heavy for me. I love the bike, but very heavy, even more than my 2022 BMW 1250 RT
What about BGDE? Big grand-dad energy. 50+ years of riding has to count for something. And the grandkids all think we’re awesome. 😊
Hi There,the video was fabulose its very WELCOME for guy like me,Im very undecided at the moment,I have been lloking at differents bike like KTM,Versy,VFR, can not make my mind up,I have a big inclination for the Concord and after seing your video I am more encouraged. Probably the part of NOT been a bit agressive it will suit me(Im 67 years OLD),would you buy a 0 Km or a good second hand low milages(8549 miles). Many Thanks For Your Inputs!!!!!
Lady, if I may, I understand why you felt the relative lack of power. As others have already said, this bike has what I call a kind of a safety feature some larger capacity bikes have due to the electronic managed opening of the secondary butterflies in the throttle bodies, because of the amount of power these engines may deliver. Riding below a certain rpm threshhold she will, in fact, give you that feeling of not having enough power. But be aware! If you go behond that threshold, you'll get the power! On slippery surfaces it may not be easy to handle. And as others have already mentioned, if you want, there are ways to get all the power that is possible to get from the lower rpm range. Other way and one of the easiest, is just to shift down at will to rev it up and get the power...Please, take care!
Prefer the fjr to be honest especially the 2001/2002....those things are wicked fast compared to the gtr 1400, plus they don't have all the fancy tech to cut your riding short if some electric gremlin decides to ruin your day..... The bandit was never considered a sport touring, basic road bike, well except the 1250 that comes with panniers and a renthal style ha ndle bar
Not powerful enough? Haha you didnt have the minerals to open it up, this thing will rip your face off. I've got one and I love it. Ride all year round and it's a very powerful bike. Learn to ride it and open it up for the full gtr experience
I've a dead stock '14 c14, never ridden w the bags, it's just my toy.
fyi, it's very fast!
...goes thru tires under 3k
She said it doesn't have as much power as her bandit. But I'm pretty sure these bikes run a full second faster in the quarter mile
Great review however these days most companies tame the lower end with secondary butterflies, either remove these and add a good fuel controller or get your ECU flashed, £250 all done then you have instant power all the way through, not that you really need to lol. beauty of this bike is it is so sedate lower down for the commute and towns, get in that 6k band and go go go! Jack of all trades!
This is the 2009, get the 2011 and up new redesign, the motor is upgraded
Take out the secondary throttle bodies, they don’t fully open until 6th gear at WOT, with those out, it makes a world of difference.
I’d like to buy the 2022 model. But I’ll see if they got plans on doing some changes for 2023. If not, cool. Just snatch it up and enjoy rides from AL to Cali. Visit some highways in Washington state then go back to AL.
What Kawasaki needs to do is put the 14R motor in it instead of the 1352cc motor. Change the dash a bit go full digital or something like that. Never ridden a shaft driven bike before so that’ll be a nice new experience for me.
I’d like to buy the 2022 model. But I’ll see if they got plans on doing some changes for 2023. If not, cool. Just snatch it up and enjoy rides from AL to Cali. Visit some highways in Washington state then go back to AL.
What Kawasaki needs to do is put the 14R motor in it instead of the 1352cc motor. Change the dash a bit go full digital or something like that. Never ridden a shaft driven bike before so that’ll be a nice new experience for me.
I'll take that bike over ANY adv bike out there when it comes to looks
Lol "blown away" that you can't hear wind noise. Punny
It's a vvt motor, it hits at about 4500, it's a beast, I smoked a Ducati 998
Flash the ECU.
LOL.. You will really feel the power below 4K . And a To speed that will scare you. 😁👍👍🇺🇸
Nice rearset lowering footpegs. Anyone know what brand or how to obtain those?
Mine pulls just fine especially near the redline which is most of the time 😂
First time iv come across your channel and reviews, it's a sub from me, hi from the UK.
To be perfect for me just need a city mode to cut the power. 155cv its too much for it. I'm loving mine.
Ya probably don't want to talk with your hands at 80MPH. LOL
LMAO!!!! The ending dance was worth the entire review!!!!
the Ninja 1000SE is a lot lighter, a lot more up to date, and a lot less expensive.
i took a test drive on one, and it's the most comfortable thing i've ever ridden.
and it only has about 10 less ft-lbs and 10 less hp, but with significantly less weight, it might actually feel more powerful. (that's just a guess because i've never ridden the Concours.)
First step, turn off traction control or you will see the bike flash a red alert and shut down the power. If that doesn't happen with traction control on then you aren't exactly on a test ride.
You can´t feel the real power from the GTR under 8000 rpm.
You said "not too many miles", what would you consider "too many"?
The C-14 is an awesome machine for sure. Gotta love a good sport tourer 👍
Know this is a year later bjt she said she was shot any one know how short? I want one of these but I am worried about seat height I am 5ft9 short leg trouser size
run Berryman B12 thru it every tank. half a can. my valk gets 33 a gallon!