Kawasaki Concours 1000 Review

Overall Rating

The finest bike for the buck. A near all-weather rider, complete with full fairings and switchable covers for your legs (turned in= air cools your legs/ turned out= keeps cold wind from your legs). A huge gas tank (7.5 gallons) for long trips and fewer stops at the gas station. There is also plenty of storage space and a comfortable seat for a passenger. This bike has all the bare bones features of a touring bike without losing the ability to handle like a street bike. It is outstanding in the twisties and flat out fast on the straight aways.

The size of the gas tank, completely fueled, makes the bike top heavy. It is a MUST that you pay full attention when moving slowly in/near stops and intersections. The stock windshield is set to direct air flow over your head, but for taller riders it just causes the flow to hit the top of your helmet. After market windshields have been made to give a few extra inches to the windshield.

The Connie is a bike you can work on. It is a workingman's bike, low cost for what you get, and you can make adjustments as it is not digitized. There are tons of after-market items and helpful Connie riders that will give you help for any possible question you may have with your pre-2008 (Connie14) Connie. This bike is probably not the best bike to use as a learner because of the top heavy nature and raw power combination. I hear that the plastic fairings get damaged pretty badly from a simple tip-over. I have RIVCO engine guards on the front and back $315 for both sets, which is a solid investment because a new fairing is going to set you back quite a bit more. Mine gets 40 mpg on the highway and 35-38 mpg in traffic depending on how much stop-and-go is required. It gets better gas mileage than a smart-car and is a lot more fun to operate... AND IS MUCH CHEAPER. In this day and age, with gas prices what they are, this bike will run 3 seasons and allow you to put some money aside to still sustain life without maxing out credit cards. I am a graduate student with a long commute and I wouldn't be able to make ends meet without this bike. It is the best investment I have made in terms of individual transportation, and has allowed me to travel at low costs. I LOVE MY CONNIE!