Kawasaki Concourse 1400

[Stylo Steve]

Hello All,

Do any of you or have any of you ever owned a Kawasaki Concourse 1400? I'm looking for a bike other than a Goldwing that I can put some miles down on the interstate. I currently have three bike that are great for back roads but not not very comfortable for long runs on the highway at 75 to 80 mph. My travels will be going back an fourth from Southern AZ to the DFW are in Texas as well as the occasional trip to Destin and West Palm Beach, Florida. Like an idiot it thought it would be a good idea to get a new bike ad get rid of my 1995 Honda ST1100. So far it hasn't worked out to well for me comfort wise.

 

[Igofar]

If you think that service stuff on the ST1300's was bad, try working on a Kawasaki Concourse 1400. You damn near have to pull the engine out to do just about anything.
Very labor-intensive models.
The few Police departments that I knew that purchased the 1400's, bailed on them, and took them out of service within a year of purchasing them.
The two that I've worked with, stated that they were too sporty, and not comfortable at all compared to the FJR or ST.
I just got a Kawasaki Versys 650LT and did a 1000 mile trip from California to Arizona, and was more comfortable than my ST1300 was.
Lighter, better MPG, Handled better, cheaper to work on and insure etc.
But since you already own a Yamaha Tracer 900 you probably know about the benefits of a smaller lighter bike.

 

[Daboo]

@Stylo Steve - You might try asking the question on the Kawasaki Concours Owners Group forum. https://concours.org/

I do all my non-solo riding with those guys. Mature riders who have no problems crossing several state lines to spend a weekend with like minded riders. Some will enjoy a good beer or their favorite beverage in the evenings to tell stories of what they'd like you to believe they have done, but they never mix the partying with the riding. It's a great group, and like a family to me.

This forum has more activity, but with the exception of NatSTOC, there are no rallies or rides west of the Rockies. On the other hand, COG has them every month and the South West area where you live is very active. One of the guys rides from Ontario, Canada to the rallies in Utah, CA, Arizona and New Mexico. I'll be seeing him in Idaho in a couple months. If the C14 was uncomfortable, I think he'd have changed bikes.

I don't have the experience Igofar does, but I never hear of mechanical problems with the C10 or C14 models. One of the checks I make when looking at another bike is to visit that bike's forum. I don't ask, "Would you buy this bike?"...you know what the answer would be. Instead look at the mods they do to make the bike work for them, and what things they have to fix. It's an easy way to get an unbiased opinion.

Chris

 

[St-Gerard]

There's a few Good ST1100 and 1300 s for sale on the forum here.

 

[Igofar]

Really?
Just go to google and type in the words "Problems and Issues with Kawasaki Concourse 1400"
And be prepared to read for a few hours.
Just some of the issues: Electrical Issues, Loose ground connections, Kipass system issues, heat issues, valve cover leak issues, Starter relay issues, Wire Harness damage issues, Battery Issues, radiator issues, rear brake linkage etc.
And correct me if I'm wrong, didn't Kawasaki Discontinue the 1400 Concourse due to Emission issues?
My neighbor sold his Yamaha ST and purchased a 1400 Kawasaki, two multi-state trips later, he couldn't wait to sell it after having several electrical gremlins, heat, uncomfortable seat, and cylinder head, and valve cover leaks that required pulling the bike damn near apart to repair.
He sold it and purchased a Kawasaki Versys 1000 and has been so much happier.
He says its lighter, handles better, and he can pack more stuff on it when camping.
The two type of folks that will defend and recommend their bikes, are those who make and sell them, and those who purchase them.
You may want to loiter around some Kawasaki shop service departments and talk to some of the mechanics and see what kind of issues they've seen, and if they like working on them compared to other bikes.

 

[ST Pili]

I didn’t find the C14 uncomfortable per se, but not as comfy as my ST1300. I’ve never even sat on an 11 so I can’t give a comparison there. I rode 2 C14s and a K16 when I was looking to trade for something newer, and wasn’t blown away. The BMW six is a tank of an engine, but as far as a better touring companion than my STella, I really don’t think so.

 

[Daboo]

Really?

Me thinks there's a bit of bias coming out.

 

[Donk]

I think I may look at a Gen 3 FJR first. Lighter, better range, '16 and up are 6 speed, '13 and up have cruise. C14 isn't a bad bike just some things you have to learn to live with. It is heavy.

 

[Igofar]

Me thinks there's a bit of bias coming out.

Bias? You do know I was just gifted a Kawasaki right

 

[Stylo Steve]

If you think that service stuff on the ST1300's was bad, try working on a Kawasaki Concourse 1400. You damn near have to pull the engine out to do just about anything.
Very labor-intensive models.
The few Police departments that I knew that purchased the 1400's, bailed on them, and took them out of service within a year of purchasing them.
The two that I've worked with, stated that they were too sporty, and not comfortable at all compared to the FJR or ST.
I just got a Kawasaki Versys 650LT and did a 1000 mile trip from California to Arizona, and was more comfortable than my ST1300 was.
Lighter, better MPG, Handled better, cheaper to work on and insure etc.
But since you already own a Yamaha Tracer 900 you probably know about the benefits of a smaller lighter bike.

Thank you for the reply Igofar. I love my Tracer 900 GT but I'm going through primary drives like Tic-Tac's. This is a known issue with the FP-Triple and will drive a person out of their mind. The Tupperware and components that need to be remove to replace the sparkplugs, air filter and perform valve clearances is just too much after watching a few videos on line. Thank you again and have a great day!

 

[Stylo Steve]

@Stylo Steve - You might try asking the question on the Kawasaki Concours Owners Group forum. https://concours.org/

I do all my non-solo riding with those guys. Mature riders who have no problems crossing several state lines to spend a weekend with like minded riders. Some will enjoy a good beer or their favorite beverage in the evenings to tell stories of what they'd like you to believe they have done, but they never mix the partying with the riding. It's a great group, and like a family to me.

This forum has more activity, but with the exception of NatSTOC, there are no rallies or rides west of the Rockies. On the other hand, COG has them every month and the South West area where you live is very active. One of the guys rides from Ontario, Canada to the rallies in Utah, CA, Arizona and New Mexico. I'll be seeing him in Idaho in a couple months. If the C14 was uncomfortable, I think he'd have changed bikes.

I don't have the experience Igofar does, but I never hear of mechanical problems with the C10 or C14 models. One of the checks I make when looking at another bike is to visit that bike's forum. I don't ask, "Would you buy this bike?"...you know what the answer would be. Instead look at the mods they do to make the bike work for them, and what things they have to fix. It's an easy way to get an unbiased opinion.

Chris

Thank you for replying to my post Chris. I'll probably skip the Concourse 14 for now due to the mass removal of components to gain access to the engine compartment. Sweet bike but I'll probably just end up turning my Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE into a touring machine and calk it quits until I run across a bike I just can live without. Have a great day!

 

[motornut]

I have both, the service stuff on the Connie is a pain in the butt. Did the valve adjust and found the engine didn't have to come out. The fit, finish and weight on the Honda are all higher than the Concours.
I have not had any problems with the bikes electronic at all, comfort out of the box is definitely on the ST side, I have risers on both and the seats on both push you forward. The seating on the Kaw is on the sport side. Your feet are further back and the bike is taller.
I rode to the east coast on the Concours to do the Tail of the Dragon. Somewhere in the Midwest I found out that at about 140 there is still another gear to use.
The bikes are two different ends of the Sport touring spectrum and are not even close within that group.
When I am on the ST, I want the Connie. When I am on the Connie I want the comfort of the ST. Until the twisties start.
They both benefit from risers and seats

 

[Igofar]

I’m getting to the age where I want light weight, easy handling, and not have to spend 5 hrs removing stuff just to do a routine service.
I tell ya, searching around for a 12mm wrench, and a feeler gauge, just to have to do a valve adjustment, that takes all of ten minutes, is a lot of work nowadays

 

[Daboo]

I'll probably skip the Concourse 14 for now

I’m getting to the age where I want light weight, easy handling,

I hit that point without realizing it years ago. The FJR was my dream bike. I just couldn't afford one at the time. Then when I was coming up on retirement, I bought a Honda NT700V, in black. I loved the bike and more than once thought as the miles passed that this bike was made just for this. Then I took a test ride for grins on the BMW F800GT. One hundred pounds less and with 50% more horsepower. And...it fit me like a glove. I had my heart set more on the BMW R1200RS, and told my wife it may be that I find something on my post-retirement ride that wouldn't show up in riding around locally and that I'd have to upgrade. That didn't happen.

I finally traded in that F800GT at 100,000+ miles for a BMW F900XR. It wasn't that I was enamored with "BMW", but that it met my needs better than anything else on the market. There is something to consider when you get to my age of having a bike that weighs 200lbs less than the big sport-touring bikes. I didn't find any negatives in going lighter. In fact, I found it easier with the "light weight, easy handling" Igofar speaks of.

Depending on how old/young you are, the lighter weight bikes can do quite well for sport-touring. And then you can skip the Concours 14...

Chris

 

[Mellow]

I hit that point without realizing it years ago. The FJR was my dream bike. I just couldn't afford one at the time. Then when I was coming up on retirement, I bought a Honda NT700V, in black. I loved the bike and more than once thought as the miles passed that this bike was made just for this. Then I took a test ride for grins on the BMW F800GT. One hundred pounds less and with 50% more horsepower. And...it fit me like a glove. I had my heart set more on the BMW R1200RS, and told my wife it may be that I find something on my post-retirement ride that wouldn't show up in riding around locally and that I'd have to upgrade. That didn't happen.

I finally traded in that F800GT at 100,000+ miles for a BMW F900XR. It wasn't that I was enamored with "BMW", but that it met my needs better than anything else on the market. There is something to consider when you get to my age of having a bike that weighs 200lbs less than the big sport-touring bikes. I didn't find any negatives in going lighter. In fact, I found it easier with the "light weight, easy handling" Igofar speaks of.

Depending on how old/young you are, the lighter weight bikes can do quite well for sport-touring. And then you can skip the Concours 14...

Chris

I liked my Tracer a lot due to how light it felt.

The RT though feels like the best of everything. It feels light yet has the wind protection that makes it a ride all day in the rain bike. Also, maintenance if so far the easiest of any bike I've ever had except for the Valkyrie which was just a little easier.

At some point I'm sure I'll be looking at a lighter bike as age creeps up on me but I'm good for now.

That 900XR is pretty sweet.

 

[Al st1100]

There are low mileage R1200rt's out there. No drive shaft issues. All the bells and whistles and a really good road bike.

 

[Stylo Steve]

There are low mileage R1200rt's out there. No drive shaft issues. All the bells and whistles and a really good road bike.

There are low mileage R1200rt's out there. No drive shaft issues. All the bells and whistles and a really good road bike.

There are low mileage R1200rt's out there. No drive shaft issues. All the bells and whistles and a really good road bike.

I could seriously consider an 2013 or newer RT with the wet clutch. I've split enough R1150 and R1200 RT's in half replacing clutches. Any RT with a dry clutch would make the Concourse 14 look pretty appealing. LOL!

 

[Mellow]

I could seriously consider an 2013 or newer RT with the wet clutch. I've split enough R1150 and R1200 RT's in half replacing clutches. Any RT with a dry clutch would make the Concourse 14 look pretty appealing. LOL!

I think the LC R1200s don't require that level of disassembly. I could be wrong.

 

[red one]

Just did a 25 year anniversary ride. 25 years ago I bought my ST1100 on the 25th of March 25 2000 so I went on a 200 miles RTE to see my friends near Stlouis Mo. I have to say my old 1100 ran sweet and flawlessly. Even after 25 years there was a big smile on my face riding this incredible machine.

 

[Daboo]

Just did a 25 year anniversary ride. 25 years ago I bought my ST1100 on the 25th of March 25 2000 ... my old 1100 ran sweet and flawlessly. Even after 25 years there was a big smile on my face riding this incredible machine.

New is not always better. I wrote this yesterday on the Subaru Outback forum, and your post reminded me of it.

I was driving home today after taking my 97.5 yr old FIL to a doctor's appt, and thinking how nice my Subaru Outback was. I turned the heat up for him, and turned the knob on his side of the dash. Knobs are so nice! And the times like when I wanted to pull out and turn left into heavy cross-traffic, I just put the transmission in "Sport" mode and the Outback darted out into the open space with no hesitation at all.

At this point, my 21 year old Outback makes me just smile...and all the hype of the new ones...meh. Subaru makes good enough cars that my old one still runs well and isn't out of date.

The things that made the ST1100 one of the top sport-touring rides back when it was new have not gone away.

Chris