2010 Kawasaki Concours 14 Review

[longride]

I like the bike.....hate the color. I doubt it would have killed Kawi to have more than one color option.

[Kenneth_Moore]

Originally Posted by longride

I like the bike.....hate the color. I doubt it would have killed Kawi to have more than one color option.

Yeah, what's up with that? It's a damn expensive bike, you should get at least a couple of choices. The Strom has 2 or 3 color choices each year, and costs considerably less.

[MOKE1K]

Originally Posted by Kenneth_Moore

Yeah, what's up with that? It's a damn expensive bike, you should get at least a couple of choices. The Strom has 2 or 3 color choices each year, and costs considerably less.

Noticed yesterday they are doing that with a few models.

[GSXRWolf]

I had a good test ride recently on a 2009 dealer demo unit. Rode it solo for about 20 miles and doubled the wife for another 10 miles. Bottom line, I liked it. She didn't. She found the passenger pegs are mounted too far back. Also, there was a top box mounted and although it was adjusted as far to the rear as possible, it was still too close. And the top box mount wasn't solid enough, flexing somewhat when you leaned against it. I thought it rode fairly well on a rough road. She felt it was too harsh. We didn't get a chance to make any adjustments to the suspension. Maybe backing off the preload would have helped a bit. This bike had the optional Kawasaki gel seat mounted. She felt the seat was too hard. Sheesh!!

I'm interested in all the updates Kawasaki has done for the 2010 model. I'm still considering purchasing this bike. It just won't serve as a two-up mount as I had hoped. I guess we'll have to keep the Cavalcade.

[Buzglyd]

Originally Posted by GSXRWolf

I had a good test ride recently on a 2009 dealer demo unit. Rode it solo for about 20 miles and doubled the wife for another 10 miles. Bottom line, I liked it. She didn't. She found the passenger pegs are mounted too far back. Also, there was a top box mounted and although it was adjusted as far to the rear as possible, it was still too close. And the top box mount wasn't solid enough, flexing somewhat when you leaned against it. I thought it rode fairly well on a rough road. She felt it was too harsh. We didn't get a chance to make any adjustments to the suspension. Maybe backing off the preload would have helped a bit. This bike had the optional Kawasaki gel seat mounted. She felt the seat was too hard. Sheesh!!

I'm interested in all the updates Kawasaki has done for the 2010 model. I'm still considering purchasing this bike. It just won't serve as a two-up mount as I had hoped. I guess we'll have to keep the Cavalcade.

You should read her that story about the Princess and the Pea.

[SquireJim]

Another great staff review, but I do have one question...Why is it that the sport-touring manufacturers completely eschew the idea of putting a stereo system of some sort on a spot-tourer? While I realize that this flies in the face of the "purist" mentality, most of us would at least enjoy the CHOICE of having an integrated music system on our rides. There's got to be a way to do it...Why noy?!

Jim

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by SquireJim

Another great staff review, but I do have one question...Why is it that the sport-touring manufacturers completely eschew the idea of putting a stereo system of some sort on a spot-tourer? While I realize that this flies in the face of the "purist" mentality, most of us would at least enjoy the CHOICE of having an integrated music system on our rides. There's got to be a way to do it...Why noy?!

Jim

Cuz it adds weight, cost, engineering and development. And what you'd probably be left with at highway speeds is barely audible music and dubious sound quality. IMO, these missiles already weigh too much. If music is mandatory, bring your iPod.

[pushrod]

Originally Posted by Kevin_Duke

Cuz it adds weight, cost, engineering and development. And what you'd probably be left with at highway speeds is barely audible music and dubious sound quality. IMO, these missiles already weigh too much. If music is mandatory, bring your iPod.

Or, play your music through your GPS system earphones.

I've always thought the touring bike sound systems were a tremendous waste of effort. At any speed other than parked, you cannot hear any of them (with any clarity) worth a damn.

[longride]

"I've always thought the touring bike sound systems were a tremendous waste of effort. At any speed other than parked, you cannot hear any of them (with any clarity) worth a damn."

I would tend to disagree. The sound system on my E-Glide sounds just fine at anything under 70.

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by pushrod

Or, play your music through your GPS system earphones.

I've always thought the touring bike sound systems were a tremendous waste of effort. At any speed other than parked, you cannot hear any of them (with any clarity) worth a damn.

My GL1100 has a stereo sound system. I couldn't hear it too well through my Arai even at a stand still. At freeway speeds it was impossible. It's sitting on the shelf now and will be reinstalled when I finally sell the GL. I guess they are designed for helmetless street riders.