2006 Kawasaki Concours™

I have owned my 2006 Kawasaki Concours for 8 years. It's a great touring and performance bike. I'm 5'11" 205lbs and the bike is very comfortable. The only issues that I've experienced is the bike overheats in traffic and their is some vibrations at highway speeds. Otherwise it's a great bike.

Three years ago (2012) I had a problem: I owned a sidecar rig that was something of a 'hangar queen' - ('Pilot Talk' for a machine that looks great, but seldom ventures out of its shelter for want of reliability) There were other issues. The lone dealer of the brand in the state had closed his ... doors leaving me to wrestle with its many deficiencies on my own. My kids, who were a prime factor in me choosing to purchase a sidecar rig in the first place, were of an age where it was no longer 'cool' to be seen with Dad. And...the bike itself, even when running well, lacked the power to operate on roads which allowed speeds above 55 mph. What to do? What I did was put the sidecar rig up 'For Sale' and put in a bid on Ebay for a bike that seemed to be everything that I wanted: a machine that was capable of extended road trips without triggering fears of breaking down miles from Nowhere leaving me no alternative but to call for a flatbed. The bike, ironically recommended to me by the very knowledgeable fellow who had sold me the 'hack,' was the Connie. Smooth, powerful, reliable, able to carry a full load of gear stowed in the hard luggage and on the back for an extended road trip...this bike is everything I have wanted...and more. I had a pilot friend fly me down to NC from where I live in WV to pick up the machine. I rode it back, and that ride confirmed that for $3451 (!) I had indeed landed one sweetheart of a machine. It had only 22k miles on it, was in immaculate shape, ran like a champion, and in the three years since has not once let me down. Right now I am preparing for a long ride out West. I just changed the coolant out and have been going over the machine to inspect/adjust/tighten/ tinker, etc. - you know, the things we do to assure ourselves that our mount is up to the Challenge. But...bottom line, this bike runs so well that I can't believe my good fortune. It runs strong, has gobs of power, handles impeccably, feels way nimbler than its curb weight suggests, and with gph in the low 40's and a 7.5 gallon fuel tank gives me a good stretch of road between fuel stops. I haven't done much to the bike except add a couple of those little 'stick on' Blind Spot Mirrors. I even left the plastic 'Deer Whistles' on the front fairing which had been installed by the previous owner and had been something I swore to remove once I got back to WV. Deer whistles? Aren't they the last sound a deer hears before it gets hit? (Lo!) But....WV leads the nation in 'deer strikes' (more than 30 thousand a year!) What the hey, they seem to be working...;-) And that sidecar rig? I eventually got 5 grand for it. So....in the end I wound up with a much better machine in the 'swap' plus, 'I made money on the Deal!' That's the way I look at it anyway. 'Old Blue' I call my Connie. And it is no doubt the best bike I have ever owned.

recently purchased a 2006 concours. I immediately drove it home for 260 miles. i'm 200 lbs, 43, and 5 11. the handle bars are too bent over for me. It was noisy and had a lot of vibrations. I understand there are many changes one can make. It definitely has power and great space for luggage! Very ... top heavy with a full tank of gas. I don't know if i would buy it again.

My 06 is great and a joy to ride. For winter I added faring extenders so my legs stay warmer and extra storage by Shad. It came with a Rifle wind screen. The bike is fast but a little heavy with a 7.5 gallon fuel tank. My 5'10" frame had a hard time on loose surfaces. There is enough power to ... get around anything on the road. MPG 38.

At 6ft and 200 lbs,I too found the stock windsceen to cause a little buffeting. Solution, about $150 will solve the problem. Cee Bailey make a quality replacement screen with a vent in ti. No flip at the top, and it's a bit shorter too. No more buffeting. For more (much more) top end, I also added ... a Dale Walker Holeshot pipe set, with the jets, and timing advance. Throw in a Corbin seat......bam, you have something. As anyone who has ever riden "the Connie" knows, it's just about perfect the way it arrives. There's parts out there, make one your own. Love the bike, love to ride.

I recently purchased a '06 Connie and I am delighted with the bike! I ride on a combination of fwy and back roads, I am 6'2" and about 250, have found the riding position to be good, but there is quite a buffet area behind the windscreen, and my height sticks my helment into the wind and the only ... issue I am having is helment noise!