Actually, I've been thinking about a Concours for a long time, since before I get the big ZX.

That is all.

Throwing it out there. Looking for comments.

If you like FAST, I don't think it will quite do it for you. Step up in comfort but a little step back in performance.

My friend has one and we swapped back and forth for about 100 miles.

Pros:
Comfy ergos
Upright seating
Smooth riding and shifting
Great wind protection
Standard luggage

Cons:
HEAVY
Anything tighter than a large sweeper will have you feeling the weight. The bike handles reliably, but very slowly compared even to the 14R. Rapid transitions are... Interesting.
The overall HP and torque make for smooth acceleration, but it's lackluster in comparison to the 14R.

My friend has one and we swapped back and forth for about 100 miles.

Pros:
Comfy ergos - For the average height maybe.
Upright seating - The Gentlemen/Pee Troll Office Sir Posture.
Smooth riding and shifting - Gear drive you are correct.
Great wind protection - Okay?
Standard luggage - OEMmmmmmmmmm Yummy.

Cons:
HEAVY - It's a given.
Anything tighter than a large sweeper will have you feeling the weight. - Humans adapt so you won't feel it and start tagging bags soon enough.
The bike handles reliably, but very slowly compared even to the 14R. - That swing is a preset and cannot move back or forward and you give up that option, so back to adapting to that option missing.
Rapid transitions are... Interesting. - Goes to show you. Don't think that was built in to the whole length and no touchie the engineering adding fork extenders and jacking the rear up or whatnot to do.

The overall HP and torque make for smooth acceleration, but it's lackluster in comparison to the 14R - Something to do with a smaller bore, mechanical cranked intake cam; timed for accel and decel. The bore/cam/wight/axle to axle preset/less hp output and then add the gear-drive-drag, the hp bore decline. The cam acting like a dragging of the opening of a subthrottle> adds up.

You add what's her name, she's a tall _______ fill in the rest having those squeezed between the bags and your kidneys are kneed. Whereas, she would be flat against your back, legs out in the wind, no kidney crunch. So you'll trade up for lost torque, lose the boob bumps. No thanks.

Beofre purchasing ZX14R, I was considering Connie and FJ. Both bikes are very well refined and attractive as my daily commuter (hardbags, shafty) but way too heavy for me. Just thinking about pulling it out of my garage stopped me from buying them ZX14R is a pretty hefty bik as well but comparing with Connie and FJ, it feels much lighter. A funny thing is that ZX14R felt lighter than Busa when I finalized my selection to ZX14R and Busa.

Im waiting for the 1441cc to replace the 1352cc. Then I will sell my ZX14r and buy one.

I've got both. I love My Connie. Yeah it's heavy, but it's so friggin' comfy. I love having the bags, the giant windshield, the heated grips, I added a Laminar lip to the screen and the wind protection in just awesome. I added a heated Corbin that is the dog's danglies. If it's cold outside, there is no better bike to be on. Also a mile muncher of epic proportions. No, it doesn't have the jets like a ZX14, but it will pick up the front end and dust about anything you'll ever see on the street. They wake up a lot when you buy aftermarket exhaust and pull the flies.
I just couldn't deal with not having a ZX anymore. My lovely Wife let me get one and keep the Connie. It might take a while to get her talked into it, but I highly recommend going this route.

Tell her how much cheaper the insurance will be.

* Last updated by: jimmymac on 3/15/2015 @ 10:18 AM *

Yep...the Connie really is a cool bike.I rode one.You just need to get used to the weight and handling.It does alright.I would imagine a flash would bring out a bit more sport with it.It's got plenty of power.There's a few videos on youtube with a French guy riding one...in the twisties and such.He wrecks coming out of one turn(got the front end crossed up)...but it can be thrown around some.Enough probably for most guys who expect a somewhat more cruisy bike.It's fantastic for that.And you definitely don't get that diving and stuff happening with that Rear setup on there.The lever deal on the hub.

It can be(and is) a fun big bike.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/15/2015 @ 10:57 AM *

I rode on and was not impressed at all. The suspension is rough and it feels 200 pounds heavier with 1/2 the power.

Just make your 14 more comfortable.

I had a 2012 and drove it hard. The toughest thing to get used to is the linked brakes (somewhat fixed in 2015). It really takes some getting used to if you corner hard. It also does not transition well in the twisties but what big bike does. Overall I would recommend it for the money if you are looking to getting a sport tourer. I decided to buy the 14R and add what I needed to make it the best of both worlds. So far I have been happy with that choice.

Glad you chose to interpret my impressions instead of providing your own, Hub. How predictable of you.

Connie is a great bike for its intended use but it needs a cruise control for the long highway, can't believe big K hasn't put one on.

My Thottlemeister works just fine. If you travel at a set speed, You're looking for trouble.

Would love to have a connie or another fjr. That being said I am good with my zx as it has heated grips, centerstand and a givi trunk. Only thing I really miss from my fjr is the adjustable winshield (down for hot up for cold and longer trips).

Traveling at a set speed is no good? Please explain.

Im waiting for the 1441cc to replace the 1352cc. Then I will sell my ZX14r and buy one.

Kinda waiting for this, too. I *love* this motor on the 14R. I also like it's reliability and (relatively) low maintenance.

What else? Let's see... one big point in Connie dis-favor, for me, is the valve adjustment procedures. Mech's wave off of doing it, because is so darn difficult. The shop will schedule the job and the poor guy loses money on it, every time. I would do the 14R valves, but *I'm* not gonna do the Connie...

So, I keep waiting for the refresh cycles to be over. The "BNG" refreshes, with some tweaks to the suspension, dont cut it for me. This also true for FJR Yammie offerings, in my opinion.

That's why I own a Suzuki DL650, for now.

I do keep eyeballing the KTM and BMW offerings, tho. Those are nice now-a-days! Kaw keeps me waiting too long, and I'm moving on...

[quote]Im waiting for the 1441cc to replace the 1352cc. Then I will sell my ZX14r and buy one./quote]

Don't think this is likely to happen any time soon IMO and if/when it does it'll probably be retuned without the manic top end of the 14R. The 1352 lump has been refined with VVT etc so I think it'll be around for a while yet.

* Last updated by: pegscraper on 3/18/2015 @ 3:35 PM *

Traveling at a set speed is no good? Please explain.

I think you're a sitting duck. I'm constantly changing my speed for conditions in front of me. I don't even use cruise in my cages. I'll haul the mail when I have a clear view and slow as I'm cresting a hill. My speed is always changing. On bikes and in cages.

My thoughts on the Connie. If you have someone that wants to ride with you and if you like touring than go for it. I'd rather buy a hard case luggage rack than herpes - but to each their own!

As a second bike yes.

As a replacement? No.

I did this - traded a Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe and ZX-14 for a 'do it all' bike and regretted it almost immediately - 10 miles away from the dealer on the way home and I already had doubts. I was hoping they would disappear but they didn't after 18 months.

1) Tall - I never got comfortable on it stopped - not comfortable enough to take a passenger
2) Wasn't comfortable in motion for me - the seat sucked and the bars were at an odd angle that hurt my wrists
3) Power is soft. WAY soft. Yes a flash supposedly cures it. I never found out.
4) I experienced a good deal of wind buffeting no matter what the shield height.
5) Heavy - you feel it at low and high speed. The front end felt dead to me - I was never sure I could trust it.
6) It ran well - I had no vibrations I noticed, but it had all of the soul of a sewing machine.

about 9 months in I added a BKing and then I hardly rode the Concours until winter. I traded it for a GL1800 that spring (2 years ago). I don't miss it at all. I didn't do anything badly, it just didn't do anything well, and, like I said, had 0 soul.

Kawasaki could have had a winner with this bike but they just dropped the ball. Some things are fixable (seat) but the engine being 'detuned' for midrange is a sick joke. I hate that - put the ZX14 motor in it and be DONE with it. Loved my ZX-14 and ZX-9. I didn't hate the Concours, I just had no attachment to it whatsoever.

The Goldwing is an appliance and has no soul either, but it does several things well: Haul passengers in comfort with little to minor buffeting and is a fabuolous cold-weather bike. Carries lots of stuff. Has grunt from idle to redline (it feels like a 1800CC engine).

Like I said: DO NOT sell the ZX-14. Add the Concours - maybe it will be 'the bike' for you and you'll be happy to part with the ZX-14. I wasn't, though.