Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS Anyone ever own one?

[lloydmoore1]

I'm looking real hard at buying a new 2017 Concours for a 2nd bike.

Anyone who has or had one ?
Good or bad points?
I'm probably going to get a new 2017 model because that year was Blue here in Canada.

Any difference from 2017 to 2019 model?

thanks Lloyd

[olegoat345]

I had a 2009 Concours, it was a very hot bike. The engine heat vented out around my feet & shins. After a mile or two, it felt like a heat gun blowing on them. I took off the lower fairing and it wasn't near as bad. Remember it was a 2009...………………..I think...... I've owned waaaay too many bikes. Never a HD, thank goodness. I also had a 2007 1300 FJR, it was wicked fast, rode & handled great, no heat issues...………..Faster than my B but didn't ride as good.

[lloydmoore1]

I had a 2009 Concours, it was a very hot bike. The engine heat vented out around my feet & shins. After a mile or two, it felt like a heat gun blowing on them. I took off the lower fairing and it wasn't near as bad. Remember it was a 2009...………………..I think...... I've owned waaaay too many bikes. Never a HD, thank goodness. I also had a 2007 1300 FJR, it was wicked fast, rode & handled great, no heat issues...………..Faster than my B but didn't ride as good.

thanks the Yamaha FJR was my next choice but it's about a 1000 more and the saddle bags are extra but who knows. I will try to test drive both this summer. I have a 2010 Concours lined up for a test ride my dealer has it here. He wants 9500.00 on the road it has 19500klms on it.

[olegoat345]

Shop around for the best deal you can find. I've always got nice discounts from Yamaha dealers here in FL. Make sure they're up front & honest about their "stealer fees." Indian dealership in Ocala, Fl. 3-4 different fees totaled close to $2,000 bucks. Now that's a rip off.

[jmdaniel]

I had a 2009 Concours, it was a very hot bike. The engine heat vented out around my feet & shins. After a mile or two, it felt like a heat gun blowing on them. I took off the lower fairing and it wasn't near as bad. Remember it was a 2009...………………..I think...... I've owned waaaay too many bikes. Never a HD, thank goodness. I also had a 2007 1300 FJR, it was wicked fast, rode & handled great, no heat issues...………..Faster than my B but didn't ride as good.

I hope your '07 was the best color, black cherry. That's what is in my garage here...

https://i.imgur.com/uTWA79N.jpg

[jmdaniel]

thanks the Yamaha FJR was my next choice but it's about a 1000 more and the saddle bags are extra but who knows. I will try to test drive both this summer. I have a 2010 Concours lined up for a test ride my dealer has it here. He wants 9500.00 on the road it has 19500klms on it.

What? No FJR was sold with the saddle bags extra.

[JGF6B]

Owned an FJR for a bit. Chose it over a Concourse. Let it go after 1 year.
Check out the 2017+ Kawasaki Ninja. Fantastic bike, 150+ lbs lighter than FJR and Connie. Nice after market hardbags available.

[Zteve]

08 and 09 were the hot ones. 2010 and up they redesigned the fairing to fix the heat issue. I owned an 08 and then a 12. I put over 30,000 on each with no problems. A little top heavy. Lots of room in the bags. Pretty fast for almost 700 lbs. $9500 for a 2010 sounds high. Good deals are plentiful on used C14's.

[lloydmoore1]

That's what I thought too. I asked the sales guy why the Yamaha site would show the price with the bags on and he said " yeah we have had a few people say that". I'm going to check another dealer in town just to make sure he wasn't full of crap. If he was I'll be making another stop in to have a chat.

[lloydmoore1]

08 and 09 were the hot ones. 2010 and up they redesigned the fairing to fix the heat issue. I owned an 08 and then a 12. I put over 30,000 on each with no problems. A little top heavy. Lots of room in the bags. Pretty fast for almost 700 lbs. $9500 for a 2010 sounds high. Good deals are plentiful on used C14's.

thanks How easy was an oil change?

[Zteve]

thanks How easy was an oil change?

Very easy!

[valkmc]

Had a 2009 and loved it. Rode it from Florida to Alaska and back and it was a great bike to travel on. Bags came off with ease. Had plenty of power and handled great. Windshield up and down with the touch of a button.. Real tpms that gave out tire pressure readings every time the bike was started. Only draw back was it sucked for the passenger. Seating in the back was horrible according to my wife. Heat didn't bother me but I heard they made a change to improve that in 2010.

[Ghost Rider]

I have owned 3 1400 Concours an 08 and 2 09's. Great bikes if I had not developed a hip problem would probably still be riding one. Leg angle little to far back. I tried relocating pegs but could not make the bike comfortable for me on a all day ride. Now I have a full wing and my F6B is my sporty bike.

[stevenolts]

Why don't you just get a new F6B they look to be just like an Concourse or FJR1300
Just joking

When I bought my F6B I thought for sure I was going to buy either an FJR1300 or Concourse.
I test rode all three several times back to back before I bought the F6B.

The F6B won the sale!!!! and I have never regreted the purchase. I love the F6b and tell everyone I see that I ride every bike they will let me ride. I still thing this is the best overall bike there is.

That said I still would like another bike to go with it.
I am leaning towards the Yamaha FJ-09 or Yamaha Versys now.

I still have my 1981 Honda CB750K that I bought new.

I just bought a 1981 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim for $100.00
I am restoring slash refreshing now to resell.
I rebuilt the carbs and added new battery oil change shaft drive oil change spark plugs pirelli tires air filter
it runs great and still has good paint and all the parts everything works
I am waiting for a new master cylinder caliper rebuild kit brake pads and rear brake shoes
I am running on the rear brake for now but I can't stop riding it.
Stevenolts

[lloydmoore1]

I have owned 3 1400 Concours an 08 and 2 09's. Great bikes if I had not developed a hip problem would probably still be riding one. Leg angle little to far back. I tried relocating pegs but could not make the bike comfortable for me on a all day ride. Now I have a full wing and my F6B is my sporty bike.

what is your leg length? I'm 6.1" with a 34 leg and a mean slim 190lbs..lolo..maybe a bit of a beer belly

[buzzard53]

I just got off a 2016 C-14 when I purchased my F6B.
The "Connie" is a better bike for those that want to go fast. It would hit 120 mph very quickly and handled like a sport bike. ABS and the TPS were good safety features. The Concours has a big following and good after market product selection.
But like others have said the riding position grew to be too uncomfortable even with bar risers and peg lowering kits installed.
My switch to the F6B has been great with its improved seating & riding comfort.

K Gee

[Spy Hunter]

I owned a 2014 Connie for about a year before moving into my F6B. I researched the heck out of it for about a year against the FJR. It was a fast bike, dangerously so. Stoplight to stoplight was pretty addicting. The forward riding position was not comfortable past about a half hour, which made it not so good on long trips. Also the handlebar buzz would numb up my hands after about 20 minutes - it is a well known topic with these bikes, but not everyone has this problem. I have a 32" inseam, and was always on my toes while stopped. If you like raw power and being able to dominate most every other rider around you and don't mind staying ever alert as you ride, it is a great bike. If you like to relax when you ride, go long distances, and still have plenty of reserve power for the occasional speed burst, stay with the F6B. I got a good deal on the Connie, but never seemed to be able to make it a comfortable tourer through aftermarket parts. I think overall it is a younger man's bike who doesn't mind wrestling with it.

For my 50th birthday, I bought myself a KTM 1290 Super Adventure for long distance touring and off-road. 160 HP like the Connie, but with state of the art safety features and electronics. It is a much more livable alternative to the Connle. But I still kept my F6B-it is just too good of a bike to sell at the low price they are going for these days, and nothing can compare to it if you have the occasional passenger..

[valkmc]

I owned a 2014 Connie for about a year before moving into my F6B. I researched the heck out of it for about a year against the FJR. It was a fast bike, dangerously so. Stoplight to stoplight was pretty addicting. The forward riding position was not comfortable past about a half hour, which made it not so good on long trips. Also the handlebar buzz would numb up my hands after about 20 minutes - it is a well known topic with these bikes, but not everyone has this problem. I have a 32" inseam, and was always on my toes while stopped. If you like raw power and being able to dominate most every other rider around you and don't mind staying ever alert as you ride, it is a great bike. If you like to relax when you ride, go long distances, and still have plenty of reserve power for the occasional speed burst, stay with the F6B. I got a good deal on the Connie, but never seemed to be able to make it a comfortable tourer through aftermarket parts. I think overall it is a younger man's bike who doesn't mind wrestling with it.

For my 50th birthday, I bought myself a KTM 1290 Super Adventure for long distance touring and off-road. 160 HP like the Connie, but with state of the art safety features and electronics. It is a much more livable alternative to the Connle. But I still kept my F6B-it is just too good of a bike to sell at the low price they are going for these days, and nothing can compare to it if you have the occasional passenger..

As I said in a prior post I loved the bike for some of the same reason you stated, gobs of power, great handling and fun to ride. I because of my job ride long distance every summer and I was very comfortable on the Connie. I rode it to Alaska at the age of 54 w/o a problem. I have always hated the feet forward, all weight on my Azz position. Even on the 6 when I start to get restless I place my feet on the passenger pegs as an option to using highway pegs. It gives me two options for riding positions. The windshield, bags removal, and tpms made it a great traveling bike. I guess riding position is different for everyone. I would prob still have the Connie if my wife didn't ride with me or she had kept her own bike. I don't want or need two bikes so the 6 is a much better fit for me and the wife and everyone knows it's better when the wife is happy!

[lloydmoore1]

As I said in a prior post I loved the bike for some of the same reason you stated, gobs of power, great handling and fun to ride. I because of my job ride long distance every summer and I was very comfortable on the Connie. I rode it to Alaska at the age of 54 w/o a problem. I have always hated the feet forward, all weight on my Azz position. Even on the 6 when I start to get restless I place my feet on the passenger pegs as an option to using highway pegs. It gives me two options for riding positions. The windshield, bags removal, and tpms made it a great traveling bike. I guess riding position is different for everyone. I would prob still have the Connie if my wife didn't ride with me or she had kept her own bike. I don't want or need two bikes so the 6 is a much better fit for me and the wife and everyone knows it's better when the wife is happy!

I do the same on mine. Thanks for the info, it looks like I will be very comfortable on it. I was going to get another 2019 full Wing but actually didn't like the ride enough to pull the trigger on it. Also my wife doesn't ride with me so I figure the Connie will be a good 2nd choice and a whole lot cheaper!

[1951vbs]

I sold my second F6B and bought a 2012 Concours 14. Just always wanted one. No heat issues, way fast and comfortable. Mine had lowered pegs, Russell Day Long seat and adjustable handlebars when I bought it. It is as comfortable as my F6B was but you sit on the bike not in the bike. Totally different seat positioning and tall. It is the most comfortable sport touring bike I have had: Aprilla Futura, Honda ST1300, BMW K1200S, K1200GT, Triumph Sprint GT. But I never has a FJR.

[F6Joe]

Yesterday I put my 2015 F6B Deluxe, up for sale, wanting to get a FJR which I have wanted one for a very long time, today standing in the garage looking at that pretty blue B sitting there I'm thinking I can't sell it. Guess I'll put a Laam seat on it, change out the rivco highway pegs for Kury IIIs add some clearwater lights and call it good.

[JGF6B]

I do the same on mine. Thanks for the info, it looks like I will be very comfortable on it. I was going to get another 2019 full Wing but actually didn't like the ride enough to pull the trigger on it. Also my wife doesn't ride with me so I figure the Connie will be a good 2nd choice and a whole lot cheaper!

If you've never tried a BMW R1200RT, do yourself a favor and try it before you settle on the Connie.
I test rode the 2019 r1200rt a few weeks back and loved everything except the two cylinder noise and feel. A week later I test rode a 2016 which is now in my garage.
I've spent the last 5 years with 2 bikes in the garage (f6b plus another). I loved the fb6 but wanted something sportier and lighter. Went through FJR (considered Connie), F6C, then Ninja1000. Ninja was closest so I thought about selling the B and keeping only the Ninja until I did a 420 mile 14 hour day on the backroads. My knees were sore for 2 days.
I went looking for a used K1600gt and ended up on the r1200rt. The r1200rt is comfortable, quick, 200 lbs lighter, manages wind very well and has lots of storage. The r1200rt also has a lower center of gravity than the inline 4s (FJR/Connie). It has only been a week but I've done 2 350+ backroad days and I don't miss the B one bit. The 2 cylinder engine may be noisy and ugly but the torque is fantastic everywhere.
I wanted something great on the highway and great on the back roads in the mountains. So far I believe I've found it.

[Verismo]

Yesterday I put my 2015 F6B Deluxe, up for sale, wanting to get a FJR which I have wanted one for a very long time, today standing in the garage looking at that pretty blue B sitting there I'm thinking I can't sell it. Guess I'll put a Laam seat on it, change out the rivco highway pegs for Kury IIIs add some clearwater lights and call it good.

I've read and heard very good things about the Laam seat. Also, if you haven't looked into Mic-O pegs, they are worth taking a look at for some different positions than the Kury's, though the Kury's are nice, too. Good luck with it all!

Jason