Any original connie owners? (Kawasaki Concours) | GTAMotorcycle.com

Any original connie owners? (Kawasaki Concours)

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timtune

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I was lusting after one ( first gen 1000cc Kawasaki Concours ) as sportier replacement** for my wing. Then a few people who rode them said they're a bit top heavy and were a pig in parking lots and such "feels like the front tire is flat". It's only purpose for me is two up loaded touring so I got spooked.

Can any owners or past owners chime in? I still want one.

**full disclosure I would much prefer a simple reliable 30yr old bike with character than most of the modern alternatives that seam to also fit the bill. I also owned an '85 GPZ900R (perhaps the original ninja) from which the connie lump is derived.
 
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I have an 05 Connie.
I was practicing full steering lock u turns at low speed and dropped the bike on my ankle. Don't do that when you're tired.
Other than that I love the bike

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Nice pick...when I first considered getting back on 2 wheels, I was drooling over a used late model Concours at the dealer...went there 3 times to sit on her....I consider it one of the ultimate sport-touring bikes out there...and yes, compared to a Wing, they could be considered top-heavy.
 
jeff96 said:
I have an 05 Connie.
I was practicing full steering lock u turns at low speed and dropped the bike on my ankle. Don't do that when you're tired.
Other than that I love the bike

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Break any ankle bones? Also, I wouldn't want to do that even if not tired.
 
30 year old anything is, well a 30 year old anything.
Concours owners are a loyal bunch and bikes have served them well.
Let you the buyer beware.
 
I broke off the tip of my fibula which has been a major pain. I don't blame the bike for the accident, it's pretty predictable and reliable under normal conditions.
They're always seems to be good deals on 2000 and up bikes with low mileage

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One owner who managed to break his ankle on one. Not exactly the ringing endorsement I was looking for.
 
I'd forget about the Connie. If you're looking for an older tech sport touring bike look at a Honda ST1100 or early model ST1300. Dead reliable, good build quality and reasonable handling. Incredible owner support groups at ST-Owners and ST-Riders for both bikes.

I had my ST1100 for 18 years and 130,000 km, great bike, no regrets.
 
ReSTored said:
I'd forget about the Connie. If you're looking for an older tech sport touring bike look at a Honda ST1100 or early model ST1300. Dead reliable, good build quality and reasonable handling. Incredible owner support groups at ST-Owners and ST-Riders for both bikes.

I had my ST1100 for 18 years and 130,000 km, great bike, no regrets.
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This, or FJR, never really liked the looks of Connie.


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I had one and never had any problems with it. I did feel it top heavy with full fuel and it had a bit of Connie Buzz on long tour. I went from it to a GL1500 and preferred the wing.
 
Sorry, off topic, but the word "Connie" to a pilot is a different ball of wax. One of these old girls.

1628339949403.png

Lockheed Super Contellation, referred to as a "Connie" as well, then and now.

My coffee deprived brain wasn't quite sure why the topic had come up on a motorcycle forum. And why someone here owned one apparently LOL.
 
timtune said:
One owner who managed to break his ankle on one. Not exactly the ringing endorsement I was looking for.
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I did mention that it was my judgement that caused the accident, not the bike. I had taken a dirt bike class all day. On the way home, I dropped by my son's workplace and while waiting for him to come out, I was doing full lock u turns in a parking lot.

Going a little too slow, I put my right foot down when I lost my balance. Still rolling forward, the right pannier box caught my leg and pinned me down as it fell on me. I think any big bike with hard panniers could have bit me for making this mistake.

I still love the bike and have been riding it ever since I got an air cast. I have no plans to change rides.


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ReSTored said:
I'd forget about the Connie. If you're looking for an older tech sport touring bike look at a Honda ST1100 or early model ST1300. Dead reliable, good build quality and reasonable handling. Incredible owner support groups at ST-Owners and ST-Riders for both bikes.

I had my ST1100 for 18 years and 130,000 km, great bike, no regrets.
Click to expand...
Considered the ST but it's damn wide at the tank/seat. My hips hate that bike.
 
jeff96 said:
I did mention that it was my judgement that caused the accident, not the bike. I had taken a dirt bike class all day. On the way home, I dropped by my son's workplace and while waiting for him to come out, I was doing full lock u turns in a parking lot.

Going a little too slow, I put my right foot down when I lost my balance. Still rolling forward, the right pannier box caught my leg and pinned me down as it fell on me. I think any big bike with hard panniers could have bit me for making this mistake.

I still love the bike and have been riding it ever since I got an air cast. I have no plans to change rides.


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I get it wasn't the bikes fault. I thought a few more owners might have chimed in. It was such a stinking popular bike there must be a few more owners lurking....
 
Have you sat on a Connie? I'm north of the GTA but I come to the Newmarket bike night and you can check it out

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jeff96 said:
Have you sat on a Connie? I'm north of the GTA but I come to the Newmarket bike night and you can check it out

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Thanks for the offer Jeff. I sat on one pre new hip and like so many bikes it was too wide for my limited range of motion. Now post surgery I can handle a wider bike but not too wide - the ST1000 and bunch of Beemers still are too wide.

I'm west of Stratford so I'll be checking something closer.
 
The guy I bought my bike from had hip issues and it was getting difficult for him to get on the bike. I believe he was in his seventies. A lot of these bikes are lowered. I took the lowering links off of mine because I'm 6 ft 2.
I had a silver wing before this bike and you tend to sit on these cruisers rather than straddle the seat as in a sport touring bike. I don't like how big cruisers have gotten like the goldwing. But that style might be easier on your hips


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Had a wing. Want something sportier with hard bags. Don't want any whiz bang tech though.
 
My wife tried to buy me a new Concours as a wedding gift back in '95...
She'd hatched a plot to take my sister's boyfriend to the dealer with her as she knew nothing about bikes other than that I was wanting said Concours...
Long story short... I accidentally got wise to the plot and talked her out of it...
Then I proceeded to regret it for 17 years until I bought my '08 GSF150 Bandit.

Every once in a while I'll see one for sale on FB or Kijij.... I get tempted, but.... I think that generation of Concours has had its time... And frankly, after having the FJR1300 I think I'm spoiled as far as sport-touring goes
 
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