Newsletter Sign Up
MotoUSA Magazine
Popular Searches
HOME
STREET BIKE
SPORTBIKE
CRUISER
DIRT BIKE
ATV
SCOOTER
Motorcycle Reviews
Gear Reviews
Motorcycle Racing
Features
Videos
Photos
Buyer's Guide
Dealer Locator
Forums
2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 Comparo Photo Gallery
Come along for the ride as we take five Super Sport-Touring motorcycles for over a 1000-mile trek up the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. Check out how the 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 did in our
2008 Super Sport-Touring Comparo
.
The Kawasaki Concours is the much-heralded new entry to the 2008 Sport-Touring class, with the C14 sourcing its motor from the vaunted ZX-14.
The Kawasaki Concours 14 was the greediest gas guzzler in our troop.
2008 Kawasaki Concours 14
Off CA-33 we were treated to a beautiful sunset.
Take notes you pesky test riders. Don't make me brake out the tazer again.
A small storage compartment, were we stored the KI-PASS fob.
The Kawasaki Concours 14 Tetra-Lever Shaft drive is one of the best we've ever sampled.
The Kawasaki Concours 14 bags are idiot simple to open and roomy to boot.
The Kawasaki Concours 14 instrument display is attractive, identical to its ZX-14 cousin.
The Kawasaki Concours 14 fork can be adjustment by knobs located on the top.
The rear shock is adjusted via this dial.
The Kawasaki Concours 14 12V plug is a convenient ST amenity.
The C14's windscreen left us wanting more.
The Kawasaki Concours 14 pipe was one of the better looking in our test.
Pedal-style rotors are pinched by radial-mount four-piston calipers, one of the best setups in our comparo.
After its initial hit, the motor delivery, while not as smooth as the Honda, is still silky and responsive.
One side effect of the mammoth horsepower and torque is engine heat.
Six gears in the C14's well-defined transmission divvy out the 133 ponies. In practical application, the Kawi is a five-speed, with sixth gear a freeway-only overdrive.
With so much power on tap, it's not surprising that a deft throttle hand is required to keep the mighty Concours motor tamed at low rpm.
The C14 is a sport-touring platform built around a 1352cc Inline-Four and monocoque frame.
The Kawasaki suspension package is solid, with an inverted 43mm fork and the Tetra-Lever system out back.
While its mega motor impresses, the Kawasaki Concours 14 falls short in the final scoring. Improving range and low-speed handling just might push the new Connie over the top.
Along with being easy to open and roomy the Concours 14 luggage continue the Kawi's sleek lines.
The Concours 14 boasts 133 horsepower at the rear wheel, resulting in numerous under-helmet grins from our test riders.
At low speeds the Kawasaki was a disappointment, with the heavy front end lazy in quick transitions.
Only the Honda was heavier on the scales than the C14.
The Kawasaki sports conventional steering geometry.
The Kawasaki comes out on top in torque production by the skin of its teeth.
With a 10 horsepower advantage, the Kawasaki ruled the dyno.
Compared to its competition, the C14's windscreen left us wanting more protection from the elements.
Did you know the Northern Lights are Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox wrestling? Isn't that right?
2008 Kawasaki Concours 14
