Magazine Bonus Extras: 2008 Kawasaki Concours

2008 Kawasaki Concours

(For full review, see RoadBike October 2007 issue)

 

NAME: Tricia Szulewski
AGE: 35
HEIGHT: 5’ 7”
POSITION: Art Director
BEEN RIDING FOR: 12 years
PERSONAL RIDE: ’99 Honda VT750CD and 2001 Suzuki Bandit 1200S

I just got back from a 700-mile, three-day trip from Connecticut to Vermont on the new Concours. (Check out my “Kaw” pics.) I can now honestly say that all the excellent reviews that I’ve read on this bike are true. The handling, braking, suspension, seating position, comfort level, and storage capacity is superb! It’s hard to find fault with this great sport-tourer. I suppose the lack of available accessories, and the low windshield will be disappointing to some, but we are motorcyclists. We like to modify our rides, no matter what. So break out the tools and add some heated grips if that’s what you want. (We added a Laminar Lip, which gave an extra couple of inches to the stock shield.)

The Concours gets looks everywhere it goes. Everyone wants to see it in person. The most common question I got was, “how’s the seat?” Well, I rode 300 miles straight with only short gas stops, and just started to feel worn out toward the end. For me, the seat is fine. It pushes me forward a little, but not enough to make it matter.

The real problem with this bike is that it goes too fast, too easily. I only got it up to 120mph, but it is so stable and so quick, you don’t even realize how fast you’re going until the flashers are behind you.

The new Concours is going to win awards this year. Kawasaki teased us for a long time with this redesign, and it was definitely worth the wait.

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