10 years ago I bought a 1990 model with one owner and 12500 miles in immaculate condition. Had it for 8 years and put about 45000 miles on it without any issues whatsoever. A fantastic bike, good mpg plus tank size is brilliant. I then made the mistake of selling it and buying a 2010 1400 GTR. Ok the 1400 goes faster, stops quicker but that's about it. Very tire critical or it handles weird. Small tank and thirstier engine. Horrible snatchy throttle due to weird fueling. I got an ecu reflash from Shouldabeen engineering and that cured the fueling. I now like the 1400 but the old 1000 model was fantastic. Don't get caught up in the notion of thinking if you spend thousands of bucks on a bike it's gonna be better.... It might just be different and no better...
I bought this one for $1300. I absolutely love the thing but I'm a pretty short dude and this is two top heavy of a bike for me. If I hit the gym more and worked out and got a little bit buffer I could make it work but a bike with a lower center of gravity would be safer all around. I absolutely do love the thing and if I was a tad taller they would be absolutely no reason I would ever want to get rid of it.
I have been riding for 40 years. For the last 14, my primary has been a 2006 Honda VTX1300C. Nothing wrong with it, but I wanted something different. Looked at Street Glides but the price scared me off. Found a 2004 Concours 1000 on Craigslist parts bike section for $1600. Took her home for $1250 as a "non runner with a rusty fuel tank in June 2023. Had it running that weekend with a slight carb refresh. Now, 1 month later with a full carb rebuild, tank cleansing, she is a full up and running son of a gun! It will be a fun bike to ride!
@@MNDashcam , If you like the bike, just get a lowering kit. Make the bike fit You! I am 5'6" and did it for a KLR650 I had! I can tipi tow on my newly acquired ZG1000. Make it work!
@@johntracy2861 Good man.. I really miss my old GTR1000. She was one of those bikes you should never sell. Hope you and her have a great time tearing up the highway... 🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁
Came across this while noodling around after having picked up an '01 with a bad engine and getting back into the C10 for another late-in-life go-round. In '89, I traded a pair of old Triumphs for an '86 Connie with about 25,000 miles. I traded it in in 1998 and it was showing 126,000 miles as I recall. It did have one repair needed, the only Kawasaki I ever had that did, a final drive failure, which was un-heard of then and now. Bad luck. I did two 1100-mile-plus days on that thing, and a few more 1000+ ones as well. I was much younger and tougher, of course, but the bike is a natural for that sort of thing. I had a Corbin seat and a Heli Bars Multi-Tour Sport handlebar conversion on it to get it right for me. I'm a bit short of leg and tallness was at the least annoying, but I overcame it, I guess. Nowadays I know about lowering bikes, having lowered several for my wife and even myself, so if this Connie turns out well it will get the treatment, along with another Heli conversion. I just can't stand those stock, skinny little bars, even with risers. What's best about this bike is how extraordinarily cheap it is to buy and maintain. Second best is that fantastic fairing. It's the most protective I've ever had, and that includes BMWs, Wings, and an FJR. Slap on a Rifle Fairings windshield kit and it's even better. I could ride at 70mph in solid rain with my faceshield open and see perfectly, an excellent ability in the dark. The sidecases are really good, too. One gets spoiled quickly. To me, the bike's biggest downside, not easily fixed, is the extremely heavy low-speed steering. Really shouldn't be that way, but most big Kawasakis of that era were also engineered that way. It's more work than it should be, especially for those of us who must deal with traffic. The Concours Owners Group (COG) is great, too, and has answers for everything. Still a heckuva machine. I have an FJR1300 now, which is superior in almost every way, but if all I had was a nice Connie, I'd be okay. And, I have to mention, my wife loved the parking lot sequence. Nice work.
Picked up an 07 FZ6 recently and that thing has amazing slow speed handling. Complete opposite of the connie. No sidebags or large front fairing but its still 4 cylinder and fuel injected 6 speed and it does highways just fine. FJR is a good bike too.
I enjoyed watching your review and agree with your thoughts and observations! I bought a 2004 Concours about 6 weeks ago to add to my stables. ( 11 bikes total) I have actually started to really love this bike and have grown quite fond of riding it. I have completed all of the maintenance & service requirements and the bike runs flawlessly. These bikes are common, yes, but they are really GOOD bikes. Does it handle as well as one of my Ducatis or one of my BMW's or Guzzi's? No, it doesn't...BUT, it was never designed to either. The only things I might add here are: 1. The heat from the engine on your thighs tends to get annoying after a while, especially in the heat and humidity down here where I live. 2. The engine is "clattery" even with the valves adjusted and the timing chain tensioner replaced. It isn't terrible, just not as refined as I wish it were. Still, I am always happy to turn the key and go whenever I feel like taking a quick ride.
Great bikes. Just a tip from my experience on the clattery sound. Replace the automatic tensioner with a manual adjuster. Follow the simple adjust procedure that comes with the tensioner and for me all noise went away. It was like a night and day diff. The auto tensioners on the zg1000 engine don't offer enough tension even working correctly. I bought mine from ebay for about $50, and never a clatter racket since.
Omfg YES I thought it was just me trippin or being paranoid with my neg bias that something bad always happens to me. I just got the blue 06 Connie with 4500 CLEAN climate garaged bout a week ago so I'm trying learn and gather as much testimonials and tips tricks hints cheat codes WHATEVER. It's been a few years and I wasn't seasoned then so I was terrified taking it home only a hour away but now I'm getting comfortable and I literally only need to work on the exact same thing this video teaches AND I get to heat from experienced Connie vets . So thanks everyone!
My first "new" bike, my choice was Kaw C14, great deal, a 2014 left over model 85miles for $10k. It checked all the boxes, wind protection, no chain, fit me, and faster than it needs be. Only negative, rear tire replacement every 3k, riding it like I stole it. ...merely a toy
Hey hey ...new blue 06 Connie (4500mi) here. I appreciate this video so much man thank you this beast was intimidating at first and I'm still a leery but need to work on my turning for sure. I'm 6'3 220 lbs and it came with a extended screen so I feel that famous protection. I also have a led light kit that I want to put on its got a cool feature that no matter what color or pattern the lights are when you hit the brakes all the lights turn red. I need to connect to the brake wire but idk because it's like multiple wires goin back there ... can't I just hook it up to the fuse box ? Idk just asking before I even touched it
That model , of Honda killed four motorcycle cops when it came out... You couldn't give one of them away in Europe at that time... They have unpredictable speed wobble... And high speed wobble... They've thrown a lot of people off... !!! A lot more violent than a Harley-Davidson Dyna... I've rode them and I prefer the Kawasaki concours.... That's why I bought a beautiful 2006 they'd only had twelve thousand miles.... Still on factory tires...
Step one: CHEAP aftermarket (automotive) mirrors. Step two: save originals for next owner, or for when you want to risk the most difficult part to replace...
Развлечения
10 years ago I bought a 1990 model with one owner and 12500 miles in immaculate condition. Had it for 8 years and put about 45000 miles on it without any issues whatsoever. A fantastic bike, good mpg plus tank size is brilliant. I then made the mistake of selling it and buying a 2010 1400 GTR. Ok the 1400 goes faster, stops quicker but that's about it. Very tire critical or it handles weird. Small tank and thirstier engine. Horrible snatchy throttle due to weird fueling. I got an ecu reflash from Shouldabeen engineering and that cured the fueling. I now like the 1400 but the old 1000 model was fantastic. Don't get caught up in the notion of thinking if you spend thousands of bucks on a bike it's gonna be better.... It might just be different and no better...
I bought this one for $1300. I absolutely love the thing but I'm a pretty short dude and this is two top heavy of a bike for me. If I hit the gym more and worked out and got a little bit buffer I could make it work but a bike with a lower center of gravity would be safer all around. I absolutely do love the thing and if I was a tad taller they would be absolutely no reason I would ever want to get rid of it.
I have been riding for 40 years. For the last 14, my primary has been a 2006 Honda VTX1300C. Nothing wrong with it, but I wanted something different. Looked at Street Glides but the price scared me off. Found a 2004 Concours 1000 on Craigslist parts bike section for $1600. Took her home for $1250 as a "non runner with a rusty fuel tank in June 2023. Had it running that weekend with a slight carb refresh. Now, 1 month later with a full carb rebuild, tank cleansing, she is a full up and running son of a gun! It will be a fun bike to ride!
@@MNDashcam , If you like the bike, just get a lowering kit. Make the bike fit You! I am 5'6" and did it for a KLR650 I had! I can tipi tow on my newly acquired ZG1000. Make it work!
@@johntracy2861 Good man.. I really miss my old GTR1000. She was one of those bikes you should never sell. Hope you and her have a great time tearing up the highway... 🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁
@MNDashcam, HAHAHAHA! I too, am 5'6 1/2", Also owned a 2004 KLR 650 with a lowering kit! Too Funny! Yes, I tippy toe this thing out of the garage!
Honda st1100 owner here. Thinking about my second bike.
Thanks for the video sir... I fully agree ... great bike ! 2003 model owner
Came across this while noodling around after having picked up an '01 with a bad engine and getting back into the C10 for another late-in-life go-round.
In '89, I traded a pair of old Triumphs for an '86 Connie with about 25,000 miles. I traded it in in 1998 and it was showing 126,000 miles as I recall.
It did have one repair needed, the only Kawasaki I ever had that did, a final drive failure, which was un-heard of then and now. Bad luck.
I did two 1100-mile-plus days on that thing, and a few more 1000+ ones as well. I was much younger and tougher, of course, but the bike is a natural for that sort of thing.
I had a Corbin seat and a Heli Bars Multi-Tour Sport handlebar conversion on it to get it right for me.
I'm a bit short of leg and tallness was at the least annoying, but I overcame it, I guess.
Nowadays I know about lowering bikes, having lowered several for my wife and even myself, so if this Connie turns out well it will get the treatment, along with another Heli conversion. I just can't stand those stock, skinny little bars, even with risers.
What's best about this bike is how extraordinarily cheap it is to buy and maintain. Second best is that fantastic fairing. It's the most protective I've ever had, and that includes BMWs, Wings, and an FJR. Slap on a Rifle Fairings windshield kit and it's even better. I could ride at 70mph in solid rain with my faceshield open and see perfectly, an excellent ability in the dark.
The sidecases are really good, too. One gets spoiled quickly.
To me, the bike's biggest downside, not easily fixed, is the extremely heavy low-speed steering. Really shouldn't be that way, but most big Kawasakis of that era were also engineered that way. It's more work than it should be, especially for those of us who must deal with traffic.
The Concours Owners Group (COG) is great, too, and has answers for everything.
Still a heckuva machine. I have an FJR1300 now, which is superior in almost every way, but if all I had was a nice Connie, I'd be okay.
And, I have to mention, my wife loved the parking lot sequence. Nice work.
Picked up an 07 FZ6 recently and that thing has amazing slow speed handling. Complete opposite of the connie. No sidebags or large front fairing but its still 4 cylinder and fuel injected 6 speed and it does highways just fine. FJR is a good bike too.
Im the same me weight and height here. I ride a 500 pound CB750 but Im glad to see other riders of my heft can ride and manage larger bikes.
I enjoyed watching your review and agree with your thoughts and observations! I bought a 2004 Concours about 6 weeks ago to add to my stables. ( 11 bikes total) I have actually started to really love this bike and have grown quite fond of riding it. I have completed all of the maintenance & service requirements and the bike runs flawlessly. These bikes are common, yes, but they are really GOOD bikes. Does it handle as well as one of my Ducatis or one of my BMW's or Guzzi's? No, it doesn't...BUT, it was never designed to either.
The only things I might add here are: 1. The heat from the engine on your thighs tends to get annoying after a while, especially in the heat and humidity down here where I live. 2. The engine is "clattery" even with the valves adjusted and the timing chain tensioner replaced. It isn't terrible, just not as refined as I wish it were. Still, I am always happy to turn the key and go whenever I feel like taking a quick ride.
I think these are one of these bikes that's a diamond in the rough and certainly underappreciated.
Great bikes. Just a tip from my experience on the clattery sound. Replace the automatic tensioner with a manual adjuster. Follow the simple adjust procedure that comes with the tensioner and for me all noise went away. It was like a night and day diff. The auto tensioners on the zg1000 engine don't offer enough tension even working correctly. I bought mine from ebay for about $50, and never a clatter racket since.
Omfg YES I thought it was just me trippin or being paranoid with my neg bias that something bad always happens to me. I just got the blue 06 Connie with 4500 CLEAN climate garaged bout a week ago so I'm trying learn and gather as much testimonials and tips tricks hints cheat codes WHATEVER. It's been a few years and I wasn't seasoned then so I was terrified taking it home only a hour away but now I'm getting comfortable and I literally only need to work on the exact same thing this video teaches AND I get to heat from experienced Connie vets . So thanks everyone!
Nicely done. Your views are pretty much the same as mine.
IMO an excellent motorcycle that does nothing great, but everything well.
I just bought a Yamaha FZ6 as well. That is a fun little bike.
My first "new" bike, my choice was Kaw C14, great deal, a 2014 left over model 85miles for $10k.
It checked all the boxes, wind protection, no chain, fit me, and faster than it needs be.
Only negative, rear tire replacement every 3k, riding it like I stole it.
...merely a toy
Good choice!
yep it's a great bike
Hey hey ...new blue 06 Connie (4500mi) here. I appreciate this video so much man thank you this beast was intimidating at first and I'm still a leery but need to work on my turning for sure. I'm 6'3 220 lbs and it came with a extended screen so I feel that famous protection. I also have a led light kit that I want to put on its got a cool feature that no matter what color or pattern the lights are when you hit the brakes all the lights turn red. I need to connect to the brake wire but idk because it's like multiple wires goin back there ... can't I just hook it up to the fuse box ? Idk just asking before I even touched it
Great bike. The wiring is pretty easy. I'd watch some basic wiring videos so you do things right before you just start attaching stuff.
@MNDashcam oh I already have her hooked up and running exquisitely lol
@@sagebiddi Excellent
@MNDashcam so hey boss man I just uploaded a short of the bike with the lights on it and let me know what u think about the "one off" part I fabbed up
@@sagebiddi that looks awesome!
Looking to compare this to a ST1100
That model , of Honda killed four motorcycle cops when it came out... You couldn't give one of them away in Europe at that time... They have unpredictable speed wobble... And high speed wobble... They've thrown a lot of people off... !!! A lot more violent than a Harley-Davidson Dyna... I've rode them and I prefer the Kawasaki concours.... That's why I bought a beautiful 2006 they'd only had twelve thousand miles.... Still on factory tires...
@@Rick-qf5de I've read the speed wobble was riding w/ too much weight and over 100 mph, along w/ the windshield up, making the rear tire loose.
Kawasaki Conkours ZG1000 2006 the best
I’m pretty sure if you look closely at that left foot peg bracket, it’s been compromised.
I did end up buying a new one
Step one: CHEAP aftermarket (automotive) mirrors.
Step two: save originals for next owner, or for when you want to risk the most difficult part to replace...
but I'll keep my k100lt
Not taking safety tips from a guy that doesn't wear gloves, and fucks with his phone on the highway.
Good advice is good advice no matter the source