Hmmmm? Where to begin?
Well, let me begin by saying it is an 'old' bike - in design (first came
out in '86) - and many editors like to say it's, "Long in the Tooth."
Personally, I like to think the bike has aged gracefully and, IMHO, still
looks nice. Being carburetted, it's also a bike YOU can work on. No
sophisticated, high $$ diagnostic/tune-up equipment is needed to keep it
running at peak performance. The (16) valves use screw/locknut type of
adjusters, so there's no shims to worry about. While Kaw says the valve
adjustment interval is every 6000 miles, I have eventually been able to go
26K before I needed to tweak a valve. Actually two, and these were well
within factory spec., but out of mine. They changed about .001" in 26K.
My next check will be at 100K.
It is a heavy bike (600 lbs+ wet), so it isn't a sportbike, however, the
bike can surprise you on how well it handles. I have seen this bike put
many modern sportsbikes and their riders to shame in the hands of a capable
rider. Quite frankly, I no longer have the 'nads for all that it is
capable of.
It is also an able tourer, either solo or two-up. There are many who carry
their SO's all over the country to rallies and the like - some of them
pulling trailers to boot. No, it doesn't have the creature-comforts of a
'Wing, but I have also never really heard any of the pillions complain too
loudly about how uncomfortable they were. My longest personal trip was
approx. 1800 miles in http://www.mindspring.com/~gbyoung2/misc/pond/over_the_pond.pdf
and, if you haven't fallen asleep yet:
http://www.concours.org/eu/photos/denmark2002/hansreport_denmark_2002.html
I routinely make 600-800 mile trips in a single sitting going back and
forth to COG (Concours Owners Group) Rallies a couple of times each year.
The bike is also an excellent commuter, which now shares that duty with the
KLR.
As the Technical Editor for COG (an excellent support Group, BTW), I dish
out (high) mileage stickers to owners whose bikes have achieved 50K, 100K,
150K, and 200K. I will be presenting one to a friend of mine up in
Hanover, PA later this month. His '95 (same year as mine) has racked up
150K. His bike has been all over the country carrying his wife, and more
frequently than not, towing a trailer. There is also one fella in Alaska
whose bike is approaching 300K. I'll need to design a special sticker for
that one.
Having said all of the above, the absolute best thing about the bike is its
price. If you're a capable negotiator, you can get one out the door for
less than $9000. IMHO - They're the best bang today for the buck for this
type of bike. Quite simply, the bike does everything well for the $$ spent.
You asked.
Guy
At 05:38 AM 1/2/04 -0500, Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr wrote:
>> Same mode of transport, just a LOT more ugly:
>>
>>
http://www.mindspring.com/~gbyoung2/bio/mybikeandi03.jpg
>
>You picked the right color! (Red)
>
>We really need another bike for two-up riding, and I've been thinking about
>a Concours. Do you have any thoughts on that, and on the bike in general,
>that you'd be willing to share?
>
>Mark
