Just giving folks here first crack at my other bike (I'm keeping my
KLR, thank you!):
2005 Kawasaki Concours, 6 months old, 4500 miles, 2 1/2 years
remaining on factory warranty, located in Santa Clara, CA (South SF
Bay area). Most miles came on one long trip to Canada, at which point
I discovered that my knees are too bad to take long trips on a
sport-touring motorcycle. A shame, because this bike puts a grin on my
face every time I ride it -- it rides like an overweight vintage Ninja
900 sportbike (which it is), it loves the twisties and the 100
horsepower engine howls for blood over 5500 rpm, yet it is far more
comfortable than a sportbike and with its maintenance-free shaft drive
and spacious luggage will happily take you a thousand miles in a day
with no problem.
Like new (heck, it *is* new!), never been down, meticulously serviced
by an anal owner who has always fed it synthetic 5w40 oil (has
synthetic gear oil in the rear hub too), many extras (tipover bars,
Givi top-plate, heated grips, heated vest socket, side cover gnurled
knobs, NGK platinum spark plugs, NGK spark plug wire sockets),
original tires still work great and have another 3,000+ miles left on
them. Was stored this winter rainy season with the fuel tank filled
with fuel-stabilized gas and the battery on a battery tender, now is
ridden at least once a week to keep the battery charged and the bike
in good running condition.
Will optionally throw in a rather battered Givi E360 topbox to fit the
Givi top-plate. Servicable, albeit a bit ugly due to an encounter with
a bear. (On another bike, not on the Concours, which has never been
down). There's also a couple of other accessories not currently
installed because I no longer ride the bike long distances thus prefer
it in its more sportbike-like original configuration -- a larger
windshield, and handlebar risers.
Asking $6200. Do *NOT* ask for a test ride unless you show up on
another 650 pound bike with proof of full-coverage insurance -- the
Concours handles its weight well (I regularly put smaller bikes to
shame whipping it around in parking lots or doing u-turns on two-lane
streets), but it is a big somewhat top-heavy sport-touring bike and I
don't care whether you have been riding 200 pound dirt bikes since you
were ten years old, you're not riding until I have money or insurance
papers for a similar-sized bike in hand.
Current title status: Paid off. Waiting for lien release form from
lender. Certified letter sent to lender on May 12, 2006. Under
California law, if the lender does not respond within 30 days after
the certified letter is sent, the bike can be re-titled by filing a
defective title bond with the DMV. (costs $100, issued by a title bond
company which will ask for proof that the lender was paid, which can
be provided, and the bond company then assumes all risk that the
lender will try to exercise any liens). Thus any actual transfer of
money, bike, and title will not be doable until release comes from
lender or June 11, whichever happens first.
-E