Kawasaki Concours

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Concours

Manufacturer	Kawasaki
Also called	Connie, GTR1000
Production	1985–2006
Class	Sport-touring
Engine	997cc, Liquid cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 16-valve L4
Transmission	6 speed, shaft drive
Similar	Honda ST1100

The Kawasaki Concours is a 1,000 cc or 1,400 cc sport touring motorcycle manufactured since 1985 by Kawasaki.

1 ZG1000 Concours
2 Concours 14
- 2.1 Innovations
3 External Links
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] ZG1000 Concours

The Kawasaki Concours, known in Europe as GTR1000, is a 997 cc, six speed, four cylinder, liquid-cooled sport-touring motorcycle with shaft drive. The bike can reach speeds over 100 mph (161 km/h), offers nimble handling and – with its full fairing, tall screen, twin locking panniers, and 7.5 US gallon fuel capacity – is suited to cross-country two-up touring.

Kawasaki introduced the Concours in 1985 as a 1986 model based on their Ninja 900 and Ninja 1000 models. Key differences between the Ninja 1000 and the ZG1000 included 34 mm instead of 36 mm carbs, less aggressively ramped cams, shaft drive, front and rear sub-frames, hard luggage, and full fairing.

From 1986 to 1993 the design was largely unchanged aside from modifications to the screen, handlebars and other very minor changes. In 1994 Kawasaki updated the instrument cluster, forks, controls, front fender, front brakes, and the front wheel. From 1994 to 2006, the design again experienced only minor changes: fork protectors and exhaust tips. As the Concours first generation endured with few revisions, experienced mechanics and used parts are readily available.

The GTR1000 has 10–20 percent less horsepower than the US Concours, varying by country.

[edit] Concours 14

Concours 14
Manufacturer	Kawasaki
Also called	1400GTR
Production	2007–present
Class	Sport-touring
Transmission	6 speed, shaft drive
Similar	Honda ST1300, Yamaha FJR1300, BMW K1200GT, BMW R1200RT

In September 2006, Kawasaki announced a new generation Concours, know as the Concours 14 in the USA, or 1400GTR in other markets.^[1]^[2]^[3] Introduced in September 2007 as a 2008 model, the new bike is based on the ZX-14 platform with features similar to the original Concours – an inline-4 engine, luggage, shaft drive and a full fairing.^[4]

[edit] Innovations

In addition to optional ABS, the new bike offers an electrically controlled screen, an innovative pass-key system, and a sophisticated rear suspension-drive system known as Tetralever – not unlike BMW's Paralever and Moto Guzzi's CARC rear suspensions – to handle the conflicting drive and suspension forces (known as shaft effect) typical when shaft-driven motorcycles carry powerful engines.