Concours......The Real Sports Tourer

[ruffcut]

It took me awhile, but I just found the resurrected version of this thread.

My battery still works just fine, but it is the original one in my '03. All I've ever done with it is remove it for the winter, put it on a charger for awhile once a month or so, and top off the water once or twice a season if it's low.

Should I replace it even though I've had no hints of impending failure? It's kind of old. . .

     Mine went south in 4 seasons. You might not notice it turning over any slower but you`ll notice it spinning faster if you change it out. It`s better than trying to push start that land yacht.

[olderigetfasteriam]

     Mine went south in 4 seasons. You might not notice it turning over any slower but you`ll notice it spinning faster if you change it out. It`s better than trying to push start that land yacht.

+1 on the not wanting to push start. Argh. Makes me tired thinking about it.

[goog]

I just got my '86 out of storage and besides a little coxing the battery she fired right up. However, i need to change the oil and i need a new back tire. I ride 50m to work half of which is pretty nice blacktop with some good twistys, the other half is 4 lane. I'd like a tire that i can feel confident on in the corners and when it is wet. Also, it has 42k on it, i got it at 40k last year. Is there any maintenance issues I should address before starting a new riding year. I would appreciate any advice. It's great having you guys around.

thanks,

g

[krumgrinder]

I just got my '86 out of storage and besides a little coxing the battery she fired right up. However, i need to change the oil and i need a new back tire. I ride 50m to work half of which is pretty nice blacktop with some good twistys, the other half is 4 lane. I'd like a tire that i can feel confident on in the corners and when it is wet. Also, it has 42k on it, i got it at 40k last year. Is there any maintenance issues I should address before starting a new riding year. I would appreciate any advice. It's great having you guys around.

thanks,

g

Hey G,
I've got the Avons (ST45/46) on mine and have really enjoyed the improvement in handling.  I've heard the Cheng Shins are also an economical choice that is also an improvement over the stock Dunlops.  Alot of the COG guys are also switching to the Michelin Pilot GTs in a Goldwing size and raving about those.  If you check out the forums at http://www.concours.org and use the search utility you should find an endless list of threads to read about different tires for the bike.
Avon has stopped producing the tires that have been so popular for the Conc, and are producing a new series called 'Storm' that are supposed to be longer wearing, still very good in handling and good in the wet- but their currently only making one wheel size we need!  I spoke with an Avon rep at the IMS in Cleveland and he has admitted they are rethinking the decision not to make the (I believe) rear size and hopes they will be adding it back to their product line in the next few months.

K.

[goog]

Thanks K-man for the input. I found a good deal on a set of Michelin Macadam 50's. I think they used to be the Pilot series.

G

[Somebuddy]

Love my 05 Connie.  Stock seat is actually quite good compared to other stockers.  Stock windshield sucks especially if yer very tall.  Changed mine to the Rifle system within the first couple months.  Ya don't need to farkle her up but the farkles are certainly available for her.  Ya sure its "old school" technology, but it works very well, has for years.  I'm 250 lbs + and the wife is 1.. well ya know, and it hauls us around excellent with top trunk and gear.  She never complains about buffeting.  I run Metzler 880's and find they handle and wear well.  No real concerns about this bike which has a positive history.  My brother just picked up his 06 less than a month ago (still a few around).

[ninjadad66]

Thinking about getting the 08 Connie.  At 40, I think my time for a true sport tourer has come.......maybe.

[Spectre]

Saw an 05 (gold) in our area with 1200 miles on craiglist for $6900. Is that a good deal? I"m considering it.....

[olderigetfasteriam]

Saw an 05 (gold) in our area with 1200 miles on craiglist for $6900. Is that a good deal? I"m considering it.....

That is low mileage. Make sure the 600 mile service is done (usually around $300.00). I would offer $6500.00 and see if the buyer is motivated.

[krumgrinder]

Love my 05 Connie.  Stock seat is actually quite good compared to other stockers.  Stock windshield sucks especially if yer very tall.  Changed mine to the Rifle system within the first couple months.  Ya don't need to farkle her up but the farkles are certainly available for her.  Ya sure its "old school" technology, but it works very well, has for years.  I'm 250 lbs + and the wife is 1.. well ya know, and it hauls us around excellent with top trunk and gear.  She never complains about buffeting.  I run Metzler 880's and find they handle and wear well.  No real concerns about this bike which has a positive history.  My brother just picked up his 06 less than a month ago (still a few around).

Stock shield sucks no matter how tall you are.  If you think it's good now, put a fork brace and some Avons on her and try your neighborhood twisties one more time...  lots more improvements can be made, but you won't know her until you do those two things first  .

[JamminJere]

"...........If you think it's good now, put a fork brace and some Avons on her and try your neighborhood twisties one more time...  lots more improvements can be made, but you won't know her until you do those two things first  ."


+1 on the Avons! I'm running the Azaro on the rear and the Storm up front...(cause connie has 20yr old rims and you cant get the same size you need in either model.. BUT they work like a matched pair together IMO.  After a good CAREFUL "scuff in" they are tenacious!!! I think the grip and road noise are better than the Metzeler Z2 and Z4 were.. but since they don't make "our" size anymore...  

I've yet to run a set of Michelin Road Pilots or Macadams, but in over  140K miles on two Connie's I think I've tried about everything else.

The Avon's have definitely brought life to the girl... and so far...no signs of cupping or feathering that starts after a thousand miles on the Dunlops. Contact patch feels huge on full lean, the Storm is a great steering tire. Traction is good both dry and wet..(within reason) Its not possible to easily "drift" the bike in a turn like the stock Dunlops with the Avon's..  I guess you COULD drift these tires, but on the street the entrance speeds would be extremely foolish at best.

+1 on the fork brace!

Murph's has a good one... actually any fork brace you add helps her "flick-a-bility" immensely. The rigidity gives you a much better feel...not just setting your lean angle for a corner, but the feedback in the bars once you've reached that angle and counter to hold it there..

Don't forget the "Bafflectomy"... If your Connie is still a "virgin"  check out the COG site for info on how to do it.. for me it helped many things...

reduced back pressure alot... bike coasts much better with less engine braking.
noticeably better mid-range throttle response
better over all acceleration
mpg from an average of 41 to 48 2up
no real increase in noise level just slightly deeper in tone
...and the biggest.. less vibration overall.. I don't know why.. but glad it happened.

Best part? Takes about 5min and its FREE!

Yeah... the old girl still has alot of life in her.. alot of great memories riding these.. It makes you almost feel guilty looking and thinking about the new Concours14. Especially after a completely faithful 20 year relationship. .... sigh.

But then... thats what those plastic little window things are for in your wallet... keep a picture of her there... while you're out honkin' down the road on the new Connie14..

See ya on the road

Jerry
 
 
 

[krumgrinder]

+1 on the Avons! I'm running the Azaro on the rear and the Storm up front...(cause connie has 20yr old rims and you cant get the same size you need in either model.. BUT they work like a matched pair together IMO.  After a good CAREFUL "scuff in" they are tenacious!!! I think the grip and road noise are better than the Metzeler Z2 and Z4 were.. but since they don't make "our" size anymore...  

I'm getting ready for my second set, looks like it'll be the Storm front and Azaro rear; I'm still holding out hope that Avon will come to their senses and do the 16" rear in the Storm too.  Glad to hear the Storm front is an upgrade.  Read a thread recently by a guy who did a 17" rear wheel conversion and loves it, that kinda opens up the rear tire options.
I just ordered a new rear shock- not aftermarket, not OEM, but kind of- it's a new ZZR1200 rear shock.  With a few minor changes it slips right in and brings the rear suspension into the new millennia, supposedly.  We'll see, but the testimonials so far have been stimulating to say the least.  Doing the Sonic 1.1 front springs/15 wt fork oil as well; this should do it on the bouncy parts for a while...

[JamminJere]

I'm getting ready for my second set, looks like it'll be the Storm front and Azaro rear; I'm still holding out hope that Avon will come to their senses and do the 16" rear in the Storm too.  Glad to hear the Storm front is an upgrade.  Read a thread recently by a guy who did a 17" rear wheel conversion and loves it, that kinda opens up the rear tire options.
I just ordered a new rear shock- not aftermarket, not OEM, but kind of- it's a new ZZR1200 rear shock.  With a few minor changes it slips right in and brings the rear suspension into the new millennia, supposedly.  We'll see, but the testimonials so far have been stimulating to say the least.  Doing the Sonic 1.1 front springs/15 wt fork oil as well; this should do it on the bouncy parts for a while...

Interesting, yes  I heard about the rear wheel conversion and thought about that.. Depends on the cost and  how much it changes the handling of the bike, gearing differences, etc.. because it will change.  

The shock change sounds cool... what is "Minor Changes"?  

I've run progressive springs and heavy oil for years.. its a nice front end improvement for stock forks.
Which if you look at the pipes on most street bikes now a days.... Connie is looking a bit spindly-noodley in the front end department.

But hey she's 20.... they've come along way..

30 years ago we used to talk about the bikes of the future.. trying to guess what they would turn out like.. would they still even be on the ground or just flying with anti-gravity and small spoiler wings to blast around the sky...

Well.. we're still on the ground.. still burning gasoline.. but look at the technology, the rigidity of the frames, tremendous dependable power plants, incredible holding power of the tires, massive brakes.  I guess we're just barely on the ground.

We never dreamed the bikes of today would be this good, back in the early 70's.  The early H2's we were weened on, were just the beginning of lessons in extreme acceleration. And that they did well. Turning and stopping and just not vibrating apart was a whole other story.

Jerry

[olderigetfasteriam]

Where/how do I tap in to the electrical supply to add Sirius radio to my 06 Concours? It is for a cigarette lighter type plug in.

Thanks

[con_ndrm]

Where/how do I tap in to the electrical supply to add Sirius radio to my 06 Concours? It is for a cigarette lighter type plug in.

Thanks

Oh boy, you need to get yourself over to the COG site!!  http://www.concours.org
Do some searching over there, then if you don't find it ask your question again.  WAY more info specifically on that bike there than here; heck there's more info on the Concours at Concours.org than there is at Kawasaki!  

The quick answer to your question in my experience is get a fuse block from Murph's http://www.murphskits.com and install it according to the instructions, then run your 12vdc ciggy lighter socket from there and drill the dash to mount it (the 12v socket)...  Or clip the cig lighter plug off the Sirius power cord and wire it in permanently...

[olderigetfasteriam]

Oh boy, you need to get yourself over to the COG site!!  http://www.concours.org
Do some searching over there, then if you don't find it ask your question again.  WAY more info specifically on that bike there than here; heck there's more info on the Concours at Concours.org than there is at Kawasaki!  

The quick answer to your question in my experience is get a fuse block from Murph's http://www.murphskits.com and install it according to the instructions, then run your 12vdc ciggy lighter socket from there and drill the dash to mount it (the 12v socket)...  Or clip the cig lighter plug off the Sirius power cord and wire it in permanently...

Gotcha.

[krumgrinder]

Oh boy, you need to get yourself over to the COG site!!  http://www.concours.org
Do some searching over there, then if you don't find it ask your question again.  WAY more info specifically on that bike there than here; heck there's more info on the Concours at Concours.org than there is at Kawasaki!  

The quick answer to your question in my experience is get a fuse block from Murph's http://www.murphskits.com and install it according to the instructions, then run your 12vdc ciggy lighter socket from there and drill the dash to mount it (the 12v socket)...  Or clip the cig lighter plug off the Sirius power cord and wire it in permanently...

I added a Blue Sea fuse box under the right side cover, then ran wires from it to the lower left side panel on the fairing and cut holes for both a 12v cig and powerlet receptacles.  Both have been very useful.  

[con_ndrm]

I added a Blue Sea fuse box under the right side cover, then ran wires from it to the lower left side panel on the fairing and cut holes for both a 12v cig and powerlet receptacles.  Both have been very useful.  

I suppose I should have mentioned, I have done the same - only with a Murph's fuse box, and only a powerlet receptacle.  I also run my Autocomm and my Gerbing's (heated clothing) controller from there.  Good stuff indeed.  

[Bryan]

Still a fine motorcycle

[olderigetfasteriam]

Still a fine motorcycle

True. This summer I had been riding my Thruxton a lot as I had not had the time to take any longish trips. At the end of June I did about 3600 miles on the Conc and I remembered why I bought it. Pretty fast although not crazy fast, good handling but not great, very comfortable. I had a great time and spent a lot of time thinking "man, what I great deal I got on a very nice motorcycle".