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GG54172

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    3,000+ mile ride report - 2008 Kawasaki Concours

    in Watering Hole

    Posted · Edited by GG54172

    http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/2008%20Concours/DSC04960_zpsdb17266c.jpg

     

    I gotta say, this bike reminds me of the things I loved about the first gen venture.

     

    Gear indicator, clock, detachable luggage, great power

     

    The concours handles very well, making my 18 mile curvy commute almost too easy. Tires were used when I got the bike, and an additional 3,000 miles hasn't seemed to scrub too much more rubber out of the tread. I was replacing the RSV tires at 5-7k miles. I think the sport touring bike is more suited to my riding style.

     

    I have access to a private police course training track, on the back straight I could get 90mph on the RSV, trying everything I could, with the concours, I hit 115 leaving the turn 20mph slow and braking 200ft early. Of course, fuel economy drops into the teens when you ride like that.

     

    Speaking of fuel economy, the bike has an instantaneous and average fuel economy meter (as well as a tire pressure gage...that works!) Right now the average economy number is about 39.4MPG, which isn't a bad as it sounds considering the way I ride (see comments about tire life above). I kept notes and averaged about 35MPG on my 2001 RSV. The concours holds about 4.5 gallons of fuel before the low fuel warning comes on. The bike does require 91 octane. So even though my fuel economy improved, my total fuel spend is about the same.

     

    It seems strange, but I am not as thrilled as I thought I would be about the six speed transmission. If you ride at a legal pace, you stop accelerating by the time you hit 4th gear, but you still have two more to go to hit over drive. If you ride at an illegal pace, you still hit top end of the bike well before shifting out of 4th. Two more gears are much better for fuel economy, as the fuel consumption increases noticeably with increase in engine speed. The transmission on the RSV was very forgiving, you could clutch, reduce throttle, shift, increase throttle, ease out clutch in just about any order and with any level of competence you could accomplish a smooth shift. My concours may need new oil, but it takes effort to shift smooth. Best I can do I have to apply pressure to the shifter before clutching, and I have to reapply throttle before easing out the clutch, I can't complete a clean-smooth shift any other way. 3rd gear is the best passing gear for both bikes, 4th on the concours has plenty, but I like having reserve power when passing.

     

    Luggage space: two stock side backs look, feel, and hold about the same as the first gen venture. However, they are wider as I can fit my 3XL HJC full face in the side bag. My bike does not have a trunk, but I plan to purchase a 30L Givi.

     

    Handling, even on aggressive curves, the bike is flawless compared to the RSV. I have ridden an R1, and the SS liter/600 class bikes are about the only way you can achieve better handling. For halfway sane street riding, the concours in outstanding. I can lean the bike far enough over that I cannot shift up, because my foot doesnt fit between the ground and the shift lever. Brakes are good too, but the rear brake doesn't do a whole lot if you can get maximum stopping force out of the front.

     

    Right now my handlebars are at stock height, I plan to raise them about 1.5". My wrist/back feel fine on 1-1.5 hour rides, but I am laying on the fuel tank at 2.5 hours. The seat is after market, a lowered Sargent gel seat. Very nice, but I want the non-lowered model.

     

    I really like the concours, and with just a couple more farkles it will be a great ride.

    Well, I switched to a different class of bike

    in Watering Hole

    Posted

    U do know the 2nd gen vmax takes hi test and gets about 26mpg avg to a hi of 33mpg actual. hense the many for sale with very low mileage.

     

    Yes, but that's at 200hp. My new connie has a fuel economy display. At 150hp I can get into the low 20's pretty easily.

     

    A venture ridden at 60mph with that motor (properly tuned of course) should do pretty nicely.

    Well, I switched to a different class of bike

    in Watering Hole

    Posted

    With these three Ventures that you have owned and rode (the 84, 86 and 01), I am interested in any comments that you might share regarding comparison's from your perspective. Just wondering. Not trying to start any debates. Hope you also enjoy your new ride!

     

    I think the second gen was best all around. Sufficient power, easy to maintain, looked nice. THe forward controls were very comfortable. I like the handlebar mounted fairing the best.

    My first detractor was the super soft seat (I weigh 350) and I squished it all the way to the seat pan. Second was fuel economy (mostly my fault:whistling:) I think it should be in the 40's, not upper thirties. Other than that, I burned through a lot of tires.

     

    I didn't ride the 86 much, just noticed that while it was similar to the 84 in riding style it did not have the same power.

     

    My concours reminds me a lot of the 84. Footpegs, more standard riding position, gear indicator, clock, etc. 84 was fun, but it was pretty well beat up by the time I got it.

     

    I think the Ventures are great bikes. I will buy a third gen if they get rid of the tape deck and put the fuel injected 1800 motor in there. Give me between 110-140hp too

     

    :fingers-crossed-emo I will be around.

    Well, I switched to a different class of bike

    in Watering Hole

    Posted

    I bought my first Venture, a 1984 1200 from Rhode Island around 2003, picked up a 1986 sometime in 2005. Picked up my green 2001 back in 2009. Well, Last weekend I traded my 2001 Venture for a 2008 Kawasaki Concours. I really liked the venture, I just wanted to ride something different. Extra 70hp doesn't hurt either. I will probably ride the concours for a season or two, and then sell. Maybe Yamaha will have added the 1800Vmax engine and a CD player to the Venture by then. :080402gudl_prv:

     

    At any rate, been a fun ride, just time for something new.

    Oooh boy, I think I am in trouble now (New toy)

    in General Tech Talk

    Posted

    Put it on e bay and use the proceeds to get your bike dyno tuned. Far less aggravation and expense. Just building the rollers and controls will cost you a bundle, but, if you really want to make it work, my neighbor is a dyno engineer and could probably offer technical advice.

     

    Dyno engineer as in builds dynos or dyno enigneer as in test engines on dynos?

     

    I do engine testing on dynos for a large green farm equipment company in IA.

    Oooh boy, I think I am in trouble now (New toy)

    in General Tech Talk

    Posted

    Somebody just gave this to me:

    http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Dynamometer/02.jpg

    http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Dynamometer/04.jpg

     

    It's an eddy current dynamometer, but I am not sure which manufacturer or how much power it can hold. Based upon the size I think it could handle the power of a certain V4 metric cruiser we all may be familiar with. My father in law picked up for me this morning. I need to get it home from Detroit to IA. It will need rebuilt, but the machines are very simple, just heavy. A set of bearings and some copper wire should get it working again.

     

    It will probably take me a while to get it up in running, but I am thinking of setting up a roller and doing some test on Venture mods.:fingers-crossed-emo

    Any old school machinist out there?

    in Watering Hole

    Posted · Edited by GG54172

    you hit the jackpot...By the way, that dividing head will make your drill press or milling machine worth their weight in gold when it comes time to build multi sided parts, bolt hole circles, square or hex to name a few shapes, the possibilities are endless.

     

    I have a rotary table for the mill too. 10" diameter for that type of work. It also came with six different vices, from 2" jaw to 6". I probably have 30 Vee blocks for round stock of varying sizes. Several knee blocks. All the hold downs for fixturing, jack screws. The lathe has a 9" dia swing with dual cross feed and included a three & four jaw chuck, collets from 1/16 to 1" and two surface plates. The band saw is a 18" and has a blade welder, 7 rolls of various size blades, and automatic feed. All the ways are clean and everything is well oiled. A complete turn key shop with a whole set of mill bits, fractional drills, letter drills, and number drills. Extra magnetic switchs for the 3 pahse stuff, extra motor for the lathe, 4 bench grinders and big 3 phase pedestal grinder. just too much stuff to list. I will keep 85% of it for building trinkets for the kids gocart, my motorbikes, and maybe a dune buggy. Who knows?

     

    The big equipment all fit on the 25' trailer with the skid steer I rented. All the small stuff took four return trips in my 1/2 ton truck.

     

    All this for less than I paid for my Venture...

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