[gthomas15229]

Has everyone forgotten how great a motorcycle the original Concours is??

 

[ginofultano]

yes. yes we have.

 

[02 Connie]

Has everyone forgotten how great a motorcycle the original Concours is??

Not me, I'm still sporting mine about here and there.
(Silver damn-it!)

 

[lgm118icbm]

I would except mine died on me last week. The radiator sprung a leak

 

[BUCKYJR]

never even heard of it:dunno:

 

[Three Sheets]

never even heard of it:dunno:

:iamwithstupid:

 

[sprale]

I am seriously considering a ZG after I lose the note on my EX250. It is so much more comfortable than the Ninjette, though I would miss 70+ mpg! At only $44 per year for minimal insurance coverage, I would keep it for quick errands and maybe occasional commuting, with a ZG for longer trips with my daughter.

 

[lgm118icbm]

Its a great bike, you will enjoy it. The 250 is fun too, but its a different animal. The 250 is tons of fun more like a bicycle with an engine where as the Concours is a real decent sport tourer.

 

[CHILLY WILLY]

"More like a bike with an engine" Well excuse me, I beg to differ but the 250 R can be a good sport tourer too if you equipped it right and improved your riding position. The MPG is great, fuel autonomy is around 300 miles, sustains legal highway speed easily at 7-8 k rpm, handles better on winding roads than most big heavy tourers, weight/hp ratio is better than most tourers.

 

[03Black636]

According to Google results it breaks down this way:

1998 Kawasaki Concours(stock): 7 lbs/hp --- for every horsepower there are 7 pounds
<about 88 whp and 618 lbs>
2008 Kawasaki 250R (stock): 12 lbs/hp
<about 28whp and 333lbs>
Obviously the power to weight ratio argument is out, especially if you look at the new ZX-14 based bike:

Kawasaki Concours 14 (stock): 4.25 lbs/hp
<about 147 whp and 608lbs>

Now fuel efficiency:

250R: Most seem to average ~55 (as high as mid 60s in some cases)
<forum reports>
98 Concours: About 40 mpg for a 600+ pound bike is amazing
<quick google search>
2008 Concours 14: About mid 30s with varied riding
<quick google search>

Granted the 250R is a great all around entry level bike but the only way I would take a 250 over either of those was to pay me the difference in MSRP! Especially in a touring situation in America. I see you, chilly, are in Costa Rica where a lighter bike is better for the lack of great infrastructure, but in any 1st world country with Interstates and well maintained highways and byways it only makes sense to go the other route.

 

[sprale]

My Ninjette gets at least 70mpg on average, with occasional tanks pushing close to 80. I get around 260-270 miles before I hit the reserve.

 

[lgm118icbm]

"More like a bike with an engine" Well excuse me, I beg to differ but the 250 R can be a good sport tourer too if you equipped it right and improved your riding position. The MPG is great, fuel autonomy is around 300 miles, sustains legal highway speed easily at 7-8 k rpm, handles better on winding roads than most big heavy tourers, weight/hp ratio is better than most tourers.

I didnt mean it in a bad way. I love the little 250. But they are in two different leagues. Maybe its just me that the 250 feels like a bicycle with an engine. Real light, tossable, responsive, forgiving. Whenever I ride a 250 and I sit at a stop light, I just stand there and toss the bike back and fourth between my legs just for the novelty of it being so light. Compared to my usual big bikes it feels like a bicycle in comparison, its a lot of fun!

Whereas the Concours is a big, big girl (feels and handles much bigger than the #'s would suggest), has much more weather protection (which sucks big time in the summer), doesn't handle as well and has crappy stock brakes but does much better especially if your touring is always 2-up like mine is.

If I did more in town riding, I'd have a 250, but most of my touring destinations are a at least 400 miles round trip, 2-up. So for rides like that, I wouldn't trade my Connie for anything.... well maybe a BMW K1200-LT but thats about it...

 

[TLS_Addict]

Just buy my 86 Ninja....lol Same motor as the ZG just with a lot more power.

Those ZG's are cool. Cant tell the differece from 10 feet if its an 01 or and 88.

 

[CHILLY WILLY]

The 250 R Ninja has a better weight/power ratio than most tourers, for example compared to the ultimate tourer, the Harley Davidson FLHT Ultra Glide is one of the most popular tourers out there, just ask anyone doing the historic route 66. Weight=825 pounds, Horsepower 58 hp, so weight/hp ratio is about 14.
Harley Davidson Ultra FLHT Glide 825 pounds, 58 hp ratio 14.
Ninja 250R = 330 pounds, 33 hp. ratio is about 10.
So if a ultra glide is considered a good touring bike in spite of their elevated weight.power ratio, why not the Ninja.

 

[partsguru1963]

In Aug I bought a 1998 Concours with 15,500 miles on it and in like new condition. It now has 17,600 on it and I must say...I love this bike! Its not perfect for everyone, but it works for me very very well. It does what I want to do, which is commute daily, hold enough for a weekend trip or more if I added more soft or hard luggage, and is comfortable enough that I put 950 miles on her in one weekend.

I am in the process of adding a few things to make her even better, such as an Audiovox cruise(CC-100) and other things to make myself seen better by cagers. I bought it with a Corbin set which was way too hard for my "sensitive" butt, so I bought a like new factory seat and find it much more to my liking. A few more tweaks here and there and I will have a bike that I can keep for years to come.

Other "Connie" owners feel free to chime in!

Take care,

Doug Wood
Desoto,IL
AMA#1090587

 

[TX rider]

This thread is 3 years old with no action so I thought I would refresh it with a new to me ZG.

 

[CarlC451]

Best Bike Ever (Sprt Tour)

I also have a '98 ZG1000. 10K in 3 years. Love it - Ride it - It will be replaced with an 04 - 08 (unless I can afford a '10 with ABS)

 

[kz900]

Hey people . I'm not only new to this forum stuff but thinking about getting back into riding after 25 years?
I"m looking at a 2005 zg1000 with 9000 miles. Under the drive shaft and rear hub there is a black, oily, crusty thick film. Is this normal or should I look for a different bike.

 

[mdg]

"More like a bike with an engine" Well excuse me, I beg to differ but the 250 R can be a good sport tourer too if you equipped it right and improved your riding position. The MPG is great, fuel autonomy is around 300 miles, sustains legal highway speed easily at 7-8 k rpm, handles better on winding roads than most big heavy tourers, weight/hp ratio is better than most tourers.

The only dissadvantage of the 250 is that it gets blown around alot.

 

[goingtoscotland]

Hey people . I'm not only new to this forum stuff but thinking about getting back into riding after 25 years?
I"m looking at a 2005 zg1000 with 9000 miles. Under the drive shaft and rear hub there is a black, oily, crusty thick film. Is this normal or should I look for a different bike.

might be gear oil or engine oil. locate the source and you'll know for sure where it's coming from.