2015 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 ABS
RIDING IMPRESSION
P82
touring and how the new Con-
cours would handle itself.
The new Concours 14 ABS
has all the makings of a fantastic
motorcycle on paper, but would
Kawasaki's latest offering with
its "ultimate back roads super
sport tourer" label be able to
bridge the gap between touring
and sport riding? This is pretty
much why I was chosen to at-
tend Kawasaki's press launch of
the new Concours 14 ABS. I was
eager to find out.
At first glance the new 2015
Concours looks very similar to
the 2014 version, and it is. Kawa-
saki, however, introduced some
key improvements in all sectors
of the 2015 model, revisions
such as stiffer rear suspension,
new lighter steering, a new elec-
tronically controlled windshield
and, new for 2015, Kawasaki's
Advanced Coactive-Braking
Technology (K-ACT), with a new
lighter ABS ECU module, allow-
ing the rider to choose between
two new linked-braking settings.
There's also a newly designed
seat and exhaust heat shield to
enhance rider and passenger
comfort. On the powertrain
front, Kawasaki kept the same
1,352cc four-cylinder Variable
Valve Timing (VVT) motor but
revised its first-gear ratio for bet-
ter launches and maneuvering at
low speeds.
Before we set out, I decided
to takes some extra layers just in
case it got cold up in the moun-
tains, after all, it is the middle of
winter. The new larger capacity
hard saddlebags, (now 35 liters)
The Concours hasn't
changed much since its
last significant overhaul
in 2010, but that's okay.
It's still an impressive
motorcycle in both the
looks and performance
departments.
