Every great motorcycle manufacturer has a grand tourer in its catalog. Harley-Davidson has the Road Glide; BMW has the K1600GTL; Triumph has the Trophy 1200, and Honda has the class-leading Gold Wing. Kawasaki’s offering for this segment is the Concours 14, which has proved very popular due to its capability to easily clock up long highway miles in great comfort while offering comparatively good value for money.
True to Kawasaki’s form, the Concours 14, also known as the 1400GTR, is much sportier than its aforementioned rivals and is marketed as a sports tourer. If you were to remove the panniers, large windshield, and wide fairings, it has more in common with the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14r (which it is based on), and a glance at its specifications confirms that the Concours 14 is a high-performance machine. Its four-cylinder 1,352-cc engine delivers 155 brake horsepower and enables a top speed of 155 miles per hour. It has a monocoque aluminum frame, inverted front forks, swing arm rear suspension, and a direct (shaft) drive, all features commonly found on sports bikes. Yet it has a more comfortable upright riding position, a wide seat, and high handlebars, and it offers a commanding view of the road ahead, as any touring bike should.
When faced with stiff competition, Kawasaki thinks outside the box, and it has become known for its successful line of sports tourers, including the Versys range of bikes. The Kawasaki Concours 14 is not entirely unique, but it has something else to offer compared to its highway-cruising counterparts; a comfortable, practical tourer that allows you to open up the throttle and leave the competitors for dust.
