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The original Concours sport tourer, introduced 20 years ago, challenged the then-dominant brand (BMW) by combining ridiculous power, superb handling, an inline four and shaft drive. It acquired a loyal following and charted steady sales, despite being unchanged for decades. When we heard that a new Concours was being built around the same engine that powers the ZX-14 (the fastest production bike of 2006), we considered having our genitals insured. Going up against such sport tourers as the Yamaha FJR, Honda ST 1300 and the BMW K1200 GT (no slouches), the bike promised to set a new standard. Kawasaki reps refer to the bike by its in-house name, "C14," which calls to mind C4 plastic explosive. The comparison isn't far off. Preserving its sport bike roots, the Concours 14 shares the radial mount/wave rotor disc brakes, and inverted forks of the Ninja. To give the comfort associated with Grand Touring, the Concours adds a smooth shaft drive, detachable saddlebags, and an adjustable windscreen. The highly rigid aluminum monocoque frame of the Ninja has been beefed up for touring duty.
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