You can never have enough of a good thing, and in the case of the Kawasaki Concours 14, that’s exactly what you’re going to get.
Expertly mixing high performance and long-distance functionality, the Concours 14 is the kind of touring bike that inspires riders to pull out their big maps and set out for the open road. It’s no wonder the Concours has been around for this long; it offers plenty of style, power, and functionality.
The Concours 14 comes with several features that enhance comfort, convenience, and safety, solidifying its position atop the sport touring heap. The bike’s dynamic bodywork increases comfort by routing heat away from the rider and passenger while a tall, electrically adjustable windscreen creates a calm cockpit experience with help from ducts above the instrument panel, balancing pressure areas inside and outside the screen. The bike also has handgrip heaters that come as standard, providing comfort even when outside temperatures become unbearable.
Complimenting the dynamic design of the Concours 14 is an engine that packs a wallop. The amazing and thoroughly modern 1,352cc DOHC inline-four engine sourced from the legendary ZX-14 sports bike generates excellent low- and mid-range power, all followed by a top-end rush that would turn most open-class sportbikes green with envy. An advanced fuel injection, ram-air induction, and variable valve timing all add up to an exhilarating ride.
On top of all that, the Concours also comes with technological features that enhance the riding experience. The bike’s K-ACT (Kawasaki Advanced Coactive-braking Technology) braking system offers two modes of linked, anti-lock braking and great overall performance. Likewise, a high-tech traction control system not only reduces wheelspin on slick surfaces, offering riders more confidence-inspiring feedback, but it can be easily switched off at the rider’s discretion.
Overall, the Concours 14 ABS is as action-packed as any touring bike on the market. Just goes to show what 26 years of experience does in honing a perfectly well-tuned machine.
Find out more about the Kawasaki Concours 14 after the jump.
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Anybody that has had the itch to just strap on their helmets and heed the call of the open road, the Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager is the perfect bike to scratch it.
Complete with all the full-dress amenities that have become necessary to keep riders and passengers comfortable on long journeys, the 1700 Voyager blends muscle car-inspired styling with a powerful engine that helps eat up the miles, delivering a memorable experience that riders always crave in an all-powerful touring bike.
As far as it’s design, the 1700 Voyager is the picture of aggressive functionality, featuring a large frame-mounted fairing, beautifully integrated luggage that stows a week’s worth of gear, a comfortable saddle, electronic cruise control, a high-fidelity sound system, and an optional K-ACT anti-lock/integrated braking system, among other things.
Giving the 1700 Voyager the perfect design balance with its up-standard performance characteristics, Kawasaki fitted the touring bike with a smooth and torquey 1,700cc V-twin engine that features liquid cooling, four-valve cylinder heads, and a single overhead cam that’s been setup for big-time mid-range power. The Voyager also has a fuel injection and exhaust systems that have been tuned to deliver peak torque and horsepower at slightly higher rpm than the Classic models, which is optimal for an open-road tourer.
Additional touring functionality for the 1700 Voyager is provided by the Voyager’s beefy but easy-to-squeeze clutch, which features six damping springs and progressive three-stage engagement for easier shifting under hard acceleration.
Technological features are also a big part of the touring bike’s overall package, including a fully electronic throttle valve system, which works in concert with the Voyager’s Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system to enhance engine response without dulling the big Vee’s distinctive throb.
Find out more about the Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager after the jump.
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The Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Nomad is a touring bike that embodies just about everything you’d want in a classic, American cruiser. Especially one that satisfies your cravings and comes with a look and attitude that tells everyone that it’s as happy cruising downtown as it is running out for the long haul.
In terms of its design, the Vulcan 1700 Nomad is packed with plenty of unique features that highlight the bike’s flexibility and versatility. The classic styling of the bike lends itself to its neo-retro look. It has lockable hard saddlebags that set it apart from its Vulcan 1700 brethren and also feature top-opening side cases that are beautifully integrated and offer bountiful storage (10 gallons each (38L)). It also has front and rear guards to help protect the bike’s engine and saddlebags in case of a tip-over. The Vulcan 1700 Nomad sports deluxe seats sculpted to provide additional support for all-day rides, which come with a special backrest with integrated grab bars and floorboards for both the rider and passenger to contribute to the Nomad’s long-distance abilities. Meticulous attention to detail are also hallmarks for the Vulcan 1700 Nomad, with the engine covers, bodywork design, and side cases being built with remarkable precision.
In terms of it performance, the Vulcan 1700 Nomad is powered by a beastly 1,700cc power plant that features liquid cooling, a 52-degree V angle, overhead cams, high compression, a long-stroke design and all the latest technology for prodigious power and torque spread over a shockingly wide rpm range.
Put all of these traits together in one package and you have a bike that has traditional styling, sophisticated technology, and touring refinement.
Find out more about the Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Nomad.
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How do you turn a bike that’s already considered the world’s best touring motorcycle into something even better? You can go to Honda and ask them what they were able to do with the 2012 Gold Wing.
The Japanese motorcycle brand has something special for the 2012 Gold Wing, starting with new bodywork that further complements what is the best engine and chassis package the touring world has in the market today. They were also able to put in a new audio system, an updated navigation system, and all-new functionality. Really, are there even any more questions as to what touring bike can match wits with the Gold Wing?
We hardly think that you can find a touring bike that offers such a comprehensive package, so with the 2012 Gold Wing, there’s really no reason to look for anything more. It has long been acknowledged as the pinnacle of two-up motorcycling, and the 2012 model more than lives up to the high standards of its predecessors.
Find out more about the 2012 Honda Gold Wing after the jump.
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Just like everything else, certain motorcycle models grow up and are bound to be replaced. That’s the case for the Honda ST1100, which ran for almost 12 years before its time clearly has come to pass. In the 12 years it’s been around, the ST1100 has earned a reputation as one of the best touring motorcycles around, but like we said, everything has an expiration date, and the ST1100’s date has already passed.
Now it’s time to give proper introduction to the eventual successor, the ST1300.
Just like every sports-touring bike on the market, the ST1300 plays double duty as a touring and sports bike. The bodywork, which was carefully built behind the science of wind-tunnel testing, sports all the characteristics of a long-distance hauler and a sports racer. The hard saddlebags on the rear, together with the removable saddlebag liner set, a scuff-pad set, and knee-pad set, comprise some of the ST1300’s touring characteristics. It also has a new fairing air-deflector set, a tank pad, and heated grips to round out the car’s exterior set-up.
As far as performance characteristics go, the ST1300 is powered by a 1,261 cc liquid-cooled longitudinally mounted 90° V-4 engine that’s complimented by a race-bred chassis and ABS technology. The new engine set-up produces 20% more power and 10% more torque than the ST1100, enough reason for this sports tourer to be considered a worthy successor.
Like most of Honda’s high-performance motorcycles, the new ST1300 features advanced aluminum composite cylinder sleeves that are not only lighter in weight, but also more resistant to wear and more effective at transferring heat than conventional iron sleeves.
Find out more about the Honda ST1300 after the jump
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