ZG 1000 Concours

Does anyone else have a ZG 1000 Concours for long distance riding?
I've had mine since 2017 and love it. I've done a few changes to it to make it better.

When I got it the #4 exhaust lobe was bad and it clacked like crazy. I replaced the exhaust cam with the last Shouldabeen Eng. torque cam and a good used follower. I also added the redrilled intake sprocket. The improvement was great. Now I shift at 8k rpm to stay in the torque band. I distance ride with a pair of FJR's and a C14 Concours. I can beat them all up to 85mph now.

I've also added a set of Progressive fork springs, a fork brace and a 320mm big brake kit. On the rear I installed a ZZR 1200 shock with adjustable preload. I've also drilled out the 1" lollipop baffles from the mufflers, blocked off 1 3/4" of the airbox opening and attached the ignition box ground directly to the negative terminal of the battery.

The bike may weigh 700lbs but now as soon as it's rolling it thinks it's a Ninja. It is a little top heavy when the 7.5 gallon tank is full but that also goes away once moving. With around a 280 mile range I just top off when everyone else is almost out. The bike is plenty comfortable with the stock seat. I've ridden it for 11 days straight going to Sturgis and back.

Kawasaki produced the first generation ZG 1000 Concours from 1986 to 2006. They are a very capable sport touring bike. It will do anything a Goldwing can do but is way more fun. The best thing about them now is they are cheap. I got mine for $1800 with 24k miles and have racked up another 16k miles so far.

No, I don't  have a ZG1000, but I have, over the years, thought about getting one for just those occasions as you are using yours.  

I've also considered a Concours for many years.
Have only heard good things about them.
The weight I did not know about. 

My ZRX is just over 500 lbs.
I used it for a two day 1000 Km ride last Summer:

I have been looking for something lighter with more fairing.
Found a 2005 z750s that might fit the bill:

Don't let the weight scare you, you can't feel it once you are rolling it thinks it's a Ninja and carves corners better than quite a few bikes. I'm 5' 5" 125lbs and can ride it just fine. The weight is very beneficial out on the 2 lane blacktop bucking headwinds and passing semi truck blasts. It punches right through that stuff. I've ridden through a horrible lightning storm with 60mph gusts and torrential downpoursin eastern Montana on the way to Sturgis. It took 90 minutes to get through the storm at 75mph. When it was over I wasn't even wet.
The Concours is every inch a Kawasaki Heavy Industries product. It is built especially for long distance riding. We have a dozen other bikes but if we're going more than an overnight I ride the Concours.

I rode. 1992 ZG for a bunch of years and over 60,000 miles. One more mod you should do is the starter chain tensioner.
www.kwick.biz/product/tensioner-tamer-al...chain-tensioner-fix/

Are you sure about that weight? Sounds higher than I remember.

Also, I now tour on a ZRX1100. I must admit that I miss the shaft drive and hard bags on a long trip.

rstnick wrote:

I have been looking for something lighter with more fairing.
Found a 2005 z750s that might fit the bill:

What do you think of the z750s?  I had the same model in black.  I was a great bike in every way except it had the most uncomfortable seat I've ever encountered.  I sold the bike because of that.

I bought a new one back in about 1990. I hated it and got rid of it before it had 2000 miles on it. I had a string of motorcycles I hated between 1989-91 or so. The Concours was not bad really, but just for some reasons I didn't like it. I also got a new BMW 1000 boxer, and I hated it and got rid of it before 2000 miles as well, then got a Yamaha FJ1200, that one was worst of all, and I got rid of it at 600 miles. Three real winners for me in a row that soured me for many, many years. That FJ1200 still makes me violent and want to get a sledgehammer out every time I think of it.

I've seen a few around my area for sale at low prices.  They seem to be the touring workhorse.  

They are great bikes and very affordable. Don't let Ron's bad attitude bother you, apparently he hates everything.

Kelly E wrote:

They are great bikes and very affordable. Don't let Ron's bad attitude bother you, apparently he hates everything.

 

There is a nice looking one for sale on FB, near me.  Price is $1,900, has been driven 70,000 km.

TexasKZ wrote:

I rode. 1992 ZG for a bunch of years and over 60,000 miles. One more mod you should do is the starter chain tensioner.
www.kwick.biz/product/tensioner-tamer-al...chain-tensioner-fix/

Are you sure about that weight? Sounds higher than I remember.

Also, I now tour on a ZRX1100. I must admit that I miss the shaft drive and hard bags on a long trip.


It weighs around 650lbs but when you pack your stuff on it it's 700lbs. With a couple of minor suspension changes it handles every bit as well as my buddy's FJR. He swears they feel the same. The best part is they cost half as much.