KZR's Bikes of the Month for 2024

My road trip bike

  • Kelly E
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  • Never Give Up. Never Surrender
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18 Jul 2023 16:25 - 18 Jul 2023 16:29 #887384 by Kelly E
My road trip bike was created by Kelly E
Tomorrow I'm heading out for my first big ride this season. I didn't get to ride the first 6 day run in June to Missoula Montana because my foot was broken. This ride is 3 days in north central Washington including 2 trips over Hwy 20(The North Cascades Hwy).
My road trip bike is a 94' Kawasaki ZG 1000 C10 Concours. At 700lbs it's a little heavy but the weight disappears as soon as you are rolling. I've done 11 days straight on it and could have kept going it's so comfortable to travel on.
I installed a Clearview windscreen with the Goldwing vent, Progressive fork springs, an excellent fork brace, a 320mm big brake kit, a ZZR 1100 rear shock, a set of torque cams and drilled out the 1" lollipop baffles from the mufflers along with some tuning tweeks.
My longest day so far is 754 miles on day 2 of the 11 day trip. I ride with a couple of FJR's and my little brother on his 2010 Kawasaki C14 Concours. My bike has the best weather protection, long range with the 7.5 gallon tank, plenty of storage, is pretty equal in handling and I can beat all of them to 85mph since I installed the Shouldabeen Eng. torque cams.
If anyone is interested in a long distance bike on a budget a 94' to 05' C10 is the way to go. I paid $1800 for mine with 24k miles on it. I'm still under $4000 into it and it does everything that the newer bikes do without the expense.

The Rust Bros. Garage Collection
1974 Honda CB 550 K0
1975 Honda CB 400F Super Sport
1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD
1980 Suzuki GS 1100E
1982 Honda CB 900F Super Sport
1983 Honda CB 1100F
1984 Honda Sabre 700
1984 Honda Interceptor 1000
1990 Moto Guzzi 1000
1994 Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours

And more
Last edit: 18 Jul 2023 16:29 by Kelly E.

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18 Jul 2023 17:08 #887387 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic My road trip bike
I've been cosidering a ZG 1000 Concours.
Your review makes them look even better.
 

Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project

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18 Jul 2023 19:22 #887396 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic My road trip bike
I put quite a few miles (about 60,000) on a 1992 Concours. Looks like you made some good mods to address the few weak spots. I highly recommend a tension tamer for the starter chain. If you can see some little nicks on the clutch cover when you peek into the oil filler hole, you have a serious problem brewing.

www.kwick.biz/product/tensioner-tamer-al...chain-tensioner-fix/

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24
The following user(s) said Thank You: SWest

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  • Kelly E
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18 Jul 2023 21:32 #887398 by Kelly E
Replied by Kelly E on topic My road trip bike

I put quite a few miles (about 60,000) on a 1992 Concours. Looks like you made some good mods to address the few weak spots. I highly recommend a tension tamer for the starter chain. If you can see some little nicks on the clutch cover when you peek into the oil filler hole, you have a serious problem brewing.

www.kwick.biz/product/tensioner-tamer-al...chain-tensioner-fix/


Thanks, I'll check it out.
 

The Rust Bros. Garage Collection
1974 Honda CB 550 K0
1975 Honda CB 400F Super Sport
1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD
1980 Suzuki GS 1100E
1982 Honda CB 900F Super Sport
1983 Honda CB 1100F
1984 Honda Sabre 700
1984 Honda Interceptor 1000
1990 Moto Guzzi 1000
1994 Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours

And more

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  • hardrockminer
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19 Jul 2023 03:48 #887401 by hardrockminer
Replied by hardrockminer on topic My road trip bike
I see the occasional Concours up for sale locally and the price is usually quite good.  Our dogs are getting older...one of the three passed away several months ago.  They were the reason I bought the Goldwing with a sidecar.  But it's a beast on gas and fatigues my arms on long rides.  I really like the storage space of a touring bike.  

I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.

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19 Jul 2023 11:33 #887414 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic My road trip bike
I really liked having the hard bags. They are a perfect place to put your helmet while you eat or shop. Kawasaki made removable soft liners for them that were super handy when staying overnight. That way I did not have to take the hard bags off and bring them in.

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

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  • Kelly E
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20 Jul 2023 16:07 #887454 by Kelly E
Replied by Kelly E on topic My road trip bike
I use a couple of reusable shopping bags, one in each side.

The Rust Bros. Garage Collection
1974 Honda CB 550 K0
1975 Honda CB 400F Super Sport
1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD
1980 Suzuki GS 1100E
1982 Honda CB 900F Super Sport
1983 Honda CB 1100F
1984 Honda Sabre 700
1984 Honda Interceptor 1000
1990 Moto Guzzi 1000
1994 Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours

And more

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  • hardrockminer
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20 Jul 2023 19:24 #887459 by hardrockminer
Replied by hardrockminer on topic My road trip bike

I use a couple of reusable shopping bags, one in each side.
Plastic or cloth??

I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.

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  • Kelly E
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  • Never Give Up. Never Surrender
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20 Jul 2023 20:24 - 20 Jul 2023 20:26 #887460 by Kelly E
Replied by Kelly E on topic My road trip bike
Cloth bags.

The Rust Bros. Garage Collection
1974 Honda CB 550 K0
1975 Honda CB 400F Super Sport
1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD
1980 Suzuki GS 1100E
1982 Honda CB 900F Super Sport
1983 Honda CB 1100F
1984 Honda Sabre 700
1984 Honda Interceptor 1000
1990 Moto Guzzi 1000
1994 Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours

And more
Last edit: 20 Jul 2023 20:26 by Kelly E.
The following user(s) said Thank You: hardrockminer, 78kawltd

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