So

I'm checkin out the CD that came with my copy of "Proficient
Motorcycling", and it has some ratings from some "older" bikes.

The Concours scored 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

But the other thing I noticed was that the 60-0 stopping distance was
125 feet, about the same as an '01 GL1800. I may have to do something
about this, there is no way a Concours shouldn't be able to stop in less
distance than a big ass Goldwing! WTF!

Of course, doing something about it means I'm gonna have to commit to
keeping this bike for a few more years, and not trading up any time
soon. But in a coupla years there will be more used Concours 14's
available. But then again, maybe I'll wanna go luxury cruiser by then.
Decisions, decisions...


Also, sadly, I didn't see Bjay at the bookstore.
I did see lots of cougars though, so I can understand why he would stay
there to read his books.

 

biffb416 said a lot, but focsed on this paragraph: ''Also, sadly, I
didn't see Bjay at the bookstore. I did see lots of cougars though, so I
can understand why he would stay there to read his books. BiffB)


==was it Books a Million, I dont go there to read, shoot that's way too
many Books, I do my reading at Walmart, while waiting on some moranic
checker. <g> Mr.JayTK)

 

Things you can do with a Connie to improve the stopping.

Join Concours Owners Group! http://www.cog-online.org/ (I learned most
of this from them, so it's a worthy plug)

Front suspension mods. Lots of things have been done. From using 15W
oil, spring upgrades, to a ZRX front end swap.

Brake mods. Same deal. Pad compounds, multipot caliper kits, to the
above mentioned ZRX swap.

There's active lists/forums on Yahoo!, Micapeak, concours.org, and the
club page.

So how much $$ do you have and how fast do you want to stop? Me? I
can get the rear tire light with the OE configuration. No stoppies
tho'. My first upgrade would be the front suspension to reduce the
dive. Should improve the ride too. Just haven't gotten 'round to it
yet. (can't be THAT bad then ey?)

Mark
'01 Concours

 

Indeed, I have the COG site bookmarked, just been too tight to turn
loose the $37 membership fee.

Yes, I do believe my first upgrade will be springs, oil, a fork brace
and maybe a set of braided lines. Dunno if I wanna get into a caliper
swap, as it probably already stops faster than my ability, but the front
brakes do have some minor (until ya gotta stop real fast) issues I'ld
like to address anyway.

Is there a different between concours.org and cog-online.org? Same people?

And no, it's not that bad, just seems like it outta stop faster than a
barge.

 

Look up, look down, look all around.

...louie

 

No problem. All the other stuff is free. Just keep 'em in mind when
you think you've gotten your $$ worth. Probably without COG, much of
the info wouldn't be around?

Folks like different stuff <imagine>, but Sonic makes a good straight
rate spring. Folks that like it claim the air sealed in the fork (even
the ones without air adjustable 'preload') provides enough
'progressive'ness. Others like the Progressive's.

If you're planning on putting in the cartridge emulators (I am), then
they recommend the straight rate springs.

For a vendor, if you haven't heard of Murphs' Kits, if you hang around
Connie owners much you will www.murpskits.com (no typo).

1st Baptists and 2nd Baptists. Long story of politics and some folks
wanting to do 'different better things' and others 'good enough is good
enough'. You'll find many of the same folks in both places.
Concours.org is older and never was official but was the 'defacto' site.
Cog-online.org is the newer official club site. Last I checked
concours.org was much more active, mostly 'cuz everyone's already there.

I ride differently than most folks. I don't lean on the bars when I
brake, so it doesn't dive as badly. Learnt that simple trick on a
700LTD years ago. So while I CAN bottom it braking, doesn't often
happen. My preload definitely isn't set 'according to hoyle'. It's a
little on the high side, so it does top out occasionally. That's why
when I do the fork oil, I'm changing the springs and prolly gonna pop in
the Gold Valves.

BTW, that technique also helps with cupping, hand numbness and the heart
break of wall street bail outs.

OH! TCAT (Texas Curve Assessment Team) tends to have ex & present Conc
owners too. At least last I looked.

Mark in Austin
'01 Concours

 

lotta hate there. i thought old people liked checkers.
and dominoes. not spades though. definitely not spades.

 

Gotta spend my money on something I guess, since I'm not a huge fan of
chrome.

 

Based on my limited and biased opinion, one buys a Concours because it's
a lot of bang for the buck. You could spend a lot more money and end up
with a lot less bike. Also, if you are a cheap bastard, and buying used
like me, you gotta appreciate the parts availability of a 20 year
production run. I don't think it does any one thing great, but it sure
does a lot of things really well. So I dunno, it does all the stuff I
want a bike to do, and doesn't make me really want a different bike, I
just want some different things on this one. Like speakers on the
fairing, and a place to plug in my satellite receiver. And better
lighting for visibility. And a chubby chick to put on the back.

Brooks and Dunn, or Barnes and Noble, or something like that. The one
with the evil Starbucks inside. The cougars were cougary, with their
suburban hotness, and soccer mom tans.

 

Seen it. I even saw where someone had put a GM factory radio, or at
least the control panel, in the left fairing pocket lid. Kinda strange,
but wished I coulda talked with the owner about it.

For lighting, there are a couple vendors that make 'replacement'
headlight harnesses. The OE one is sized so that it's the minimum size
that won't burn up. The after market ones are sized so almost all of
the power gets to the bulb and isn't wasted in the wires. I have done
this, and while it doesn't fix the pattern of the light, it either puts
out lots more or at least whitens it up a bunch. That's with the OE ?
55/60W?, not the 'off-road only' bulbs.

There are auxiliary light kits and projects too. With tip over bars you
have a place to mount some off to the side a bit. I plan to put LEDs
there at some point.

As you say, a 20 year run gives you lots of options

Chubby chicks you have to come up with on your own.

Mark in Austin
'01 Concours

 

Spoken like a man that's never had one in the sack.