2008 Kawasaki Concours 14

I NOTICED THAT THE ORIGINAL LUGGAGE RACK ON MY 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 HAD CRACKED AND THE TOP CASE WHICH ATTACHES TO IT WAS ABOUT TO BREAK LOOSE ON THE FREEWAY. THIS LUGGAGE RACK HAD BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED BY KAWASAKI BEFORE I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE BIKE IN JUNE 2008. HOWEVER, THE NEW DESIGN, WHICH IS PART NUMBER 53029-0076, IS WHAT WAS ON MY BIKE, AND IT FAILED AFTER ONE AND A HALF YEAR OF USE. THE REAR CASE WHICH ATTACHES TO THIS RACK IS THE KAWASAKI OEM EQUIPMENT, AND IT'S LOAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN BETWEEN 5 AND 10 POUNDS, BELOW THE KAWASAKI MAXIMUM RATING OF 15 POUNDS. THE CONSEQUENCES HAD I NOT NOTICED IT WHILE I STOPPED TO GET COFFEE, COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. THE REAR CASE WOULD HAVE BROKE LOOSE WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, POTENTIALLY HITTING ANY VEHICLE BEHIND ME, OR CAUSING SUCH VEHICLE TO CRASH WHILE TRYING TO AVOID IT. THE BROKEN PART IS CURRENTLY AT THE KAWASAKI DEALERSHIP FOR A WARRANTY CLAIM. HOWEVER, A REPLACEMENT IS NOT ENOUGH. THE CURRENT DESIGN IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE, AND A REINFORCED RACK SHOULD BE THE SOLUTION. *TR

FRONT DISC ROTORS WARPED AS A RESULT OF RIDING THROUGH WATER DURING STORM. CARE WAS BEING USED DUE TO CONDITIONS SO SPEED AND BRAKING EFFORT WAS LOW. ROTOR WARPING CAUSED HEAVY PULSING DURING BRAKING REDUCING DIRECTIONAL STABILITY AND INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. ODOMETER ONLY READ 8000 MILES. ROTORS ARE BEING REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY BUT KAWASAKI HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS AN ISSUE. RESEARCH OF WEB FORUMS FOR THIS MOTORCYCLE REVEALED THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 WITH MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF ROTORS BEING REPORTED BY SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS. SUSPECTED CAUSE IS BRAKE ROTOR MATERIAL HAVING INSUFFICIENT HEAT RESISTANCE AND ROTOR SIZE FOR WEIGHT OF BIKE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP DURING APPLICATION, THUS REDUCING BREAKING CAPABILITY. BRAKE FAILURE CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPONENTS WOULD NOT BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AS OF CURRENT DATE THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/25/09 *BF

I HAVE A 2009 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 WITH 3000 MILES ON THE OD. WHILE RIDING AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE STEERING STOPPED AT ABOUT 1/3 THE NORMAL RANGE OF MOTION AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FARTHER. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A CRASH BECAUSE I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT APPROX 20 MPH AND HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO MANEUVER AND REGAIN CONTROL. I PARKED THE BIKE AND INSPECTED THE AREA AROUND THE STEERING STEM. I DISCOVERED THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE COWLING BRACKET (KAW PART # 92153-1877 ) HAD MOVED OUT OF PLACE TO THE LEFT DUE TO THE CAP NUT ( KAW PAR # 92210-0325 ) FALLING OFF. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED OR WHERE THERE WAS NO ROOM TO RECOVER, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14. THE VEHICLE WAS A KYMCO, MODEL NUMBER PEOPLES250. WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE, THE LEFT BRAKE FAILED. THE BRAKE IS CALLED THE FORK, WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO THE HANDLE BAR. THE CONTACT FELL OFF THE VEHICLE AND INJURED HIS ANKLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS MOTORCYCLE. THIS VEHICLE PRODUCES AN UNBEARABLE AMOUNT OF ENGINE HEAT WHICH BY MANUFACTURER DESIGN IN DIRECTED ONTO THE OPERATOR. THIS EXCESSIVE HEAT IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BLISTERS AND BURNS- ESPECIALLY IN THE SHIP AND KNEE AREA OF THE RIGHT LEG. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE HEAT WILL CAUSE THE OPERATOR TO PASS OUT OR BECOME EXTREMELY HEAT FATIGUED DURING HOT WEATHER. *TR

I OWN A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE TWICE REPORTED A MALFUNCTION OF THE FRONT BRAKES TO THE DEALER, AND HAVE CALLED KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP IN IRVINE, CA TO NO AVAIL. I REPORTED AT THE 8 THOUSAND MILE SERVICE THAT WHEN THE FRONT BRAKE IS APPLIED THE MOTORCYCLE VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS. THE DEALER DECLARED THIS "NORMAL" DUE TO THE "RATCHETING" OF THE FLOATING CALIPER/ROTOR ASSEMBLY. I AGAIN REPORTED THE CONDITION AT THE 12 THOUSAND MILE SERVICE, ONLY NOW THE CONDITION HAS WORSENED FROM VIBRATION TO THE FRONT BRAKE "GRABBING" AT ALL SPEEDS AND IF THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED HEAVILY BETWEEN 45 TO 60 MPH THE MOTORCYCLE VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS VERY BADLY. THE FRONT BRAKE GRABS SO BADLY THAT AT SLOW SPEEDS DURING A LIGHT APPLICATION, WHEN THE BRAKE "GRABS", IT ACTUALLY COMPRESSES THE FRONT FORKS, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO "DIP". AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE KAWASAKI DEALER HAS STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL, AND CAN'T CONFIRM OR VALIDATE MY COMPLAINT. WHEN KAWASAKI MOTORS CORPORATION WAS CONTACTED, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED (AFTER I ASKED HIM TO CONTACT THE SERVICING DEALER TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL HELP) "IF I CONTACT THEM IT WILL ONLY MAKE THEM MAD". I THEN ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY TECHNICAL BULLETINS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, AND I DID NOT RECEIVE A REPLY. I HAVE TRIED TO GET KAWASAKI TO HELP ME WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE TO NO AVAIL. WHEN I SEARCHED ON-LINE FOR OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I FOUND THEM. THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE FRONT ROTORS. THEY WARP ON THIS MOTORCYCLE, AS THE ROTORS THAT ARE USED ARE PRODUCED FOR A LIGHTER MOTORCYCLE, NOT A HEAVIER "SPOT-TOURING" MOTORCYCLE MEANT TO BE RIDDEN WITH EXTRA LUGGAGE AND/OR AN EXTRA PASSENGER. THE MOTORCYCLE IS UNSAFE TO RIDE IN THIS CONDITION, AND KAWASAKI NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW ROKETA 250CC SCOOTER IN JULY OF 2008. THERE HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURES ON THIS BIKE. IF NOT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED IN EACH INCIDENT. FIRST INCIDENT INVOLVES THE CYCLE STALLING OUT WHEN GOING PAST 50 MPH. THE BIKE IS ADVERTISED TO GO 70MPH. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 7 TO 10 TIMES. ONCE IT HAPPENED ON A BUSY 2 LANE RD. AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. THE DEALER TRACED THAT PROBLEM TO A VERY CHEAP FUEL PUMP. THAT PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED BY INSTALLING A BETTER GRADE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS A CHINESE BIKE AND HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THAT CHEAP FUEL PUMP ON THEIR SCOOTER. 2ND MAJOR FAILURE WAS THE GASOLINE LINE ACTUALLY COMING OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK! THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON A 2 LANE ST. HWY WHILE A SEMI-TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME. LUCKILY I MANAGED TO GUIDE MY BIKE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING HIT. I LOST TOTAL POWER AND IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE TO HAVE TO PULL OVER THAT FAST AND SEE GAS POURING ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE BIKE AND ONTO THE HOT MUFFLER. I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE AN EXPLOSION, THANK GOD THERE WASN'T. THE RUBBER HOSES ON THIS BIKE ARE PATHETIC. VERY THIN AND POOR QUALITY. THE 3RD MAJOR FAILURE WAS WHEN I WAS COMMUTING HOME FROM WORK. I STOPPED AT A 4-WAY STOP BEHIND A SEMI-TRUCK. AS TRUCKS ACCELERATE SLOWLY, I DECIDED TO PASS ON THE LEFT. AS I DID THIS, THE BIKE WOULD NOT PICK UP IT'S USUAL SPEED AND I WAS BARELY BEING ABLE TO PASS THE SEMI. AN ONCOMING CAR WAS APPROACHING AND I WAS JUST ABLE TO GET AROUND THE SEMI JUST IN TIME. ANOTHER HAIR RAISING EXPERIENCE! I PULLED OVER WHEN I COULD AND NOTICED THAT MY FRONT BRAKE PAD WAS STUCK UP AGAINST THE FRONT ROTOR SLOWING THE BIKE DOWN. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT A RECALL BE INSTITUTED ON THIS BIKE. IT IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *TR