This Used But Reliable Kawasaki Sport Tourer Saves Big Money Over A New Motorcycle

6 minutes reading

Wednesday, 28 Oct 2026 16:01 0 9 autotech

Buying a used motorcycle is often more economical than buying a new one. Thanks to depreciation, we can get a ten-year-old motorcycle for less than half the price of a brand-new one. From dual-sports and cruisers to naked bikes, sportbikes, and ADVs, a used option for $8,000 will always undercut a new one. There are certainly downsides if we don’t pick a reliable used motorcycle. Sometimes, one would have to spend more than the used price to get it back into running condition.

We Get A Vibrant Lineup Of New Motorcycles For $8,000 Or Under

Rider and passenger sitting on 2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S, side profile static view

Kawasaki

Today, a variety of exciting motorcycles are on sale for around or under $8,000. As motorcyclists embrace small-capacity offerings, we can have fun without compromising comfort, convenience, technology, or reliability. Notable examples include the Kawasaki Vulcan S, the Royal Enfield 650s, the Kawasaki Z500/Ninja 500, the Aprilia RS 457, the CFMoto Ibex 450, the Honda NX500, the Honda Rebel 500, and the Yamaha Bolt R-Spec, among others. From cruiser bikes to sportbikes and ADVs, the list is as inclusive as it gets.

The Kawasaki Concours 14 Is Still The King Of Sport Tourers

Typical Listing Price: $7,185

When we think of Kawasaki, high-revving, boundary-pushing motorcycles like the H2 and the ZX-10R pop right up. However, this Japanese marque also utilizes its aggression in a more practical format with its comfort-oriented touring lineup. Currently, the Ninja 1100SX SE, H2 SX SE, Versys 900 SE LT, and Versys 1100 SE LT balance sportiness with touring comfort. But with luxury tourers, performance takes a back seat, as seen in the Vulcan 1700 Voyager and Vaquero models.

However, the Kawasaki Concours 14 was unique, bringing the best of luxury touring and sporty performance and dynamics into one reliable, practical package. It is so good, even by today’s standards, that the Concours 14 is yet to be dethroned as the king of luxury sport tourers. Furthermore, now that it has been discontinued, depreciation has turned a used Kawasaki Concours 14 into a steal for under $8,000.

Reliability Is Its Stronghold

Over its 14-year production run, the Kawasaki Concours 14 saw several updates that refined the overall package for superior performance and reliability. The standout feature that best showcases its reliability is the mighty four-cylinder engine, shared with the ZX-14, a drag-ready sportbike. This engine has already proven its bulletproof appeal by withstanding repeated high-RPM runs at the drag strip, even with the added punch of nitrous and turbochargers.

Now imagine what this mill can do with an understressed tune. It can log some serious miles. Many Concours 14s have surpassed 200,000 miles without any major trouble. Some even have records of breaching the 300,000-mile mark! Furthermore, the chassis and other underpinning hardware are also designed to rack up serious miles without major issues.

Best Kawasaki Concours 14 Years To Buy

A 2015 Kawasaki Concours riding two-up on a mountain road

Kawasaki addressed early issues, including oil leaks and electrical problems common in the first few years, while keeping core components intact. In 2010, Kawasaki also made major updates to this sport tourer, including reduced seat height, the introduction of traction control and linked brakes, and a taller, electronically adjustable windscreen. With those issues and updates in mind, the best bet is the 2015–2022 Concours 14 models. These relatively new models pack the latest features Kawasaki added to its luxury sport tourer.

A Versatile Engine That Can Cross Borders And Also Dominate The Drag Strip

Static shot of a Concours 14 parked outside with a rider facing it

A legendary inline-four engine powers the Concours 14. The 1,352 cc mill has a 10.7:1 compression ratio and produces 155.4 horsepower and 100.5 pound-feet of torque. It also adds versatility with variable valve timing on the intake valves and an electronic oil pressure system.

These features offer a broader, stronger torque spread across the rev range, further supporting its touring capabilities. Despite its hefty curb weight of 672 pounds, the Concours 14 can accelerate from 0–60 mph in under three seconds and reach over 150 mph. Power goes to the rear wheel through a six-speed manual gearbox and a low-maintenance shaft-drive system.

Underpinnings That Are Advanced Even By Today’s Standards

Kawasaki Concours 14 cornering on a mountain road

It uses a monocoque aluminum chassis similar to the one found on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R. The engine is utilized as a stressed member. The frame sits on 43 mm inverted front forks with adjustable rebound damping and preload. The rear gets a Tetra-lever double-sided swingarm with stepless rebound damping and a remote spring preload adjuster. Braking duties come from twin 310 mm petal discs paired with four-piston radial calipers up front. The rear gets a single 270 mm petal disc paired with a two-piston caliper. Tubeless 120/70 front and 190/50 rear tires on 17-inch alloy wheels handle the grip.

Touring Comfort And Features That Still Impress

This is a huge sport-tourer: 87.8 inches long, 31.1 inches wide, with a 59.8-inch wheelbase. The seat height is fairly accessible at 32.1 inches, and the ground clearance is modest at 4.9 inches. The Concours 14 is long enough to seat two occupants in comfort. It has a sizable 5.8-gallon fuel tank. An adjustable windscreen, relaxed ergonomics, and ample luggage (side cases and top box) strengthen its long-haul capability.

Technology features are commendable for the class and, especially, the used prices. Notable features that still stand out by 2026 standards include traction control, a proximity-activation start system, linked braking, and a tire pressure monitoring system (from the 2010 model year). For the 2015 model year, Kawasaki updated the Concours 14’s ABS to improve effectiveness.