The 997-cc Kawasaki Concours underwent few changes in its 20 years on the market in the United States. Introduced in 1986, the Concours was basically unchanged until 1994, when the Japanese manufacturer updated the instrument panel, front wheel, fork, and front fender. This model of the Concours pretty much stayed the same over the next decade until Kawasaki replaced it with the Concours 1400 in 2007. The first Concours was based on Kawasaki’s Ninja series of motorcycles, only with changes to the carburetor, cams, shaft, fairing, hand luggage, and frame. The Concours was known as the GTR 1000 in Europe; the model ID was ZG1000 in the United States. The European model is not as powerful as the Concours sold in the United States.
Kawasaki says it designed the Concours for ""well-seasoned sport-touring riders."" Translation: This is not a motorcycle for inexperienced riders. This 600-pound bike can reach speeds of up to 120 mph, even with a passenger on board. While it makes a good commuting motorcycle, it is designed for long road trips. The Concours comes standard with two easily detachable lockable vinyl hard side cases. This motorcycle also has under-seat storage, as well as two lockable compartments for storing small items in the fairings. The Concours has a 7.5-gallon gas tank; Kawasaki says the Concours gets excellent gas mileage, but does not provide any official figures to support this claim. Kawasaki says the seat features triple-density foam that is contoured to provide a comfortable ride for rider and passenger. The 2005 model comes in a two-tone color combination of beige and dark bronze.