Minor farkling, 1st time passenger on gtr and cracking weekend

[kwarrgtr]

lottsa topics - sorry!! So after picking up Cartmans screen (cheers mate) fitted Fri eve in 5 mins I then added "Grip Puppies". I have suffered on and of over the yrs with tennis elbow, but not from kitchen fitting or biking, which is very common, I suffer from playing tennis!! Anyway, just felt a few niggles recently so added the GP's, much more comfy.
The Calsci screen is MUCH better at speed,  but I am not sure when poodling, i either get no breeze or severe noise / buffetting. Jury's still out...

On Sat took the bike and the Mrs out to west wycome for my latest groupon purchase, it was a scorching day. 1st time the better half been on the gtr, she didn't even mention ." where's the bm"? Anyway it was so hot had to take shorts and trainers to change into. Lots of faffing, locking things away and padlocking heavy biking gear to bike - so we could get comfortable. It was during this that it began to dawn on me that Brenda wasn't really enjoying this....

It was also the 1st time I'd tried the b/tooth helmet to helmet, worked a treat at low speeds, not so good once we got going - but maybe thats a good thing. But on the way home she complained of a headache, so I removed her Scala speakers, shame- but she said that helped, I'll have to try moving the speakers in her lid, but..... I fear this may have been maiden and only voyage on the gtr for her!!! :-(

So, Cotwolds, The North and France may well be on me own....

So, onto Sunday, 1st group ride out this year, only 8 of us!!! Was weather too nice?? It was actually a nice group, no tear arses and as this was my 1st potential 'progressive' group ride on the gtr I didn't want to make a tit out of myself!!

Had a couple of little wobbles in the bends - lots of places with (still) gravel on the lanes and loads of poor surfaces.
I have made the mistake of reading all the tyre treads recently and now (stupidly...or not...?) feel unsure in some of the bends. (Still on F fitted BT023... are they really that bad???
Counter argument... when we finished the ride a mate on his FJR swore by 023's said he wouln't ever put anything other than those on his bikes!!

[O.C.]

Interesting post Kwarr , and in my opinion not too many topics at all 

I have no experience of the GPs so cany comment.

The Calsci screen is something else that I have no experience of but I'm sure that there are a number of members on here who do, and will ber able to help or offer advice based on their own experiences. I did, however, fit a Visor to a previous GTR and TBH I don't think it made much difference, if any at all  

I was intrigued about your mention of the Bluetooth Scala headset. I/we had this system and TBH we didn't like it, the Vox mic system can give sound at all times, especially at higher speeds, which in itself can lead to a headache, alternatively it could just be that the speakers are pressing on you good ladies ears which would be uncomfortable. Accurate placement of tghe speakers is a must.. No doubt you will be re-positioning them to see if that improves things. We now have Starcom Digital comms and its fantastic, yes, despite the cable connections, which you soon get used to. 

I too don't think that the OEM Bridgstones are all that bad, I mean Mr Kawasaki wouldnt risk bad tyres on such a great bike now would he.......its just that some other tyre variations are better suited to the GTR, but may not be within Kawasaki manufacturing budgets.

[Cartman]

Glad you like the screen, definitely better at speed, positioning at lower speeds is such a personal thing, as are screens in general as we discussed

Your Mrs will come round I'm sure, even mine did and that's no mean feat we tried different helmet set ups, and used to use a Midland BT2 with a headphone adaptor to negate the need for speakers in the helmet. Until I bought my Shoei XR1100, with speaker holes pre made, I couldn't get on with any helmet speakers at all, ears too big, helmet too small We now use a Senna BT unit, which I love, really clear sound, good volume and easy to use. Know plenty of people that are very happy with Scala, but as with all of these things positioning the speakers is key.

023's aren't terrible, I thrashed around France for 2000 miles on mine from new, but PR3s are better most noticably on the front IMO. I killed my 023s in 3500 miles (hooligan) and the PR3s barely look worn after 3500, so like most things you pays your money.....

BUT most importantly you're enjoying the bike

[Lonewolf]

I can only comment on the Grip Puppies which I have only fitted yesterday, they do make a big difference.

[shaggs147]

Can the grip puppies fit over factory fitted heated grips then and can you still feel the heat through them?

[kwarrgtr]

shaggs - yes and yes

[Boomer]

I too don't think that the OEM Bridgstones are all that bad, I mean Mr Kawasaki wouldnt risk bad tyres on such a great bike now would he.......its just that some other tyre variations are better suited to the GTR, but may not be within Kawasaki manufacturing budgets.[/b]

The original BT021 fitted to the 2007/8/9 GTRs were shite.
They wore strangely and after just a couple of thousand miles were nearly unrideable.
If they are now fitting the BT023 then I couldn't comment.

The biggest problem is that Bridgestone and Kawasaki are both in Kobe.
That is why every Kawasaki comes with Bridgestone OEM tyres.

A friend has a Trophy 1200 and he swears by the BT020 he has always run on.
I had a front on the GTR1000 and tit was very poor IMHO.
I went back to the Metzeler MEz6 front/Avon Azaro rear combination as soon as I could

On the 1400 I have only tried the PR2 and PR3 apart from the BT021.
Unless the press announce that Bridgestone have produced a "miracle" tyre I will not be buying anything they make again.
Most of the Michelins, Metzelers, Pirellis, Avons, and Dunlops I have ridden on over the years have at least delivered what I would expect from a tyre.

The only Bridgestone I ever liked was the Exedras I had fitted to my Z1300.
They were shite in the twisties but they lasted over 5000 miles per rear tyre which no other tyre could match back then.
Since I spent 99% of my time at 130Mph+ on the Autobahn, longevity was important.

[Nok12rs]

So glad that you have achieved personal longevity Mr Boomer.

[ChrisB]

I think the Bridgestones are shite as well. The GTR is the only bike I have felt a rear slide on (unintentional I add) a local roundabout. They were great on my 1200 Bandit but made me begin to lose confidence on the GTR until I changed to Michelin PRs.

[shaggs147]

Cheers kwarrgtr