questions about gtr1400 from possible new owner

[roadrider]

hi i am considering buying a 2106 or 2017 gtr. i have questions and hope the group might help
how good is Kawasaki warranty ?
how many more years of extended warranty is avilable ?
best place to buy kawasaki extended warranty ?
improvements were made in 2015 are they really significant ?
average tire life/mpg/brakes/air filter/plugs etc ?
how often do the valves really need adjustment and cost ?
how well does the suspension absorb the bumps for driver/passenger ?
how difficult is it for routine maintenance ?
how is the low speed handling ?
any vibration ?
excessive hot in summer ?
what improvements are necessary ?
common problems ?
best dealer to buy from ? honest out the door pricing ?
i will appreciate any response
ride safe greg
[email protected]

[O.C.]

Non of the above questions are relevant if you reside on planet Mars...or planet Zog for that matter     

[nightrider]

Plenty of info on YouTube or back issues of bike mags , or google reviews ,  quick answer it's a great bike bullet proof get one bought ,,

[PRD]

Best bike I have had. Ideal for planet Mars.

[Longtom]

A solid piece of kit, really a kind of rocket propelled sofa, downside-a bit heavy for manoeuvring on foot. Very reliable in my experience and Kawasaki dealers as good as anyone else. Most owners seem to make some alterations to handlebars, seat/ screen to suit personal preference for long hours in the saddle, but you'd probably do that with most bikes, and there will be lots of opinions on those additions on this board. Best bike I have owned in a very long time and I'd say, just go and get one for the best price you can bargain for...

[Biker Bugs]

Roadrider

I'm selling a 65 plate with 4500 miles and a host of extras, if you're interested?


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[Tay]

hi i am considering buying a 2106 or 2017 gtr. i have questions and hope the group might help
how good is Kawasaki warranty ?
how many more years of extended warranty is avilable ?
best place to buy kawasaki extended warranty ?
improvements were made in 2015 are they really significant ?
average tire life/mpg/brakes/air filter/plugs etc ?
how often do the valves really need adjustment and cost ?
how well does the suspension absorb the bumps for driver/passenger ?
how difficult is it for routine maintenance ?
how is the low speed handling ?
any vibration ?
excessive hot in summer ?
what improvements are necessary ?
common problems ?
best dealer to buy from ? honest out the door pricing ?
i will appreciate any response
ride safe greg
***********@aol.com

I still consider myself a GTR newbie but can give you a few responses to those above.

Cant tell you about Kawasaki Warranty, never had need to use it on any of my last 3 Kawasakis.

I think you can go up to 4 years as long as you buy before the factory warranty is up.  Kawasaki is best place as far as I know :) wrap up in the bike purchase to prevent nervous twitches before manually renewing it.

1. Cant comment in the inprovements, I moved over from a ZZR and Versys and bikes are all very different.
2. My rear OEM tyre is starting to square off a little with 4k miles on it. its still very road legal but I feel it dip into corners more than a new one.  3. There are mentions of different brands given much longer life which is not at all a surprise.
4. I'm a big bloke and mostly ride two up with luggage, it handles the load and bumps excellently, you could probably improve by chucking an ohlins on the rear for a few k, but it doesnt need it.
5. Maintenance - thats what garages are for,  I dont bother servicing anymore, so cant really comment, as its a shaft drive there really isnt much to self service.
6. Low speed handling is fine one up or two up
7. yes, internal combustions are a pain for that, but it is minimal, less than my ZZR or Versys :)   
8. No hotter than anything else gets, so bodywork design over the years seems to have helped that out as it may have been an issue on earlier models. Mines a 2016/17 so no issues there.
9. Its the first bike I've ever owned where I've not felt the need/requirement to go out and buy a ton of stuff to improve it.   For me, the battery tender cable, cabling for the satnav and screen are the few things I've felt the need to do. Oh and I upgraded the lights to LED's, but that was cosmetic more than functionality. Oh, and a handlebar cruise control thingy. 
10. Bags of GTR's for sale, dont expect to see any new models, it is likely that with strict emission regulation in EU that the bike will no longer be updated.  Prices, well, depends on what you are trading in, second hands ones with most if not all of the bits I mentioned are often for sale.

Its a big bike (the reason I bought it) but for some its just a bit on the large size and manually manoeuvring may be a struggle. 

Hope that helps 

[pross]

As for the Kawasaki warranty.
Before it ends they ( Kawasaki ) will ask you if you want to extend it.
I did mine last year for £200+ can't remember the exact figure of hand . And I've had a new exhaust due to paint flaking off a win win situation  hope this helps 

I'm 5ft.10 and have 2 inch risers I find it very comfortable and there was enough spare brake hose so nothing else required

[Tay]

4inch risers?   

So you'd turned it into a Harley off Sons of Anarchy then   

I tried the 2inch risers (I might even still have them somewhere) but I found I was fine with out them, 2k in Isle of Man/Wales last year and no issues for me without them.
I do understand the need for them, my ZZR was a nightmare on my wrists without, was kinda bearable with but not perfect.

[pross]

4inch risers?   

So you'd turned it into a Harley off Sons of Anarchy then   

I tried the 2inch risers (I might even still have them somewhere) but I found I was fine with out them, 2k in Isle of Man/Wales last year and no issues for me without them.
I do understand the need for them, my ZZR was a nightmare on my wrists without, was kinda bearable with but not perfect.

Sorry about that it's a typo  ( just changed it ) cheers Tay 

[Lloyd]

Low down torque is poor ,mine does get hot very quickly

[1ka]

I wrote a quick review of the 2015 improvements in this post.

It's worth the upgrade just to get the painted wheels 

[Boomer]

Low down torque is poor ,mine does get hot very quickly

Lloyd, you may have one of the 2 cooling fans not working.

Low rpm torque is limited by the secondary butterflies.
Either removing them of getting a Shoodabeen reflash can fix that.
Also remember this is a 16valve OHC inline 4, not a v-twin, so needs to be revved more.
Just run one gear higher than you think you need.
It won't affect fuel economy and makes her much more responsive.
So many people want to lug the motor and I've never understood why.
She's designed to rev, so rev her!! 

[doebag]

Lloyd, you may have one of the 2 cooling fans not working.

Low rpm torque is limited by the secondary butterflies.
Either removing them of getting a Shoodabeen reflash can fix that.
Also remember this is a 16valve OHC inline 4, not a v-twin, so needs to be revved more.
Just run one gear higher than you think you need.
It won't affect fuel economy and makes her much more responsive.
So many people want to lug the motor and I've never understood why.
She's designed to rev, so rev her!! 

I changed to the GTR from a 1000cc V-twin Vstrom, it took me a while to realise you had to ride them differently.

[Lloyd]

Lloyd, you may have one of the 2 cooling fans not working.

Low rpm torque is limited by the secondary butterflies.
Either removing them of getting a Shoodabeen reflash can fix that.
Also remember this is a 16valve OHC inline 4, not a v-twin, so needs to be revved more.
Just run one gear higher than you think you need.
It won't affect fuel economy and makes her much more responsive.
So many people want to lug the motor and I've never understood why.
She's designed to rev, so rev her!! 

Never rode a v twin been riding a zx12r for 18 years and that has massive low down torque compared to the gtr ,don,t agree you should have to play the gearbox on a bike with 1400cc ,bike is going in for first sevice when i get back from isle. Of man tt then being remapped at hinckly bike shop ,if still not happy with it then will sell it at the end of the year