New member here from the beautiful Blue Mountains in Australia.
I've taken the plunge and done a great deal on a Black 2011 1400GTR - pick it up in about 10 ( sleepless ) days. Good news is I go on 5 weeks annual leave when I get her so plenty of quality seat time coming up.
Have really enjoyed lurking here for a while as I read post after post and tossed up the pros and cons of the 1400GTR - as I eventually get acquainted with the bike I hope I may be able to make a contribution or two as time goes by.
Regards
Max
G'Day Mate, toss a prawn on the barbie for us Poms will ya!
Congratulations on the GTR - good choice.
Out of interest, what are the main 'pro's and cons' you picked up on, what persuaded you to go GTR and what were your other considerations?
Welcome Max. You have made a great choice of bike, and will get lots of help and advice, if needed on here. Feedback of your thoughts on the bike are eagerly awaited after your 5 week holiday, You lucky sod. Enjoy Best regards Geoff :)
Thanks for the warm welcome :D
Re the pros and cons - in no particular order and not exclusively from this site - cons : engine heat directed to the rider, fixed I think with the fairing redesign ( 2010? ). Some people having problems with vibrations affecting hands, issues with brake shudder and some people not happy with the screen, seat and KIPASS.
Pros : stonking engine, great gearbox and shaft drive, looks, technology ( linked ABS, traction control ), fabulous brakes , great handling from a 300kg bike, comfy ergos and excellent fit / finish and KIPASS.
I'm not saying these are my thoughts on the bike just what I heard from various posters on different forums.
My own personal interpretation is that the vast majority of owners are over the moon with their bikes while a few have unfortunately had issues and are understandably disappointed, but even those people generally still love the bike in spite of whatever their individual issue might be.
Things like screens and seats are very personal, one mans heaven is another mans hell and really with every bike I've owned there have been the odd problem and things I've changed - really all part of the joys of motorcycling.
Anyway I'm chomping at the bit to get mine and start the bonding process and in the meantime prawns for all shall be thrown on the barbie ready to be washed down with the odd cleansing ale.
We might have the edge on the weather in Aus but I'd give anything to be able to spend some time just touring around your place - one day maybe.
Regards
Max
hi max an welcome from a very cold,wet n bloody windy south wales ;);; seen as its christmas an the good will n all tha shit,,,,,,,how about a swap?????, those mountains sounds heaven on earth to me mate,lol- as the wind n rain is bashing against my front window at the moment,mountains,sun,crystal clear skys sounds a bloody long way off at the moment!lol
all jokes aside max, welcome and i know your just gonna love ya bike, hope you have a fab few days on it an let us know how your getting on?- OH,,,,dont forget ya sun screen dude!!!!!!!!
happy new year to you from the "jenros" family :)
Hello Max ...
You have without doubt made the right choice .. a fantastic bike that I am sure you will love to bits... especially as its warming up where you are !
We are in the middle of a wet cold and windy winter up here in the UK so the majority of bikes are in the garage ! Let us know how you get on, with pictures too if you please !
Good luck old fruit.
:) :)
Quote from: Winston Smith on December 29, 2011, 09:12:45 AM
what persuaded you to go GTR and what were your other considerations?
Sorry I forgot your last two questions Winston - went with the GTR because of a couple of reasons - I have a really great family owned dealership to buy from and I value after sales support, previous happy experience with a Kawasaki and apart from those mysterious emotional responses that draw you to a certain bike and not another I really think the GTR was just a better fit for me than the other bikes on my short list. The linked ABS brakes ( unliked by some ) and the traction control really appealed too.
Other considerations were Moto Guzzi Norge, Honda ST1300 and FJR1300. I really, really wanted to love the Guzzi but physically I just don't fit. The Honda and the FJR just didn't get the juices flowing like the GTR.
Your winters really are savage over there - we're lucky here, no reason not to ride all year round in 99% of the country provided you don't mind the summer heat in some parts - fortunately pretty mild where I am.
Just back from a lovely day out in the Yorkshire dales, then up into Cumbria, lunch in Keswick, pulled into Windemere on the way back for an ice cream cornet, Think I'll go back via the Kirkstone pass, and onward, sweeping majestically up past Ullswater, the view is one of the finest on earth bar none.Weather is as pleasant as you like 27 degrees, does life get any better than this?. Oh shall I call at the "bridge" on the way home for a quick brew, of course it would be rude not to. Just to finish a fantastic day I think I will attack the twisties and sample the delights of Ribblehead viaduct, Hawes, Bainbridge, and finally arrive back home in Leyburn. What a day, Perfect just perfect !!!!!!!!!!!!!"Geoff Geoff "uh "what " "come on it's 9 30 what would you like for breakfast"?!!!!!!!!!!"It's freezing outside it looks like it could snow. Have you had a good sleep? " erm oh yes !!!!!!! sleep. :'( :(
You had me going then. I'm thinking eh, it's peeing it down and freezing, what's he on about?
And as for not getting up till 9:30, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, the best part of the day is over by then. ;D
Quote from: Lonewolf on December 29, 2011, 11:35:05 PM
You had me going then. I'm thinking eh, it's peeing it down and freezing, what's he on about?
And as for not getting up till 9:30, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, the best part of the day is over by then. ;D
Oh yes you young uns can survive off nearly no sleep at all, BUT " I'm 63 me ya know". :)
I'm often up at 05:00hrs. The airs fresh, it's nice and peaceful, very little traffic, etc, etc. 8)
Grand time of the day. ;)
God the only time I am up at 0500 is when I am at work ! BUT ... I have been known to get up early ... that sort of time ... if we have a busy day or need to go out and about so the dog walk gets brought forward and of course as Mr Wolf says .. it's so quiet and peaceful, empty beaches no traffic and no one else about ... shame there are no early morning Cafes down on the beach !! :)
I remember some years ago when training for " The London " I was very late back from work .. about 0200 ... and still full of adrenalin and not wanting to miss out on any miles I went for a long run ... down the middle of the road, over here over there .. it was brilliant !! ;D
Well only a few more sleeps until the new steed takes up residence in the garage :)
I *think* I might be obsessing about this a bit - had a dream a couple of nights back that I cut my left foot and went to the hospital. They put me to sleep to fix it and when I woke up the doctor told me that he had amputated the foot to teach me a lesson.
Sure enough I looked down and the legs lopped off at the ankle with the stump wrapped in a bandage. :o Fecking hell how will I get around now - and then it dawned on me - how will I manage the new bike. Maybe I'll get a prosthetic with an upside down U shape to rest on the footpeg but what about gear changes - yeah I'll get one of those electric shift gizmos and flick a switch on the bars.
Still I was worried how was I going to manhandle a 300kg bike with an artificial foot - then the dodgy bladder did me a favour for once and I woke up for a pee and realised it was all a stupid dream - still had a good look at the left foot though, just to be sure. ;D
You seriously need help!! ;D
Well I finally picked up the beast and what a brilliant machine it is. Still getting to know each other but so far all my expectations exceeded.
Sorry about the pic - don't click on it, it's way too big - gotta learn how to post pics properly.
Very nice matey!
I think I've got the photo sizing right now - got out for a few hundred k's this afternoon and really liking the bike. Quite impressed with the suspension on the GTR, I'm finding it very confidence inspiring.
You appear to have a dead sheep on your saddle. Roadkill? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Winston Smith on January 14, 2012, 10:20:29 AM
You appear to have a dead sheep on your saddle. Roadkill? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
That will be on the Barbie as soon as he gets home
That looks good .. better sized pictures ... what on earth have you got strapped to the seat ?? ;D ;D
Well as you can see I stopped by the water for a few prawns to throw on the barbie but no luck today so I had to settle for that little new born lamb crossing the road. Gotta strap the buggers on or they bolt when you stop for petrol. ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Rusty on January 14, 2012, 09:17:30 PM
That looks good .. better sized pictures ... what on earth have you got strapped to the seat ?? ;D ;D
The only thing that really makes a meal after making love ........