Good evening all. A newbie to the forum signing up today. Purchased my second GTR from Colchester Kawasaki a few weeks ago. Previous one was magnesium silver but this is the fantastic looking Metallic Racing Green. I put 26,000 miles on the first one in under 2 years so know a few things to watch out for although no major problems. Rear Shock and adjuster replaced under warranty after 9 months. (Told a hugger would have stopped it seizing), start up noise from Cam chain tensioner ?, was never sorted out, just pot worse, Key in headstock was stuck, front discs needed replacing at 26,000, black paint at side of foot rest worn off. Seems a few problems in 2 years but love the bike to bits. Hence number 2. Looking forward to my May trip with friends to Croatia and Bosnia Herzergovinia.
Hi ya Essex boy :185: to the forum I would say the fact you have bought another GTR tells everyone all they need to know about our mutual choice of bike. Enjoy the new one and feel free to visit here as often as you like. You will find lots of help and info, as well as having a laugh. cheers Geoff :smiley:
Thanks for the warm welcome Geoff.
Use the bike for 70 miles of commuting each day into central London. Not the easiest to manouevre between lines of traffic but the 15 mile blast down the A12 in warmth and comfort makes up for taking an extra 5 minutes a day in traffic hold-up.
And the European tours are just sublime....
Hi Essex Boy, welcome, i am on my third GTR, like you i have done high mileage over 50k now on the last two in 3.5 years, i can't ever see me changing from the GTR.
Hi Essex Boy and welcome to the mad house forum.
I've had a few issues with my bike (now hitting 44k) but different ones from yours (other than the discs). Hopefully they will have been resolved on the newer model.
What is your cam chain noise at start up like on a bike with 40,000 plus. Kawasaki just kept telling me the tensioner would pick up the slack and the noise (which lasted about 3 seconds on start up) would go. It never did.
I could never have sold mine when cold to a private buyer. They would simply have walked !
Hi Essex boy and welcome from the Lake District...I reckon that the issues you mentioned about your previous GTR are in many ways fairly common ones...that said they are a fantastic machine.
This forum is exceptional with good company and great advice free of charge, and a bit of piss taking too :mfr_lol:
Geoff (100miles away) and me were only talking today about the kind of commute that you have to deal with...you have my sympathy
I'm on my third GTR having visited the'Dark Side' for a couple of months....I'm back in the land of the living now though, and won't be straying again.... EVER :no: :no: :no: :mfr_lol:
Quote from: olde coney on February 26, 2012, 09:48:31 PM
Hi Essex boy and welcome from the Lake District...I reckon that the issues you mentioned about your previous GTR are in many ways fairly common ones...that said they are a fantastic machine.
This forum is exceptional with good company and great advice free of charge, and a bit of piss taking too :mfr_lol:
Geoff (100miles away) and me were only talking today about the kind of commute that you have to deal with...you have my sympathy
I'm on my third GTR having visited the'Dark Side' for a couple of months....I'm back in the land of the living now though, and won't be straying again.... EVER :no: :no: :no: :mfr_lol:
what was the darkside and what did you not like about it?
The dark side I'm guessing was the BMW :nono:
Anyway, welcome to another new member. Thats always a step in the right direction. :biker3:
The Dark Side was indeed my flirtation with not one but two BMWs....no half measures here , eh
K1300GTEE ...... absolutely great engine...those that haven't tried it ,should do :yes:. I didnt like steering, main stand almost impossible to use, panniers too small, it drank oil, hot start issue, slab sides/effected by windy weather, finally it cut out mid way through right hand manoevre and fell over £800 damage BMW didn't want to know....IT HAD TO GO...SO IT DID ...oh and it was then that I found out that contrary to popular opinion they do not hold their money :hammer:
One bitten twice shy ?...nah not me...I exchanged the GT for a R1200GS, Fkn horrible thing....nuff said :surrender:
Hi Essexboy,
So you live in the middle of Galleywood Common huh? Are you a Womble? :mfr_lol:
Seriously, I have also placed mine *near* where I live, which is in Wickford.
I think I saw you a week last Sunday afternoon.
You turned onto the A130 at Rettendon Turnpike towards Chelmsford.
I was in the car :cry:
Mine is a Black 2008 bought new in Aug 2007.
I've had a clutch friction plate disintegrate but other than that she has been pretty reliable.
Am still on the original discs at 48,500 miles.
Welcome aboard.
Hello EB and :185: .... glad to have another Southerner on the Forum ... your impending trip sounds good !
Coney ... a chap on my team had a K1300 GT, and apart from the "slab" side panels that just ruined the look entirely he said it was a monstrous engine ... loved it to bits but didn't have it long ... SRR took over the garage ! :laugh:
That is what the M in BMW stands for Monstrous.
:biker3: Essex boy, I am in essex too!!! Just thought I would let you know, that my gtr has had 30,000 miles thrown at it, and it hasnt gone wrong, the discs prob on your bike, was it just the bobbins siezed up like mine did? Fixed beside the road when it happened after reading the USA fourm. Apart from the clocks being replaced on it due to a manufacturing falt on the tacho neele (cosmetic). Thats it! Lets get together for a ride!!!
Whats with the sudden influx of Southern softies?
:mfr_lol:
Quote from: Lonewolf on February 28, 2012, 06:47:44 PM
Whats with the sudden influx of Southern softies?
:mfr_lol:
The sun must've come out :wink:
Only just got round to opening up the laptop this evening and seen that my mate Nigel has joined too. 2 Essex boys join, and a dozen Essex jokes to welcome us. No problem with that, keep them coming...after all I did have a black capri once too. 1600 Sport just like the Professionals ....!
Close to Galleywood common Boomer, but actually Great Baddow by the White Horse Pub. It was me that day I expect, just breaking the bike in on it's first run over Southend way.
Cheers to all on here and hopefully catch up for a ride soon.
Essex Boy.
Hi Old Coney, Geoff. To be honest the commute is great. When you are having a sh*t day the thought that you are going to be jumping on your bike at 5.30 helps get you through it. Bus lanes around London are brilliant as well, keeps the tin boxes out of your way.....as long as they don't turn left without looking first. Seen 2 Motorbike T-bones like that. Yuck.
EB.
Quote from: Essex Boy on February 28, 2012, 10:10:52 PM
Close to Galleywood common Boomer, but actually Great Baddow by the White Horse Pub. It was me that day I expect, just breaking the bike in on it's first run over Southend way.
Know it well. Used to drink there before the late 90's refit.
Have been in a few times since but not since the smoking ban.
A good friend lives over Sandon way so if we go to a pub it's normally the Crown.
You did look a little tentative. and the bike looked seriously NEW. :banana:
Me I normally hit 100+ at the bottom of that nice bendy sliproad. :evil: :biker3:
He looks tentative most of the time!!!!!!!!!!!
When Boomer said 100+ he meant 100 km/h + not mph, just in case there are any :police: on here!!
Southern Softies like to come out now the sun is shining .... you are so right !! The numbers are balancing out nicely I think .... you never know we may organise a Southern Meet ....... :innocent:
For all you Northern boys it's been so hot down here today I've been in a T-shirt and jeans all day! 16-17 degrees thank you very much!!
March 1st beginning of summer comes early Darn Sarf!!
Yea .. down in the soufff it's boiling .... and it's not going to rain at the weekend and it won't be windy neither :whistling: ..........
Well ooop north I've been basking in 15 degree sunshine, no wind driving my cabriolet with the top down (was pea soup this morning until 7am when the sun burnt it off in about 20 minutes)
Drove back from gym with top down - gorgeous!
Its been miserable day here today, quite cool and a bit drizzly at one point
A took whippets owt for a run this mornin, it was 5 celcius so i took mi flat cap off dropped mi braces and walked round in mi string vest for rest uh day, can't do that darn sarf ya av t av sheepskin n thermals on.
Now got the new bike up to 300 miles, and all going well except the problem of the petrol tank vacuumimg shut. Could hardly get the bugger open again this morning. had to pull it open with the key jammed sideways.
Still think the metallic green looks gorgeous.
Southern GTR rally sounds good to me. Lets show our Northern friends the delights of places like Basildon, Pitsea and St Mary Cray. Local beauty spots !.
EB
What's the petrol tank issue that you've got?
Essex Boy and Zedmeister, we are so full of culture and sophistication up here in the North that I have decided to share with you a sight you wont often see....
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Fingers/100_0432.jpg)
Where else will you see such an outstanding opportunity to take part in a 'WORLD' class sporting event. Dont lie to me and pretend you have such sporting events down in the smoke...... :mfr_lol:
umm whats a flat gap, is it something to do with missing teeth.....
Quote from: kwarrgtr on March 02, 2012, 12:55:25 PM
umm whats a flat gap, is it something to do with missing teeth.....
Go easy on them. They struggle to speak and write English Ooop Narth.
It's all those Viking genes ya see. :wacko:
As for Nartherners being out in the cold in their string vests,..... where there's no sense, there's no feeling! :mfr_lol:
(that saying was copied from my Dad, who was raised in Greetland,... and me Mam's from Elland)
EssexBoy, if the tank is vacuuming shut then chances are the vent tube is trapped, blocked or kinked.
Either way I'd get to the dealers with it and get it sorted before it buckles the tank.
Pitsea is the only place in the world where I stood in the Market on a busy Weds afternoon for 15 minutes and didn't see a single woman I even vaguely fancied. I can't think of a more appropriately named place. A pit by the sea.
Quote from: Rusty on March 01, 2012, 01:44:57 PM
Southern Softies like to come out now the sun is shining .... you are so right !! The numbers are balancing out nicely I think .... you never know we may organise a Southern Meet ....... :innocent:
Ah yes a few rays of sunshine come bursting through the clouds, and the shandy drinking nancy boys from darn sarf are singing like my local song thrush. Meanwhile up norf where it's dead good an reet proper we make final arrangments for our summer season of inter village fun and games. The 19th Leyburn canal jumping competition is my favorite, closely followed by the ladies flan flinging championships. Kids also get to join in the fun with their own wellie flinging gala day. And finally the highlight of the festival of fun is the Wensydale cheese rolling championships, the idea of this is to roll a massive chunk of cheese down the local hillside hopefully knocking lots of folk over as it goes.(extra points are awarded for bowling over errant southerners, especially if they happen to be knocked into a fresh cowpat).Aye ya can se wot ya wont, but we know ow ta enjoy us sels up ere. :whistling:
Boomer , sorry for the delay in responses, but that thing called 'work' keeps getting the way. Problems with the tank vacuuming shut is probably a venting problem I agree. I'm surprised it isn't making the bike miss a beat or two but she seems fine.
600 mile service will be due next week so I will get Colchester Kawasaki to check it out.
350 miles of London commuting so far and all good otherwise.
EB
Quote from: Boomer on March 02, 2012, 01:37:08 PM
(that saying was copied from my Dad, who was raised in Greetland,... and me Mam's from Elland)
George.....are you being serious....no really are you???????
My family is from Greetland and originally Elland :yes:
eeeeeyyy by ekk, flat cap throwing,who needs frizbies, darn saaf dont they do filo fax tossing.
...only after we had some pleasant canapes and a cheeky glass of Pinot Grigio....don't you know !
eb
Nay lad pint 'o' best n a chunk uh black puddin, puts hairs on thi chest.
( but i do like a glass of pimms )
Quote from: zedmeister on March 04, 2012, 06:47:12 PM
Nay lad pint 'o' best n a chunk uh black puddin, puts hairs on thi chest.
( but i do like a glass of pimms )
Pimms?!!?? - Yer southern softie. Midlander mekin' art thas from oop north. Tha shud be suppin' bitter strained through a Sheffield birds gusset - as a starter!
Quote from: olde coney on March 02, 2012, 09:15:26 PM
George.....are you being serious....no really are you???????
My family is from Greetland and originally Elland :yes:
Yup, Dad was born in Oxford University (Nan was heavily pregnant when they were evacuated from London during the Blitz) and then they moved to Greetland.
Lived in a 2-up, 2-down right by the cricket pitch. One of his fondest memories was watching the river change colour when the mill changed the colours they were dying the fabric with upstream.
Mum was born in Halifax Infirmary, lived in Elland (Whitwell Green Lane) until she married Dad and he carted her off to Germany (he was in the Royal Signals).
My Auntie Jean worked at the Gannex factory for ages and my cousin was in the Elland Boys Brigade and still lives in Halifax.
I spent a fair bit of my Yoof in Elland visiting family.
Used to go fishing in the Calder down by the Gas Works and hike up Ainley Top before they ruined it with the M62.
So I can claim to be half Yorkshire at least.
That said my grandparents were from Elland, Northampton, Perth and Port Talbot so I'm really ½ English, ¼ Scottish, ¼Welsh, which by my reckoning makes me British! :rolleyes:
I was born in a British Military hospital in Germany and have lived almost everywhere.
I'm only in Essex because my Nan was in Chelmsford and I stuck around after she died.
Its a small world mate.
My family used to have a mill (Clay House Mill) in Greetland on the right just around the corner from Andy Thorntons Architectural Antiques building, which I think was originally Garnetts. My family name is Hamer.
My dear old uncle died about a year ago up until which time he lived in the 'family home' in Greetland, which is called The Hollies, and is on Clay House Lane, where their used to be a butchers, on the corner, I think he was called Geoff Morton.
I was born in Huddersfield and lived at Bradley Bar and I too used to love cycling up the hill to Ainley Top and then free wheeling down towards Rastrick, alas all that changed when, as you say, they built the M62.....which reminds me do you recall Marsdens Farm half way upthat long hill ?
Quote from: Essex Boy on March 02, 2012, 08:52:32 PM
Problems with the tank vacuuming shut is probably a venting problem I agree. I'm surprised it isn't making the bike miss a beat or two but she seems fine.
.
EB
Both I and a mate had this problems on or Sprint ST form new within 6 months, the tank collapsed on the right hand side and neither of us noticed it as we hopped onto the biles form the left, another mate spotted it and it was weird when both of us went back to the dealer, same bikes, same village and same problem. All sorted with new tanks and the breathers put on the right way round underneath.
Alan
Quote from: olde coney on March 06, 2012, 08:09:58 AM
....which reminds me do you recall Marsdens Farm half way upthat long hill ?
Sorry, I don't. There used to be a farm on the shelf just before the last rise to the top, but I have no idea what it was called.
I never got to ride my bicycle up there as we were always visiting or en route from one house to another.
All my "adventure" bicycle riding happened on the Quantocks in Somerset and the backwoods inland of Frillesås, Sweden.
Quote from: zedmeister on February 27, 2012, 08:22:26 PM
That is what the M in BMW stands for Monstrous.
That's why I have have kept my K1200RS since 1999 although I tested each replacement including the 1300GT. None were as comfortable or good looking. However, transmission problems dogged me for 13 years and now I am renting a 1400GTR for a day next week.
I hope I love it if only because of this forum; great bunch and I love Geoff's avatar....or is it Geoff?
its George....good innit :agree:
Na, my missus looked that good 45 years ago, which was bad news really because she ran off with one of our neighbours. :2guns: But on reflection she did me a favour because my present "Bird" is twice the woman she was. God moves in mysterious ways eh. :yes:
D'ya know what Geoff I couldn't agree more, my Gillian is a bloody star....
I'm one of those types who is pragmatic about life in general.... in that I reckon we are where we are, because of what happens to us along the way .....Bloody hell did I just say all that :innocent:
Hi George, I mean this one :
oh that is Geoff :yes:
well not the picture you understand...I don't know her name
Eva Habermann
It took me a while to get used to "her". As I read George's posts, I imagined that they were written by Eva!! So sexy; a woman like her with oodles of bike knowledge :rolleyes:
:oops: I mean Geoff's posts! God I am getting into trouble tonight' Roger just pointed out that he is not George!
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! too long out of the saddle; four weeks! Keep dreaming of the Corsican twisties. Will it be on a 14 next time!?!
Early night required. Now, what's my name :huh:
Bit late responding to this one.....
I've just been sent back to the smoke.... And will be coming in on the M11, A406 and A13 into tower bridge.... At about 7:30 ish on. Magnesium 10 plate.
Don't forget to wave as you go past, I'd forgot how un-fiendly those Southern London Poofs are......
That's coming from a Real Southerner - originally from Portsmouth.
Neil
sIR2U ....I will keep a lookout for you. A12 down to the A406 but straightover sticking to the 'new' a12 under Wanstead etc and then into the city after turning right at Stratford. Parking near Tower Bridge now.
I'm on my Green GTR.
My old Magnesium one is up for sale at Colchester Kawasaki now. £8,600 I believe.
Hello Essex Boy,
Yet another local oe to you here, I'm in Sunny Ipswich just got mine 3 weeks ago looking forward to the warmer weather.
Any time you fancy half a shandy some where one evening just give me a holla :clap:
SNOB
Don't save it for the warmer weather s555nob, get out there and enjoy it now. Up to Snetterton on Saturday to watch the racing. Probably take the GTR.
Thanks for the beer invite. Cheers,
That's my second too. neutron grey 2008 and now the Black 2012. They wear the Concours 14 out here in Canada. Where it's normally really cold in winter. These days, the normal high should be around 4C. We've had very unseasonably warm 26 last sunday and had the opportunity for a nice 250 miles ride.
Had the opportunity to use the new ECO mode. I'm impressed. Improved 14% over best previous average and the bike is not broken in yet.
:grin:
Hoping my new GTR will start doing the MPG the old one was giving. Perhaps as she wears in.
But old girl gave me 52mpg as an average on my commute to London, new one only 44. ?
EB
Are you sure you have it set on UK gallons and not US gallons?
Hi
I am also new here.
Quote from: belwetrudalf on March 29, 2012, 09:20:01 AM
Hi
I am also new here.
*sigh*
Don't you just love spammers.
Bye bye belwetrudalf (who joined from India but is busy promoting businesses in Florida)
Quote from: Lonewolf on March 28, 2012, 10:29:12 PM
Are you sure you have it set on UK gallons and not US gallons?
Good point Mr Wolf mine was set to US gallons from new, check it out Eb, 2 minute job to change to English if needed. :smiley:
Quote from: 100milesaway on March 29, 2012, 05:19:45 PM
Good point Mr Wolf mine was set to US gallons from new, check it out Eb, 2 minute job to change to English if needed. :smiley:
how? :ohplease:
Press and hold both buttons on the dashboard until the display shows language, select the correct language, then the screen progesses to a further screen showing five different menu functions one of which is mileage, press the upper button for two seconds until mileage starts to flash, use the lower button to toggle through the choices until MPG UK shows, push the upper button once more to store this choice.
Page 52 of your owners manual.
thxs LW was trying the other day to change the clock but couldn't get into it will have another go tomoz :smiley:
Thanks Lonewolf for the tip re US Gallons. Will have handbook in one hand and fiddle with my knobs with the other. Should be a good Saturday morning. Bike up to 1,750 miles and cannot get mpg past 45 so that does suggest a smaller US Gallon.
Lets see.
EB
One other question I can't get an emoticans above to stick in my blogs ?.
Quote from: Essex Boy on March 30, 2012, 10:05:37 PM
One other question I can't get an emoticans above to stick in my blogs ?.
What's the problem?
when I click an emotican and click it into place it just comes up with word...like Tank or asshole or LOL but I can't get the little picture.
Quote from: Essex Boy on March 31, 2012, 09:09:11 PM
when I click an emotican and click it into place it just comes up with word...like Tank or asshole or LOL but I can't get the little picture.
You need to modify your profile.
1. Click http://www.gtr1400.co.uk/forums/index.php?action=profile;area=theme;u=1
2. Select: "Show WYSIWYG editor on post page by default"
3. Select "Change profile"
sometimes leaving a space after the last word in your posting and clicking your chosen emoticon can help :smiley:
Quote from: Essex Boy on March 31, 2012, 09:09:11 PM
when I click an emotican and click it into place it just comes up with word...like Tank or asshole or LOL but I can't get the little picture.
The problem is explained in your post. Try this: place the cursor in the text where you want the emoti then simply click on the emoti.
Don't expect to see the emotie in the preview; only their description text.
If that does not work, the problem is more :wacko: so keep :cool: and :rolleyes:but don't :gun_bandana: the PC.
Maybe call :help: in a system :ninja: who will give it a good :hammer:. I could go on but can imagine a :surrender: by now so I will :lipsrsealed:
let's see if it works :yes:
it does, it works :punk:
Hoooorah :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: