Evenin' all......
The names Pig - I know, it's a beautiful name eh?!
Purchased a Vstrom v twin 1000cc in April this year and just returned from 11 days touring in the Pyrenees, Andoora, Spain and France. The Suzuki was faultless and a good bike to tour - too agricultural and slow though...... My bikes owned in the last 5 years were a 2011 Hayabusa, a 2010 BMW S1000RR, a 2011 Suzuki GSX1250FA and a 2009 blade.
Decided to give up on the sports bikes (did 10 years racing at national level as well) and did my ROSPA advanced last year and got a Gold pass - so I'm 40 yrs young now and like touring!
Have had a good look around this excellent site - I'm picking the beast up tomorrow from Bradford area - I'm 200 miles away down in Iver, Bucks, so it'll be a good test ride home. I'm part exxing the Vstrom - no more chain lube....... :banana:
Will let you know my thoughts shortly. Wanted a much faster touring bike and it was a toss up between a pan1300, a FJR1300 or the kwacker. Found a 2008 model for sale with 15,000 miles - paid £6500.
Fingers crossed!!
Cheers,
Pig.
Hello Piggy and welcome to the madhouse .... as you have already found out it's a good place to be .... you will love the Gtr .. especially with your racing pedigree ... and you will get on well with Moggs .. a friend at work had the BM .. lovely but just too much of everything and a very hard ride !
Look forward to your thoughts and posts .... photos of new bikes are always good ! :laugh: :laugh:
Cheers Rusty,
Bloody busy tomorrow now, so collecting on Friday. 400 mile round trip.....!
Will fit my Zumo 660 on sat. Just looked through the forums and if I remove the the top left panel fairing, it appears there's a neg and pos wire available to solder and shrink wrap the wiring in - lovely! Sod using the bullet connectors - they're fine, but I like a permanent hassle free job. I don't have a mount for the GTR but will fabricate an alloy one and put it above the clocks (better than on the yolks etc).
Pics to follow of sat nav install and the bike itself...... :punk:
welcome to the forum dood.... you'll find the GTR to be a usefull hooning tool should the mood take you.... :gunsmilie:
cheers mogster - hooning days well and truly over! But........ the Vstrom was very slow and unstable at a ton - if I am in Germany or feel a bit spirited, it'd be nice to have a bit of power on tap......
Those chavs in Vauxhall corsas need slaughtering - the Vstrom struggled!! :2guns: :death:
Hi and welcome to the forum.
I used to have the wee strom and loved it. The instability at high speed was overcome with a fork brace and tyres. On my Varadero I had a bracket that fitted between the clock and screen, but I'm not sure that would work on the GTR due to the screen being electronically adjustable. I'd be interested to see how you get on as that would be a good position for a Sat Nav.
Hi Kwickasfuki (good name by the way!!)
I love to tinker with gadgets - I'll put some thought into the sat nav positioning and post pics of the install - I'd like to have it on top of the clocks, but won't know how feasible this is until I take delivery on Friday. It will be done by Saturday though!! If it's possible, I'll fabricate a bracket and it'll be a decent neat job. If it looks good and everyone likes it, I'll run a few brackets up and you guys can have some (I have a luuuurverley workshop!!).
Ram mount eat ya heart out!! :mfr_lol:
Thanks for the welcome lads :punk:
p.s - the wee strom NEVER gets to high speed!! my old DL1000 that im part exing struggled!! A 650? did you have to push it?!!!
Ey up, Piginawig. Congratulations on the new bike and welcome to the forum. Whereabouts in Bradford you going? Thats my neck of the woods.
On the sat nav connection issue, I've only ever used bullet connectors and they have never come loose.
Im picking it up from BD6 3EW. Viva moto (an old mate owns it) the bike is still on their website. Regards the bullet connectors, I'll see when I start the install - at least it's reversible, where soldering ain't!!
Fancy meeting me at the shop or locally on Friday - bout midday matey.
I'd love to meet up on Friday but unfortunately I'll be at work.
No worries dude - I'll be sure to come on a tour before too long :scooter:
I'll be interested to see how you get on with the mount.
This is the one I had on the Vardero (http://www.buybits.com/Product/5980/Genuine-Migsel-Honda-Varadero-Model-2000-And-Later-Gps-Satnav-Mounting-Option-Gps-r-varadero-sku-5980.aspx). Click on the thumbnails for more detailed pics.
I also purchased my GTR from Viva Moto. Was working from home and saw it advertised. As I'm the biggest procrastinator in the world I thought I'd pop down on the weekend to see it. Rang them to book a test ride and the response was they couldn't guarantee it would still be there on the weekend as they'd had a few calls. So I thought sod it, drove over, quick spin in the car park, and put a deposit down. Best decision ever.
As for my wee strom, it quite happily sat at 100mph (and 80ish in high wind).
welcome piginawig, its allus good to have new members on board
there's loadsa info and help available on here so dont be frightened to ask
Amongst a lot of other bikes I had a KLV (Kawasaki badged V-strom) and your right they aren't up to much especially when compared to the GTR
hi mate and welcome :banana:,im sure you will be smitten within 5mls!!!!!! :yes: :yes:
Hi all,
Well, left home at 6am this morning and rode the 200 miles to Bradford.....it was absolutely chucking it down with rain. By 7 am, I was soaked through and the M1 was getting busy with traffic and loads of spray..... deep joy.
Got to the shop at at 8.50am and checked the GTR over - all well and good. Had a few coffees and rode home - the wind was unreal! Still lashing down, I couldn't wait to get the Kwacker home and have a hot bath.
So - hot bath had and another 10 or so coffees....... Out to the garage to play with the big ole girl.....
After reading on here about the two bullet connectors under the left top panel, I de - screened her and popped the cover off - all simple.
Found the wires and soldered 2 x bullet connectors to the Garmin Zumo 660. I have put a ball ram mount on the left handlebar, but wanted the sat nav more central and further away. There's a hole on the middle of the yolk (hexagon shaped) and I had a ramount with ball that hammered in snugly - result!! So, the garmin is fitted nicely and looks neat and is very easy to see on the bike, and you can see all the clocks and remove the main key if needed.
The old owner had put running lights on the underside front fairing - with f'kin mastic!! So they've been removed as it looked shit. I've added a high level slim extra led rear brake light as well - looks good and a piece of piss to install - I'll post pics of it another day.
Anyway - first impressions are good - very stable and planted and cruises effortlessly - have not revved her over 6k yet, so I'm sure there's loads of power on tap - the weather was really bad, so don't know how it handles - will save that for a sunny day.......
Ah - the screen needs to be taller by a few inches - very annoying! I'm only 6 foot, so must be real bad for you tall guys? I understand the later models have a higher screen? Off to Ebay......!
Couple of pics for you all...... (you can just see the rear led extra brake light!)
Cheers, Pig.
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab110/christian1971_bucket/photo13.jpg)
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab110/christian1971_bucket/photo12.jpg)
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab110/christian1971_bucket/photo15.jpg)
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab110/christian1971_bucket/photo17.jpg)
You already have the tall screen on it. They became standard on the 2010 but most folk installed them on earlier models. That one is the tall screen on the pics
Thanks for that - the bike is a 2008 model - abs, tyre sensors etc.... all standard I reckon? Managed 200 miles on a full tank and the range is saying 40 left - happy with that, although the going was slow on the motorway and I went steady on the revs!
The previous owner must have changed the screen?
Cheers lads.
Pig.
I always found the best position for the screen was about an inch and a half up.
Good run fuel wise - it will quickly be down in the 160 - 180's when you start to really ride it :punk:
Much has been said about the screen height on the GTR and as Winnie says adjusting the screen to somewhere less than fully extended can provide comfortable protection :agree:
I have to say that I like some wind noise, its part of riding a bike....my car provides soundless, soulless transportation :mfr_lol:
:stupid:
That's why I got a cabriolet too!
Had a rethink on the satnav - have just ordered the genuine kwacker mount - £41.00 from Daytona in Ruislip. Collect next Tuesday - just in case the one I hammered in the top yolk works loose...... :mfr_lol:
It's a good position for the nav - but the devil in me wants to mount in on top of the clocks, at the base of the screen..... :huh:
Only way of doing it would be to remove all the clocks housing and bolt one to it - but..... the clocks are not mounted solid - designed for a bit of movement, so not really an option. I'll admit defeat....... :censored:
If I did remove the clocks, there's definitely some solid metalwork behind them to mount from - too much hassle and I'm happy with the top yolk mount.
Ho hum...... took it for a blast today in the dry - very nice etc and plenty of power for me, but..... appears the discs have a minor warp! They look in good order and stop the bike well, but summink ain't right.....
I'll take to Daytonas in Ruislip and see what they think...... bugger!!
i found the kawa satnav mount a bit low down for me, so ive now gone to a yolk mount with a 2 inch long arm which positions the satnav right under the clocks when looking at it, much easier to just glance dowm at it now
Quote from: PIGINAWIG on June 09, 2012, 05:25:16 PM
Had a rethink on the satnav - have just ordered the genuine kwacker mount - £41.00 from Daytona in Ruislip. Collect next Tuesday - just in case the one I hammered in the top yolk works loose...... :mfr_lol:
It's a good position for the nav - but the devil in me wants to mount in on top of the clocks, at the base of the screen..... :huh:
Only way of doing it would be to remove all the clocks housing and bolt one to it - but..... the clocks are not mounted solid - designed for a bit of movement, so not really an option. I'll admit defeat....... :censored:
If I did remove the clocks, there's definitely some solid metalwork behind them to mount from - too much hassle and I'm happy with the top yolk mount.
Ho hum...... took it for a blast today in the dry - very nice etc and plenty of power for me, but..... appears the discs have a minor warp! They look in good order and stop the bike well, but summink ain't right.....
I'll take to Daytonas in Ruislip and see what they think...... bugger!!
the Kawasaki version is very good as it fits and is stable, a yolk mount, which I haven't tried, will no doubt raise the device somewhat
I had high level Touratech mount on a GT 1300 BMW and frankly it was next to useless as it vibrated so badly that it was impossible to see any instruction on the Device screen :huh:
This is how the Kawasaki mount looks when fitted...sorry its a pic from a previous GTR not my current bike, but it should give you some idea :smiley:
(http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n326/oldeconey/PICTURESIMPORTED5795.jpg)
Thanks for the pic - I have a couple of differing ram mount balls mounts, so I'll easily be able to make the kwacker mount flexible for height etc. Ordered a few more bits for yesterday - Cee Bailey (spelling?!) ultra touring screen - massive!! grip puppy handlebar grips, a cruise control module, a decent 90 litre waterproof bag - saves buying a top box and has masses of room. Was gonna get a decent race can, but she's a tourer, so will keep the standard can.
Bit concerned about the discs at the front - will drop it in for a full service as I would like the shaft drive all checked over etc... I did a engine oil change/filter this morning - nice and easy as well. Pics to follow of the screen when it arrives and the cruise control module.
Cheers,
Pig
The Grip Puppies are brilliant.
Quote from: Lonewolf on June 11, 2012, 11:27:07 AM
The Grip Puppies are brilliant.
Good to know - cheers!
Piggy ... if you have ANY money left then the way to stop those wet cold rain sodden days is to invest in some Rukka kit ( I can hear everyone moaning now !! :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol: ) I commute a lot and it is worth EVERY penny believe me :laugh: :laugh:
Welcome aboard PigInAWig.
Screenwise most of us lankys have fitted aftermarket screens.
Some like the CeeBaileys, I prefer the CalSci.
I'm 6'4" and the +6" suits me fine. They go to +7.5".
What tyres does it have fitted? They look like Pilot Road 2 which are good.
If you ride in the wet a lot (who doesn't?) then the PR3s are better.
The GTR will show a clean pair of heels to most cars and bikes.
On the A3 between Frankfurt and Bonn I managed a sustained 155Mph for 20 mins with the OEM (tiny) screen and the panniers fitted.
My neck suffered and I only got 36Mpg on that tankful but it was a hoot.
I was playing with some German bloke on a ZX12R.
We both had a hoot and exchanged grins as we both filled up.
I already have Rukka gear! The jacket and trousers were over £1500.00!!!!! I did get top of the range Heine Gerik stuff, but it was absolutely shite. Leaked like a fakkin toilet! I just bought the Daytona touring boots from Heine Gerick and those fekkers are going back as well - over £300 for a pair of boots and they leak as well! Dunno what boots to replace em with tho? They're only a month old......
Tyres are indeed pilot 2's - may go for continentals when they're due a change, probably still got 3-5000 miles in the 2's yet. If I can get a good deal, then I'll definitely get pilot 3's.
Have only got up to about a ton on the old girl so far - look forward to stretching her legs when I'm abroad and it's dry......
Cheeers,
Pig.
I went for the HG stuff in October last year, Pro Shell Goretex etc. Absolutely cannot fault it. I've been caught out in many a torrential downpour and not a drop of water has got through the garments.
On Rusty's advice I did buy some Rukka gloves and they too are brilliant. As for boots, I use Altberg Clubman Classics. Again cannot fault them, warm, dry and so far not a drop of water has got through them.
hi spec/cost HG stuff has ever let us down Alpinestar gloves365s and Sidi boots. Stayed bone dry yesterday and beleive me it was effin wet :mfr_lol:
Fitted the kawasaki sat nav mount and bolted a short ram mount stem so I can position it exactly how I want and it also allows the tank glove box to open fully. Booked it in to Daytona motorcycles in Ruislip for this monday for a 16000 mile service - said they'd check the discs out but they reckon they've NEVER had a problem with discs....... :huh:
Still waiting for my large order to arrive for the goodies I ordered.....
I have the standard K sat nav bracket fitted and for me it's perfect :laugh: