Been riding for five years and now finally on a 1400 GTR. Started out on a Yamaha SR 125 and first big bike was a Kawasaki GPZ 500s. Shortly after moved onto a Suzuki V-Strom 650 (great bike) till some arse did a hit and run and wrote the bike off. Then came my big mistake: buying a Varadero XLV 1000 without test driving one. It was an OK bike, just not brilliant in high winds.
The intention had been to get a new 1400 GTR before the Vara but I was put off by the cost and sheer size of the bike. I ended up P/X the Vara for a GTR and its the best move I could have done. The GTR is one of the best bikes I have ridden, although it has its shortcomings - nothing that can't be fixed by a few farkles!
There's more info here (http://www.gtr1400.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,13.0.html).