I honestly don't know whether to get angry or laugh. I've just been reading Mays edition of RIDE and they have a feature on the top 20 sports tourers & tourers...........can you guess where the GTR came? It dragged itself out of the depths to just scrape in at number :censored: 20!!!
It was beaten by the Honda Deuville for God's sake which romped in as the14th best tourer :wacko: . The BMW K1600 came in as the best bike in this class, (well, there's a surprise!) :sleep1:
Amongst other negative factors the GTR apparently suffers from....
1/ Skipping gears. (Never experienced that, nor do I know anyone who has).
2/ The remote fob can stop working, (I've heard that is possible if the battery goes flat but never personally experienced it).
3/ Final drive failure's. (Never experienced that, nor do I know anyone who has).
4/ Fiddly pannier fittings which the mag says are easy to get wrong. (How are they fiddly, you hook then onto the loops & lock them in place).
I can honestly say that since I've owned my first GTR, a 2007 model to the current date, owning a 2011 model I cannot ever recall reading sustained glowing reports on the GTR, why is this?
It's a stonking machine and if it wasn't for the fact I've just traded mine in for a Honda Deuville :mfr_lol: I'd have kept it for many more years yet. (I'm joking about buying the Honda).
:feedback: Am I missing something? Is the GTR really so shite? :no: Who's been providing this info?
It's a bit like the Top Gear cool wall, not really based on anything tangible. Drop them an email.
Hi
1 - no
2 - no, from my reading on here more likely the switch under the stove knob not working
3 - no (but mine has a Sierra diff anyway lol)
4 - yea they can be a fiddle, its easy to miss the front locator, the mrs lets me put them on cos they piss her off
Richard
Well I haven't suffered from any of the listed problems........YET!! :oops:
they put in the wrong magazine it should have in been in farmers weekley it would have come out on top.... :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
on a serious note i wouldnt take any notice of these surveys every model got its pro and cons.... :nono:
being a newbie you read things like this and it puts doubts in your mind ( which in mine I have to push something out to remember something new :wacko: )
unless you come to a site like this and speak to you nutters :whistling:. for genuine info
which makes these reports total B#*#*#*s. who Paid the survey fees BM or Honda
Steve, as soon as you mentioned Ride magazine :sleep1: , I just knew what was coming next . That publication is little more than a comic, and I must say it is a good one, because it's articles always make me laugh, ( I dont buy it by the way, I have it passed on ). It really is at the bottom end of bike publications. :listencarefully: It's :shit: .
Quote from: The Wolf on April 17, 2014, 10:32:32 AM
I honestly don't know whether to get angry or laugh. I've just been reading Mays edition of RIDE and they have a feature on the top 20 sports tourers & tourers...........can you guess where the GTR came? It dragged itself out of the depths to just scrape in at number :censored: 20!!!
It was beaten by the Honda Deuville for God's sake which romped in as the14th best tourer :wacko: . The BMW K1600 came in as the best bike in this class, (well, there's a surprise!) :sleep1:
Amongst other negative factors the GTR apparently suffers from....
1/ Skipping gears. (Never experienced that, nor do I know anyone who has).
2/ The remote fob can stop working, (I've heard that is possible if the battery goes flat but never personally experienced it).
3/ Final drive failure's. (Never experienced that, nor do I know anyone who has).
4/ Fiddly pannier fittings which the mag says are easy to get wrong. (How are they fiddly, you hook then onto the loops & lock them in place).
I can honestly say that since I've owned my first GTR, a 2007 model to the current date, owning a 2011 model I cannot ever recall reading sustained glowing reports on the GTR, why is this?
It's a stonking machine and if it wasn't for the fact I've just traded mine in for a Honda Deuville :mfr_lol: I'd have kept it for many more years yet. (I'm joking about buying the Honda).
:feedback: Am I missing something? Is the GTR really so shite? :no: Who's been providing this info?
As Geoff has said Steve Ride magazine is, in my opinion, absolute shite, written by muppets and edited by a goon. Its only use is to wipe yer :asshole: with it and it probably wouldn't even do that properly.
I never experienced any of those issues with any of my 3 GTRs, and like yourself I don't know of anyone who has, apart from the muppet tester at Ride
Quote from: O.C. on April 17, 2014, 02:24:04 PM
As Geoff has said Steve Ride magazine is, in my opinion, absolute shite, written by muppets and edited by a goon. Its only use is to wipe yer :asshole: with it and it probably wouldn't even do that properly.
I never experienced any of those issues with any of my 3 GTRs, and like yourself I haven't heard of anyone who has, apart from the muppet tester at Ride
I've never had or heard of anyone with the problem's mentioned in the so called RIDE magazine review & to be honest I couldn't give a :shit: they dished the Yamaha xjr 1300 a few years ago.i have a 58 plate one & i'm more than happy with it,the same goes for my 12 plate 1400 gtr.i couldn't give a :shit: what over people think about what I ride.as long as I'm happy that's all what matter's.
Quote from: The Wolf on April 17, 2014, 10:32:32 AM
Amongst other negative factors the GTR apparently suffers from....
1/ Skipping gears. (Never experienced that, nor do I know anyone who has).
2/ The remote fob can stop working, (I've heard that is possible if the battery goes flat but never personally experienced it).
3/ Final drive failure's. (Never experienced that, nor do I know anyone who has).
4/ Fiddly pannier fittings which the mag says are easy to get wrong. (How are they fiddly, you hook then onto the loops & lock them in place).
GTR 2008 58000 km
1) No
2) Yes (when battery runs out ) :grin:
3) No
4) Don't count how many times took them on and off and still all good and accounted for :banana:
They are talking :censored:
I've only heard of one final drive failure
If they'd said something about batteries on the TPS we'd all be nodding our heads in agreement.
But what they've listed is a load of bollocks
Quote from: The Wolf on April 17, 2014, 10:32:32 AM
I honestly don't know whether to get angry or laugh. I've just been reading Mays edition of RIDE and they have a feature on the top 20 sports tourers & tourers...........can you guess where the GTR came? It dragged itself out of the depths to just scrape in at number :censored: 20!!! It was beaten by the Honda Deuville for God's sake which romped in as the14th best tourer :wacko: . The BMW K1600 came in as the best bike in this class, (well, there's a surprise!) :sleep1:
Amongst other negative factors the GTR apparently suffers from....
1/ Skipping gears. (Never experienced that, nor do I know anyone who has).
2/ The remote fob can stop working, (I've heard that is possible if the battery goes flat but never personally experienced it).
3/ Final drive failure's. (Never experienced that, nor do I know anyone who has).
4/ Fiddly pannier fittings which the mag says are easy to get wrong. (How are they fiddly, you hook then onto the loops & lock them in place).
I knew a guy who traded UP from a Deuville to aHonda CBF1000, and shan't be ordering one my self just yet!"
1) Gears have always bee trouble free on mine
2)Remote fob battery does need replacing but you get a warning on the bike and its a 30 sec job.
3) Final drive has always does what its supposed to
4) Pannier fitting is so simple. how coudl you get it wrong?
No doubt Winston will be along shortly to tell us ore on how these tests are done.
I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't being kept out of some private loop of information. I feel suitably reassured now. :mfr_lol:
Just to clarify though, its not RIDE who have drawn these conclusions and rated the GTR 20th best tourer, its the owners, its in a feature RIDE do called Rider Power, its described as the largest, longest running motorcycle satisfaction survey in the world whereby owners of specific bikes contribute their thoughts and opinions on the bikes they own and ride. As for RIDE mag itself, I like it, its the only bike mag I actually do buy. Its the findings themselves which I find hard to swallow.
Like many here I have been riding a "few years" now and although for me the Gtr has gone North it is without doubt THE best overall bike I have ever owned ... there are still one or two I would like to take out, you know those bavarian beasts are calling, but the chaps from Nippon have created what is for me a sublime bike and one should take RIDE for what it is ... a bike magazine that is entertaining to read, with plenty of glossy photos and little real content. :yes:
Like all polls they can be manipulated or represented to suit. I've heard before that certain mags can be biased towards those that wish to sponsor or donate the odd bike. Sadly, people reading ride might be put off initially with our GTR; however, after a mistake or two and a bit of real research they'll be on the introductions page in no time :clap:
I won't ever again buy Ride magazine for precisely these reasons....its full of shite :shit: how can they be taken seriously, and if the poll was so big and widespread I'd like to know how many members of this forum contributed with their own opinions / experiences
I cancelled my sub to Ride when I realised they kept promoting the same products time after time
I did post back in August last year http://www.gtr1400.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=3327.msg45704#msg45704 that the riderpower survey was then available to complete, maybe if more owners had filled it in then our beloved GTR would have rated a bit higher, I mean the survey is not based on the most owned bikes getting higher ratings it's taken as an average mark for the owners that bothered to fill in the survey.
I was disappointed myself to see how low it scored, and being a reasonably recent owner who doesn't cover a lot of miles, well so far anyway, I haven't had any experience of any of the problems they listed, nor I must admit have I read about them on these forums but they must have got their info from somewhere. If only 30 people fill in the form and 3 people have had a certain problem then that's a 10% slice of owners that have been "plagued" with said problem when there could be hundreds of owners quite happily never seeing an issue or experiencing any major problem.
I haven't had any problems with mine but was unable to answer questions like how long do your tyres last on average etc. because I haven't had to change mine yet, so other peoples answers where counted there and mine wasn't.
There will always be more people that complain about things, bike reviews included, than the owners who will praise their machines.
Maybe the moral of this story is if you feel they've not represented the bike correctly then next time make the effort and fill in the survey.
What I do know is that RiDE does report on FACTS and is as accurate as it can be.
The mag isn't 'sponsored' by any make or biased in any way.
What you need to understand is the journo's ride every bike available on test launches and then on real world trips or tours. They also take 'real' riders (like me and a host of others) who get the chance to ride all the machines on the particular test and take all comments into consideration.
The FJR was slated 3 years ago because it was crap in comparison to the other bike (including the GTR) 5 years ago the GTR came second to the best by a smidgen. The winner that year (K13) has been replaced but the GTR hasn't been upgraded.
The GTR is a great bike, but K hasn't invested to keep it at the fore-front.
Non of the Jap manufacturers have due to the state of their economy.
There are no bad bikes really. Just accept your own favourite may not be so fantastic to everyone else.
RiDE are the most unbiased and even publication out there. Just because your favourite isn't as perfect as you believe don't get pissy over it...
Quote from: Winston Smith on April 17, 2014, 11:05:42 PM
What I do know is that RiDE does report on FACTS and is as accurate as it can be.
The mag isn't 'sponsored' by any make or biased in any way.
What you need to understand is the journo's ride every bike available on test launches and then on real world trips or tours. They also take 'real' riders (like me and a host of others) who get the chance to ride all the machines on the particular test and take all comments into consideration.
The FJR was slated 3 years ago because it was crap in comparison to the other bike (including the GTR) 5 years ago the GTR came second to the best by a smidgen. The winner that year (K13) has been replaced but the GTR hasn't been upgraded.
The GTR is a great bike, but K hasn't invested to keep it at the fore-front.
Non of the Jap manufacturers have due to the state of their economy.
There are no bad bikes really. Just accept your own favourite may not be so fantastic to everyone else.
RiDE are the most unbiased and even publication out there. Just because your favourite isn't as perfect as you believe don't get pissy over it...
So no difference between a 2009 and 2010 model year GTR then......................?
Not quite sure WTF you are on about.
The GTR in question was my own bike when it came close second.
If you are on about the difference between 09 and 10 models then it was minor tech and cosmetics in reality - traction control, heated grips and better cooling.
The FJR was a complete re-hash except the (superb) engine with fresh body work and frame/suspension.
I'm afraid I live in the real world where things change and new stuff is better or different in a good or other way.
All forums are the same - extremely defensive of their own brand/model, unable to accept any flaws or that other marques can offer the same/better/different.
The GTR is a brilliant bike but not for everyone.
The GTR is an old bike that needs refreshing to keep up with the Jones's
The GTR is a brilliant machine that is truly sporty and fantastic to ride.
The GTR isn't crap or rubbish or full of faults...
Discuss :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :sleep1: :sleep1: :sleep1: :sleep1:
Chill out Chris you're gonna blow a gasket me olde mate :mfr_lol:
Kawasaki has, in my humble opinion, had a raw deal from the press in general for donkeys years, and I'm on record as saying so for an equally long time
Some things just don't change :wink:
The ONLY way to assess a bikes capabilities/suitability for your own requirements is to test it thoroughly....
Horse for courses :yes:
I always think that mcn must be sponsored by bmw as they seem to go on and on about them ,like no other bike exists. I do think that we are spoilt for choice on the bikes that are out there , and all are superb in they own ways , and the mags have to split hairs to make one better than the rest,as long as you are happy with what you have then f--k em , Gtr's rule. :gun_bandana:
Quote from: O.C. on April 18, 2014, 07:50:45 AM
Chill out Chris you're gonna blow a gasket me olde mate :mfr_lol:
Kawasaki has, in my humble opinion, had a raw deal from the press in general for donkeys years, and I'm on record as saying so for an equally long time
Some things just don't change :wink:
The ONLY way to assess a bikes capabilities/suitability for your own requirements is to test it thoroughly....
Horse for courses :yes:
:agree:
"The winner that year (K13) has been replaced but the GTR hasn't been upgraded." :no:
"Not quite sure WTF you are on about." :mfr_lol:
I was just pointing out that the GTR had a major update for 2010 model year.
2010 model year according to the press had the following up grades in response to owner and press comment This information is taken from press articles.
Optional large screen fitted as standard
ABS standard fitting across world market
Trip computer display now worked by left hand switch gear
Heat shield on exhaust
Redesign of fairing
Glove box moved from tank top to fairing
Traction control
Uprated rear spring
Some articles even claimed the variable valve timing was new for 2010 :mfr_lol:
Traction control was 2010's big deal according to the press.
Some of those updates represent major capital expenditure from the manufacture.
Chris I enjoy reading Ride and other motorcycle magazines and respect the efforts invested to provide a consistent balanced informative entertaining article month after month.
With that in mind the majority of tests on GTR mention the handling as a subject but don't expand in to detail of how and or why it splits opinion. Are you able from your years of riding experience and your recent direct group test involvement to elaborate this point and satisfy my and others curiously ?
All motorcycle mags are paid for by you and me and ADVERTISING. Whether conscious or not they always rate higher the bikes whose manufacturers buy the most adverts. Don't believe me? Check for yourself. I did years ago and they all do it, just some are more obvious than others.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk
Quote from: Boomer on April 18, 2014, 12:44:03 PM
All motorcycle mags are paid for by you and me and ADVERTISING. Whether conscious or not they always rate higher the bikes whose manufacturers buy the most adverts. Don't believe me? Check for yourself. I did years ago and they all do it, just some are more obvious than others.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk
:agree:
Fiddly pannier fittings :clap:
The GTR panniers were by far the best panniers I've had on a bike for simplicity and capacity....
If you want fiddly try the 1200 GS vario's :hammer:
Quote from: Bryn on April 18, 2014, 03:12:35 PM
Fiddly pannier fittings :clap:
The GTR panniers were by far the best panniers I've had on a bike for simplicity and capacity....
If you want fiddly try the 1200 GS vario's :hammer:
But are they waterproof ? :mfr_lol: (sorry private joke)
Quote from: Charlie747 on April 18, 2014, 03:14:58 PM
But are they waterproof ? :mfr_lol: (sorry private joke)
Ah... I see what you did there :grin:
(http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r403/GSAnut/IMG_0599_zps882527ba.jpg) (http://s354.photobucket.com/user/GSAnut/media/IMG_0599_zps882527ba.jpg.html)
I've never experienced fiddly panniers but then I rarely remove them.
Bryn, that looks a nice location, your neck of the woods?
Well I think most of us here like our Gtr's but what has always surprised me is how few there are out and about .... I see very few on a day to day basis which means there are a lot of folk missing out on a great bit of kit.
Nige, how many GTR's did we see last year in Scotland?
I wont ask you how many GS's we saw...... :whistling:
Quote from: The Wolf on April 18, 2014, 06:46:18 PM
Bryn, that looks a nice location, your neck of the woods?
Thurlaston ford, between Earl Shilton and Potters Marston ( about 3 miles from Mallory Park and 3 miles from my front door ) :cool:
I saw yours yours and yours .... Obviously I lost count of those Gs's flying about .... I mean who would take one of those from the souff coast up to Jon O'Groats ????
Quote from: Rusty on April 18, 2014, 07:00:08 PM
I saw yours yours and yours .... Obviously I lost count of those Gs's flying about .... I mean who would take one of those from the souff coast up to Jon O'Groats ????
:mfr_lol:
there have been reports of FD failure with early models, reports of panniers coming unattached and also Kipass failures ,
I think the very low volume of sales and the fact that unhappy owners are the ones likely to speak out is causing the high statistic amoungst gtr riders.
i had a look at the how many left website for zg1400 and there are only 1100 bikes currently on the road since 2007
Quote from: viper on April 18, 2014, 10:18:43 PM
there have been reports of FD failure with early models, reports of panniers coming unattached and also Kipass failures ,
I think the very low volume of sales and the fact that unhappy owners are the ones likely to speak out is causing the high statistic amoungst gtr riders.
i had a look at the how many left website for zg1400 and there are only 1100 bikes currently on the road since 2007
So a pretty dam exclusive model then :mfr_lol:
Quote from: viper on April 18, 2014, 10:18:43 PM
there have been reports of FD failure with early models, reports of panniers coming unattached and also Kipass failures ,
I think the very low volume of sales and the fact that unhappy owners are the ones likely to speak out is causing the high statistic amoungst gtr riders.
i had a look at the how many left website for zg1400 and there are only 1100 bikes currently on the road since 2007
So now I am 1 in 1100 . My mom use to tell me I was 1 in a million :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
Amazing. 20th? To be honest, I haven't ridden most of those other bikes so I couldn't judge I love my GTR.
I seem to remember a bloke coming on here a while back asking for information for RiDE magazine... A survey of sorts. Can't remember exactly, but this can't be based on the information we gave him, surely. Probably unrelated...
Anyway, back to clearing snow!? Good job I came in the car...
Quote from: Kwikasfuki on April 17, 2014, 04:07:47 PM
They are talking :censored:
I've only heard of one final drive failure
If they'd said something about batteries on the TPS we'd all be nodding our heads in agreement.
But what they've listed is a load of bollocks
:agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree:
MGvalerio
Its all subjective. As OC points out there is always an element of bias in these, and as Winston points out, we wouldn't be moaning if the GTR was at the top of the list.
Hence why we have people on the forum who ride GTRs, BMWs, Versys, Triumph, Suzuki etc etc. Variety is the spice of life.
Quote from: Kwikasfuki on April 19, 2014, 02:07:05 PM
Its all subjective. As OC points out there is always an element of bias in these, and as Winston points out, we wouldn't be moaning if the GTR was at the top of the list.
Hence why we have people on the forum who ride GTRs, BMWs, Versys, Triumph, Suzuki etc etc. Variety is the spice of life.
i :agree:
Well said Asif ! :yes:
Quote from: Kwikasfuki on April 19, 2014, 02:07:05 PM
Its all subjective. As OC points out there is always an element of bias in these, and as Winston points out, we wouldn't be moaning if the GTR was at the top of the list.
Hence why we have people on the forum who ride GTRs, BMWs, Versys, Triumph, Suzuki etc etc. Variety is the spice of life.
Absolutely! Point is, we've all had and enjoyed the superb 1400GTR. It isn't perfect, but there again - what is.
Is there someone from kawasaki europe online here...?
We really hope so...
Are, do you bike with the bmw 1600?? :mfr_lol:
So, it` s up to you to prepare a proper reaction with the board...
Quote from: beegee on April 20, 2014, 02:50:50 AM
Is there someone from kawasaki europe online here...?
We really hope so...
Are, do you bike with the bmw 1600?? :mfr_lol:
So, it` s up to you to prepare a proper reaction with the board...
What ? :wacko:
Quote from: Winston Smith on April 20, 2014, 12:59:18 AM
Absolutely! Point is, we've all had and enjoyed the superb 1400GTR. It isn't perfect, but there again - what is.
:agree: Totally
So Chris ..........how does the handling / feel of the bike split opinions of you road testers ?
I know that some days I get aggressive with it and find I'm fighting it.......................if I relax and (not sure how to put this) steer through my hips ? It responds beautifully........I'm enjoying the challenge of making progress with it by relaxing .......I know it sounds weird but I'm frustrated by my inability to verbalise this one. All I can tell you is on a good day making fluid progress through smooth apex clipping lines and the front wheel placed exactly were I want is so rewarding :yes:
Please be assured I'm not out to :hang: you by your own words of reply and appreciate one mans poison is another mans profit and lets face it we can't all like Marmite...............my motive is purely selfish information gathering to allow me to better understand my ride and maximise the enjoyment from my investment.
La mia esperienza su problemi riscontrati in 56.000 KM
Per prima cosa il GTR 1400 ha una grandissima affidabilità, con detto kilometraggio fatto trasmette che il rodaggio è fatto, è pronta ora per fare il giro del mondo.
Questa moto per apprezzarne a pieno le sue potenzialità di progetto moto uomo strada e affinchè io non sono approdato a una gommatura come i PIRELLI ANGELO GT perdevo una bella fetta del sentirmi a mio agio su qualsiasi percorso ,la moto è pesa e con le scarpette per come nasce è una vera cavica in città e misto stretto,tutto questo oggi è rimasto un brutto ricordo,quindi il GTR 1400 o con scarpe giuste o son dolori,la moto a dei limiti pure con le PR3 MICHELINE perfette per la moto fino ai 140 Km h ,poi perde la solidità granitica di marcia che detta moto a nel suo DNA Kawasaki.
Reparto motore( Gruppo Termico ) e tutto il resto della meccanica è da invidia guardandosi intorno.
Componentistica direi da sballo,smontata e rimontata in 7 anni è stata una cosa esagerata che ancora oggi continua,tutto ritorna perfettamente al suo posto.
Con detta carena ogni semplice cosa da fare per manutenzione va smontato pure troppo,ma come detto sopra la componentistica è ben studiata.
Per fatalità o caso più unico che raro un cuscinetto ruota posteriore senza alcuno avviso a KM h 46.000 mi ha recato un bel guaio bloccandomi asse ruota,ma questo non a reso percezione alcuna ed o continuato la mia corsa fino a quando frenando col pedale freno posteriore ho capito che c'era un problema.
Da qui ho programmato manutenzione ogni 20.000 KM h a detto reparto non menzionato su manutenzione Ordinaria /Straordinaria.
Problema dischi freni causa pompaggio alla leva,un vero arcano perché a mio avviso non sono i dischi in difetto ma la composizione mescola d'attrito,cambiati dischi in garanzia,ma ripresentato problema,risolto per sempre agendo su dette pasticche limando da nuove gli angoli leggermente.
Perdite olio dalla testa hanno arricchito i Conce.. e mecca..basta mettere un po di colla anti calore al bulbo posizione camme e non avremo a motore freddo all'accensione odore di olio bruciato pure per qualche minuto questo può succedere non prima dei 25.000 KM.
Sensori pressione pneumatici, qui proprio non ci siamo,(((eccezione))),ancora oggi a me le batterie fanno funzionare detto dispositivo.
Questa è la GTR 1400 Kawasaki.
Poi tipi come me: ho apportato modifiche di miglioramento con accessori a me indispensabili per sentirmela detta moto "ESAGERATA" unica. cheers
http://i57.servimg.com/u/f57/15/13/91/26/motoma12.jpg
I'm so glad I studied Italian at University :whistling: basically what MG is saying is something along these lines.....
My experience of the problems encountered in 56,000 KM
First, the GTR 1400 has a great reliability, with mileage that transmits said that the break-in is done, it is now ready to go around the world.
This bike to appreciate fully its design capacity and road bike man so that I have not landed in a rubber like PIRELLI ANGEL GT lost a big chunk of my comfort on any journey , the bike is heavy and booties is born as a real cavica in the city and close mixed , all of this today has been a bad memory , so the GTR 1400 or with the right shoes or are suffering, the bike also limits with PR3 MICHELINE perfect for motorcycles up to 140 mph, then he loses the strength of granite gear that said motion in its DNA Kawasaki.
Department Engine ( Cylinder ) and the rest of the mechanism is envy from looking around.
Components would say rocking, dismantled and reassembled in 7 years has been exaggerated a thing that continues today , everything comes back perfectly in place.
By the hull that every simple thing to do for maintenance needs to be removed too well , but as mentioned above the components are well studied .
For fatality or more unique than rare a rear wheel bearing without any notice to KM 46,000 h has brought me a big trouble pinning wheel axle , but that does not make sense to any and or continued my run until braking with the rear brake pedal I realized there was a problem.
From there I planned maintenance every 20,000 KM said the department is not mentioned on maintenance Ordinary / Extraordinary .
Problem brake discs due to the pumping lever , a real mystery because in my opinion they are not the disks at fault but the composition of mixed friction discs changed under warranty, but the problem re- solved by always acting on the tablets filing from new angles slightly .
Oil leaks from the head have enriched the mecca Conce .. and .. just put a bit of glue to the anti heat bulb cam position and we will not have a cold engine power smell of burnt oil well for a few minutes this can happen no earlier than 25,000 KM .
Tire pressure sensors , here we just do not , ((( exception ))) , is still to me the batteries operate said device .
This is the Kawasaki GTR 1400 .
Then guys like me : I have made changes to improve with accessories necessary for me to sentirmela called "exaggerated" bike only . cheers.
The Wolf :001_icon16:
thanks Grazie 100.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000
MGvalerio. :clap:
Just for the record I do not now, nor do I ever want a kiss off MG!! :mfr_lol:
Quote from: The Wolf on April 20, 2014, 04:53:06 PM
Just for the record I do not now, nor do I ever want a kiss off MG!! :mfr_lol:
:mfr_lol: :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
I bet you do really Steve .... big pink lips like that from an Italian ... why else would you have gone to ALL that trouble of translating it for our friend ?
Well done MG ... sometimes you are a little crazy but I have grown to like that ! :yes:
Below is a picture of our comical friend above, if there's anyone who likes a bit of pink, it ain't me. :whistling:
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/NEC%2026th%20November%202012/DSC_3844.jpg) (http://s151.photobucket.com/user/Jaffa_Cake101/media/NEC%2026th%20November%202012/DSC_3844.jpg.html)
Well there you go ... that's my pink side for you ! You do make me smile mate !! :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
They do say a picture speaks a thousand words. :popcorn:
without being biased , since I still have my 2012 GTR , and have added a watercooled GS (and a KLX250 for harder offroading) ..... the GTR needs to be seriously revamped.
GTR needs :
(a) better handling (really important this),
(b) better power low down,
(c) less weight (THIS ONE IS VERY IMPORTANT),
.
- ridden back to back , the GS is far better a bike than the GTR. I don't know too much about the K16 but if its handling is anything like what the reviewers say it is , the GTR is going into the weeds .
- again , not biased.
- anyone thinking of a new (or old) bike needs to test the current crop of european bikes. They're so far ahead of the japanese machines that its not not funny.
- the japanese makers need to seriously invest some money and make new better bikes.
.
I still don't understand all this talk of what is wrong with the handling of the GTR. I admit I've only had 4 bikes since passing my test about 13 years ago, so maybe don't have enough experience compared to others, but to me it feels planted when I throw it around. The odd occasion when it wallows and shakes its head when cranked over on uneven roads only adds to the fun to me. I've never felt unsafe on it or that its about to let go underneath me. Horses for courses n all that me thinks. For me it does a bit of everything very well. I think most modern bikes do a good job for their targeted customers, and all will have some defect here or there. The only way to make everyone 100% happy is if every bike was custom built to each riders height, weight, and expectations. Sometimes the best way to reduce a bike's weight is to go on a diet lol.
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Quote from: shaggs147 on April 21, 2014, 02:26:00 AM
I still don't understand all this talk of what is wrong with the handling of the GTR. I admit I've only had 4 bikes since passing my test about 13 years ago, so maybe don't have enough experience compared to others, but to me it feels planted when I throw it around. The odd occasion when it wallows and shakes its head when cranked over on uneven roads only adds to the fun to me. I've never felt unsafe on it or that its about to let go underneath me. Horses for courses n all that me thinks. For me it does a bit of everything very well. I think most modern bikes do a good job for their targeted customers, and all will have some defect here or there. The only way to make everyone 100% happy is if every bike was custom built to each riders height, weight, and expectations. Sometimes the best way to reduce a bike's weight is to go on a diet lol.
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So true... :cry: :cry: :cry:
Quote from: Rusty on April 20, 2014, 09:31:41 PM
I bet you do really Steve .... big pink lips like that from an Italian ... why else would you have gone to ALL that trouble of translating it for our friend ?
Well done MG ... sometimes you are a little crazy but I have grown to like that ! :yes:
agree with your thinking, I'm a little crazy, but not in pink, in thanking The Wolf blatantly ridiculous because I slipped my spontaneity, I understand that you now march over there, I'm sorry The Wolf.
:yes:(http://i57.tinypic.com/o01jcy.jpg)
MGvalerio. :mfr_lol:
Quote from: shaggs147 on April 21, 2014, 02:26:00 AM
I still don't understand all this talk of what is wrong with the handling of the GTR.
I had my 09 GTR for over 18 months , which for me is a bloody long time to keep a bike....And for continent crushing it was brilliant....lots of wind and rain protection and plenty of power.....
Now the thing that I could never get my head around with the GTR is the fact that I never seemed to be the complete master of it.... hard to explain but I found it hard work to get it to go where I wanted, and due to this I didn't find it relaxing or stress free.
Even down to the approach and exits to traffic islands..... I had to work to put it where I wanted to go. The bike was fitted with PR3's that looked fine to me , but saying that the new owner has put new boots on it and has reported on here that it's transformed the ride.
It's not that I've had little experience on other stuff.... I retired 2 years ago having spent 17 years on police bikes, and for the last 10 years of that service I ran Leicesteshire's bike safe scheme.
I picked the bike up when I bought it from Norwich, which is about 120 miles away... rode there on the back of a mate's FJR ( the bikes Leics Police currently use) and on the way back thought I'd made a big mistake...swapped with him for a while and instantly felt at home and relaxed..... It took me a few weeks to get a little more used to the way the GTR behaved ( dumped the crap screen and seat in the process)
Anyway... that's my take on it....as has been said... ride whatever suits you...there's no such thing as a crap bike these days, just bikes that don't suit you as well as others :wink:
+1 for both Shaggs and Brynn's slightly differing views.
For what it's worth I don't think anyone,or perhaps very few people out there, and I am not one of them, who could truthfully master a modern day bike in the sense of ultimate control but I found the Gtr to be well planted and solid on the road wherever and whenever I took it out .... Not ridden the FJR which I understand is right up there. Everyone is different in many ways but I think we are all agreed that Mr K needs to start catching up with the others, and that's not just his Bavarian rivals.
Agree Rusty, however I think all the Jap manufacturers are in the same boat.
Yen has been weak for ages and the bike market is only small.
The Europeans, particularly BMW and Triumph, have read the market and done their home work in the right places, whatever they may be, and have invested wisely in the areas people want.
Honda have lost their way totally with their old customer base, and marketing strategies have been flawed. Their styling is questionable.
K haven't got the money to dramatically change their range - bit part specials like the Versys and Z series are keeping them afloat by re-inventing old stuff. It can't last forever. The big tourer market in which the GTR sits is a small pool now - dominated by BMW/Triumph, and the adventure market seems to be at a plateau now, again with European domination.
Suzuki are in a similar position to K, but didn't have the range to build on, most of their stuff being parts bin specials like the 'Bandit' or constant evolution (read minor yearly changes) to the Gixxer range.
Yamaha have been uber expensive and have tried with the Tenere for the adventure market and a revamped, but still more sports oriented FJR big tourer (actually a 'little' tourer!) They have concentrated more on ultra sports bike (R6/R1).
The monies seem not to be in the big tourer market at the present time.
FJR presents very Sport Touring
GTR gives Sporty Touring
ST1300 is old Touring
Trophy is imitation Rolex to the BMW RT
New RT is Sporty and Touring
K16/GT are (and this is not meant to be controversial) a different league of Touring
Over this you have the Gold WIng and K16/GTL which aren't in the GTR pool.
The GTR needs a major overhaul, as do other manufacturers ranges/bikes, but is it worth doing? Are there enough customers out there to sell to? Is it worth the cost of R&D?
In my opinion, not until the market changes and their economy gets an upturn and maintains it.
:agree: :goodpost:
Nicely put Chris.........................
I know we are a small market .................was it only 1000 GTR on uk roads......................Having been a dealer returning to riding what really blew me away was my first ride out to the local bike shop meeting place car park tea / coffee stop..................... At 50+ yrs. of age I was most defiantly one of the younger boys on site.
When we look at The Wolfs age chart you can see its all us 16er special and GT / RD / CB / KH 250 kids come of dare I say it Middle age supporting a whole bike industry................................
How are we going to bring young blood into our well loved passion of riding thus growing the market to allow manufactures to develop and support our desires and cravings for product ?
PS Your fake Rolex comment is Ace :mfr_lol:
Kawasaki currently have the ZZR1400 as a class leader, the ZX10R is right up there with the top sportsbikes and the Versys seem popular. For the smallest of the Japanese 4 they are doing Ok but don't expect big changes to the 1400GTR for some time as they have a history of doing small changes to their big tourers and keeping it mostly unchanged. Personally, other than the GTR only the FJR has the right stuff for me. Could be tempted by the K1600 if I won the lottery but the BMW boxers are dull, the Trophy likewise, and the adventure bikes don't have the weather protection. In the GTR I have mostly the bike I want. Only change needed now is a better saddle and that is in the works.
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:yes:(http://i57.tinypic.com/o01jcy.jpg)
:001_icon16: :001_icon16: :001_icon16: :001_icon16: :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
Do you think my bum looks big in this ?
Italian Fashion House designer string vest spied during secret road testing on Skegness sea front :eek:
Veet de-foliage cream launch clothing range allowing the benefits of the product to be viewed by all :whistling:
Despite his best mate Wolf lampooning his purchasing of a £10 Pink open face helmet, Rusty knew that later that night when he wore it at that blind date in his local his big exposed shiny pink helmet would only be matched by the size and capacity of her pink handbag.....................How else he asked himself would they be able to recognise each other :yes:
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/NEC%2026th%20November%202012/DSC_3844.jpg) (http://s151.photobucket.com/user/Jaffa_Cake101/media/NEC%2026th%20November%202012/DSC_3844.jpg.html)
My apologises to all named :mfr_lol:
And finally....a private joke between Charlie and I but I need a full size, 'normal' person size :popcorn: snake skin suit for this years GTR meet. If anyone has one, (maybe they wouldn't admit it eh) or has access to one can I borrow it please?
As most of you know i am on my 4th GTR, but i will NOT be purchasing a 5th unless some major changes are forthcoming,Unfortunately like most of you i cant see anything on the horizon for a few years. I will be changing this year, i will still be loyal to Mr K but it will NOT be a GTR. To be honest i am a little surprised the GTR is 20th, but not surprised it was well down the field. It had a re-vamp after 3 years, now its been nearly 4 years since the last one.
What have you in mind Zedman ?
Quote from: The Wolf on April 21, 2014, 05:26:33 PM
And finally....a private joke between Charlie and I but I need a full size, 'normal' person size :popcorn: snake skin suit for this years GTR meet. If anyone has one, (maybe they wouldn't admit it eh) or has access to one can I borrow it please?
Now this should be good :mfr_lol:
Rusty - a Z1000SX touring, we do not do as much fully loaded touring as we used to, and the weight is becoming an issue lately.
Quote from: zedmeister on April 21, 2014, 09:46:58 PM
Rusty - a Z1000SX touring, we do not do as much fully loaded touring as we used to, and the weight is becoming an issue lately.
This weight thing appears to be a common denominator in moving away from the full Monty touring bike.....................I hope manufactures read the sites like this one and pick up what we say in order to develop future product ?
Well I read through the comments and well what a lovely bottom, how easily I am distracted, lmao
To be serious though, different bikes suit different people, and as most BM riders are retired (tongue in cheek) they have more time to fill out surveys!
Yes its big and heavy, but so am I - so no problem
As for the list of faults - well only one I have had is a bolt came undone and fell out on screen mount. - but its early days, anyway 2000 miles in next two weeks and we will see - down to Moto GP in Spain.
I do find the handling a little vague on occasion but am hoping new tyres will improve it it - but its not a big problem just a bike that requires a little more input from the rider. ( and that's really only on twisty B roads)
All in all I rate it 9 out of 10
73 ... you say she has a "lovely bottom" .... WRONG .. it's phenomenal. :yes: :yes:
My 2p worth.
The trouble with review sites and the internet in general is it basically attracts people with a grievance about a product, company or person, and it seems to help them if they have a chance to have a whinge and moan.
I personally have had (in no particular order) a 600 Bandit, RF900, ZZR600, 955i Speed triple, Falco 1000, 1200RT, CBR1100xx, Griso 1200 8V, 990 Super duke R, Fazer 600, SZR660, K1300R, 1050 Sprint ST, KLE500 and now the GTR. Not one of these bikes has been perfect, some have been close and some a huge mistake, but the journey has been fun!
I don't profess the be the best rider in the world, I won't be the first, or the last one back, but I always get where i'm going. Anyone who nitpicks about difference in the performance and handling between one bike or another in the same category of bike, on a public road, I really don't have a lot of time for. Its more likely what they are used to riding is so different to what they are commenting or reviewing will account for a lot of the negativity. Once you get properly used to a machine, most of the minor quirks of a bike are soon forgotton.
In terms of handling, by far the biggest thing I have noticed is the difference the tyre's make to a bike. If i'm unhappy about the way a bike feels, it is the first thing that I would research and change.
If we focus on tourers for a second, the GTR and the RT I had are both perfectly good tourers and I would have both again. I probably would be just as happy on a FJR! You don't buy a touring bike and expect it to keep up with a fireblade. Nor would I expect to ride a fireblade for 600 miles a day and be happy about it.
For me, the GTR is as good as anything I have ridden. It suits my frame, the type of riding I prefer to do, I'm strong enough to manage it, and it makes me smile every time I go out on it. That to me makes it my bike. :cool:
I bought my GTR in 2013 brand new , and in less than 6 months the battery in the remote was dead. I thought I was on for a lot of problems with it. But touch wood since then no issues at all. No way is the Honda "Dulls vill" a better touring bike. But I guess it is a matter of personal choice. I do miss the underseat storage I had on the FJR but the rest of the complaints sounds rubbish
Well said Mr pud
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