Hello all, just had a test ride on a 2009 4000 mile GTR. Seems great and makes my 2004 FJR feel heavy and a bit clumsy. The bike I'm looking at seems really well cared for with kawaski crash protectors, can't call them bungs or bobbins, they are obviously specifically designed. It has a hugger, fender extender and radiator protector. There is a power commander on it and this worries my a wee bit, I mean, the bike is nearly new so why install one of these things, will it muck up anything else. I've almost decided to do the deal but one thing was worrying me, the brakes, they seemed rubbish compared to my FJR, I had to pull the front brake lever almost as hard as I could to get decent stopping power, could the pads be glazed or something?, maybe the bike has much less 'dive' than mine and the braking sensation is just completely different. Thanks, Donald
Probably needs new pads - mine is a 2009 and the brakes are fine.
Great machine, that will run rings around FJR's
Quote from: Dmcfadyen on May 08, 2011, 09:26:02 PM<snip> There is a power commander on it and this worries my a wee bit, I mean, the bike is nearly new so why install one of these things, will it muck up anything else. <snip>
The Power Commander is a good mod' IMO as it improves bottom end grunt assuming it's been set up correctly on the dyno. I took it off when we sold the bike and it's going on the 2010 GTR which was definitely bogging down in 3rd coming out of Waterworks on the TT circuit; I'm sure the PC will improve things.
Kevin
I have a Power Commander V on mine as well as it improves the bottom end grunt. The braking issue could be due to pad wear or the brand. Get some OEM 2010 model pads (they fit on earlier models) which work brilliantly on my '08 bike.
It's a doddle to remove the PC and ebay it if you so wished.
Don, welcome, take the plunge and get that GTR.
You dont say whether you are considering buying from a dealer of through a private sale. Either way, my guess is that if the brakes feel poor there is something amiss there!
The brakes on the GTR are top notch and keen as mustard. Whether a dealer purchase or private, get the seller to whipout the pads and make sure you examine them. If the pads are in good nick, I'd be looking for a leak somewhere through the system or maybe in the callipers. My money though would be it'll be a quick fix of changing the pads.
I cant help you though on the Power Commander.
Hello Donald and welcome to the forum !
Get the GTR for goodness sake .. it's a fantastic bit of kit and you will not regret it .
No problems with brakes ... I suggest, as the others have done so... new pads may be required and that will transform your stopping power. I have an 11 plated bike and I am sure the brakes will stop me quicker than an unlit skip.
Hi Donald I swapped from an 06 fjr to the gtr and in no way have I been disappointed the gtr is awesome it will in my opinion tour as well as anything and when required will get a move on . Go for the gtr you won't regret it ! I agree with the majority fit new pads and I'm sure the brakes will be transformed
Thanks everyone, I'm off on Thursday and I'll go back to the dealer (Twowheels Edinburgh)and maybe have another run, see, thing is, there's a new bathroom to be installed, 2750 for that. If that wasn't getting done the GTR would be in the FJR's place. I need to be sure before signing on that wee dotted line.
Cheers
There should always be room to negotiate on the price........ so see how much discount you can get on the BATHROOM!!!
Donald .... Have faith my friend !
I waited for about 10 months from that defining moment when my brain went .... " I want one of those " at the Kawasaki dealer and riding it into the garage.
My dear wife has spent the last few weeks measuring and now just the other day placing the order for a new kitchen .... if I was to have a new bike I knew that Lady Rusty would need pleasing ( now now boys ... no smut thank you ! ) .... so now all is well.
Get one .... you know it makes sense.
Going to get the GTR. I had another run on it last week. It's a real cracker. Thanks for the thoughts lads. Donald
Quote from: Dmcfadyen on May 22, 2011, 11:00:42 PM
Going to get the GTR. I had another run on it last week. It's a real cracker. Thanks for the thoughts lads. Donald
Youv'e made the right decision!! ;D
Looks good :)
(http://www.twowheels.co.uk/triumph/used/pics/650/ST09TRV_2.jpg)
http://www.twowheels.co.uk/used/details.php?bike=2356 (http://www.twowheels.co.uk/used/details.php?bike=2356)
What's that on the rear rack? I'm no expert on 2nd hand prices, I paid £11.5k for a 2010 model "11" reg from a Kawasaki dealer :) What new tyres has it got? ABS brakes can have different "feel", correct?
It's a Givi rack but the top box insn't there. The bike's a cracker, I was to phone the salesman today to pay a deposit but was swamped, I'll call in the morning, their APR is 17.9% that'll be right, I'll get 9.1% on moneysupermarket.
I've never tried that moneysupermarket.com site before. Just gven it a whirl, 6.7% at Sainsbury's thats a cracking good deal.
Nice colour as well by the way, I like the black ones.
Quote from: Lonewolf on May 23, 2011, 07:26:16 PM
Nice colour as well by the way, I like the black ones.
I bet it's blue!!
Looks like a nice bike. Don't go with the dealer APR. Its always a ripoff. I'm sure you could get better than 9.1 as well
Quote from: Winston Smith on May 23, 2011, 08:30:26 PM
I bet it's blue!!
;D Ha, no definately black on this occasion!
Reg'd August 09 - Month after mine? Midnight Metallic Saphire!!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Winston Smith on May 23, 2011, 10:07:31 PM
Reg'd August 09 - Month after mine? Midnight Metallic Saphire!!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I thought yours was black ;D
The bike looks black but the metallic sparkle through it is blue, in strong sunlight the bike looks inky blue, the same as my ZX12R
cheers, Donald
LW - Ner, ner!!
Quote from: Winston Smith on May 25, 2011, 09:45:48 PM
LW - Ner, ner!!
As Victor Meldrew used to say....I dont bloody believe it.
It even says its black in the ad, I'm wondering now if mines blue, if so it'll have to go. ;D
The Blue is LOVELY .... don't get me wrong my green is nice and I'm very pleased ..... but bloooooooo .....
Rusty, blue is over rated. ;D
You think so ? If i had purchased last year it would have been blue, but of course too late, but as I say, in the flesh green is really nice. Black ? Too dodgy ;D ;D
No, I'm only joking. Blue is a cool colour on the GTR. ;D
Quote from: Lonewolf on May 26, 2011, 11:32:57 AM
No, I'm only joking. Blue is a cool colour on the GTR. ;D
I Know ;D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Winston Smith on May 26, 2011, 04:26:38 PM
I Know ;D ;D ;D ;D
Depending on who owns it of course!!
;D
Quite so ! Mr Wolf ..... the answer is to respray yours in the new Green and be done with it ;D ;D
Quote from: Lord Rusty on May 27, 2011, 08:44:07 PM
Quite so ! Mr Wolf ..... the answer is to respray yours in the new Green and be done with it ;D ;D
There's green and then there's green....(puke) :o
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Fingers/Brightgreengtr.jpg)
Horrible green above, cool green below.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Fingers/GreenGTR.jpg)
I like the Kawasaki racing green, maybe without the Monster stripes though, reminds me of my old ZX9Rs, the bike could be a 9R with the same proportional weight gain to that I've had since those days ;D
The ZZR in Kawasaki green is awesome. I don't mind the british racing green on the new models, and am hoping next year kawasaki give us a bigger choice. Like Kawasaki green, burgundy and racing yellow
The black and silver variations are getting boring.
NB, I mentioned a while ago that a chap at work bought a new ZZR special edition from Autorama and now wishes he had bought a GTR.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Fingers/ZZRPerformance.jpg)
I did tell him at the time. ::)
This GTR I'm getting has a Givi rack, are these universal at all, I've seen some nice Givi top boxes but I don't know if they will suit the plate that is on the bike.
Donald
Don, I am sure the Givi box will fit the rack.
Be wary - there are two types of Givi systems - Mono-lock and Mono-Key
Am I not right in thinking that if you buy a Kawasaki box you get the plate and fitting kit with it?. :-\
British racing green has always been a lovely colour, but I prefer black ;D
Quote from: 100milesaway on May 30, 2011, 11:26:40 AM
Am I not right in thinking that if you buy a Kawasaki box you get the plate and fitting kit with it?. :-\
Indeed you are right - Kit comes with the box.
It was the fact that a plate is already fitted - make sure it's the right one!
Quote from: deb3km on June 01, 2011, 08:58:43 PM
British racing green has always been a lovely colour, but I prefer black ;D
I can see that you and I are going to get on just fine. ;D
Quote from: deb3km on June 01, 2011, 08:58:43 PM
British racing green has always been a lovely colour, but I prefer black ;D
Shouldn't that British racing green come with a tan leather seat? ??? 8)
Or snake skin a la Z1000
Well, picked the bike up today, what a machine, makes my FJR feel old fashioned, the bike is silky smooth. It just seems to handle so sweetly and the pick up is terrific. I'm well pleased, just need to read up on the display panel, when I put the tire pressure menu up all I get is three dashes where I expected a reading, maybe I'm doing something wrong. Whenever I make a big purchase, I'm always worry that I'm doing the right thing, within a few miles I'm not worried about anything, it's a cracker.
All the best, Donald
The TPS normally kicks in a few mins after riding the bike. Did you check it during your ride?
Checked the tyre pressure while on the move and the readings were there, all in order. The bike is just great and seems really powerfull.
Good, inflate to 42psi front and rear as per the handbook and then they should display 44/45 psi approximately once the tyres have warmed up.
QuoteThe bike is just great and seems really powerfull.
How you getting on with it...I used to have an FJR..The GTR handles lot better, drinks bit more I reckon , then again bigger Engine. Dont think it pulls as well lower down. The Cruise gear is fantastic if your on the M ways. Fjr did lack an extra gear. I find lot less wind Buffeting as well & I have the Standard screen.
Hi Ziderman, I liked the FJR and agree that it pulls harder lower down but I think the GR is a bettrer bike all round. It just feels more modern and makes the FJR's handling feel awful. I think the bike is smoother and it's just got a different power delivery than the Yamaha. The panniers are bigger as well. I loved my FJR but the GTR just raises the bar I'm afraid. I've got a power commander right enough, it was on when I bought the bike.
Cheers, Donald
That's my view on the Gtr too...handling is superb. The Fjr was never a very exciting looking Bike either. But the Gtr just oozes appeal. I sit in Garage with can of Beer when I have cleaned it & admire it....Glad like the rest of us you are enjoying the Bike.
Went on my first decent run today, visited most towns in the Scottish Borders. the bike is a flying machine but, tell you what, my arse is killing me, never noticed the seat at all on my test rides (1 hour each mind you). Maybe it's just me having to adjust to the new seating position (I hope). I was averaging 50.3 MPG as well. I'm enjoying the readouts on the dash.
Cheers, Donald
Whereabouts in the Highlands did you get to?
Hi Lonewolf, it was actualy the borders I went to yesterday, great roads and nice little towns and villages.
If it's the Highlands you are keen on, in April we done a run through Glencoe, all the way up to Fort William, Loch carron, Applecross (Pass of the cattle) and over the bridge to Skye. Stayed in a B&B in Portree then back down to Armadale on Skye and the ferry to Mallaig and over to Ardgour, Corran ferry to Onich just outside Glencoe and back home. Just wish I had bought the GTR sooner. My mate videoe'd most of the good bits on a helmet - cam. he's going to edit the footage and post on Youtube. I'll put the links on here when he gets round to it.
Cheers, Donald
Look forward to it. ;D