Hi guys - well thanks to this forum's comments and feed back I took the plunge and bought a cracker - deciding to sell my ST1100 there was nothing on the market other than a 1400GTR - BMW did not appeal to me (too bland or too expensive) and Honda had the Pan 1300 (weave) and the VFR 1200 (too much sport:not enough tourer). My only conclusion after test riding the Kwak was not changing marque sooner. Mind you I did get the 2nd generation model and have leapt from the dark ages to enlightenment :) Now my purchase included a Zumo 550 with cradle and GTR mount - having just uploaded my Tomtom with cameras and maps I do not need the Garmin - so it is fully described in the sale section.
Redrat, welcome along to the forum. You say you got the second generation model, do you mean the 2010? I presume you do. I've only got a 2008 model but even that is my pride and joy, best bike I've ever owned. ;D
Whereabouts are you based?
Cheers LW - yes, December 2010 and it happened to come on the market when I was contemplating a pre-registered 2009 - glad I got all the updates - what an awesome bit of kit. Fortunately I am close to the Pirbright bends but all I ever see are cars in the ditches - mind you my daughter was first on scene at a fatal between car and bike and will not go pillion anymore !!
My mate swears by his ST1100 and whilst I'm not against them, I always say its a big scooter :)
Welcome to the GTR club and enjoy the many miles ahead of you
Thanks NB - have appreciated your links and listings - the ST is a dark horse and is an extremely capable bike, however the GTR is the ONLY bike to surpass it and tick most boxes so it was only a question of time before the right bike came along. The sales guy was taken aback when I said the deal was not done until I had test ridden the bike.To answer your question - the three items weigh in at 750 grammes so P&P and insurance would be on top. It is not on e-bay because at that price and provenance I want to know it will be going on a GTR.
Hello Redrat and welcome ....
Like you I wished I had swopped a while ago ... a Honda man I had a VFR for 6 years and that was a lovely bike, then changed to a CB1300,naked of course, and now the GTR which is just awesome ... Have ridden Pans for a very short time many years ago but just didn't like them and personally I wouldn't have one, but i know there are many out there who love them to bits so it's all very personal ... enjoy the bike !
I test road the 1300 first for almost 2 hours and the bike had no soul - got a weave at 95mph and my son, who was following backed off until I recovered - straight back to the dealer and tried the 1100 which was an absolute peach - but times move on and as Honda cannot get their act together the GTR ticked the boxes.
Trust me, you'll be swapping the exhaust of the GTR soon to get some soul into this bike as well!
Hi-ya Red rat, welcome to the forum can't really comment on the pans as I have never ridden one, but my last experience of a Honda was rather shocking so will leave it at that. Anyway like yourself I too have only just bought a GTR and I am really chuffed with it, I'm sure we will have many happy hours on them. Enjoy the bike and the forum lots of help if needed, and a good source of parts and info on the bike. Enjoy cheers Geoff :)
Welcome Redrat (prefer Black Rats myself!!)
Interesting comments about the ST1300 - In my opinion it is still one the most sublime machines ever built and if I could never have any other bike I would choose one above any other machine.
But..................the GTR is excellent and more sophisticated - Superb choice of weapon!
Fair few joining up here is there not. Bikes becoming very popular..good good...!
A belated welcome from me....just back from a 2000 mile roundtrip on the GTR.....and it didn't miss a beat. I use the Pirbright bends to set up my suspension ( a nice of roads)......enjoy the new bike ;D