Hi everybody, A quick update now that the new bike has arrived I never thought I would buy a green motorcycle but I must say it looks fantastic. The bike arrived on saturday so I had a quick ride out to Hawes, then over buttertubs pass then down through Swaledale to Reeth, I found the bike super smooth, and it has a lovely commanding riding position, for me the most amazing thing about the GTR is its ability to carry its weight and feel like a much lighter bike than it really is, good design me thinks, Moving on to Sunday and a two hundred mile ride up into Cumbria and back down through the dales,and in shocking weather conditions of hail, high winds and frequent heavy cloudbursts, the bike showed a lot of class just getting on doing its job in a classy and drama free manner. So so far so good, I will make a few adjustments to controls and suspension but other than that everything is fine. I will report back soon. cheers Geoff
Aye, once the bike gets going the weight just fades away. I know a lot of people think the bike is top heavy, but I think its weighted perfectly. Initially I loved the smoothness but after a while it got to me so I had to put on a louder exhaust just so it felt like a bike.
I love everything about the bike too ... even the exhaust !
The size of it seems to just evaporate when you get on it and get going ... and I have done 3,300 since March 3rd with an average of 47.8 mpg ..mostly commuting but it is just such a fantastic bike !
Yes I agree with you Rusty I think the can is rather handsome ::) and have no plans to change it. Further to your comment about fuel consumption I got 50.5 mpg out of mine on Sunday and that was despite the wind blowing at gale force, so on a calmer day I will be expecting to beat that. I had removed the panniers for my first ride out and thought the bike still looked really well, and did'nt look a dogs breakfast like some bikes do when panniers are removed. Overall I was chuffed to bits with the bike, my only slight worry was that the brakes actually feel TOO ! good, But I suppose that I will get used to them. Finally Does anyone know if it's possible to change the oil filter on the latest model without removing any panels?. cheers Geoff :)
Is the oil filter on the newer model in a different position to the older models? If not you can change it without tampering with any of the fairing, you just need to be prepared to get on your back and get your hands dirty, half the fun of owning a bike. ;D
Thanks Mr Wolf I'm not sure if the filter is in the same position as on the earlier model ,but I'm sure someone will put us right. cheers Geoff :)
Buy one of the cap style oil filter adaptors.
You will struggle with the strap or chain type.
On the early model this is easy as you can access from the front with a ratchet and some extensions.
I can't remember the size but I just took the new filter to a local car parts shop and bought the one that fitted.
On the later model the sump plug has moved so they may have moved the filter too.
From the pics online it still seems to be on the left side of the bike beside the headers so should be accessible the same way.
I tried removing my old oil cannister with a cap type gadget and it twisted the nut off. In the end I used the knackered cap gadget and then put a chain remover around it and it finally budged. It was either gunged up with crap preventing it from being slackened or someone had put it on too tight.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Fingers/100_1502.jpg)
Blimey It looks like It's been hit by a shell. :o
It was one of those moments when you go, Hmmm, what do you do now? :-\
Then someone suggested using a chain link cannister remover. On its own it was no good as it would not tension up around the oil cannister but if I used the above damaged sleeve and then the chain link gadget it worked easily. You live and learn. It'll be much easier next time.
Was it the first service? For some unknown reason, Kawasaki are notorious for over tightening the oil filter
No, it wasn't the first service. The bike had done just short of 12k when I tried to change the oil.
It was probably just me being weak.