As I had hoped, yesterday turned out to be my first chance to get a proper run out on my new GTR, so I thought I would share with you my first impressions.
Big isn't it?
First job when I opened the garage door was to remount the top case which I had had to take off to allow the garage door to shut when I first brought it home. Although taking it off was easy enough I could not get it to re-engage until the wife came out of the kitchen and applied a bit of downward pressure from the inside of the case whilst I operated the button on the catch. Perhaps it is the newness of it all, but if it requires a pit crew following me round to put it on I will be looking to avoid taking it off regularly.
The weather forecast suggested that there would be rain over Wales and to the East of England so it was a choice between north and south. In the end I decided I would have a run up to the Raven Café at Prees Heath near Whitchurch. Out from home toward Bridgnorth I had a play with the screen height to try and find the optimum position and once the onrushing air was pushed above my visor I was a little surprised that there was a bit more wind noise around me than I expected. A glance down at the speedo showed that the problem was that I was doing 70 and not 50 as I had imagined; the bike was definitely more smooth and sprightly that I had given it credit for.
Brignorth led to Telford, then Newport and on to the A41 and north Shropshire. These out of season rides can be among the best as there are not too many Sunday Drivers clogging up the roads, there are some nice clear stretches ahead of you and even keeping the revs below 5K whilst running the bike in there is loads of power to hand for some overtaking. With bright sunshine throughout I reached the Raven Café and contemplated my next move over a cup of tea.
There seemed to be loads of A49 ahead of me and I did not want to turn home yet, I was enjoying myself too much. I pointed the front wheel toward Warrington (at least, I think I did; not ever having had a bike with a fairing in front of me before I am still not used to the cockpit staying ahead of me and the front tyre doing mysterious things on its own, never the less it seemed to go where I expected it to at traffic islands).
Toward Warrington I began to see signs for Runcorn. I had never been to Runcorn and it seemed perfectly sensible to go and have a look – I still did not want to go home. Heading in to the town I saw a sign for the Promenade; that sounded too good to miss so down I went to the banks of the banks of the Mersey and took in the sight of the bridge from below. Having got through the customary cigarette I thought that now was probably the time for a souvenir photo of the bike with the bridge behind it. I have a LowPro rucksack that is designed to carry my DSLR camera, alternative lens and accessories and I am used to being encumbered with this on my back whilst riding, it was great just to be able to pluck it out of the top case of the GTR. There was blue sky to the east of me and blue sky to the west but overhead was cloud, I lit up again and waited for the sun to strike the bridge and bike – it never happened. In the end I took a quick snap and got back on the bike. There was a bridge up there that was begging to be ridden over, even if it was in the wrong direction for home and it looked like it was threatening a shower at the very least ....
The other side of the bridge is a major civil engineering site with underpasses and flyovers under construction to link with a new bridge across the Mersey. There are also lots of incomprehensible signs that can hopelessly confuse the novice GTR rider and I spent fifteen minutes or so circling the various earthworks and unintentionally viewing them from various different directions. Time was now no longer on my side, as usual I had got carried away with riding for no other reason than the pleasure of it and I decided that this desolate landscape around Widnes would have to go down as the climax to my trip and I turned the bike southwards and back over Runcorn Bridge.
Picking up my route back southwards my backside began to comment on the chaise lounge that Kawasaki have fitted to the GTR as a seat. It' OK, but perhaps not quite as comfortable as my Suzuki GSX1400 or the old Z1300. It is certainly better than the Z1000 though, my nether regions would have been screaming by now. Perhaps I am being a little unfair as I had by now done about 120 miles without many significant breaks.
Inevitably the dry day that the BBC had promised me petered out and there were one or two showers on the remainder of the ride back. Another tinker with the screen height showed that I could keep the wet stuff off me completely but at the expense of the top edge of the screen cutting across my vision. It is a bit like I would imagine wearing bifocal glasses would be, a little disconcerting but something that I will no doubt get used to and certainly better than being cold and wet.
Speaking of cold; as befits an early March day when the sun is going down I was beginning to feel it. The heated grips came into their own now and I was grateful for this new little luxury. The last 20 miles or so began to show slightly in my back. The riding position on the GTR seems a little more forward than my other bikes but I don't want to be unfair to it; I had been riding for several hours and I think the last one or two I had tensed up a little knowing I was on an unfamiliar bike on damp roads. Equally it was the first ride of this distance since last autumn and I also have to consider the fact my constituent body parts seem to work less well each year I get older.
Having said to my best beloved at around 10:30 in the morning that I was "going out for a couple of hours to put a few miles on the bike" I sneaked home under cover of darkness at about 18:00 and put my new charger to bed. I got The Look from the wife, but I don't think she was really surprised, having been married for over thirty years she is used to me disappearing on a bike from her life for indeterminate periods.
A hot bath and some proper clothes saw me right; I'd had a really good day with the bike and I'm looking forward to more to come. The thing is going to need a damned good clean today though.........
Great write up. Glad you like the bike. Your few criticisms can be easily cured for not very much is handle bar risers.
:agree: with Pete..
The top box will ease slightly after a while, it's tight because it's new, and it's definitely better than being slack and rattly, the screen adjustment will become easier as you become more familiar with your bike, if it doesn't improve to your liking then maybe a Laminar Lip will be the answer, I don't know how tall you are or how 'tall' you sit on the bike but the LL is a well proven option, maybe some bar risers will also alleviate the back discomfort, however you and the bike are new to each other and I'm sure you will adjust very soon.
Thanks for sharing your ride with us and great picture BTW :clap:
Lovely write up and as stated by others.
The problems you mentioned are easily fixed.
It's never ending these little additions :mfr_lol:
Risers, laminar lip, satnav mount, top box plate crass bars panniers frames the list goes on each to their own but most of all enjoy your brilliant bike :clap: :clap:
For the record, it's always raining over Wales! :sad:
why the hell would anyone want to go to Runcorn?
Thanks gents,
I'll spend a bit more time getting to know her before splashing cash, as you all say a couple of tweaks at most if really necessary. For now I have ordered a second cradle and power cable for my Garmin Zumo and that will do it for this month. (oh, perhaps another permanent lead for my trickle charger).
Always raining in Wales? Not true, 27/09/15 was OK and I seem to remember there was a day in 2013 as well.
And why would anyone want to go to Runcorn? Well, setting aside the fact that it has a promenade, there I days that I am just happy to ride until the moment it is time to turn around -wherever it may be. Sometimes those days can be as good as aiming for a particular place. It's not the destination, it's the journey that counts :smiley:
Here's another quick picture after I washed her off and the sun finally hit her and another one showing her with her stable-mates.
:mfr_lol: I am sure I had 4 dry days last year on a visit to abereron I will need to check the diary .
As you say bits as and when no time limits.
I am liking the black spud launcher :clap:
Quote from: pross on March 06, 2017, 08:38:13 PM
:mfr_lol: I am sure I had 4 dry days last year on a visit to abereron I will need to check the diary .
As you say bits as and when no time limits.
I am liking the black spud launcher :clap:
Yeah, it does look good
Nice picture of your bikes too
Very nice write up and it sounds like you had a great maiden voyage. I do like the colour of the GTR, I wonder if BMW do any of their bikes in the same colour. :popcorn:
Quote from: The Wolf on March 07, 2017, 03:05:38 PM
Very nice write up and it sounds like you had a great maiden voyage. I do like the colour of the GTR, I wonder if BMW do any of their bikes in the same colour. :popcorn:
hope not we want to keep it classy! Will it be another BMW then ?
Quote from: The Wolf on March 07, 2017, 03:05:38 PM
Very nice write up and it sounds like you had a great maiden voyage. I do like the colour of the GTR, I wonder if BMW do any of their bikes in the same colour. :popcorn:
if they did Steve it would be the only thing they have in common :mfr_lol:
BTW have you checked the used stock at Autorama recently ?
Quote from: Rynglieder on March 06, 2017, 08:20:51 PM
And why would anyone want to go to Runcorn? Well, setting aside the fact that it has a promenade,
I rest my case :mfr_lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NefcFtUw_j8
Quote from: Rynglieder on March 05, 2017, 09:04:47 AM
Having said to my best beloved at around 10:30 in the morning that I was "going out for a couple of hours to put a few miles on the bike" I sneaked home under cover of darkness at about 18:00 and put my new charger to bed. I got The Look from the wife, but I don't think she was really surprised, having been married for over thirty years she is used to me disappearing on a bike from her life for indeterminate periods.
I had to read this paragraph out to the wife!
"See" I said "It's not just me. Other GTR owners do exactly the same!"
Quote from: mikeyw64 on March 07, 2017, 06:36:55 PM
I rest my case :mfr_lol:
Excellent! I can't believe you took the trouble to find that :mfr_lol:
Isn't the World Wide Web a wonderful thing? I could have just sat at home and watched the video a few times and saved myself twenty quid in fuel – but no, on reflection I'd rather have had the run on the bike.
There's a whole world out there for me to explore; where next? Scunthorpe, Coventry, Luton? As long as there are some decent A roads leading on, I'm happy. :smiley:
Just to prove I do go to some more (slightly) exotic places have a look at these if you have time:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rynglieder/albums/72157649641434957 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/rynglieder/albums/72157649641434957)
The first big trip on the GTR is already in planning. :smiley: :smiley:
Clearly a very well travelled individual. :clap:
Quote from: Rynglieder on March 07, 2017, 08:03:30 PM
Excellent! I can't believe you took the trouble to find that :mfr_lol:
In fairness it was off the back of a conversation with my GF anout places to go and I jokingly said " Let's go to Runcorn, apparently it's got a promenade"
And then one thing led to another ....
Quote from: mikeyw64 on March 07, 2017, 09:00:27 PM
In fairness it was off the back of a conversation with my GF anout places to go and I jokingly said " Let's go to Runcorn, apparently it's got a promenade"
And then one thing led to another ....
I bet she can't wait! Have you pencilled in a date yet??
Quote from: Rynglieder on March 08, 2017, 06:23:10 PM
I bet she can't wait! Have you pencilled in a date yet??
I believe it clashes with the day that hell freezes over ;)
It's bigger than wigans pier :whistling:
That IS a lovely colour on your new bike mate :clap: :clap:
Bit of an update as I haven't posted much since joining - mostly due to not having too much use out of the bike yet.
The journey from the dealer and my spectacular trip to Widnes put about 400 miles on the bike. Since then I have had a couple of afternoons out including a run to Dom's Bike Stop near Leominster and a little run to Witley Court in Worcestershire. That took it up to 575 miles at which point I tried to get the 600 mile service arranged and the local workshop is booking three to four weeks in advance. My new toy has therefore been sitting in the garage for a few weeks now but hopefully as from Tuesday next week I will be able to take her out again and twist the throttle a little harder.
The bike is booked through the tunnel for the end of next month and I have an apartment in the Mosel Valley with my name on it for a week. Not long to go now.....
interesting point on the top box, I had the original box on mine and had nothing but problems from day one with the catch . Its generally accepted that Kawasaki just used the lower grade monolock from givi usually used on scooters . The givi monokey is a much more robust and sturdy box with better quality mechanisms . Ive had both . ditch the one you have and get a givi v47 monokey , although not Kawasaki branded and coloured a much superior box.
Quote from: viper on April 17, 2017, 09:42:05 PM
interesting point on the top box, I had the original box on mine and had nothing but problems from day one with the catch . Its generally accepted that Kawasaki just used the lower grade monolock from givi usually used on scooters . The givi monokey is a much more robust and sturdy box with better quality mechanisms . Ive had both . ditch the one you have and get a givi v47 monokey , although not Kawasaki branded and coloured a much superior box.
Interestingly it isnt the lock catch that's different between Monlock & MonoKey
I have a Givi Blade which can be used with both Monolock & Monokey plates as it has both fitting points on yet only has the one catch mechanism
Monolock is circled in green, MonoKey in Red
(http://sharetheexperience.co.uk/Images/GTR/box.jpg)
(http://sharetheexperience.co.uk/Images/GTR/box2.jpg)