So which is the better bike?
It depends what you are looking for Peter, I loved every GTR I owned they are a stunning bike and made me smile every time I rode them, they also have a superb presence on the road
BUT the Versys is so much lighter and more comfortable for both rider and pillion, I have owned three since 2012
The latest incarnation which I am proud to say I have just purchased is a stunning bike which has astounded me with its qualities
To any potential purchaser I would say " go and try one" :yes:
(http://i63.tinypic.com/2wc1ahk.jpg)
I thought you would be on. Let's see what the others think.
It's like comparing a bmw 320 v 635 or burnley v Man City both are good at what they do ,blasting down to the south of France quick as you can then the gtr is the one to be on coming back over the alps then the versys would be a better choice , this is why adventure bikes are all the rage , this is why you need more than one bike ,,
I'm not rich enough to run more than one bike!
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Quote from: Daisy on April 09, 2019, 12:42:36 AM
My sunglasses aren't dark enough for a Versys.
I know adventure bikes are all the go, and are perfectly functional - but why do they have to look like they were assembled by a one-armed man and his guide dog, out of a container of parts from Midnight Spares and with instructions in Japlish?
Surely Michael Bay is ready for another Transformers movie, so the scribblers and doodlers can bugger off to Hollywood and the real bike designers can get back to work?
Slightly dramatic methinks :wacko:
.
Quote from: Daisy on April 09, 2019, 10:27:53 AM
Oh, ok then. I think it is bloody ugly. :shit:
There's no accounting for taste :no:
I once tried asking a pal why he bought an old fazer 600 as opposed to a zx6r- same as mine that he'd test ridden and enjoyed
he said he thought the front was ugly
I replied you cant see it whilst you are driving just the clocks bars etc so it doesnt matter what the front looks like. he looked at me funny.
his 2nd gear went (common fault) and then his next bike was a zx6r same year as mine
as to what it looks like whilst you are off it, that kind of thing is irrelevant to me. once ive got past the initial few glances. I am ugly and have got used to living with ugliness (my wifes pet name) and so I downplay looks all the time. if anything the uglier the better. for styling effect I once rammed a bog brush under the seat of my rd350
wooden, none of your cheapo ugly plastic garbage
.
Gtr pretty!! My Gtr is called Alfie and he is handsome!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder :yes:
I really like the KTM 1290 super GT but for the life of me hate the vertical lights on those Austrian bikes, all of them, front end horrible and yes I know you don't see it while riding it but I can "think it".
Quote from: BigAlan on April 09, 2019, 08:40:57 PM
I really like the KTM 1290 super GT but for the life of me hate the vertical lights on those Austrian bikes, all of them, front end horrible and yes I know you don't see it while riding it but I can "think it".
Yep, I know what you mean Alan, I've heard that light configuration likened to a ladies 'private parts' :mfr_lol:
I changed a ZZR1400 for my first GTR back in 2007 because I loved the look of the GTR, for me it is still a very good looking bike :yes:
I think the front of the Versy's looks a bit naff but then I have the same opinion of the new GS 1250, WTF have BMW done with the bike?
You can't honestly believe the Versy's looks better than this can you? The reliable GS 1200 Adventure :banana:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-c6BmSXH/0/X4/i-c6BmSXH-X4.jpg) (https://www.ruffmuttpawtraits.com/Motorcycle-Photography/BMW-GSA-Rallye/n-5dxMzw/i-c6BmSXH/A)
That flipping horrid, far to much going on stood still.
A plumber's nightmare
Quote from: BigAlan on April 10, 2019, 09:29:18 AM
That flipping horrid, far to much going on stood still.
Why, what does yours do when it's parked? 🤔
When did BMWs become reliable ?
The Shark nose styling was in fact introduced in 1980 when Suzuki launched the Katana
Well I'm glad I don't have to clean it ,I do like the look of the standard gs it's much more streamlined,but if we all liked the same we would have nowt to talk about , bikes are like breasts I love them all , :mfr_lol:
Quote from: O.C. on April 10, 2019, 01:46:38 PM
When did BMWs become reliable ?
The Shark nose styling was in fact introduced in 1980 when Suzuki launched the Katana
correct on both counts.
Quote from: nightrider on April 10, 2019, 03:18:36 PM
Well I'm glad I don't have to clean it ,I do like the look of the standard gs it's much more streamlined,but if we all liked the same we would have nowt to talk about , bikes are like breasts I love them all , :mfr_lol:
Amen to that. :mfr_lol:
Originally this thread was entitled gtr v Versys. Why has it been altered to include GS?
Quote from: PRD on April 10, 2019, 06:06:25 PM
Originally this thread was entitled gtr v Versys. Why has it been altered to include GS?
Because I thought in your excitement you'd forgotten to include it seeing as how you grasp every opportunity to slag BMW off. :popcorn:
Quote from: Lonewolf on April 10, 2019, 12:04:31 PM
Why, what does yours do when it's parked? 🤔
Looks a whole lot better than that, that's what.
Quote from: BigAlan on April 10, 2019, 09:37:34 PM
Looks a whole lot better than that, that's what.
:mfr_lol:
Quote from: BigAlan on April 10, 2019, 09:37:34 PM
Looks a whole lot better than that, that's what.
Then add a photo, I'd like to see your bike. :yes:
Quote from: PRD on April 10, 2019, 09:50:41 PM
:mfr_lol:
Be careful Pete thinking up a response to Alan's previous comeback you might burn yourself out. :yawn:
Pretty = MV F4 1000, Ducati 916, Kawasaki Z1A, Yamaha XT500.
Plain = Honda CBR600, Kawasaki GTR1000/1400, Yamaha FJ1200.
Ugly = Bimota Mantra, Suzuki Hayabusa, ANY trail bike EXCEPT the XT500.
Sorry, trail bikes may be practical, but almost never pretty.
Scaffolding on wheels made worse by huge beaky mudguards, and stupid headlight designs.
Quote from: Burchy on April 10, 2019, 11:33:40 AM
A plumber's nightmare
used to spend hours with meccano now you can buy a model ready built. :mfr_lol:
Quote from: zedmeister on April 11, 2019, 09:31:54 PM
used to spend hours with meccano now you can buy a model ready built. :mfr_lol:
:mfr_lol: that's BMW for you, they think of everything.
Different classes of bikes but my 2p worth is that the GTR is without doubt a very accomplished tourer for one or two people, lacks some of the modern toys now available on many bikes and of course is a heavy old girl. Has plenty of grunt, cruises at 100+ in extreme comfort, handles very well on fast A or B roads, has good sized panniers. What's not to love about the bike...corrosion of some parts very early in it's life has disappointed me.
Versys is also very good, easier to move about than the GTR, comfortable and goes, stops, handles very well, I've not tried the latest but no doubt it has moved on from the one I rode in 2016. Lack of suitable luggage space for a two week tour for two puts me off to some degree, I'd be back to using my throw over panniers.
GS Adventure is a great bike for distance though IMHO too big and numb, ugly and top heavy, I prefer the GS over the GS Adventure and have ridden both on many occasions, both go reasonably well, handle very well and have plenty of luggage space, I don't see myself owning one although I have had the opportunity to at a good price on quite a few occasions, my good mate is a BMW Motorrad sales manager. I did own the S1000XR Sport for a short time but after having various issues and an engine failure at 6500 miles, lack of suitable pannier space was again a problem so I did not keep it that much longer and traded it in for the GTR.
Robbieben, I have some extremely fond memories of numerous Scottish tours I completed on my GTR, both on my own and with Rusty from this forum. The GTR is a very capable bike with looks to match and it has always surprised me that Kawasaki didn't consider fitting it with cruise control. Yes, the GSA is ugly by comparison but it's branding is unquestionable and has an immense following since the Longway Down adventures from 2004.
The two bikes are in different categories but both are equally capable of accomplishing the same feats. I'm not a highly skilled rider by any stretch of the imagination but I've felt confident on each bike in a multitude of situations.
Had Kawasaki supplied the GTR with heated seats, cruise control and a rear shock that didn't keep seizing I doubt I would have dipped my toes in the BMW pot.
If you think that the gs is top heavy you want to have a go on a triumph 1200 adventure on my mates and it felt like it was going to fall flat on its side every time I went round a slow corner ,,
Interesting thread ! :eek: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as someone has pointed out ... thank goodness we are all different !
Thankfully I have never had any "problems" with any of the bikes I have owned since I was 18.
I always remember my naked Honda CB1300 to be a stunner .. great build quality and loads of torque but it had to go when I started my commutes to The Met. The GTR was just super for all of those miles, ticking all the boxes. I only moved to the dark side by accident really when a work colleague went on annual leave and asked me to take his GS home a couple of times to keep it ticking over whilst he was away. By the time I got to the other side of T Square I was hooked :yes:
Pop in for a service today on the gtr and why it was being done the salesman was trying to sell me a versys ,and i must say at 15500 pounds with boxs and cheap looks i will be keeping the gtr
Quote from: Lloyd on April 27, 2019, 08:24:36 PM
Pop in for a service today on the gtr and why it was being done the salesman was trying to sell me a versys ,and i must say at 15500 pounds with boxs and cheap looks i will be keeping the gtr
I don't blame you. I genuinely do not know why Kawasaki stopped production of the GTR, it's an awesome machine and quite a head turner.
The GTR doesn't meet Euro 4 emission requirements
So perhaps they need to release a GTR-S 1000 baeed on the H2 motor? :punk: :clap: :popcorn:
Quote from: O.C. on April 28, 2019, 02:07:04 PM
The GTR doesn't meet Euro 4 emission requirements
And if/when we leave the EU would that negate the necessity for it to meet Euro 4 emission requirements? Serious question, I don't understand all this emission requirement stuff.
I don't think so. The UK market is small and they're not going to build a version just for us. Kawasaki will just supply us with the Euro model
Ah well, it was worth a chance. :mfr_lol:
ZZR1400 is sold in Europe and the Concours is still around in the US. Shouldn't be a big problem to bring back the GTR if they wanted to?
insufficient demand and volume to justify the cost of reintroduction methinks
I am upset my cb 1300 wasnt included .
Fir those if us who'd like to do a direct comparison between the Versys 1000, the SX and the H2SX, Bournemouth Kawasaki are considering setting up a regular "demo+" day. Had the first one last Sunday. 6 of us took out those 3 plus a Z900rs and a couple of 650s
Had 5 hours on the road and all had the opportunity to ride all the bikes.
If we can finalise all the details, I'll post up dates etc on here for those interested