Well folks one week into the new bike and I have put some 500 miles on it, very comfortable! screen is dire so has now been replaced with an MRA vario screen which is a lot better, I have a concern over the exposure of the rad to stone damage has anyone on here fitted a Beowulf cover? I will post a more comprehensive report at the weekend! (overworked at the moment)
Welcome!
I would definitely recommend a radiator guard or fender extender. I have a guard made by ProjektD out of Taiwan (great customer service!). I had my bike for about 3 weeks and was doing a good washing. I noticed 3 LARGE dings in the radiator fins! Luckily none punctured the veins. I ordered my radiator guard the same day.
The 2010 has a bit different tire compound than the '08/'09 stock tires, but it would still be a good idea to start researching tires now. Michelin PR2 (Pilot Road 2, dual compound) is a good all around choice, but there are many to choose from.
My bike has 28k with no radiator guard. I use a fender extender which has saved the radiator, but I think its time for a guard as well as the radiator is starting to age. Will probably go for the ProjektD
Is your commute on the motorway? If so, how tall are you and how much buffeting does the MRA Vario give?
EDIT: ProjektD radiator guard and fender extender (http://projektd.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_39_46&products_id=162) with free shipping. About to order
Beowulf KAWASAKI GTR1400 RADIATOR COVER, GRILL, GUARD (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310237435983&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT) go for a reasonable price of £45 from Ebay but if you live locally to them they have no objections to collection. I have a Fenda extender but I suppose you cant be too careful, I wouldn't want to have to replace the rad :(
Mark, I take it you have bought one from Beowulf?
Bugger - keep forgetting Beowulf (http://www.beowulf-performance-products.com/) is just around the corner from me. Maybe I could get them to weld the bung into the exhaust.
Beowulf only seem to do the cover in anodised black, I think it'd look better in silver, personal opinion I guess but I'd always go for the silver. I like the R&G one though. :)
I have a funny feeling that over the winter months if the bike is laid up it might have a few mods done to it to ease the boredom and frustration of not being able to ride. :(
Quote from: Norman Bates on October 05, 2010, 08:52:11 PM
My bike has 28k with no radiator guard. I use a fender extender which has saved the radiator, but I think its time for a guard as well as the radiator is starting to age. Will probably go for the ProjektD
Is your commute on the motorway? If so, how tall are you and how much buffeting does the MRA Vario give?
EDIT: ProjektD radiator guard and fender extender (http://projektd.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_39_46&products_id=162) with free shipping. About to order
My riding is about 50% on the twisties and 50% main road including motorway and dual carriageway, I am exactly 6' tall with a 32" inside leg so I guess thats sort of normal, over the stock screen the MRA reduces noise and buffeting by about 80% which to me is about right, after all it is a bike and wind in the face is what its all about, the twin vents in the screen reduce the turbulence massively as they equal the pressure out behind the screen.
Calsci make a screen with one pressure equalising vent and MRA with two equalising vents. Has anyone tried both of these screens? What is better? One vent or two?
I contacted Beowulf this lunchtime about a radiator grill which they do sell. However they only do them in black :-\
Whats wrong with a good old fashioned stainless steel one, I think it would look better with a bit of bling to the front. :)
I think it will be an R&G grill afterall.
Well I finally got myself a radiator guard, I dont know what make it is but its stainless steel exactly as I wanted so it'll be going straight on the bike when it arrives. Its an Ebay purchase.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Fingers/RadGuard.jpg)
Quote from: Rawman on October 05, 2010, 07:43:09 PM
Welcome!
I would definitely recommend a radiator guard or fender extender. I have a guard made by ProjektD out of Taiwan (great customer service!). I had my bike for about 3 weeks and was doing a good washing. I noticed 3 LARGE dings in the radiator fins! Luckily none punctured the veins. I ordered my radiator guard the same day.
The 2010 has a bit different tire compound than the '08/'09 stock tires, but it would still be a good idea to start researching tires now. Michelin PR2 (Pilot Road 2, dual compound) is a good all around choice, but there are many to choose from.
I went with the fenda extender, only because when I got my zzr1400 was going to put a rad grill on that, but heard this makes the bike run hot, but the zzr1400 runs hot anyway. but suppose thats why the rad grill never help the situation any! had mixed views on this, some said it never made there bike run hot and some did! so went for the fenda extender, this covers the bottom rear of the tyre fully! so no stones can fly up and damaged the rad, so just bought a fenda extenda for the gtr1400. all I want to do is protect the rad from stones flicked up by the front tyre, which the fenda extended dose extreamly well, and at only £17.00 and 10 mins to remove the front mudgaurd, and a other 10 mins to drill 4 holes and secure with 4 self tapping screws, it a dam bargain!
Fek, I've still not put mine on. Before I do, I'll take a pic of the radiator so you can see the condition with a fender extender only. TBH, I don't think it needs a radiator guard as well, but I want this bike to last
I have the Fenda extender and the rad guard, better to be safe than sorry. Also the stainless steel rad guard compliments the bike rather well.