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Snowy - how did you wire your connector in to the battery? I'm looking at the same cable but it only seems to come with a 55cm length option. Was that sufficient to route all the way back to the battery? I know it isn't far in a straight line to the battery but I am always wary of wiring lengths when routing around and about!

It also looks to be a pig to route down there, which way did you take it?

I'd be a potential customer for this if the price is right!
I'm definitely not happy with my current SW-Motech solution (http://www.bykebitz.co.uk/brands/sw-motech-and-bags-connection/sw-motech-alu-racks/kawasaki-gtr1400-2007-onwards-alu-rack.html + an additional cheap plastic adaptor plate). It rattles around all over the place and looks fugly!

Just spotted this reply, sorry for the delay! By all means, get in touch with Givi and find out what they say about compatibility. They strongly denied that there was any issue with the 2015 model year.
I must say I was actually a bit disappointed with how they handled the whole thing to be honest, I had had very good experience with their customer support a few years ago when buying some accessories for my old Bandit where they invited me up to their distribution centre to actually check if racks for a different model year would fit.

In this instance, despite me forwarding photos of the parts and the offending fin on the bike they insisted that the rack was compatible. To paraphrase their representative, I must have bought the wrong model or from a non-UK distributor.

I would even have been happy to be told that I was being an idiot and that I was putting bits in the wrong place! They just didn't seem to want to help. Oh well, I went for an SW Motech solution in the end since Givi weren't being helpful. I'll be honest, I'm not overly impressed - the 55L top box is secure and isn't going to fall off (10,000 miles and counting) but it seems to move around an awful lot whilst I am riding and long term I am concerned about metal fatigue.

I've already got a copy of Roadcraft on its way so that I can start to read through that.
Thanks for the comments on Bike Safe Neil, I was already familiar with that scheme but unfortunately the scheme isn't running here in Gloucestershire until June next year.
I suspect I will have already started an advanced course by that point and the Bike Safe site specifically states that it isn't open to participants who have had advanced training. Although whether you have to pass for that to apply I'm not sure. I also don't know how they would know ;)

It would be good if the car licence had a compulsory motorbike component (and yes, I realise how impractical that would be but still). I felt that I became a better car driver after passing my bike test because of the focus on observational skills etc. The car test just seems to be a box tick of "are you aware that there are some shiny reflective surfaces on the sides of your vehicle"?

Rider training took that mirror and beat me around the head with it, I now do a life-saver check before changing position when walking on the pavement! ;)

Thanks for the comments, that is pretty much what I had assumed. I very much agree with the "never stop learning" sentiment, that is part of my reasoning for doing the training.

Hehe, thanks for that! That is an opinion I've seen repeated a few times on other forums etc but I am always very cautious about internet opinion ;)
There does seem to be a definite trend however.

Does that attitute filter down to the local groups do you think? I suppose every group is going to have good and bad eggs.

Definitely leaning towards the IAM route at the moment.

Thanks for the responses so far everyone. I am definitely sold on the idea of advanced training - just which one! It seems that there are two IAM groups around Cheltenham; http://www.advancedmotorcycling.org.uk/ and https://sites.google.com/site/iamsambikers/.

I'm settling in nicely with the GTR (just over 8,000 miles since July) and should be feeling properly settled on the bike pretty soon - the biggest thing I've found coming from the Bandit is having a cross-section the size of a barn door to catch the wind, not the fault of the GTR - just large faired bikes!

I had been meaning to look in to doing an advanced riding qualification this year but I thought it prudent to get used to the new bike before trying to get through one.
I've done a quick search on the forum and have seen a few people mention that they've done a RoSPA or IAM course, I was just wondering if anyone has any thoughts about either course and which one to go for? I know the IAM is a pass once thing and the RoSPA needs requalifying periodically but are there any other substantial differences?

I suppose things like the social aspect depend on your local organisation rather than the parent organisation.

Does anyone know anything about the IAM and RoSPA groups in Gloucestershire?

Any thoughts welcome but religious preferences for one or the other need to be backed up with a reasoned opinion ;)

Yep. The theory is that if you make the bike significantly more powerful (for example) then the risk factor for that bike is now higher.
Also if you're inept with a spanner then your risk of causing an incident when your mod goes wrong increases too!

Again, I suspect most don't notify them but you are supposed to.

In the UK we're supposed to detail any modifications that have been made to the bike. In theory they can refuse a claim if there is something that hasn't been declared.

Whether they'd investigate that far in to the innards of the bike I'm not sure, I suppose it would depend on the severity of the incident (read: claim).

What exactly do you tell your insurance company when you've done this? I struggle finding a call centre bod who understands the concept of moving house, let alone one that can handle being told I've removed the secondary butterflies.

Or do you just whistle innocently?

Thanks for the responses everyone. They're all positive which is a good thing I suppose! Doesn't help actually pick one however 

I'm near Swindon but use Bristol Kawasaki to get mine serviced. They've been brilliant over the past four years and I'm in there for a service every 3 months!

Why do you make the journey down to Bristol out of curiosity? I've done dafter things (I used to get my last bike serviced by Artdeans in Swindon when I lived in Coventry!) but just curious why you don't use Blade.

I don't like the sound of "not cheap"! 

I'll be due for the first service (3750) in a month or so and it looks like a "kick the tyres" service with no actual work to be done. Hopefully they can't charge too much for that!

Does anyone have any experience with the Kawasaki dealership Frasers of Gloucester or Blade Group Kawasaki in Swindon?
Whilst the bike is under warranty I plan on having all servicing done by a dealership but I know from past experience that dealerships can vary greatly in their workmanship!

To resurrect a slightly older thread - I have just purchased these for my GTR panniers as well as one for my Givi top box.
They are expensive really for a bag but they do seem like they will stand up to some abuse... I have yet to cram them full though. Let me know if you want any more information!