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I would like to know also, because if it happens again I need some ammo to walk into the dealer with.

Alan

My black '08 warped the discs after 20k miles (end of last year) and the dealer got Kawasaki to give me 2012 discs and pads, which they claim are "revised" and should not warp any more. That was 6k miles ago and so far so good.

First of all, no affiliation whatsoever, just somebody happy with a product that I've been looking for for a while, at the right price.

I am not sure about you guys, but I'm not delighted paying Kawasaki 83,95£ for the pannier bags, so I've been using simple (8£ each) sport bags that don't really fit and it's always an art to guess (in the comfort of my living-room) if I'm packing too much or too little. So I went out to the interwebs for a little hunt for bags that fit in the panniers and came across this e-bay item. The seller is in London and the communication was prompt. He answered my e-mail withing a couple of ours, and sent the parcel as soon as I paid so I got it in Munich just 48 hours later.

When I first saw the package in the postman hands I thought it was a joke. I was very disappointed. They look too small and you have to assemble them with a zip. But once you do this, they fit exactly in the panniers and carry tons of stuff, with inner pockets for pens, documents and even for a small laptop or iPad, and a nice outside pocket with a zip.

Once full and closed, you know they are going to fit in the bike and you won't be wasting space. Quality wise they seem just perfect. I had a close look at the OEMs and the buckle for the carrying strap seems a bit stronger, but I don't do more than 4 or 5 tours a year (between 2 and 10 days at a time), so I think they will serve me well. And the fact that they are so small when "disassembled" means that you can store them in very little space.

The asking price is 39,99£ but you can make an offer. I offered 33£ and the seller took it. Happy camper here! 

This is without doubt the best money I have ever spent on an accessory. Gripster tank pads from Tech Spec in the USA.
Apart from protecting the paintwork from getting scuffed up they provide fantastic grip so that just gentle pressure with your legs / knees "locks" you in place greatly improving the feeling of control and surprisingly, at least to me, comfort as you feel planted and not wanting to slide onto the tank.
If you like to move around a bit no problem either - I know I sound like I work for the company that makes them but these things are absolutely bloody fantastic.
...
They come with a conventional tank protector for the back of the tank but I've left the Kawasaki one in place at this stage - the other thing I almost forgot is that they are designed in such a way that they can be peeled off and re applied without loosing strength from the adhesive, up to 4 or 5 times I think.

Completely agree with your review. I've got mine from a UK store that gets the pads from Tech Spec USA, and they are indeed much blacker than what they look in the pictures. They improve control and comfort, and also protect the bike. Best 50 something pounds I spent on the bike.

well, I guess I will have to start cutting the handle of my toothbrush to make space, then...

Lads,
I happen to have selected you fine country for my yearly season-opening tour, crossing the south of England first, then Wales, then Ireland, then Scotland and then back to the continent.
One of my concerns is that I will visit many cities and I'd like to leave the helmet with the bike. Due to carrying capacity, I'm not sure I will always have place on the top case to put it in, so I was thinking of using a lock and cable to attach it to the bike or some other helmet lock attached to the rack of the bike (it's a solid aluminium aftermarket one, not the plastic that come with the bike).
Do you think that this is safe? Will I find the helmet there when I'm back from a couple of hours walk through the city? Any particular city I should avoid?
Thanks a lot in advance...

Sorry, but there is some bollox being talked on here.
You can buy and wear what you want from where you want.  The crunch comes for those selling.
If you couldn't wear a UK helmet in Europe you'd have to buy a new lid every border crossing!
US helmets can't be supplied as they pass different tests, but you can buy one and wear it legally.
It is the supply that isn't alllowed - not the purchase and wearing.
The other aspect is if buying outside EU then import tax and duty is to be paid.

I'm not sure of that. Wearing any helmet in Italy without the ECE-22 will definitely get you a fine. US market specific helmets are Snell certified, which is irrelevant this side of the pond. 

thanks a lot, guys. That about settles it, then. 
I guess I will take it to my trusty German dealer before or after the trip. Those guys have been great in the past. They even let me try the new zzr last time while waiting for my bike to be ready 

In the upcoming trip to Ireland next month, it seems like I'll be hitting the 42000 km right when I'm around Dublin, where I plan to spend 2 nights. Now Kawasaki's European site says that there is a big dealer there (and nowhere else around). I know it is a long shot but: does somebody have some experience with these guys?
Thanks in advance,
Martín

For those in Great Britain or that have been there, I'm a Southamerican living in Germany (Munich, to be precise) and I'm planning to do a little trip this spring, like every year, this time to the Isles. So far I sketched it as follows:

Day 1. Munich - Aachen (700 km)

Day 2. Aachen - Dunkerque (300 km + ferry to Dover) and then make my way through the south of England (Brighton, Midhurst, Winchester...)

Day 3. Still in England, make my way to Cardiff and then to Swansea, to cross to Ireland (ferry to Cork)

Day 4 to 10. A quick lap clockwise around Ireland with main stops in Belfast and Dublin, from which I intend to take the ferry to Heysham. A question remains as to whether I visit the Isle of Man or not, but once in Heysham I'd like to drive up north to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and then find a way back to Dover and to the continent.

My question for you guys is short (which entitles a long answer): suggestions? I think I pretty much know what I want to do in Ireland and it is somehow smaller, but Great Britain is bigger and I've been already in London a couple of times, so I'm asking mostly about Scotland and the east coast.

I do have a couple of English friends here at the office, but one of them is from London, so he considers everything outside it beyond interest  ;) and the other one is from Ipswich and he's never been away from it until he came to Germany  :o

Thanks for your time,
Martín

I have the Ti version of the Hexacone and I still get happier every time I see it or hear it. Couldn't believe the weight difference with the OEM Scud. It suits the GTR perfectly!

My sis-in-law lives there. Free lodgings and food!

If I may, next time you're around try going to Kesselberg, some 70 km south of Munich. Just keep in mind it is verboten for bikes on weekends (German hospitality :-X)

That region looks to be good for biking. Nice to know somewhere to stay on my way to munich.

I'm new here, so let me ask you: why would you come to Munich? (I'm not German, but I live here and have an '08 1400GTR)