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Is the market for bike gear really big enough to support a nationwide chain of stores? I,ve been in to HG several times since they opened a branch opposite DK Motorcycles (a bit cheeky I thought). Never bought anything though. The stuff looks fair quality but the styling is pretty dull IMO. Then you look at the price and it's always more than you think it will be.

I started buying Rev-It gear several years ago and have been impressed. Good quality, excellent features, great style and good value. So far it still looks good and nothing has fallen apart. I have a summer jacket and trousers that are some 7 years old now.

I've recently had test rides on a Speed Triple & Tuono R & Cross Tourer, and been on the verge of buying, then changed my mind after the ride back home, the GTR spoils you for other bikes, especially once it's tweeked to suit the individual. 

I felt the same way after a few test rides. Recently tried a Guzzi 1200 sport and new 1200 Stelvio 8V. Riding my GTR home I thought how good it was. There are a few things I don't like about it but unless you're very lucky that will apply to any bike.
I always go for a few test rides after about 3 years of ownership, helps keep things in perspective. Will be keeping the GTR a while longer.

Had a go on local Honda dealer's demo VF1200 Crosstourer (manual gearbox) here are my impressions;

The good stuff:

Engine is superb - pulls your arms out at low RPM but is very smooth and not snatchy. Fuelling smooth. No tingly vibes. Feels like a big V twin with no vibes. Sounds absolutely fab too.

Gearbox is good, no clonks or notchyness.

Clutch is light.

Steering is excellent, feels like a much lighter bike than it is and whole lot faster to turn than a GTR. Suspension is well controlled if a bit firm at low speed with coarse road surfaces vibrating the bars (might be how the demo was set up).

Finish is typical Honda, high quality although much the same as everyone elses nowadays.

On balance a very nice bike to ride.

The not so good:

Riding position is ODD. High seat and bars but foot rests are high too, you sit more upright than on a GTR. My legs were more folded than they are on the GTR. Could just get my feet down but the seat is higher than the GTR. Also as with all the soft road / trail style bikes the foot rests are just where your legs go when you put a foot down. Having said all that I didn't feel uncomfortable during the 45 mins or so I rode it.

Brakes feel OK but nothing special.

The instruments are all LCD, speed is clear but I found all the other info a bit a jumble and hard to see. Panel is not very pretty to look at either IMO.

Screen is OK but as far as I could tell doesn't adjust, more wind noise at lower speeds than on my GTR (MRA screen) but oddly this didn't change much at higher speeds. No helmet buffeting for me.

Cost - this bike is fairly expensive and IMO looks a bit basic up close. If you go for the SE you get luggage which looks odd. The plastic is supposed to look like aluminium but doesn't. All very flimsy looking but with more capacity than the GTR.

No centre stand on the basic model.

Fairing bars on the SE will not protect the bike if it falls over the dealer told me. Honda describe them as accessory bars - for fitting spot lights to (not included!)

Finally, and this is just my personal bias, I really am fed up with all the BMW GS 'adventure' image stuff. Why does a bike which is really only ever going to be used on the road have to be so tall, come with wire wheels and trail tyres etc. At least the Crosstourer looks a lot better than a GS but it's not exactly sleek. Why didn't Honda just fix the lack of touring features on the normal VFR? All it needs is better luggage, a bigger tank, slightly higher bars and an electric screen. If they offered that with the engine in Crosstourer tune it would be one hell of an ST.

So that leaves the GTR together with may be two or three others, as the only true ST motorcycle currently available.

Hi

Cruising round and at legal-ish motorway speeds its fairly quiet so not too much of a problem on long journeys

I think the only difference between 2010 models and the earlier bikes is the heat shield. I made Scorpion aware of that when they made the pattern so I would buy direct and speak to them, they will just make the link pipe without the brackets for the shield.

Alternatively you could keep the brackets, buy a shield from Kawasaki and have cool feet!

Chris

Thanks for the feed back Chris.

Are you running with the baffle in or out? Do you wear ear plugs? I don't want much more noise, I'm more interested in the looks/weight saving and clean fuelling. (I'm in the hate the look of the original can camp)

Yes I thought I might get a heat shield from K. Any body know how much?

Jerry

Buy from Scorpion direct, or here, http://www.twowheel.co.uk - both are £299 but free shipping at Two Wheel Centre.

The fitment says GTR1400 2010 on. Mine is an 09 so I contacted Scorpion to see if the Serket silencer will fit - answer 'yes'.

If I buy I will buy direct just in case there is an issue with 09 fitment. You also get lifetime warranty and if you trash it, a replacement for half price. All made in england it says on the web.

I wanted a bit more feed back from Bradders before I decide to buy.

Bradders, how are you getting on with the Scorpion? Thinking of getting one.

The front mudguard is made from very brittle plastic. I broke mine after attaching a home made hose guide. It really p***ed me off since the repair was because of those almost impossible to remove mudguard mounted guides, one of which I just gave up on and cut off.

I was shocked how brittle the plastic was. My prevoius two bikes were both Aprilias and the plastics were very tough. The front mudguard of my Futura even survived a disc lock being turned into it. Don't try that on a GTR, the mudguard will just shatter!

I've seen a few reports of clonking from the front on the GTR so I thought I'd pass on my experience of this as it may help others solve the issue.

My GTR started clonking through the bars when braking after only 5k miles or so from new. You could make it do it by pumping the forks on the brakes at a standstill. You could feel slight movement between the top yoke and the head stock. However no amount of pulling and pushing on the bottom of the forks would show any play. Bike also became very difficult to ride at much below 5 mph or so, no way you could keep it straight. 
So off it went back to dealer (DK Motorcycles). They told me it was the head bearings, which they had adjusted. Sure enough the clonk was gone although the low speed stabiltiy didn't seem much better but I decided to live with it.
After another 3k miles or so clonking again. Same deal as before. Out of warranty now so decided to take a look myself. After a bit of investigation and reading the service manual the problem is now solved (I hope):

Firstly the head bearings were too tight not too loose which is why the bike was so hard to ride at slow speed.

Secondly the upper most stem bearing lock ring must be tightened down to the adjuster ring below and the lock washer tabs engaged. 
DK tightened the head bearings (way too tight) and mangled the slots in the ring in the process (thanks guys). Amazingly the lock tabs were engaged with the locking ring a good half turn away from the adjuster ring. This means when the top yoke is tightened down on the stem by the centre nut it's just pushing on the loose lock ring. It would appear that it's the top yoke that clonks not the steering stem.

Getting the bearing setting right I found hard to do. The cables and hoses make it difficult to feel how free they are. In the end I backed off the adjuster ring until I could definately feel play at the bottom of the forks and then slowly tightened the ring just far enough to remove the play.
Torquing the stem nut seemed to tighten the bearings too so you have to allow for it.

I have to say it's hard to see how the top yoke can move even if the locking ring is not tghtened down. All I can say is the low speed steering is now normal and there is no clonk no matter how hard you pump the forks.

Sad to say that in over 30 years of motor cycling this was just another example of shoddy dealer maintenance to add to past experiences. Also sad to say that the GTR is the one and only bike I have ever owned with head bearing issues AND it would seem this was an assembly fault from new. I don't know how the bike arrives crated at dealers so can't say if it's a Kawasaki or dealer job.