2012 Ordered! Yay!

[advancedpcs]

Hi everyone!

I've been secretely checking this forum out for a while now in order to make a more informed decision... yep; after a couple of years looking at various bikes in this 'catagory', I've put down a hefty deposit on a 2012 1400GTR!.. In Metallic Blue, with the extended warranty, top box, and pannier protection vinyl. At 2011MY pricing too!  8)

I'm Matt and I'd like to say a BIG THANKS to all of you posting problems, questions, etc on this site. Becuase of you guys'n'gals, I whittled it down to the GTR. Approaching the dealership at the end of August, cash in hand, I said I'd like to buy the 11MY GTR please. They had a new 12MY bike in to be liveried up for the Police. It looked black! It was blue! Strange.

Anyway, a long story cut short, Kawasaki have told me they're shipping out the 12MY bikes to the Dealer network mid to end November, so fingers crossed I'll get the bike around the same time as the NEC show  ;D

As I'm seconded to Land Rover down the road from the NEC, I might nip in there one afternoon to buy some new gear as my current stuff won't match (riding a red Suzuki) and is many years old. Giving the dealer enough money so shall give someone else some pennies for the gear.

One thing I'd like to mention though, the 2012MY GTR is unchanged other than the new colours and black wheels. Nothing technologically new from the 11MY variant  :'(

Thanks for your time guys and hope to chat with some of you over the years to come!

Matt

[Kwikasfuki]

Hi matt and congrats on the new purchase.

You will enjoy your new bike. Glad to hear the new model has black wheels because the pic on the kawa site has it with silver wheels. Is the grab rail black also?

[advancedpcs]

Thanks, as I've bought this without even a test ride!

...If you mean the rails along the tops of the panniers towards the top box mount, then yes, these are black also! The only picture(s) I have are of the 12MY Police liveried one so hopefully I won't get into trouble for posting this, now that the press embargo has since been lifted (I took the photos September 2nd/3rd!!):

Please note that this is the BLUE version! Yes, it looks black (second pic is closeup of blue fleck in paint so the background/reflection is out of focus).

I have some more pictures of the same bike at different angles if you're interested.

[Lonewolf]

Matt, I believe you are the first 2012 GTR owner on here. Congratulations, free membership for life....oh, it's already free ;D  Oh, well the thought was there.  ;)

You will I am sure love the bike and all it represents. Keep visiting the site wont you and let us know how you are getting on etc?

[advancedpcs]

Cool!  8)

Back in August my Dealership said I'd probably be the first person in the UK to have the first registered 12MY GTR. I was a little sceptical, especially as they promised me one by the end of September, before the Press Embargo got lifted. I've chosen the ('61) registration plate (already had it made up with the GB logo) and I've got my companies telematics system kit sat in my garage waiting to be fitted (we develop things for the automotive industry).

Suffice to say the bike didn't appear and the calls back and forth with Kawasaki's businesss management confirmed a delivery date to the dealership, albeit "mid to end Novemeber". Still, I'm really excited!

I shall indeed let you guys know how it goes but it's basically just an 11MY version with black wheels and new colour, tbh. I'll probably change the tyres out straight away though as I like the PR3's I've got on my trusted 10 year old Bandit and don't care much for Bridgestone BT variants. Through my company we're already developing things for this bike; Advanced Crash System incorporating DRL's, electric heated folding mirrors (automatic fold with ignition off/on) and the best bit; automatic screen which will raise/lower depending on your speed (switchable, set by user).

This bike will be used for many things (other than the 14K miles/year I'll do on it) and I'll definately keep you guys informed if you're interested.

Thanks for having me here!

Matt

[Kwikasfuki]

Are you serious about the accessories? Electric folding mirrors would be a godsend when filtering. Obviously can't just be ignition switched.

[advancedpcs]

The mirrors will auto-fold when you turn the ignition on/off/on etc, but by a control panel similar to a car version, it will operate the mirrors (LH/RH selectable) up,down,left,right and fold them when you want them too. Oh, they'll be heated as well and can be linked to the hot grips if they're fitted.

This is just one project we're working on with the GTR and have already bought a few mirrors to develop the system so watch this space....

[Rusty]

Welcome Old Fruit ... glad we could all be of help  ;D Like the marked up GTR colour scheme ... nice !
You will love the bike, as we all do .. most of us have been riding for a few years and i think we all agree that it's just a great great bike ... enjoy Matt and keep us posted !

[Lonewolf]

Matt, I know one person on here who will be drooling at the thought of those accessories!  ;D

[Kwikasfuki]

hi matt,

with the auto adjusting windscreen I assume that you'll be developing a stronger mechanism? Kawasaki recommendation is not to adjust the windscreen once in motion.

you'll definitely have a market for the windshield bracket as the stock one is poor design.

[advancedpcs]

Thanks for that info Kwikasfuki! I/we didn't realise that the screen shouldn't be operated whilst in motion  :-[

....on that subject, can any GTR owners out there comment if they've operated the screen at speed (mph: 30/60/70/80/etc) please, with their findings?? Thank you

Once we take delivery off this beast we'll be striping it anyway so will take a look at the mech that operates it and maybe come up with an automation 'kit' that includes a stronger mech too. It'll be tested fully, of course, before it gets approved/homologated  :)

Many thanks again guys,

Matt  8)

[Mogster]

yup i use the screen up and down switch at speed all the time, mainly cos whats comfortable at 60mph isn't at 90 mph ...and when chasing sports bikes it needs to be dropped all the way  8)

[Lonewolf]

Ditto, I too use the screen at various settings whilst riding depending on the ambient temperature, however the majority of the time it is fully extended. What aggravates the problem with the mechanism as kwikasfuki says is that 90%+ of GTR owners will modify their screen by fitting an after market & taller one, i.e. C Baileys etc. This then puts additional strain on the new screen due to wind resistance and wind buffeting etc. And as a consequence the plastic screen mechanism becomes weak/brittle and will eventually snap at a cost of £600+ to replace. This has happened to kwikasfuki and at least one other person on here.

You will see what I mean when you disect your GTR!! ;D

[advancedpcs]

Thanks for all the feedback, gratefully appreciated! ;D

I am to believe that from the 2010 Model Year the OEM screen is 7cm (70mm) taller than pre 10MY models and the guys at Kawasaki have insisted that the screen mechanisims have been "improved" due to customer feedback. They kept talking about the 11MY onwards GTR but presume it was for the 10MY onwards too.

Kawasaki mentioned ignition on/off/on settings (?) available for the screen, whereby it travels back to where it was before the ignition was turned off, etc. We only have the 2011 service manual and not a user/operator manual for the bike so hopefully again you guys can confirm the above please?

Many thanks again and I might start this thread in a more appropriate section  :)

Really looking forward to actually getting this bike!  8)

Matt

[mecki]

It doesn't say in the manual that you shouldn't operate the screen while moving.
At least I can't find that in mine.
I too operate the screen while moving because as others stated I prefer different settings under varying conditions.
I have the standard screen and move it up and down especially on long motorway trips to switch between push and pull.
With the screen full up it feels like being pulled forward which puts pressure on the wrists. Moving the screen down changes that to being pushed back which puts pressure on the fingers.
I haven't found the exact spot between the two yet. :-[