Prospective new owner with a couple of questions

[barnyardsavage]

I was prepared to hate the GTR when i test rode it.... I ride fast sports bikes not old mans touring sheds that weigh the same as Winsor castle. ..... sooooo off i went .. FOOKIN HELL! this shifts, and it goes round corners.... bring me one in Black 

I still have my Tuono, but i do love the GTR it's such a hoot to chuck about, is bloody comfy, the fairing and screen work well and it sounds great ...with a BOS pipe  ... and most importantly I can still embarress the fook out of a couple of mates with sports bike....

obey the hypno-toad...buy a GTR........ :mfr_lol:mogster do you have the tuono grin (from ear to ear) i had a 08 blue one great bike but the gtr with a set of pilot roads on her can also make you smile they transform the bike had a 57 plate grey one replaced front discs at 7500 miles shuddering , set of pilot road 2s and the bike handled like a sports bike. the 10 plate i have now isnt as good with the bridgestones on but cant waste money so got to wait till worn off. so my advice to any new buyer is check the tyres before judging how the bike feels if you test ride a gtr still one hell of a bike

[Mogster]

oooh yes I have a serious Tuono grin  .... it's still asleep at the moment, but I'm hopefull to wake it up on Thursday (the joys of being self employed...)
Tis an 08 non factory, but with Olins front and rear, Power commander, quicksift, italin shark xorsts (105db at tick over  ) and 142BHP at the rear wheel... 

But to get back on topic, after doing 2500miles to Italy and back on it  I'd rather be on the GTR fer a touring trip,

[Nok12rs]

Mr Olde Coney.

Quote:
I've had three GTRs 2008/9, 2010, & 2011 models and in between had a couple of BMWs which was a BIG mistake.

As an old stick-in-the-mud, apparently, who rode 5.5k a year on the same bike for years and years and then some more years, I am intrigued by people who change regularly and in particular for much the same bike.  I have looked at the second hand market and find four year old bikes with 3/4 previous owners!  What's that about?
Best wishes

[O.C.]

Its not complicated really

I bought the first 2008/9 GTR in p/x for a ZZR 1400 which was destroying my back and giving me a neck like a Giraffe and the arms of an  orang-utan  it was soooooo good that I cp/xd it for the 2010 model which I couldn't get on with it felt choppy and had the vibes (no longer an issue).

So I changed it for a brand new K1300GT EE which drank oil, cut out without warning and fell over with me on board at the time the gearchange was poor also, its a shame as the bike, apart from being slab sided, was very good and has an awesome engine

It was changed and the best deal I could get was from a BMW dealer and on the advice of a GS riding buddy, and a brief test ride, I bought a low mileage latest model R1200GS....uuuuurghhh it was horrible, uncomfortable, another crap gearbox, and so it HAD TO GO (after only 2- 3 months)

Hence the arrival of my third GTR, which was a blinding deal from MCO bikes where I p/xd the GS and a W650 which I had, plus a few hundred quid and I rode off into the sunset on my current, beautiful, Green GTR.

Voila....I'm now a very happy bunny 

[O.C.]

Its not complicated really

I bought the first 2008/9 GTR in p/x for a ZZR 1400 which was destroying my back and giving me a neck like a Giraffe and the arms of an  orang-utan  that GTR was soooooo good that I p/xd it for the 2010 model which I couldn't get on with, it felt choppy and had the vibes (no longer an issue).

So I changed it for a brand new K1300GT EE which drank oil, cut out without warning and fell over with me on board at the time, plus the gearchange was poor also, its a shame as the bike, apart from being slab sided, was very good and has an awesome engine.

It was changed and the best deal I could get was from a BMW dealer and on the advice of a GS riding buddy, and a brief test ride, I bought a low mileage latest model R1200GS....uuuuurghhh it was horrible, uncomfortable, another crap gearbox, and so it HAD TO GO (after only 2- 3 months)

Hence the arrival of my third GTR, which was a blinding deal from MCO bikes where I p/xd the GS and a W650 which I had, plus a few hundred quid and I rode off into the sunset on my current, beautiful, Green GTR.

Voila....I'm now a very happy bunny 

[Nok12rs]

Voila....I'm now a very happy bunny

Thank you for that George.    You are so right about the slab sides.   I did about 1500 miles on one and did not find it as comfortable a sitting position as that of my K1200, Rock solid though and a goer two up. Also, equally good for weaving through rush hour traffic thanks to balance and low down grunt (torque that is).

But.........................I am sooooooooo looking forward to my 14 hire day!!!!1

[SirToU]

I've also had 3 GTR's.

2008 loved it but did 22000 miles in 11 months, nothing wrong but K launched 0%. Hence trade.

2009 better fuel economy (although not advertised) but 31000 in 10 months.  Changed location of job - because was going to be doing less miles - traded in for 2010.

2010 now done 21000miles and is 2 years old in May - still love her to this day.... And as I say to everyone... If I could only afford 1 bike - It would be the GTR.

Thinking about changing to a black 2012.  But I don't know... She's been perfect and I love my Magnesium GTR.......

Neil

[O.C.]

Voila....I'm now a very happy bunny

Thank you for that George.    You are so right about the slab sides.   I did about 1500 miles on one and did not find it as comfortable a sitting position as that of my K1200, Rock solid though and a goer two up. Also, equally good for weaving through rush hour traffic thanks to balance and low down grunt (torque that is).

But.........................I am sooooooooo looking forward to my 14 hire day!!!!1

one name to remember is bad enough....BTW Mines Roger nor George 

[zedmeister]

Easy really i just went into the bike shop not really thinking of changing but thought i would just ask what deal they could do, and the price to swap was too good to refuse, so i took the deal and have never looked back. On the other hand both previous bikes were coming to the end of warranty and needed tyres and a service so i also took that into consideration too.

[Nok12rs]

Sorry Roger!  I am holding too many conversations in multiple thread

Now..............what was I talking to George about......................

[100milesaway]

Sorry Roger!  I am holding too many conversations in multiple thread

Now..............what was I talking to George about......................

Mr Nok you have only been here a couple of days and already you are stark raving mad. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hey join the club.

[Nok12rs]

Eva! aint that the f...ing truth!

I'm off for a lie down. Nite nite all.

[O.C.]

Mr Nok you have only been here a couple of days and already you are stark raving mad. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hey join the club.

Perfect qualifications if you ask me 

[Nok12rs]

Early days; I have not even swung a leg yet (roll on next week), but........I am reading comments here that suggest good deals are to be had.

If I were to set my sights high and go for a new 2012. what is the best approach with the dealers and are they generally up for a discount in the Kawasaki world? 

If it is lurv at first ride, I will be back to also ask advice on inspecting/selecting a  s/h 2010.   I have already learned here that the bike should be stone cold when I start it because, as a member intimated, "Hot Bikes Hide Stuff"

Frankly, the prospect of buying second hand fills me with "Fear and Dread in Wandsworth" 

Of course, buying s/h from (most) members should be a safe bet n'est pas?????

SatNav

Questions on this subject seemed rather premature when I u/l my first post. But now, after reading so many posts here, I am feeling nearer to the motorcycle. So perhaps it's worth asking :

How do you mount and cable run  a Zumo 660?

Top Box fitting

I have, somewhere, picked up that the top box plate is rather Mickey and has often been replaced by an after market item.

I have never (not ever) ridden with a top box.  For the K12, I purchased a clever American (oxymoron? ...bit political) super safe co-pilot seat back over which one fitted a,..... wait for it.......TeeBag!

So, I do not want to lose anyone slouching heavily against the top box pad.

Thankee y'all

[Boomer]

If you want to fit a topbox, make sure that you do replace the OEM rack with a metal one.
Mine is homemade from 5mm aluminium plate and my ancient Non-Fango box has been on there since mid August 2007.
Not once has my better half felt she couldn't lean against it and although it wobbles a bit it has never come loose.

Can't comment on SatNav as I hate them on bikes.
Not keen on them in cars either but sometimes they do help.