Another newbie from Australia

[hurricane]

Hi, I'm another newbie to the GTR 1400 forum from Australia. My name is Chris; I live in Canberra (don't hold that against me!), and I'm a Ulysses member. I took a GTR for a ride through the European Alps last July and loved it!. Determined to get one here in Australia, I've done that. It's a 2012 model, colour is Candy Arabian Red (but it's more like a nice shade of metallic maroon colour). I've now got to sell my other bike (2003 FJR1300). Boss hasn't yet been on an extended run as pillion (that's this weekend), I'm guessing that she won't like it as much as the FJR's comfort, but from a rider's perspective the GTR beats it hands down!.  I've added a few bits to it last weekend (peg lowering kit, handy lift, hugger, front fender extender, headlight protector and a slider kit from Projekt D) and some bag liners and protectors from Premier Cycle Accessories. The only thing I can fault so far is the terrible rubber that comes on the bike as standard (Bridgestone Battleax BT201's - the worst tyre I've ever had in wet conditions - you'd think a quality bike would be fitted with something better from the factory!). Anyway, that's me. Attached is a picture of my ride before the additions last weekend.... Notice the junk in the background; Only have time to ride, not to clean the garage

[O.C.]

welcome to this forum hurricane, there's plenty good company and advice on here.

Your bike looks stunning, and that colour is one that I like very much, but alas GREEN has to be the fastest colour  .

PR3s are in my opinion, the choice tyre for the GTR

[Debs]

Re-sized 

[Debs]

Welcome Chris to this mad house.. You will certainly find lots of info here plus we already have a fe members from OZ here..

OC how dare you? As you well know the fastest colour is BLACK.. Now stop being naughty and get back in your rev shed 

[Lonewolf]

Chris, very cool looking colour. I currently have the best colour GTR, (magnesium) but I'd be tempted next time I'm buying a GTR to get that red one, looks lovely.


As I'm sure you've noticed, we're all a friendly bunch on here so keep popping back and checking what we're upto. 

[O.C.]

Welcome Chris to this mad house.. You will certainly find lots of info here plus we already have a fe members from OZ here..

OC how dare you? As you well know the fastest colour is BLACK.. Now stop being naughty and get back in your rev shed 

[Boomer]

G'Day Chris and welcome to the Asylum.

PR3's the way to go, although if ya rarely ride in the wet then PR2s are just as good.
The DitchStones are just plain wrong. I've never had a tyre wear as strangely as the front one did on mine.
Are they still fitting the BT-021 on the 2012/2013 models?
I thought they'd changed to the BT-023?

The only thing wrong with Canberra is too many bloody bureaucrats! 

[beegee]

Jo Chris , nice bike you have there

very welcome here & enjoy this forum !

[hurricane]

Boomer, yes, they still have the BT021's on mine, and I can't wait to get rid of them for the PR3's (bank balance is a bit low at the moment  ). Wife and I are going for a 2-night trip away to Mallacoota with our Ulysses branch on Saturday (sorry - place name dropping, maybe not familiar to you folk in the old country - on the Victorian border area near the Bass Strait, nice lakes and great fishing), so 2-up might convince me to get rid of them sooner than later. Let you all know how that went when I'm back

Re: Canberra - you're not wrong there... Good parts are we have some great roads to ride not far from here, summer and winter 

Chris, aka Hurricane.

 

[Rusty]

Welcome Chris ... As everyone says this is a great and fun forum to be hooked up to !
Wherever you are going with your wife it sounds lovely ... Here in the UK the weather is mild and wet at the moment .. Although that could change at any moment so to hear of someone on a Gtr in Oz just makes us all so jealous .... Open roads warm weather and plenty of spaces.... All of which we don't have here ! 
Enjoy your bike ... And Mr Wolf is right ... The colour is lovely ... Nearly as lovely as GREEN .. 

[Teacher]

Hello there hurricane-Chris

Have you fitted the slider kit yet- it looks pretty neat and I'm looking for something that's easy to fit and requires no drilling to the plastics?

Enjoy the bike

Mike

[100milesaway]

 Welcome Chris, Hope you enjoy your stay with us, lots of help and info if needed. Mind how you go, and watch out for Skippy, as one of our members from your part of the world goes round clattering into the poor little creatures. Enjoy the bike as I am sure you will, and pray that your good lady enjoys her perch aswell, if she does it's happy days        cheers Geoff

[2kwacks]

hi chris and welcome to the madhouse forum we do like to take the mickey out of each other on here I'm sure there's a few members on here who are trying to get rid of me most likley... because I've swapped my bestest colour "magniesum" gtr for the much  er zzr1441   I loved my gtr1400 it was a brillant tourer especially if you do alot of "two up" touring which I never due to the wife being scared  less of anything that dosen't have at least 4 wheels I had the 2008 df8 model zzr1400 for 4 years and toured france and italy and found it to be excellent at everything   tried the gtr1400 2010 and toured france and italy on that and found that to be excellent but decided given my circumstances that I always ride and tour solo I decided to swap it for the new model zzr1441 my second choice for a touring bike would be the yamaha 2013 fjr1300 although there as not been any significant changes since first introduced 11 years ago the fjr 2013 model as new bodywork, exhausts and intake system,suspension set up and better informed dash but  ly only as a 5 speed box, it as a touring mode but thats  subsitute for a 6th gear or the overdrive like on the gtr, at approx the same price new as the 2013 gtr1400 the gtr1400 is defo the better package even though you have the older model fjr1300 it would be interesting to know after you have ridden your gtr for while in all conditions, which you would prefer.