GTR 1400 Trike in South Wales

[Richard]

Hi

New to the forum.
As part of my midlife crises I have bought a 1400GTR Trike, I have wanted a trike since I was 16.
New to Trikes, and the only biking I have done was around fields and woods etc on a Lambreta 150, DT125, KT250 (I think)
I will try to be an active forum member, rather than the more common find out what you want and run

Richard

[Silverback]

Welcome onboard Richard, i'm pretty new to the forum myself, but its an excellent forum, full of lots of useful info, not noticed anyone else on here with a trike, so that that could be a first

[Flying Dutchman]

Hi Richard.

Welcome from another newbie. Look forward to seeing some pictures of the trike

FD

[beegee]

congratz & very welcome here!

it was this one ? : 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/kawasaki-1400-gtr-trike-/221174805098?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item337f0bb26a

[Richard]

Thanks for the welcome.

Yes it is that one, its the only 1400GTR I can find any reference to, on ebay, google, bing etc etc, it can not be the only one can it?

Richard

[O.C.]

Richard, and yes, I 'm sure that you are our first member with a GTR trike....Brilliant. 

I've had three GTRs but never one with three wheels 

As has been said this really is a fantastic forum with lots of help and useful advise, maybe just a little mickey taking too, so don't be offended.

The GTR is a stunning machine and will no doubt be equally satisfying in three wheeled format   

Maybe you can post some pictures of your new machine ?....that'd be good

[Debs]

Hi Richard and welcome to this complete mad house..

We discussed this trike back in October 2011.. It was up for £16k then reduced by £3k with £15k of conversion done on it..

http://www.gtr1400.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,899.0.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2010-Kawasaki-GTR-1400-Stunning-Trike-Conversion-FSH-/190655584038?ViewItem=&item=190655584038&nma=true&si=12LLL4gwKIRV2Ujq8PGU6jkoVeo%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I also emailed the seller [the one you bought it off] asking what his reserve was.. Im sure you got a right bargin there... 

[Lonewolf]

Richard  yes that trike has been discussed on here a few times. Its possibly unique and will be a real head turner, top result.

[Rusty]

Hello Mr Richard and welcome to this 'ere forum !   A Trike ? Brilliant .... must see some piccies please ! Good luck and all that ...

[Richard]

Hi again

I think I did OK on the price.
Yes I will post a load of pictures once I have sorted a few bits I don't like.
The forum looks friendly enough, I am a member of a few other forums for my hobbies inc vintage technology - valve radios and amps, a bit of mickey taking is fine.
I have already been asked by a few biker friends when I am taking the stabilisers off......

Having done a few miles I have a few things I want to change / tweak
Plans so far, in no particular order, as time and money allow: -
Bigger pegs (see, learning the jargon already  ) for the Mrs on the back
Stainless exhaust down the centre and out where the number plate is now
HID lights
Better lights on the mudguards, front and back - whats there now is flash and not functional enough, on coming cars need to see the extra bits sticking out the sides, I am looking for something along the car DRLs for the fronts, and something bigger and brighter for the back, with a reflector, the only reflector on the back at the moment is by the number plate, nothing on the outer edges at all.
I am considering these for the back
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110985364812ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Get the speedo to read correctly, its way out due to the different final drive ratio in the dif compared to the original hub unit
Change the rake / trail to lighten the steering, any suggestions on how to 

Ideas on all this are welcome 

Not being familiar with this forum yet should each of these requests for info go in its own section?

Thanks

Richard

[O.C.]

Richard , as far as I'm concerned you're fine just asking your questions in one post.

A few members on here have installed extra , sometimes HID , lighting to their GTRs, so no doubt they will be happy to offer advice and installation tips.

With regard to the exhaust, there are a number of different options available to you for your GTR, however the main difference will be with the front pipe on your Trike, and that may require some individual fabrication, but basically its a length of pipe from the front collector to the rear 'end can'. The rear end can choice is pretty much up to you I would say and different forum members favour different makes of can, Beowulf is popular as it looks good and sounds good too without creating too much noise which would no doubt irritate the good lady after a while, here's a link showing their products.

http://www.beowulfuk.com/

In many ways you will have more choice of accessories available to you as I imagine that your trike will be more able to accomodate items without the need to conform to bike type requirements/parameters.

There is an accessory section on here which provides loads of links for you to browse and then decide on appropriate modifications, I don't know if you plan to complete the mods yourself, but either way you will have great fum personalising your machine, and don't forget we, well some of us, are of a certain age and love to see pictures 

The steering adjustments that you mention would, in my opinion, be more complex to address, I'm presuming that there is some type of adjustment already available on the bike, but I've no experience to be able to advise, out of interest does the bike have standard handlebars or are 'risers' fitted, these lift the standard bars up and towards the rider, ( they are additional alloy blocks fitted between the bars and the headstock, and are usually easy to see. if these aren't fitted this may be a way of adjusting the riding set up to be more suitable for you and at the same time lighten the steering somewhat

The speedo re-calibration would have to be completed by an expert, and again i'm not sure what would be required in order to complete this task. 

Keep asking your questions as I'm sure t here will be some good response from members on here, and hopefully we will get chance to see the trike one day 

[Debs]

The exhaust is the first thing I would change as I would like to be able to put the pannier on for more storage. 

How about emailing Beowulf and taking a ride up to them in Bradford.  Im sure they would make up what you want. You could also pop in and see Lonewolf (Steve) and gt him to put the kettle on 

[Richard]

Me again

Speedo error sorted, one of these on order
http://www.bikersdiscountstore.co.uk/speedo-healer/healtech-electronics/speedo-healer-v4-pd-18.php

That was easy, been reading about Rake, Trail and Offset to make the steering lighter, don't think that is going to be so easy to sort...

Thanks for the link for the exhaust, will do some reading there as well

Richard

[Ros]

Welcome Richard!

Congratulations on your latest acquisition 

Pictures definitely required 

Cheers

Ros

[Boomer]

Welcome aboard.

Speak to these people about their Leading Link front suspension.
http://www.hedinghamsidecars.com/Unit-Leading-Link-Forks.php

Also may be worth talking to EML.
http://www.emltrike.com/en/

Either way, cheap it ain't!