New GTR-jockey from Sweden

[bacaruda]

Hi. my name is johan and I'm a Kawaholic.
Started 31 years ago with a GPZ 750-82, I thought I was cured during the 90's (a couple of Harleys and a Suzuki GSX1100 katana tried to change me and failed) but had a addiction relapse 2001 with a Kawasaki ZRX 1100 (still with me). The sickness got worse 3 years ago with another ZRX. It's a genetic disease cause this summer my brother got his first ZRX 1100 (my fault, I located and retrieved the Rex for him)

My "old" Rex is "a little"modified (havent changed the frame, rear brake and radiator, but pretty much everything else) and far from a good commuter or tourer, the second ZRX is spread over the garagefloor waiting for inspiration to become something cool. I feelt that there was something missing in my life, and I also knew the answer: Another Kawasaki!

2 weeks ago I picked up a black GTR1400 -13 from Kawasaki Sweden (their demo bike), have managed 700 km since and LOVE IT!
The GTR makes riding in +4 degree temperature and rain a manageable task.
The Black beauty is a comfortable, fast, practical, safe and good looking beast of a bike that I know will stay in the family a looong time. It's a keeper!
I brought it with the Grand tourer kit and have already started the farkling with a California scientific large windscreen (went over to their store in Sacramento and brought the screen. fitted in my Samsonite suitcase). Going to mount a Garming Zumo 350 within the next days.

So there is a lot of first for me: Fuel injection, ABS, traction control, fairing, central stand, panniers,shaft drive, heated grips, and a muffler that works!

Another first will be motorcycle touring. The GTR will take me and the old lady to England and Scotland next summer.
So Britons beware. The Viking are coming! (no looting this time. we promise...)

[Bryn]

Welcome along. 

No problem with the looting.. There's not much left to loot though. 

[beegee]

Nice story johan,
Congrats on this great bike indeed, good choice.

Is the calsci perfect for you in the cold and/or rain? Or do you need more modifications...

In the UK : beware if you see a black gtr with 2 blonde longhaired bikers with both 2 big torsos



Very welcome here:-)

[Charlie747]

"So Britons beware. The Viking are coming! (no looting this time. we promise...)"

So......................Rape is still on the menu my Viking friend ?   

A very big 

Let us know when you're coming over as a meet would be good ....................But only after I've lock my daughter and wife away first 

Let see some pics of your much modified rides 

Cheers

Charlie747

[Hans]

Fear not! We usually handle the Swedes in Denmark - long before they come to England!

[O.C.]

Welcome Johan, no matter wether you rape , loot or just plain pillage, you'll be among like minded people on here   

[Charlie747]

Welcome Johan, no matter wether you rape , loot or just plain pillage, you'll be among like minded people on here   

I didn't know you lived in Bradford OC 

[bacaruda]

Thanks all for the warm welcome.

I think that we are the "not so scary" kind of vikings. Blond? nah, closer to silver-gray now. And big torso,,, Used to be big-belly, but a healthy weightloss of 25 kg this summer took care of that one. (lost some muscles as well so my 21 year old daughter claims that she can woop my arse any day now...).

As for the performance of Calsci screen, remember that my previous experience with fairing is limited to the bikini fairing on my Z-rex, and thats not a D-cup..... Anything is better that that.  So my preferences aren't worth that much. I'm pretty happy with anything! At Calsci they advised me to go for the extra wide as it's a little bit colder in sweden. Nonsens! we got +30 degrees at least once a decade! (they say that the swedish summer is the best day of the year...). I don't get to cold or wet so I'm a happy camper.
Being 178 cm (again, not that scary) their size large screen works great for me. It could have been a little bit taller, but I like to ride with the screen in the lower position, (feel a litttle wind once in a while) and a taller screen wouln't get down low enough for my liking.
No problem riding with the visor open today in +8 degree for 60 km (dark tinted visor after sunset = trouble).

Got some pictures of the new and the old. hope that the download works.
The ZRX1100 has a ZRX1200 engine. FCR 39 carbs, Muzzy exhaust, pods, tactical step rearsets, billet forkbrace  triclamp, covers.  Ohlin shocks, Ohlinified kayaba fork, Brembo calipers, one-off ISR (swedish manufacturer) disks. Nissin master cylinders+levels, cozy seat.  Got a new custom paint job 3 years ago.

One idea is to do the GTR in a similar paint scheme. Black-silver-burnt  orange...
Will post pic of my GTR ASAP. (but it's just another black GTR...)

[Lonewolf]

A belated 

[Rusty]

+1 ... you are most welcome