After Riding a BMW GS - Why Does The C14 Handle So Poorly ?

[nightrider]

Am going there in July   With 3 other lads ,they are on bmw gs  adventures ,  me the lone gtr , so should have a good chance to compare  there's to mine ,  the roads look great  am looking forward to it ,  hope we have good weather ,       

[flatfour]

Patrick, many thanks for the information. The last time that my wife rode with me was in the Pyrenees, so if she does come along she will probably be OK after a while, but it is nice to have the option.

Debs, I hope to ride some of the passes whilst there, probably on my own unless it is our daughter who is with me. She did the Grossglockner and other passes on her own bike last year without problems, then went on to Insbruck and Lintz and, whilst her bike was parked for a "City Break" she fell over on a cobbled pavement when walking, breaking a wrist. She had to fly back home, leaving the the bike to be collected later (she told us that she was going in the car!).

Nightrider, when are you there? We are booked for the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th July, so may see you. Will be on the GTR.

[nightrider]

We are going on the 11th. Stopping one night near the ring , then on the next day , 

[Rusty]

Chaps ... Have a great time .. Those roads look so good I shall have to make that trip in the next few years when I have a bit more time to play with ...  I am sure that you will but please let us know how you get on .... With piccies of course !

[Boomer]

Riding the GrossGlockner is fun, but the 107 coming from the north can be very busy with coaches and caravans,.... yes for some reason people drive bloody caravans up there.
The 107 from the top of the pass down past the glacier and on to Heiligenblut (Holy Blood!) is much better with way less traffic.
If you can manage it on dry roads it's a real challenge and you will be competing with locals on all kinds of machinery.

[Rusty]

Just Googled it .. Grossglockner High Alpine Road .. loads of info and pictures with a very good live web cam ... deserted and closed up there till May .. and you can see why ! It's a bit chilly ! 

[pistole]

ok.

now with the new T30R rubber (55 series rear , standard front) , I finally found some time to take the GTR out for a 200 mile ride (mix highway and backroads).

short summary : this bike is , sorry to say , lousy compared to the GS. Wanted to like it again , and have spent money on it.

Long version :

1. The suspension is too stiff. Crashy is how I would describe it now.

2. there is simply too much weight. Transitions are slow , and you get the impression that the bike is riding you and not the other way round.

3. mid corner bumps and potholes : better be prepared to be knocked way off your line. Dangerous , this.

4. the stock wind protection is a JOKE. MY gs with that itsy bitsy screen has better wind protection. This I cannot understand. There is so much plastic on the GTR , why doesn't any of it work ?

.

well, thats my honest review. I own both bikes and am not "owner prejudiced".

.

[MGvalerio]

ok.

short summary : this bike is , sorry to say , lousy compared to the GS. Wanted to like it again , and have spent money on it.

Compare a motion with the capital "M" (((Kawasaki GTR 1400))) to a mower (GS) is true .... there is more religion.


MGvalerio.

[nightrider]

I would take it to some body who is a expert at setting up the suspension , I have took a few bikes to mick grant ,when he has been at Cadwell park for £20 you get his know how and advice , there is always some one who is good with setting up the sag and knows what is better or worse ,at least then you will be sure that it is not some thing that can be put right , if it is feeling crashy then the rear shock must be at fault , I had the front revalved ,  and is miles better , the front now dives down nice and smooth with no bounce back up ,,,,,,,

[shaggs147]

Hi Pistole, really pleased you are loving the GS, it sounds like you have found a bike that suits all your needs, although, unless you have something wrong with your GTR, I can't disagree more.
I'm a little like you with the GTR as you are with th GS. I absolutely love my GTR and love to throw it around when the opportunity arises, love how it handles, and to me it feels completely planted on the PR3's. I also love the bike's presence on the motorways. I'd never consider myself experienced as I've only ever owned 4 bikes, so can only compare it with what I've ridden before, but for me, the GTR is a keeper for a good time to come. Glad you're loving the GS though, at the end of the day that's what its all about, having fun.

[O.C.]

It's surely a case of "horses for courses" it seems to me that Pistole and the GS are well suited to each other.

Its true that we all have differing tastes in life   

[Charlie747]

It's surely a case of "horses for courses" it seems to me that Pistole and the GS are well suited to each other.

Its true that we all have differing tastes in life   

So true OC.................Its that Marmite Moment that makes life worth living 

[patrick]

I would take it to some body who is a expert at setting up the suspension , I have took a few bikes to mick grant ,when he has been at Cadwell park for £20 you get his know how and advice , there is always some one who is good with setting up the sag and knows what is better or worse ,at least then you will be sure that it is not some thing that can be put right , if it is feeling crashy then the rear shock must be at fault , I had the front revalved ,  and is miles better , the front now dives down nice and smooth with no bounce back up ,,,,,,,

Mick Grant did my GTR very soon after I bought it. I knew that everything was too stiff and he made changes in no time at all and I've been happy ever since

P

[Rusty]

I like what you say Shaggs ...  I have had my Gs now for 6 months and just love it to bits .. Utterly brilliant BUT I will stress so was the Gtr ... A Devine bike with as you say " presence " on the road. Everything about it was what I wanted it's just that once I tried the BM it was as people say in my line of work " A defining moment " and so a change was made. I love them both for different reasons but even I can't ride 2 bikes at once !