First Impressions

[coastrider]

Well I finally got to run out on the new gtr on part of my favourite 'chill out' route along the glorious Cornish coast road; although I aborted my favourite tight and twisty part as the roads were really busy being  a sunny day. The Blue looks the business in the sunshine.
My first thoughts were 'what a brilliant bike'. You loose all sense of its size and weight once moving and it handles very predictably - got the chicken strips on the back wheel down to 10mm on the first outing. The brakes (now set to more front end bias) are really good and stop the bike in a hurry as I found out when some numpty ran half way out across the road form a side turning in front of me (I thanked my advanced training for dealing with that without drama)
The engine feels very torquey, but I am running it in properly before I really try it out. I don't think it will disappoint!!
I was pleasantly suprised at the feel when standing still. I am a bit of a short arse, but this thing isnt any where near as intimidating as the ST1100 I traded in due to the weight being carried lower.
So far i have added a fender extender (for the radiators sake) and a Skidmarx hugger (for the shocks sake). It has also been liberally plastered in FS365 before it got dirty; I figure prevention is better than cure. On the way are a carbon silencer and a Calsci screen which once fitted will make her pretty much perfect unless I decide to cut the seat down.
Once the bits are on, I will try and post some pics.

Happy days ahead. ;D

[Lonewolf]

Sounds like a decent first adventure. A radiator guard is a good protective measure too and has no detrimental impact on the running temperature of the GTR. Beowulf do one which is a popular style.

http://www.beowulf-performance-products.com/

[Winston Smith]

+1 - Great bit of kit.  Trust it more than I would a fenda extenda

[Kwikasfuki]

Ah, the ST1100. A big, heavy, fugly scooter  ;D
IMO opinion of course!

You might want to look at using ACF50

[Rusty]

So glad to hear you are enjoying the new bike ... Hugger and ACF50 are most important ! Post the pics when you can !!

[coastrider]

Ah, the ST1100. A big, heavy, fugly scooter  ;D
IMO opinion of course!

You might want to look at using ACF50

Well I did only have it for the winter so my 600 Ninja didnt get messed up ;)  GTR has got to cover both roles now.

Are you chaps saying that ACF50 works better the Scotoil FS365?

[rippers]

Your first impressions will get even better. Purchased mine in March and just cannot keep off the thing. I have never put so much mileage on a bike. I have put more on the bike than on the car so far since March. A great machine. You have made a great choice.

[coastrider]

Sounds like a decent first adventure. A radiator guard is a good protective measure too and has no detrimental impact on the running temperature of the GTR. Beowulf do one which is a popular style.

http://www.beowulf-performance-products.com/

Thanks for the advice about this. I did ask at the dealers about the vulnerability of the radiator; looked like it was asking for trouble to me; but they said they hadnt known any one damage one.
Still, I dont want to risk it and have ordered one. Thanks chaps

[Kwikasfuki]

Make sure the fender extender is screwed into the mudguard. Otherwise you'll shortly be buying a new one!
ACF50 gives better protection. I use both. F365 on a regular basis and ACF50 every time I clean the bike. ACF50 is the bomb. I'd use it all the time if it wasn't so expensive

[coastrider]

Make sure the fender extender is screwed into the mudguard. Otherwise you'll shortly be buying a new one!
ACF50 gives better protection. I use both. F365 on a regular basis and ACF50 every time I clean the bike. ACF50 is the bomb. I'd use it all the time if it wasn't so expensive

The dealer said exactly that and that the srews supplied are usually crap, so he fitted it with decent quality fixings for me before I picked the bike up.
The skidmarx hugger fixings seemed ok when I put it on. But I had to bush out the lower right hand side fixing as the bracket pulls into the casting matrix behind the brake line bracket and bends as you tighten it, pushing the hugger over onto the tyre.

Looks like I might need some ACF50 then. The salty air down here needs to be treated with a bit of respect.

[Lonewolf]

Yeah, if you dont screw the fenda extenders on they have been known to fly off haven't they kwikasfuki?? ;D