Mysticwind
Registered user
Ive been asked by a fellow tosser to put down my thoughts on the GTR1400 that Bryn is now enjoying…
Firstly, I am 6’6” and “portly”, I now do about half my riding with my eldest on the back.
I have had nearly as many bikes as Bryn and so change regularly.
I had this for the summer, bought in March and just sold. Immediately before this I had a KTM 990 Adventure (a fine machine). The KTM had to go…. Although it was a great bike and a superb load lugger with the three boxes on it, when my boy had got comfortable on the back snug against the topbox I was increasingly finding my gentlemen vegetables wedged on the front part of the seat, sharp braking was becoming an issue…..
My buying criteria
Shaft drive – big comfy seat – big and fast – a different style to the ktm for a bit of variety – cheap !!
I didn’t want to pay for a “badge” I wanted value.
GTRs depreciate like a piano off a cliff and then plateau out. I paid 7k for a bike with 7500miles and under 3 years old, under half of its cost.
Kawasaki obviously thought they needed a tourer in the range . They could have perhaps thought a bit harder before launch though. I refer only to the 2009 model and have no knowledge of riding the newer one. The 2009 has tyre pressure monitors, abs and a trip computer thingy with temperature, battery voltage, mpg etc. I believe the newer one has the fairing cubby hole in a different place and has kawasakis traction control and possibly linked brakes. Also the newer model has the controls for the computer on the bars, the 2009 has the controls on the dash which is just straightforward bad design and renders the computer functions useless whilst moving.
The bike is dominated by the variable valve timed 1400cc motor from the zzr14..
It appears not to have been retuned for a heavy tourer/sports tourer and as such you need more revs and a lower gear than you may think you do until about 4-5000 revs at which point it thinks it’s the feckin space shuttle, it really does shift.
The steering is heavy at low speed, but not bad considering its around 300kg.
Handling is generally good with a remote wheel for preload at the rear. If really pushed it can tie itself up in knots, but you do have to push it hard.
If you cruise gently you will get 250 to a tank, mid 40’s at a guess. I often got 160 because…..
I cant help but exploit the performance of whatever I drive or ride ( I sort of look forward to the time when I can ). I rode it solo without panniers and with a sports can on. I also changed the windscreen to a +4” one off ebay for about 90 quid, I rode with the bigger one in the lowest position and it behaved a bit like a double bubble and gave enough wind relief without looking too bulky or barn door like. The can was from “Xtreme stainless” and was of reasonable quality, the baffle came out and the bike sounded fantastic without being overly loud. The can not only sounded better, it was much easier on the eye than the enormous original. It also weighed about 1/3rd of the heavy original. The original is fine until you take the panniers off, then it stands out. I feel it is that size so it sails under the pannier and out past the rear. The benefit is that you get two full size panniers and looking at both an FJR and Pan they are much larger than both. Tyres I used were Michelin Road Pilot 3s which were faultless. The bike also has keyless ignition, which is just a gimic, you still need a proper key to fill up or access the panniers. The bike was utterly reliable and the shaft drive looks very substantial
Why did I sell?
Couldn’t “love it”
I rode it solo like a sports bike and therefore it ate tyres and brake pads like no tomorrow…
I couldn’t control my right wrist and don’t fancy picking up the soap in the prison shower
Summary
A Cheap, well made tourer that thinks it’s a sports bike.
Firstly, I am 6’6” and “portly”, I now do about half my riding with my eldest on the back.
I have had nearly as many bikes as Bryn and so change regularly.
I had this for the summer, bought in March and just sold. Immediately before this I had a KTM 990 Adventure (a fine machine). The KTM had to go…. Although it was a great bike and a superb load lugger with the three boxes on it, when my boy had got comfortable on the back snug against the topbox I was increasingly finding my gentlemen vegetables wedged on the front part of the seat, sharp braking was becoming an issue…..
My buying criteria
Shaft drive – big comfy seat – big and fast – a different style to the ktm for a bit of variety – cheap !!
I didn’t want to pay for a “badge” I wanted value.
GTRs depreciate like a piano off a cliff and then plateau out. I paid 7k for a bike with 7500miles and under 3 years old, under half of its cost.
Kawasaki obviously thought they needed a tourer in the range . They could have perhaps thought a bit harder before launch though. I refer only to the 2009 model and have no knowledge of riding the newer one. The 2009 has tyre pressure monitors, abs and a trip computer thingy with temperature, battery voltage, mpg etc. I believe the newer one has the fairing cubby hole in a different place and has kawasakis traction control and possibly linked brakes. Also the newer model has the controls for the computer on the bars, the 2009 has the controls on the dash which is just straightforward bad design and renders the computer functions useless whilst moving.
The bike is dominated by the variable valve timed 1400cc motor from the zzr14..
It appears not to have been retuned for a heavy tourer/sports tourer and as such you need more revs and a lower gear than you may think you do until about 4-5000 revs at which point it thinks it’s the feckin space shuttle, it really does shift.
The steering is heavy at low speed, but not bad considering its around 300kg.
Handling is generally good with a remote wheel for preload at the rear. If really pushed it can tie itself up in knots, but you do have to push it hard.
If you cruise gently you will get 250 to a tank, mid 40’s at a guess. I often got 160 because…..
I cant help but exploit the performance of whatever I drive or ride ( I sort of look forward to the time when I can ). I rode it solo without panniers and with a sports can on. I also changed the windscreen to a +4” one off ebay for about 90 quid, I rode with the bigger one in the lowest position and it behaved a bit like a double bubble and gave enough wind relief without looking too bulky or barn door like. The can was from “Xtreme stainless” and was of reasonable quality, the baffle came out and the bike sounded fantastic without being overly loud. The can not only sounded better, it was much easier on the eye than the enormous original. It also weighed about 1/3rd of the heavy original. The original is fine until you take the panniers off, then it stands out. I feel it is that size so it sails under the pannier and out past the rear. The benefit is that you get two full size panniers and looking at both an FJR and Pan they are much larger than both. Tyres I used were Michelin Road Pilot 3s which were faultless. The bike also has keyless ignition, which is just a gimic, you still need a proper key to fill up or access the panniers. The bike was utterly reliable and the shaft drive looks very substantial
Why did I sell?
Couldn’t “love it”
I rode it solo like a sports bike and therefore it ate tyres and brake pads like no tomorrow…
I couldn’t control my right wrist and don’t fancy picking up the soap in the prison shower
Summary
A Cheap, well made tourer that thinks it’s a sports bike.
One of the few bikes I was genuinely very sad to sell but my ex wanted the money to be in bricks and mortar not rubber and metal 
