Gipro v Pulling the flys

[maddog]

Hi All
I have just picked up my new Gtr on 7-8-2008 I sourced it from Taz over in Peterbough it seemed a good deal £8995.00 otr for a 2008 American spec abs model in silver I think they have a few left from the batch they brought in, I checked and it looks like all the mods have been done i.e. hlamp knobs, pannier latches, rack and mirrors all seem fine don't know if I should look for anything else?. I don't know what they are like to deal with long term? Magic first 300 miles it’s a bit different from my Suzuki 1000K6 but my old bones and butt were aching too much on the longer runs I do now. I did consider and try the BMW Gt1200 and Yamaha Fj1300 both good bikes but the Gtr fitted me better handled more like a sports bike and seemed to have more go and looks a bit fresher and more modern then the others too I just wish it weighed 50Kg less and made 30Hp more but I’m never satisfied. I have been following the forum for a little while and like most I am looking to change the bike a little to suit me I have already fitted the normal bits hugger, fender extender tank pad, and was thinking next of ether pulling the flies or fitting the Gipro which I think has been covered here already but wondered if anyone has any updates advice dyno runs on which is the best way to go? I am also thinking of getting the cats chopped out and replacing them with a link pipe + shortening and degutting the stock silencer I don't know if anyone has done this? Any advice would help, and lastly I like the look of the stock screen but would like a bit less bufferting has any one tried the Larimer lip on this bike? if it helps I am 6ft tall with a 34” inside leg, an Informative site for a great bike which I hope to keep for a long while.
Regards Maddog

[zed meister]

Hi m8 good too have you on board,the bike is everything you will require,will give you anything you ask of it,i agree you need the cosmetic bits but as for the power mods i think it has enough.My wife and i have covered 12500 miles since september 07 in all guises fully loaded,normal,99.9% of the time 2up wind it on and as you maybe aware it goes like hell.I have just had my disks n pads changed under warranty (warped).I do agree on cutting the exhaust down (see previous thread 'exhaust cut down'),it can eat tyres im on my 4th set! my advice is stick with the bridgestones,be careful of your warranty though if you do go the full way

have fun

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by zed meister

it can eat tyres im on my 4th set! my advice is stick with the bridgestones

I have to disagree. My first set of 021's lasted 7,000 miles (front died before the rear) but I will never buy the 021's again.

Now have Michelin Pilot Road 2's fitted and they are so much better than the 021's it's difficult to understand why Kawasaki fitted the 021's in the first place, apart from the fact that Bridgestone are Japanese I guess.

Several others have the Metzeler Z6's and like them, whilst most of those who have the Avon Storms say they are OK.
Those who fitted the Conti RoadAttack say they are good but wear out too fast.
Have not heard any opinions on the Dunlop RoadSmart yet.

Pretty much everyone I have heard of who has fitted the PR2's will replace them with another set.
Most of the rest won't go back to the 021's.

With the PR2 the handling is more neutral (does what it's told), turn in effort is minimal, and the best of all is that they wear better (no wierd profiles after 2000 miles) and last longer. The early PR2 rears didn't last well but the new ones have deeper tread. Look for 8,000+ miles from the front and 7,000+ from the rear.

[zed meister]

Hi all regarding the 021s i have tried the michelin's on my second set they were mediocre did not give me the confidence that the 021s do.The mich's white lined and would tram line any defect in the road surface,i found wet performance quite poor,i ride mostly 2up and my wife who rides (er6n) would also comment on the mich's failings,the wear would be 4-4.5 k the same as the 021s,i guess the the only way to decide for yourself is to do as i did -try others and make your own decision

as for myself i will willingly sacrifice a few thousand miles and a few pound's for myself and my wife's safety there is no alternative.

[Boomer]

Hi Jason,
I could understand your comments if you tried Michelin Pilot Roads but not if you tried the Pilot Road 2CT tyres. They are head and shoulders above the BT021. I'm not the only believer. Take a look around the US forum on www.concours.org/forum

I feel the same about safety which is why I ditched the 021's.
They wear strangely, affect the handling as early as 1500 miles in, and require a lot more input to get them to turn. Not a confidence inspiring tyre IMHO.

My PR2's don't suffer from white lines or any other defects in the road surface and 1500 miles in look and feel like new, something the 021's couldn't manage even when I was babying them for the first 1000 miles.
The PR2's are the best tyre I have ever ridden on, wet or dry. If they did a 150/80-ZR16 I'd fit them on my GTR1000 as well. May fit the PR2 front anyways.

Each to their own I guess. You pays yer money and takes your choice.

[psy1261]

I am with you on this one Boomer.

I could tell a difference between the 021s and the PR2's on the first corner I turned. Probably the best thing about these tires is how they act on wet roads. With the 021's it was scary. It didn't take much to get the tire to loose traction although the PR2's can be forced to give up traction on wet roads it is not quite as easy.

[zed meister]

Hi guys must admit i only tried the original PRs,may think about fitting the 2s in the future will wait for more favourable comments or tests etc,goin down devon and cornwall next week so will have a good look at wear etc expect to do about 1000 miles +

[maddog]

Hi All,
Thanks for all your replies, a quick update now 2 weeks and 1200 miles in. I took the wife out for a ride to the coast well, a nice little harbor on a mix of roads covered around 170 miles, she found it very comfortable only complaint was that the pegs were abit high sorted that one with some 50mm lower ones made by Vario from busters.com cost around £75.00 and are listed for the ZZr1400 but fit fine and are adjustable to boot the wife’s tried them out and finds them a lot better and makes it abit easier to get on and off.
I called in at Taz Motorcycles were I got the bike from to pick up the parts for the 500 mile service I always do the basic servicing on my bikes myself the parts cost Around £26.00 they wanted £99.00 For the first service £175.00 for the 4000 mile service and £275.00 for the 8000 mile one. My local Kawasaki dealer wanted £160.00! For the first service as I did not buy the bike from them. While I was in Taz buying the parts, the salesman recognized me and during the conversation advised me that unless they carried out all the servicing then my warranty would be void!!! Not best pleased, as I had already changed all oils and oil filter at 30 & 300miles. I checked with the office of fair trading Phone No 08454040506 case ref EE391692 and was told that Taz can put any conditions they like on their own warranty But that both there’s and Kawasaki’s were in addition to my warranty under the sale of goods act were you are covered for 6 years for a new Bike against manufacturing defects and that the Bike must be fit for purpose and be of reasonable quality and that I should keep receipts for service parts and log work done and I would be fine. Bikes going great I went with a few mates to Oulton park last Sunday for the bsb good racing and a great ride she didn’t disgrace herself against the sportbikes my mates ride, she handles good enough to get the pegs down, great brakes, will be going down to Brands Hatch for WSB on Aug 3. I managed to source a Gipro from EBay for £35.00 when I get time I will fit it and get it on the dyno exhaust mods will properly have to wait until winter.
Regards Maddog

[pgp]

Originally Posted by maddog

Hi All
I have just picked up my new Gtr on 7-8-2008 I sourced it from Taz over in Peterbough it seemed a good deal £8995.00 otr for a 2008 American spec abs model in silver I think they have a few left from the batch they brought in, I checked and it looks like all the mods have been done i.e. hlamp knobs, pannier latches, rack and mirrors all seem fine don't know if I should look for anything else?. I don't know what they are like to deal with long term? Magic first 300 miles it’s a bit different from my Suzuki 1000K6 but my old bones and butt were aching too much on the longer runs I do now. I did consider and try the BMW Gt1200 and Yamaha Fj1300 both good bikes but the Gtr fitted me better handled more like a sports bike and seemed to have more go and looks a bit fresher and more modern then the others too I just wish it weighed 50Kg less and made 30Hp more but I’m never satisfied. I have been following the forum for a little while and like most I am looking to change the bike a little to suit me I have already fitted the normal bits hugger, fender extender tank pad, and was thinking next of ether pulling the flies or fitting the Gipro which I think has been covered here already but wondered if anyone has any updates advice dyno runs on which is the best way to go? I am also thinking of getting the cats chopped out and replacing them with a link pipe + shortening and degutting the stock silencer I don't know if anyone has done this? Any advice would help, and lastly I like the look of the stock screen but would like a bit less bufferting has any one tried the Larimer lip on this bike? if it helps I am 6ft tall with a 34” inside leg, an Informative site for a great bike which I hope to keep for a long while.
Regards Maddog

have fitted lip to stock screen i am also 6ft tall had severe problem with buffeting at 110+ couldnt keep my head from jerking around the lip has solved this problem for me, as regards tyres fitted dunlop qualifiers but with pillion and some camping gear couldnt stop it sliding on roundabouts. friend fitted roadsmarts and is very happy with them would never fit bts again

[maddog]

Hi Pgp
thanks for the info, was it the Larimer lip you fitted? and did it make any differance to the wind noise at speed?. At the moment when I'm makeing progress I keep the screen fully down as wind noise to loud otherwise
regards maddog

[pgp]

hi maddog

yes it is the larimer, slight difference in noise levels , i use earplugs anyway, a little too late thought, have suffered hearing damage after 20yrs of riding for a living with bad helmets. the noise did not actually bother me too much but my head jerking back and forth and from side to side did especially if my wife made any movement with her head. the manufacturer recommends using a mechanical fastening if you regularly exceed the speed limits but i have found no problem with the fastenings supplied.

[pgp]

also i always ride with screen fully up as i find wind blast uncomfortable

[maddog]

Hi Pgp
Thanks for the info I think I will give one ago I'll let you know how I get on.

[Davo]

In also agree with Boomer and will be running the PR's on mine from now on and in the IBR next year.

A copy paste from my GTR-AUS.com forum.

Just had new tyres fitted so next weekends trip to the Border Run and back, 6300klms in the 4 days will tell how good they are. These are the first new tyres I have put on Roo, 12,800klms now but the stock tyres have been stuffed for about 3000klms (or when I would have usually tossed them)

I have never been really happy with the stock tyres and have worn out quite a few sets on Roku now with 51,000klms in the 12mths.

So my own bike Roo got:
Rear - Pilot Road 2
Front - Pilot Power 2CT

_____________________________

Time to reply about these tyres.

Michael and others, I am pleased to say that with 6100klms in 4 days on these tyres I am very happy and impressed. They show little wear and NONE of the squaring off that is common on the stock tyres. In fact they are still in their as new rounded shape.

I rode in some rain but to be fair not a real downpour and not while doing the twisty bends. Was cool to cold the whole ride so no hot weather testing either but I feel they will be good regardless.

When Michaelp left on Roku, with stock Bridgestone tyres, there was approx 9,000klms on them and they were showing distinct squaring off on the rear and the familiar V shape to the front with good wear on the right side because of road camber.

Going by the wear or lack of on the Michelins I doubt this is going to happen and am expecting to get the next FarRide AND Busselton out of this set of tyres. Thats approx 10-11,000k more.

I could be wrong but if I get better than 12,000 I will be very happy and that seems a given.