Cherio and thanks for the memories.. : Kawasaki ZX Forums: Kawasaki Ninja Forum

GTRPete · 02-06-2009, 07:22 PM

In about a week I will be without my GTR.

After a fun 1.5 or so years I've enjoyed the GTR immensely, despite the exhaust leak causing quite a sickening few thousand kms, the view was still good

I've missed going camping, off road and into remote(ish) areas.The convenience of the old GS I once had is unfortunately lacking in the GTR, but, notwithstanding one could never complain about the true and straight handling of the Big K, the immense reaction (and grin

) from a big twist on that throttle, and the brakes... magic...

I have been so lucky, glad I have a few years up my sleeve which may contributed to some measure of

sensibility to have allowed me to throttle back at the right moments, every trip would have had a good few hours cruising (somewhat over the limit)... glad I know the nice cruisy backroads...

But... I've put a penny down on a new

1200GS and traded the black stallion.

Hence the thread title, I'd like to thank you guys for a fun, interesting and informative time on here, if some of you frequent the ADVrider.com forums you'll no doubt see me in various posts in time with those remaining in my stable, Gilera, Ducati and the newest family member, bike number, I think 28

A few loose items for those interested....

Area-P shiny slip on, worn only for a few weeks.... going cheap...
CB Eurocut, although - I wonder if it would work on the GS

going cheap....

well... bye for now...

bdruggan10R · 02-06-2009, 07:25 PM

Hey, don't be a stranger. Who said you have to leave, you still ride.

**Shifty1** · 02-06-2009, 08:29 PM

Bike number 28, huh? Can I have some money?

kwackerken · 02-07-2009, 05:01 AM

Really sorry to hear that Pete.

You have definitely posted the best pictures on the site and I always enjoyed your posts.

Glad you will still be a member.

Please post a photo of the B*W when you get it and maybe a few short lines on your first impressions and how it differs from the GTR (good & bad)!

All the best.

Hitman · 02-07-2009, 10:04 AM

Cheers Pete, gonna miss your piccies of Oz as well. Ride safe M8 wherever you end up. The GS is a swell bike too and I'm sure you'll have loads of fun on that.

GTRPete · 02-23-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwackerken

Really sorry to hear that Pete.

You have definitely posted the best pictures on the site and I always enjoyed your posts.

Glad you will still be a member.

Please post a photo of the B*W when you get it and maybe a few short lines on your first impressions and how it differs from the GTR (good & bad)!

All the best.

well, I've had it 2 weeks now and we've had some of the worst rainfall since

but also some very extreme bushfires, very sad.

But... when you see a GS you immediately think...wow, it's an elephant!! so big... once you lift it and start off, it's really not too much different to my Hyper in "size" feeling... won't waffle on... but... I've only got 500kms up, but got 5 days off end of this week and I'm going bush...

First thing comes to mind when thinking comparison (to the GTR) is "convenience" the B*W (with respect the forum

) is a convenience apparatus

, putting the elephant up on the main stand you roll it up with no effort..I like the heated grips, in our summer we've had cold rain down to 12C!!! torquey, wow... pulls like a 14y.o.

the info screen is via a button, read it all on the run, much easier...it's got 3 trip meters; a light range regulator....bla bla bla....
certainly not the speed demon of the GTR, but I feel I might retain my license before senility sets in... mine has ESA, suspension by button... it can "sport" and take the bends with the rocketboys, it can then "comf " and feel Goldwing...and "offroad" it can raise about 3" and that's fun when I try to stop

enough said... The GTR did me well and I've got fond memories...but I've already cut across dirt roads happily between highways then enjoyed a set of 30km long winding tar section!

I'm happy, as always... Oh, Shifty1, if you want money you need to have old rich relatives that die and leave you everything...much easier than working

See ya's out there smiling

kwackerken · 02-23-2009, 03:16 PM

Hi Pete,

We have had graphic accounts of the recent fires and awful death toll. The events touched people all over the world. I saw the politicians vowing to rebuild the properties, and that money would be no object, but they are unfortunately powerless to heal the wounds to the communities that have lost loved ones. Hope that time is a healer for them.

Back to the GS - Another great post!

It looks smaller than I remember it from the motor shows.

Certainly function over form. Compared to the sleek lines of the GTR it looks like a bag of spanners! (beauty is in the eye of the beholder!).

Just got a Garmin Zumo 550 for the GTR today, and the Gel Seat. Looking forward to putting some decent miles on the clock. I have ridden every week through the winter but generally 70 mile round trips.

Have you as Sat Nav on the GS?

It would be great if you could keep the posts & pictures coming.

GTRPete · 02-24-2009, 12:22 AM

"Have you as Sat Nav on the GS?
It would be great if you could keep the posts & pictures coming.
__________________
Ken"

Thanks Ken,

Yeah, the GS does look rather transformer-ish/mechanical... it looks smaller, but it's like a pregnant long-horn cow when you come close

(saw some of them on that very ride on the weekend too!! glad they didn't think I was a mate

)
I always have fun on any bike on any ride, glad that transfers to the pics & reports.

No, I don't have a Nav as yet, although I've used my Nokia 6110/NAV on various occasions and found it more than useful, the GTR was good for that: on occasions in some other cities I'd set up the destination in the unit and ride with the top compartment open and under 80KM I'd here the little English accented lady tell me where to go... (otherwise I'd use the earphones) I generally have a look at where I might end up on googlemaps the night before and generally enjoy getting lost, it's all part of the adventure I think...

I found the GTR gel-seat to be rather firm, and switched back the the standard seat, hope you're might be softer!!!

enjoy, till next time :)

Chez · 02-24-2009, 03:17 PM

Nice to have met you in person Pete....Don't be a stranger in here..I just put down a deposit on a K1300S but I'm still keeping the old GTR...

Off to Phillip Island this weekend for the World Supers and the launch of the BMW K1300s and R's...I hope it's fine...Take care..Chez

bobonefinger · 03-02-2009, 02:46 AM

Hi Pete, I'm sure you have a reason to change the bike. Every biker make the right choice for himself, depending from many factors. I don't like GS: here is the most sold bike and I see too much of them on the road (not off-road

), often with unexperienced bikers: it's a easy to ride bike, too much easy.
Before of GTR I had a B*W R1200RT and I made 100.000 km on it, but now I don't change my GTR for nothing in the world.
So you changed, but I hope you'll continue to write here and post your pics