Stolen Bike - GSX1400

Some gutless prick has gone and knocked off an absolute pearler of a GSX1400 from a guy I know. It was ridden out of his unit complex this morning in Chermside on the north side of Brisbane after said asshole busted the steering lock. Des had only just put the wheels on last Saturday and he has put a hell of a lot of work into this bike. To whoever stole it...good luck trying to sell those wheels coz they only fit the GSX and the word is out!!

If anyone knows the whereabouts of it or is offered parts (especially those wheels) for a GSX1400, please email me or Des.

Update 1....Des is offering a $1000 reward for any information leading to a full recovery. C'mon, someone must know something!!

Update 2....the reward has now been increased to $1450 due to the generosity of the guys on the GSX1400.org. We gotta catch these knobheads somehow.

Update 3....the reward has now been increased to $2000 due to the generosity of the guys on the GSX1400.org and Streetfighters. A lot of cash - someone must know something.

Making The Big Decision

I read a post on the GSX forum about how one of the Aussie members, Grungenut(whom I have ridden with), went through the decision making process of choosing his next bike. It is something we all go through but seldom think too much about afterwards - afterall, we are far too busy riding it to spend too much time thinking about how we decided on it. I thought he described the process he went through really, really well and it makes a really good read. Enjoy....

My GSXR600 has served me well over the past four years, however longer rides were taking their toll on my aging body. With aching wrists and a sore arse becoming an all too frequent side affect, it was time to upgrade to something more comfortable. So the search began….

Time for a change
My goal was simple. Find a bike that performed well, was comfortable and pleasing to look at. Piece of cake…. Not. A friend suggested I take a look at Yamaha’s FZ1. The specs looked good – sports bike performance with comfortable ergos, I just wasn’t sure about its appearance though. It looked more like a docile praying mantis than a machine that uses the same moving bits as the famed R1. There must be something else out there with the looks to match its performance.
After an extensive search on the Internet, using search strings like "bike tests", "bike reviews", and "bikes that look horny" (this last search didn’t return many motorcycle sites though) I found an image of such beauty, such craftsmanship that I said to myself, this is the one for me. It’s the new Triumph Sprint ST 1050. I could not fault any aspect of the new 2005 models appearance. It oozed style from every angle (well every angle I could find a photo for on the net). The specs looked really good too. I downloaded the pics and proceeded to tell my friends about the bike that would soon be mine (in much the same way a schoolboy would tell his friends about that girl in his class he has a crush on). One of my friends agreed that it was a nice bike and told me it was a shame that they wont be available in Australia until June. JUNE!!!, that’s five months away. That’s OK, I’m a patient man, a machine this special is worth the wait. Two days later I was back looking at the FZ1.

Let the tests begin…
OK so maybe the FZ1 doesn’t look that bad after all. If you squint your eyes and tilt your head at 45 degrees you can almost imagine that it’s an R1 without fairings, so lets take one for a spin. I knew my local Suzuki dealership had a second hand FZ1 in the yard so I went down for a test ride. Noticing that they also had a second hand Bandit1200S, I told Dave (the sales guy) that I would like to give both bikes a run. The Bandit looked a bit plain Jane to me but I thought it would be a good idea to have something to compare the FZ with. Dave jumped on the Bandit and headed down the road. As I hoped on the FZ1 I immediately noticed the intrusive fuel tank. It was like riding a motorcycle with a medicine ball between your legs (not that I have ever tried that). I took off after Dave. I noticed that the handlebars were not stock. They where higher and straighter than standard, a feel that I quite liked. On the Motorway I was able to open up the throttle and explore this "R1 for the real world" more intimately. The power was exhilarating. I attempted to settle in to a more relaxed cruise on the open road – to get a feel for its tourability, but the FZ seamed to urge me if not provoke me into twisting that throttle. I began to realise that this bike was truly evil. At ridiculous speeds I didn’t feel all that safe (strange that). I guess I’m thinking more of what I would expect when punting my GSXR around at these speeds. The FZ1 didn’t feel stable like a sports bike, but then again it’s not designed to be a race rep like the gixer. This is why I feel this bike is evil. It provokes the rider to explore the upper reaches of is power without backing that up with the steering to match. Don’t get me wrong, this bike handles quite well. The problem is it goes even better. If there is anything about this bike that’s more impressive than its power, then that would be its brakes. You wont find better brakes anywhere.
I hoped off the FZ with adrenaline still pumping through my veins. I was actually glad to get that medicine ball out from between my legs though. At no stage during the ride could I get comfortable with that fat intrusive fuel tank (possibly a symptom of having longer than average legs). Dave and I swapped bikes for the return trip.
The Bandit felt comfortable the moment I got on. As we rode back I was surprised at how well it handled through the corners. It felt more like a sports bike than the FZ (maybe something to do with the FZs after market handlebars). The brakes didn’t compare to the FZ though and I wasn’t sure whether the rear brake was actually connected. I hated the handlebars on the Bandit. The angle of the hand grips forced my elbows inward – a position I am not at all comfortable with. I found my wrists starting to ache after a while. Although the power didn’t compare to the FZ it was still enjoyable to push hard, and I never felt unsafe (not sure if that’s a compliment though).


As I was not totally satisfied with either bike I decided to continue my research. Finding something that equaled (if not bettered) the performance of my GSXR whilst supplying comfort at the same time was looking unlikely. After all the research, the FZ1 really did look like the only option.

Deciding that it was probably those trail bike handlebars on the FZ1 I tested that made it feel unstable, I decided to visit a Yamaha dealer a try another FZ1. As I threw my leg over I remembered what it was that I disliked most about the FZ1 - that damn medicine ball fuel tank. I rode off regardless and found that handling was much improved with the stock handlebars, although still no match for its power.
The FZ1 was finally eliminated as a potential replacement for the GSXR, primarily due to the shape of its fuel tank. I briefly examined the Honda Firestorm but decided I couldn’t live with the crap fuel range / economy. I felt the Suzuki SV1000S would be too uncomfortable for long trips and not have enough fuel range either.

Fuel range was also a negative for the Kawasaki Z1000, however during a Sunday ride towards Toowoomba, John (a mate of mine who owns one) suggested we swap bikes for a while. I rode the Kwaka through mainly open roads with sweeping corners. I must say it was a blast to ride. The trail bike type handlebars (fitted as standard) suited this bike and it felt more stable than the FZ1, although still not like a true sports bike. I found the fuel tank on the Z1000 a bit like a medicine ball, but not nearly as intrusive as the FZ1. Although the riding position was quite comfortable, I wasn’t sure if that little seat would support my 100kg weight comfortably on longer trips.

Revelations
Back on my GSXR600 riding up the back of Mount Glorious towards Brisbane I finally realised something that I guess I knew all along. I love riding this little gixer. I fell in love with its looks the first day I saw one and love riding it as much (if not more) now than when I first got it. Yeah I know it’s not comfortable, but you don’t notice when you’re scratching your way up Mount Glorious.

I wheeled the little Suzuki back into my garage after that rather enlightened ride and looked at it apologetically. How could I have considered parting with something that has, and continues to provide me with so much enjoyment? As I began to realise that my quest for comfort was far from complete, my gaze shifted from my beloved gixer to the WR450 parked beside it. Well something has to go and it looks like your it.

Change of Focus
The decision to dump the WR was not taken lightly. I purchased this bike two years ago following a 15 year drought from dirt bikes. That was 15 years of insane jealousy every time I’d drive past a patch of dirt to see plumes of dust accompanied by the buzzing sound of a mixture or 2 and 4 stroke dirt bikes running a muck. The fact was, I just never rode the thing as much as I thought I would, and my passion for the open road is far stronger than getting down and dirty (on two wheels at least).
Having decided to keep the GSXR, my direction began to shift. I no longer required something that would need to match the gixers performance, so more focus was placed on comfort.

The Big, the Bad and the Beastly
Back to the net for more research. Now I can get serious about eliminating those aches and pains from long rides. I wanted a big plush seat and high handlebars. I briefly considered the myriad of cruisers on the marked but was turned off, firstly by their poor ability to be punted swiftly through a corner (yeah I know I still have the gixer, but cornering is what motorcycling is all about, even on those long trips) and secondly by their high price tag. I’d have to trade both my bikes in just to get a decent cruiser.

Enter the big bad standards. Options here are the Yamaha XJR1300, Suzuki Bandit1200S, Honda CB1300, Kawasaki ZRX1200R and Suzuki GSX1400. Although comfort is the priority, handling is important too. Unfavorable reports on handling turned me away from the XJR and CB. I know the Bandit handles well but those handlebars are a concern. Thoughts of changing the handlebars remind me of the issues I had with that first FZ1 I rode. The ZRX won all the naked bike races before the FZ1 arrived on the scene so I guess this would have to be a good all round performer.

I arrived at the Kawasaki dealership and realised I was overlooking one important detail. The bikes appearance. I took a good long look at this thing but I couldn’t get past the fact that it looked like an old pile of crap from the 80’s. Don’t get me wrong, I quite like the retro concept, but the 80’s were a style void. Nothing in the automotive industry that was produced in the 80’s had any style at all. Then again that’s just my opinion. The specs showed that this is the most powerful bike out of this bunch so I gave it a go. Now this bike felt good. Comfortable seat and the handlebars positioned nicely. Cornering felt quite stable. The power was awesome as well. I managed to get the front wheel off the ground (unintentionally) whilst accelerating down a hill. The front brakes were adequate, although the suspension up front felt a bit soft, allowing the bike to nose dive under brakes. The rear brake was virtually none existent. I would be hesitant to rely on it for steep hill starts. Overall though I enjoyed riding this bike and it’s really only its looks that prevent it from being a serious contender.
With only one bike left to test, the GSX1400 seamed more elusive than an honest chick in a nightclub. I couldn’t find a demo or second hand version anywhere. I examined the bike in more detail on the net and decided that the GSX could possibly be the one. I really liked its beastly appearance and the bucket loads of torque at low revs, as indicated by the dyno charts, seamed quite appealing to me as well. Fuel injection and fully adjustable suspension all pluses as well.
Just to throw a spanner in the works, a friend suggested we swap bikes whilst returning from a ride to Kyogle. I considered the Aprilia Tuono as being somewhat outside my focus (and outside my price range), but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed riding this machine. High handlebars, comfy seat, brilliant handling and heaps of grunt from the awesome sounding V twin. I can see how this bike could be all things to many people. For me though, I would have to sacrifice my gixer as well to get one. I’m just not quite ready to loose that sports bike feel on those short Sunday rides or track days. How things have changed. This could have been the bike I was looking for two months ago.

I eventually got the opportunity to ride the GSX1400 when the sales guy from Kawasaki arranged for a second hand unit to be moved up from the Southside somewhere so I could compare it with the ZRX1200. Once the GSX arrived I went back down there and took it for a spin.

My initial thoughts were – this is nice and comfy. Comfortable wide and deep padded seat and high wide handlebars. I could imagine cruising long distances in the saddle of this machine. Then the first corner approached. Whilst still in cruise mode, I gently tipped the big 1400 in with minimal effort on those wide handlebars; however the big slug objected violently. It bucked and weaved horribly. I arrived out the other side of the corner thinking – what the f@$k was all that about. Up until that point I was quite impressed with this machine and thought it to be a serious contender. I was now a little upset that after the time it took to finally get one to test ride that it would be such a disappointment. I was now keen to get this pile of crap back to the dealer so I could continue my search. I knocked it down a gear and twisted the throttle in tradition GSXR600 style. The next thing I remembered was the instant rush of air as the speed climbed at an alarming rate. My angered disappointed had turned into adrenaline driven fear. I was approaching a corner just as tight as the last one but at twice the speed. I pulled myself forward (fighting the wind blast) and gripped the handlebars tightly. I pushed this thing hard through the corner. The 1400 remained stable and precise. I backed off to allow the adrenaline levels to subside. Wow – this bike has personality. It can be a subdue cruising machine or a wild beast that needs to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck and taught who’s boss. I hadn’t been this impressed by a bike since that time four years ago when I test rode the GSXR600.

The final decision (the decision finally)
The GSX1400 was the one. I haggled with a couple of dealerships to get the best trade on the WR and then signed on the dotted line.

Written by Grungenut

Bits For My Zook

I'm back!! Finally got the chance to fit some of the parts that I had ordered whilst away and the Zook looks a lot better now.

My right wrist was copping a bit of a flogging on some of the longer rides - the smaller grips on the GSX combined with the different seating position compared to the VTX contributed to that. I decided to get hold of a throttle lock to provide some relief. The Kaoko throttle lock that I ordered was a little more expensive than the widely used Vista Cruise throttle lock, but in my opinion is a much better looking option and easier to fit. As simple as removing the bar end weights and replacing with the one supplied. The lock itself is activated by screwing in the same direction as throttle on - with a little practise it can be done in the one action. For release it is just a matter of screwing in the throttle-off direction. A really great product that I would recommend to anyone considering giving their wrist some temporary relief.

I finally got around to fitting the seat cover that I purchased before Christmas from Bootleg Bike Seats in the UK. Roy was kind enough to make it up and then send it down to me for a fantastic price and his service was great. Kat took it down to John Moorehouse whilst I was away and got him to fit it for $30. It is a bit lairy but I reckon it looks great and is much more appealing than the standard black cover.

The final item I fitted was a chrome cover for my oil cooler that I purchased from Aussie Street Fighters - whats a bike without a bit of chrome??

I did manage to get a ride in with all the guys, but will post that in a few days.

Throttle lock

Some chrome

The flamin' seat cover

View from the top

2008 GSX1400.org Calendar

I recently helped one of the guys on the GSX1400 forum put together a 2008 calendar with the sole aim of raising money to cover running costs of that site. Thought I would post it here as well and hopefully get a few others interested in purchasing one....maybe??

Check out the slideshow of the calender here and then contact me if you are interested.

Blingin' My Girl...

I haven't really felt the need to buy too much bling for the GSX, unlike the VTX. However, there was one thing that I decided she really needed - an LED rear light that incorporated the indicators. This would allow me to remove the standard type stork indicators and really tidy up her rear - and believe me, there is nothing sexier than a nice rear end.

Fitting the unit was a piece of cake once I removed the rear tail section of the bike - this turned out to be a bit of a pain due to the plastic retainer clips for fastening the under tray. The previous owner used screw type fasteners instead of the standard, easily removable clip type and so it was a bit of a job getting my hand in to secure the nuts. Once the tail section was off, the light fitment was simple - unscrew the stock unit and replace with the new LED unit. The light wiring was a simple plug but for the indicators, I did need to use resistors to stop the fast flash you usually get with LED's. Luckily I did have LED stork type indicators on the rear previously and so I was able to use the resistors from these.

All up a simple and cheap mod that really makes these bikes look 100% better.

This is the factory look for the rear end with all that plastic and the standard indicators

This is the cleaned up look of my rear - mmmm

She looks real sexy now!!

A Ride South With Some GSX1400's

Well, Sunday wasn't looking too good - cloudy and a little cooler almost like it was gonna rain. I was hoping for sunshine as this was the first organised run Kat and I had done for a few weeks. We set off from my place at about 7:30am heading for the BP at exit 38 on the M1. It was here that we planned to meet three of the six GSX's for our south ride.

The ride down the motorway was non-eventful, although we did pass through a radar at well over the speed limit - just lucky that we don't have plates on the front! Saw a few more cops than usual on the way to our destination, but we always knew this would be the case due to the start of school holidays.

We pulled into the BP just before 8, grabbed ourselves a couple of coffees and spent a bit of time watching another group of about 30 bikes (and a scooter) gather and then take off. After a while the other three GSX's showed up - Tyruss, grungenut and cruzzo. We said our g'days and then headed off, following the Beaudesert-Beenleigh Rd and then turning onto the Mundoolin Link Rd, arriving in Canungra just as the sun decided to break through, about 9:30. A great little squirt. We spent a short while waiting, catching up with ODF and then Michael. Our original plan was to ride over the border via Numinbah, but once we were all there, we decided to alter that and take the road to Rathdowney then over the border via Lions Rd.

The ride from Canungra to Rathdowney was nothing too special - a lot of flat straight roads with not too much traffic. Once we rode into Rathdowney we regrouped and took a left hand turn at the servo, opposite the pub, and proceeded onto Lions Rd. Not far up, we passed a cop car sitting on the side of the road with occupants sitting on the bonnet and observing the traffic pass. We made our way up the track and pulled over at the lookout for a few pics. This road is fantastic to ride with lots of tight and undulating sections, but I had Kat on the back so was forced to take it a little easier than usual and we became the tail enders. The only thing I don't like are the numerous cattle grids, which become very slippery when wet.

We pulled into the lookout just over the border for a couple of pics and then preceeded on towards Kyogle - the road decends then flattens out a little and becomes a a lot easier to ride with a pillion, but you still need to be on the ball coz it's not that wide. We rolled into Kyogle at about midday and headed straight to the Commercial Hotel for lunch. I caqn highly recommend this place for lunch - a burger that would usually feed two, and it was spot on!!

After finishing lunch, most of the guys wanted to get home in a hurry to see the Moto GP and Stoner ride, so they took the road to Mt Lindsay. Michael and us two took the road back to Murwillumbah, and ya know what? I reckon they missed the best part of the ride. We had a great time on the climb, decent and then lengthy run to Uki. It's just such a pity that the good bit of the road is a little chewed up from the trucks that use it. Anyway, we enjoyed it.

We got to Murwillumbah and then joined the M1 heading north with the rest of the weekend traffic. Michael peeled of at Mudgeereeba where he lives and we continued the 70kms back to my place. We were exhausted at the end of it, but happy as!

Canungra on a busy Sunday morning

Nice asses!!

Three blue & whites and three blacks

Us fellas and our bikes at the Lions Rd lookout

GSX1400 Review

Every now and then you read something that you wish you could have written - you know that it is exactly how you feel but sometimes struggle to find the words to convey this feeling to others. This morning I read a post on the GSX1400.org that was written by a guy from Auckland, New Zealand going by the username of beyond2000 - it was posted about 10 months back but I only just stumbled across it. It is the best review I have read on the GSX1400 by a mile so I thought I would share it....but beware....it is fairly long!!

GSX1400 28,000 km Review

It’s been just on a year since I wrote my last review on my GSX1400. Back then I had covered 10,000 kms in six months. I’ve now run this machine to 42,000 kms and my contribution has been the last 28,000kms, as I bought the bike second hand as a K2 with 15,000kms on the clock.

This is an objective review, no stone unturned and no emotional biases.

The Suzuki GSX1400 is classified as a sports tourer and is a retro, naked bike with all the modern additions that technology brings. It has fuel injection, hydraulic brakes front and rear, the front carrying six pot calipers shoving the pads onto 320mm platters, fully adjustable front and rear suspension, electronic instrumentation which has an accurate fuel gauge, clock and all the necessary warning lights. The clutch is also hydraulically activated.

The engine is an oil/air cooled unit of 1402cc pushing out 106 HP at 6,800rpm, with a hefty dose of arm wrenching torque peaking at 5,000rpm at 126nm. The torque curve has more grunt at 3000rpm, than many sports bikes have at their peak and the curve gives copious amounts of torque from 2000rpm, right through to 8,000rpm, with the redline at 9,000rpm. The dry weight of the bike is 228kgs.

Appearance.
I’m nudging 50 years old now. My teen years saw me astride bikes like the venerable Yamaha RD350 and 1973 Suzuki T350. My first bike was a 1972 Suzuki T250 Hustler., on which I did 35,000 kms in nine months even though it was off the road for two of those months due to two write off accidents. I still like the retro look and out of all the naked bikes, I found that the GSX1400 looked the meanest and smoothest of the bunch and was the only one offering fuel injection. Also, compared to the rest, the linear torque curve and output, meant it was going to be a good all round road bike, especially for long distance and two up work. For a retro bike, I like the lines, the bulk and seating position.

Ergonomics.
The reach to the handlebars suits me perfectly, as does the peg to seat ratio. The seat height is 790mm which means both feet can easily be placed flat on the ground. I am 85kgs and 186cm tall. This bike is very comfortable and long distance riding can be accomplished without getting tired, after a full day in the saddle. The gauges are easy to read and simple, with enough idiot lights for oil, fuel injection problems, blinkers, full beam and of course, neutral. I have yet to have a pillion complain about the seat or riding position. This is a comfortable bike, solo or two up and/or with luggage.

Performance.
106hp does not seem to be a lot for a 1400cc motorcycle. This is more than compensated for by the copious amounts of torque, which come as soon as the clutch is released and gives you a good arm wrenching ride up to around 8,000rpm in any gear. In fact, the peak horsepower and the relatively flat line on the torque curve, over most of the rev range, are perfect for road riding in all conditions. There is no need to rev into high RPM’s to maintain speed or move quickly and no need to change gear unless you like a good shove up the backside.

People make the mistake of getting on these bikes and trying to ride them through the gears, to the red line, like a sports bike. The action is over by 8,000rpm, so it’s better to shift at around 7500rpm and ride the constant torque wave. This makes for very quick acceleration with standard GSX1400’s pulling just under 3 seconds from 0-100kmh.
The good thing about lower horsepower and more torque, is the ability to lay the power down, coming out of a corner. Sure, you can light the back up if you are not careful but the torque seems to cause the bike to squat down and shoot out of the corners, which gives it a bit of an edge over the go easy on the throttle, super sports.

Wheelies? No problem; on the throttle in first, back off slightly and crank her and she’s up no problem. Because of the weight of the motor, a short shift is required to keep her up in second and from there on in, it’s up to balancing the quarter tonne beast with a full tank.

Stoppies? I’ve seen shots of people doing stoppies on these, but it’s not my idea of a picnic in the park. I prefer not to stoppie in the event I go to far and have this behemoth of a bike, bury it’s handlebars in my back. I have no aspirations to becoming a pavement pizza.

Speed? It’s a big bike, carrying quite a bit of weight. It takes some serious amounts of ponies to push a large machine through the air at very high speeds. With my face nearly jammed on the dials and tucking in real tight, lying over the tank, I’ve had her up to 253kmh. That isn’t too bad considering the air pressure on an unfaired bike. I read an article somewhere, that on a dyno, with no air pressure to worry about, they hit 290kmh.

I once pillioned a friend who is heavier than me and both of us sitting upright, touched 230kmh. Getting there was no problem but with the heavier pillion and added air pressure of two wide eyed bodies plowing through the air, that was about it. But this bike is seriously quick to 220kmh and 240kmh, solo, comes up reasonably fast as well.

Two up riding is a breeze. A pillion is virtually unnoticed as far as affecting power goes. Hills, overtaking, fast takeoffs and general all around riding are no problem and make no difference to the way the bike moves.

Handling.
This is an area of controversy. Originally, when these bikes were test ridden and reviews started coming out, the handling was rubbished with comments like lardy, a whale, cumbersome, heavy etc. On the stock, factory suspension settings, they are quite right.
When I first got my bike, it took me a while to get used to it and once I was and really started to push it in corners, I got a bit of a fright. In high speed sweepers (160-180kmh) if you hit some undulations in the road, it would wobble and weave, which was a little disconcerting like riding a jelly around the edge of a desert bowl.

I finally found an article on the best tweaks for this bike, dialed in heaps of preload front and rear, maximum compression on the rear, fiddled with the damping and now it’s as good as it gets for such a bike, without going for after market suspenders. It’s made a huge difference to the handling and stability.

In short, this bike will stay with the sporties when pushed. I am sure there are those who have ridden with me that will vouch for this. It’s quite amazing that a bike of this size and weight will actually corner like it does in the sweepers, but it’s even better in the real tight stuff and thrives on tight chicanes and corners.

Come and ride with me.
I jump aboard the GSX1400. I turn the key and both the speedo and tach needles do a full sweep across the clocks. The starter is thumbed and 1400cc of bullet proof motor, bursts into life. The clutch is released and I leave my property, taking my local roads to my favourite playground.

I’m in the country, the sun is shining and the roads are dry, roads I know like the back of my hand. The first short straight appears; the silky smooth Suzuki gear box gets kicked down a cog and the right grip is twisted hard. The front skims the ground in second gear and the bars go light. The awesome feeling of sheer torque pulls my arms forward and I lean towards the front of the bike to counteract the increasing forces. The horizon rapidly approaches as I flick into third and then fourth. Clutchless changes are no problem.
Now in fifth, on the six speed box, the needle hovers around 230kmh and the first sweeper approaches and under the helmet, no one can see the maniacal grin that splits my face.

The front, adjustable brake lever, is pulled slightly with two fingers, the throttle blipped and into fourth, then third; I slide up to the tank to get the weight over the front with a little trail braking into the corner as the bike is laid over. It drops in without effort and with slight throttle control I hold the line. As the corner exit approaches, the throttle is turned more and more and the bike stands up easily, powering into the next section. A tight series of corners is next.

I counter steer the bike hard into the left hander and feel the left foot peg, feeler bolt sliding across the asphalt and my boot jumps up and down a little with the bike heeled right over. The tyres are warm and grip is now at its best. Counter steering again and the bike immediately drops into the right hander, then back over to the left. The handling on this bike is sublime; it goes exactly where you want it. Haul on the front brake hard and the pads bite into the disks, slowing the 250kgs (wet) down remarkably quick, ready for the hard left hairpin; pick my line, turning in late to get the best view around the corner, change down, drop her over, off the brakes, hit the apex, throttle open, slingshot out of the exit with the beautiful sound of twin exhausts in full song. Oh what pleasure, indescribable feelings of euphoria and that adrenaline rush that sweeps your body when you ride to the edge and push a big bike to it’s limits.

A more open chicane is just ahead, I power down the short straight and chop down through the gears once more, throw her into the sweeping left, pegs scratching once again; this is a tight corner so more counter steering input is applied to the bars, to heel her into the right hander. A little head shake develops as the power is applied along with the counter steering forces and over she goes into the next gentler bend with the needle hitting 170kmh. This bike is a pleasure to ride. On we go, maintaining the pace and enjoying the seemingly endless series of bends this road dishes up.


Yes, it handles surprisingly well for a large heavy sports tourer and its lots of fun to ride.
Ground clearance can be an issue when it’s pushed really hard but I have found hanging off the bike allows me to corner even harder when required and if needed.

Summary.
I haven’t got tired of this bike. It does all I need it to. I can ride all day and then do it all again without discomfort. There comes a time, when you ride a lot, that you think it would be nice to have more power, so you start eyeing up the hyper sports tourers and the more rapid sporties. Then after a break you get back on the GSX1400 and you realize all over again, what a brilliant all rounder it really is and you go out and surf the torque wave again and you know, you just can’t part with it. It’s got under my skin like no other bike ever has. There’s something very satisfying about throwing a big heavy sports tourer through the twisties, going smooth on the throttle and hearing some harder bits touching down. You can actually ‘ride’ this bike and it requires your attention and input at all times. Stress relief, is a throttle twist away.

You can ride it lazily along in any gear but when you want some fun, it’s willing and able enough to accommodate you. I thought the hoon in me had been long killed off, which is why I settled for a sporty tourer, but this bike has reawakened that wild element that has lay dormant for so long. But, you know what? The remarkable thing is, that it does exactly what you want. Yes, I ride it “beyond” it’s design brief, but it loves it and so do I.


Pros.
Comfort, useable power, torque (oh yeah), reliability, heaps of under seat storage, handling, good fuel consumption when ridden normally.

Cons.
It likes tyres, ground clearance issues when pushed hard, fuel consumption when going hard.

Well written mate - a fantastic review in my eyes. Click here for the original post.

GSX1400.org Brisbane Ride

Got together with a few other Brisbane guys from the GSX1400 forum on Sunday for a blat heading north. We took the old tried & trusted route of Samford, Dayboro, Mt Mee, Woodford, Maleny, Kenilworth and then continued up through Obi Obi to have lunch at Mapleton. The only rider not on a GSX, Disco on his Beemer, led the ride out and he set a fair pace for most of the day, especially through the slower twisty sections.

We met and started the ride at Mt Gravatt Maccas and rode up the freeway, through town and on out to Samford. As I had never ridden with most of these guys before, I used this stretch to get a feel for their style of riding - something I like to do so I know where to position myself in the group. They all seemed to handle their bikes well. We pulled into the servo at Samford (the other meeting point) and hung around for about 15 mins waiting for any other riders - no one showed so we set off. I decided to position myself behind Disco up the front.

For those of you that don't know the road from Samford out to the highway at D'Aguilar, it is one of the most popular rides around Brisbane. There are some long sweeping sections as well as a fair bit of slower twisty uphill and downhill bits - it really is a fantastic road, although not the widest in some parts, and we utilised every inch of it! We were very lucky in that there were not a lot of cars on the road, so we managed to stay pretty well together.

We rolled into Woodford and stopped for coffee while trying to warm up a bit. Once we finished comparing notes and having a look over the bikes, we continued on to Maleny - another great stretch of riding although more straights which gave us all a chance to stretch the legs of the GSX's. The turn off up through the forest provided us with a great stint of corners before opening up for the last section of road into Maleny. We bypassed the main part of town and turned left towards Kenilworth. Not too far on, we pulled up on the side of the road for some pix. It was here, after the pix that Freak had to leave us, so the 6 remaining GSX's and the Beemer took off for Kenilworth.

We reached our destination but rode through, deciding to head up to Mapleton via Obi Obi. Part of this road is sensational - it incorporates a 15% incline, is narrow and twisty and splits into two seperate single lanes for a good part of the climb - didn't the GSX's (and us riders) love that!! We pulled into the pub just on midday and got us some tucker. Whilst eating we all decided to follow the same route back which was fine by me.

The ride home was as good as the ride there - we left Budge up near the turn off to the coast as he was staying up this way overnight. ODC on the cafe racer style bike took the lead from here and man, he was a hard one to try and catch. He had a little more grunt than Disco's Beemer and that made it a little more fun for me. We actually broke away from the others and eneded up waited for them a couple of times whenever we changed direction.

The last stint down into Dayboro was the highlight of the day for me - I tried to keep with ODC as he powered through the tight stuff. This was the first time I was able to test both the bike and myself but I was still a little cautious and so he was able to get away. We pulled up in Dayboro and the others followed not too far behind, got a drink, said our goodbyes and then headed back to Brisbane.

I was knackered when I finally got back home, but I had one hell of a grin on my face - what a day!!

Our coffee stop at Woodford

The bikes at a stop we had just outside of Maleny

All 7 of us and our bikes

The odd one out - Disco's Beemer

Mine

ODC's black one with a set of really cool looking cafe racer style bars

Lot's of bling-bling on Freak's thing!

Stopped on the side of the road coming down from Maleny

Teaser

Well I'm not too far off getting hold of my GSX1400 (hopefully next weekend). One of the guys on GSX1400.org posted this short vid of his - now he has done a lot of work to it so mine isn't as loud as his, but it still has that growl. Man I just cant wait!!

And now the wait begins....

I managed to get a ride on the GSX1400 last night that I had seen advertised down at Springwood Suzuki and wow, I was impressed.

The bike itself is a second hand 2004 model with just over 30k on the clock and a few little extras such as pipes, guards, wheels and indicators. As soon as I was in the saddle I knew that this was going to be fun - my feet fell into place and the upright position was just right. Unlike the Buell that I am currently riding, the seat is quite soft and perfect for all day touring.

I took off along Kingston Road and opened her up a little and holy shit - plenty of power with no vibration and it was so, so quiet. I fell in love with it pretty well straight away. I turned down Paradise Road heading towards the motorway and whilst there were no cars around I tried some straight line hard braking from about 70kmh - again it exceeded my expectations by pulling up in a very short distance without any noticable diving. I took a turn off into one of the side streets and put the bike through a few corners, accelerating hard and then braking hard and it performed really well, hugging the tighter curves, pulling up admirably and then accelerating very quickly.

I turned back onto Paradise Road and merged onto the motorway - I opened her up and this was the one thing that really stuck with me - the speed at which I got up to 120 whilst only in third and with the GSX still wanting a whole lot more. There are another 3 gears to go - almost scary!!! I quickly backed off and re-joined the flow in awe at the gee-gees in this thing. I made my way back to the shop but did pick up one thing on the way. I could feel the heat from the motor on my left leg and wondered how much hotter it would be in the middle of a summers day with only air/oil cooling.

Once back at the dealer I took some time to have a good look over the bike - it is in very good nick with no motor noise (unlike the rattling Buell) and no obvious leaks or problems. The chain is new, tyres near new and she is ready to roll. I do need to bring Kat up and take her for a ride before confirming but I ended up putting a holding deposit on it, subject to the insurance company writing off the VTX and a second ride with Kat on the back. Provided the insurance pay out, I will more than likely walk away with the GSX and a couple of G's in my fist - much better value.

Side view of a stock 06 model

It definitely is a different ride to a vee-twin, feet forward cruiser but after noticing a couple of things to do with the handling on the VTX last weekend, I feel it is time to step up. All that is left for me to do is to harass the insurance company for a decision.....

New Bike On The Horizon??

It's looking more and more like the VTX will be written off after last weekends mishap. I got a quote from Team Moto at Springwood and they reckon $14,200 for repairs. Considering it's only insured for $13,500, I am pretty sure I will end up with the cash.

I have been lucky enough for a work collegue of mine to lend me her Buell XB9R to get around on. They are a very nice bike but I reckon you lean too far forward with a lot of weight on your wrists. It has sparked my interest in a more upright sports bike and I am going down to Springwood Suzuki tonight to have a ride on a GSX1400 - I want to compare what it rides like to the VTX and if it is good, I will probably go that way.

For what they are, I reckon the VTX is overpriced - the bike I am going to look at is an 04 GSX1400 with only about 20,000kms on it and some goodies included - the price is $10,999. Compare that to the 03 VTX I have been eyeing which is listed at $12,500 with 55,000kms - less bang for more bucks in my opinion.

The only issue that I do see with the GSX is the gear storage factor - I don't know what is available in the way of panniers/bags and I dont like those Givi top boxes.

Oh well - we will see.....

The GSX1400 I will be riding