Kawasaki 1400GTR ABS

Kawasaki GTR 1400 / Concours 14 – The GTR14 gets my thumbs up as a sedate yet grunty real world performer -a comfortable long range platform that excels when you replace-apply 5-10% with quality aftermarket goodies.... Very happy to recommend these upgrades.... *Standard screen was replaced with California Scientific large-wide option for cooler temps & also have a tinted… Read more

'shorty' during spring-summer hotter days. CalSci offers a few options (their web-site illustrates well) & their products are terrific -great protection. I'm around 178cm about 5'11" -large-wide is tops at rest (lowest position). Changing screens is simple & quick via allen key securing points 2-3 minutes it's done. *Standard (massive) exhaust can replaced with V&H CsOne -equally good would be a Two Brothers can. Both offer improved performance & attitude (bark) when accelerating -but not over bearing for open road / highway riding. Other benefits are weight reduction & other road users can hear you're around

-definite safety plus. *A quality hugger (think it's Power Bronze) is worth fitting -keeps the rear wheel muck at bay. The 14 comes fitted with generous easy-2-operate panniers... there's an optional genuine top box to match -but I opted for a cheaper more than adequate 'Shad' -easy to fit & use. Oxford & Givi also offer good T'Box products. *Original air filter changed over at 1st service... K&N Lifetime guarantee filters get my tick. Unless you're really competent when it comes to working on m-cycles I'd strongly suggest one off updates (like air filter etc...) are done by your trusted bike mechanic at your next scheduled service. *Tyres... my bike came fitted with BridgeStones from new.... those tyres on this bike -very average. Now we have Pirelli Angel GT 'A' Spec' fitted with a heavier / stronger construction for larger bikes... result simply excellent !!! Big improvements across the board.... seat of pants , it rides better , feed back is great , wet grip is really good. According to Pirelli's info' they should last longer than any other also... 1500 k's done & they're barely scuffed... cOoL

*Standard seat (too soft) changed over to a (2015) newly available genuine K touring seat... the other serious option I looked at was a Saddlemen 'Stealth' -similarly priced.

On 2nd generation GTR's heated grips are standard adjustable & perform toasty well. I would suggest fitting battery bolt on terminal connections-with plug in adapter to allow piece of cake 'charge-ups' when coupled to C-Tek (or similar high quality) intelligent battery charger.

I highly recommend the Kawasaki GTR14 / Concours14 ....with 40+ riding years as reference across all main stream brands. Well planted neutral handling with strong GO & STOP for a bike of this size / weight. Plenty of comfort one or two up riding near or far & it accommodates luggage well.

Weakest points as standard... seat , tyres & screen... & that standard exhaust can is over the top heavy & large.

I hope this revue was helpful.

Cheers people & safe enjoyable riding , John

GTR1400 - Handles extremely well – I love this bike. Previous bike was an FJR1300A which was great but this one is far superior. Heaps of grunt and stable as a freight train. Has all the safety stuff on par with BMW without the price tag. Bullet proof engine and easy to maintain. People always give positive comments about it. I replaced my exhaust with a Two Brothers slip on… Read more

which gives a good note and frees it up slightly. It's fast and handles extremely well. Had to obtain bar risers and a bigger screen. If you aren't flexible in the hips when throwing your leg over with the panniers on you will scuff them. The exhaust is way too big.

High speed tourer / missile – Can a tourer provide the adrenalin rush of a sports bike ? Nearly 4000kms, and the smile is getting wider as I transition from 750ss Duke Sports bike to 1400cc mile eater. Looking for two up tourer for Wife and myself after back issues put paid to sport bike options. First rode one after testing an ST Honda, which wasnt a bad bike at all, but… Read more

salesman suggested a GTR ride as comparo..Bike was not new a 2009 hire /shopbike. Climbed aboard with my brother and regardless of the initial size being slightly intimidating within a couple km's I had agrin from ear to ear, found the bike I wanted by mistake. Now have a 2011 Black model.

Saturday afternoon after picking up at 2pm (in the rain on Parramatta rd) turned on heated grips, wound up the screen and rode straight to Katoomba then home to Camden, didnt want to get off. Next day got up 6am and rode to Cooma and back in rain to get first service in before P.I, Two up with all the gear to Phillip Is and back, what a bike Smooth, so easy to ride regardless of size impressions,ABS brakes sensational for its size and weight, traction control in wet is a god send with this horsepower on tap and slipper clutch means "Am i riding a shaft drive bike? plus no oily chain.

Handling... it aint no 175kg Ducati SS, but I have owned Kawasaki Mach III and Honda 750 K2 and ZZR 1100 so trust me it handles just fine even when really punting hard two up its just planted on the road (even when starting to touch bits on the tarmac). The bike is 290 odd kg, but the weight balance is such that once the wheels are rotating its so smooth and tractable the size impression vanishes. Power, Power and tractability, except for cruise has everything std for the price (mine $21800 ride away) Fuel consumption when you start using all that horsepower.. but its worth the adrenalin rush!

Loving the GTR – Having gone through my 'mid life crisis' as my wife calls it when I purchased a Hayabusa in 2005 which I replaced with a ZX14 in 2007 then onto an FJR1300 in 2009 and since 2010 have been the proud owner of the mighty 1400GTR ABS. This bike has made us very happy, so much so that it's a keeper. I have made a few changes as we all like to do and… Read more ·  1

have changed the seat for an aftermarket "Saddleman" and fitted a set of Genmar Heli risers which has greatly improved the comfort for both myself and my wife who regularly rides pillion. Most I have ridden in one day was a little over 1300km, yes you read that right ONE day.. I also changed the exhaust for a Staintune and fitted a Power Commander fuel mapping ECU. This helped to smooth out the throttle responce from idle and increase the range of the fuel tank. Easy to go 350km between refills which ain't half bad for a bike with 1400cc on tap that is all too easy to keep a smile on your dial. I also fitted an electronic cruise control and a Steble Nautalis air horn. All of the 'extras' have resulted in us having a great all rounder, a bike we both love and hope to spend many years riding around WA.

About the only bike I would consider changing this one for would be the new model.

All in all if your after a touring bike that will still have you grinning from ear to ear when you want to have a little fun then this is the bike for you. The power, the ABS, the shaft drive and no more having to clean chains. The ease of which it is to do an oil change and minor service work. The build quality, height adjustable screen. The tyre pressure monitoring system is brilliant for at a glance tyre pressure checks. Oh did I mention the power from that 1400CC variable timing power plant. How solid it feels and the The bazooka exhaust muffler just had to go, what was the designer thinking. The stock seat is far too uncomfortable for long trips. The throttle was snatchy and sluggish prior to the ECU and exhaust upgrade. The stock tyres lasted all of 5000km, latest set of PR3's have lasted 8000km so far with very little sign of wear. The stock screen could be a little higher but there are plenty of options out there.

Good – If the seat fits your gate and you're after a long distance tourer, it can't be beaten. Storage, wind protection and riding position are excellent for one up touring. The 2010 GTR1400 craves the open road, whilst it is a bit cumbersome around town in traffic. This bike will give you a silly grin with its power then wipe it away with the mudanity… Read more

of riding it. Be prepared to plan your trips around fuel stops. Silky smooth. It's so smooth we wondered if we were riding a motorcycle? Techno-wizardry is incredible. Easy to steer. The dashboard has so much easily read data available. The lack of wind turbulence for the rider and pillion. The slipper clutch adds to the smoothness. Grip and handling, even at sped, is par excellance. It does absolutlely everything I tell it to. The computer looks after beginners and encourages the experienced. The seat is to wide and tooo soft. The fuel tank is to small for outback Australia given its desire for premium unleaded. The seat is too wide. There is not enough foot room between pillion and rider. Did I mention the seat is rubbish. Could do with more torque down low, after all it is a 1400cc engine. The seat definately won't suit shorter riders.