GTR1000 old tech

[Wrigsby1]

So in my weekly mither for a 2nd bike of average repute and lower purchase value I have spotter a GTR1000 concours... One of my best combos even though I didn't realise at the time was a late 11GS and a scruffy but sound ST1100... I've tried different and newer and modern but they don't float my boat... Presently back to an 11GS and looking for that 2nd "different" bike...

Tourer types suit me for different and easy to use, I've done the old Ks, dunno about another Pan as I know what needs fixing at this age and wonder if any feedback on the GTR thou...
Funnily enough when I passed my test in the late 80s a workmate took me for a rapid run on his 1000RX... Oh yeah... I've read a few forum bits and they seem solid and strangely have the Japanese ability to build fuss free shaft drive units...

Never had a Kwak and perhaps that's part of the fun... Any user feedback appreciated...

 

[Wrigsby1]

Ps... I'm 6'5" and things were tight kneewise on the K100/1100LTs and the ST11 so room is a major consideration...

 

[Pops]

I had a GTR 1000 for a few years until 1998 when I wrote it off. It was a very capable and comfortable tourer with plenty of grunt. Easy to work on too.
I’m 6’2 and found it very comfortable

 

[Neil W]

Used to help do the test ride days for Kawasaki Sunderland in the mid 80's and would get to extensively borrow test bikes , think gpz900r , gpz600r etc etc , one I liked best was the GTR1000 which for me was just a really nice well thought out competent bike. take a look at the Suzuki GSX 1100G as well , utter hoot but no many left

 

[Wrigsby1]

Thanks so far... I can't believe they were still selling it new in the US into the noughties... 80/early 90s tech with a few upgrades and with a decent following...

 

[Cortina]

lots in America really like them - a good following , never heard any negatives

 

[Wrigsby1]

lots in America really like them - a good following , never heard any negatives

That's the funny thing... I forgot they existed, was surprised that with small updates they were still being sold in the early 2000's and like you say have a strong following over the water and with few problems to report...

 

[Wrigsby1]

Well there you are... The bike that made me ask is now on my drive... Modified with lots of US mods and immaculate Time to find out...!

 

[Pops]

Same colour as my old one. Do keep us updated with how you get on with her.

 

[Wrigsby1]

Same colour as my old one. Do keep us updated with how you get on with her.

Willdo... Always fun when you don't really know what to expect after years of knowing exactly what's coming with the BM's. The 11GS is not going anywhere and its running them both and mixing between the two... Fun fun...

 

[snelly]

Willdo... Always fun when you don't really know what to expect after years of knowing exactly what's coming with the BM's. The 11GS is not going anywhere and its running them both and mixing between the two... Fun fun...

That looks like one of the later ones and the Kawasaki GTR boxes; the Gpz - Rx 1000 engine servicing is pretty straight forward; locknut tappet adjustment instead of shims keep it simple; nice bike; keep us posted.

 

[Wrigsby1]

Wel the first couple of weeks and 400 miles are done ... 50/50 use with my 11GS....
My first surprise was it was a tight squeeze for my legs even with the lower peg brackets... Out with the 2nd airhawk as a booster seat again as with the ST11 and the odd K series fully faired... This is purely a problem with being 6'5" with a 34/35" inside leg...
The bike came seriously detailed and pampered with an already good bike full of mods and upgrades straight from the US and ultrasonic clean carbs etc... It runs as it should, feels surprisingly sporty if you rev it and docile and smooth if you don't with the characteristic tickover of 80s/90s Kwaks...
Slightly more forward than an 11 Pan, feels a ton lighter even if it's still a biggy and steers far quicker so really a sports tourer in full dress clothes...
The fairing is very K like and if I lean in slightly or if you were shorter you be in still and unbuffeted air ...
It feels narrow with the boxes when filtering which it isn't really but that's good and has the best mirrors I've ever had...
I'm game for keeping it for a while to fit my creaky self into it better and doing the odd bit of setting up/ servicing along the way... Oh, and cleaning and prepping to keep up with the POs meticulousness...

A huge fuel tank and on the first fill etc seems a decent MPG... And with uprated suspension ie GTR 14 rear shock and reworked forks it is predictable and stable at speed...

Overall a very under the radar effective bike with no real vices ever reported so one for the rider...

 

[Wrigsby1]

1k up now with 1/3 to 2/3rds use with my GS... Almost opposite bikes which is part of the fun and I've warmed greatly to the GTR... I was lucky to take a punt on an OCD prep version and even though it's a hard ride on some of my bumpy back road routes it's good fun .. like a brick K and an ST11 it's amazing how good the faring is and it's the best screen of any of them... The engine feels old school but it's smooth when revved and after 4-5k it really takes off as expected... As a long-term low revving twin rider I think I'm caning it at 7k revs which is along way from my rev limiter days on the unburstable CBR 600... It's a comfy cruise at 70-80 and handles really well on the fast smoother roads... I now have respect for it and it's going to be at least a 10k miles relationship...My 1st Kwak after all this time...!

 

[Wrigsby1]

Tried a bit of Keith Code this morn by riding to work in top gear as much as I could to also see how flexible this old mill is... Down to 2k or just below nae bother and away it goes, even for the one brisk overtake it was only down one gear... On 4s you often feel the need to use the box more often but it shows you can run with a bit less with a bit of forward planning... All part of the fun...

 

[Wrigsby1]

Iiiitts winter... Well not quite but the roads up here are pretty slimy when damp with all the tractor action and some roadworks... My time on the GTR has become surprisingly fun... It's grown on me and it's still looking quite mint even though the run in yesterday and today turner the front of the mike and screen into streaky muckville...
I thought I'd never say this but it's a better fairing and screen that my KLTs of the past... Not as upright though and I don't think Kwak ever specced a cigar lighter...

 

[Wrigsby1]

So after a bit of time stored from the worst of winter while my poor old GS carries the can I had the GTR out for a couple of days on the filthy roads..
I did a couple of service jobs which were change the coolant and check the valve clearances... Lots of panels etc to remove but all well put together so no probs and no fastenings left you really have to pull the thermostat off to get the valve cover off and I squeezed it past... I reckon it'd never been done since it was built in 2005 and the majority of clearances were a bit tight...
So fresh Coolant and the clearances sorted and it's all good... The old coolant looked like a Prestone type but smelled like piss so glad that's done as well... No taste test attempted...
Running well, covered in crap but still a lovely condition bike underneath... Mucho winter eBay trawling for the wide range of cheaper bikes available but a coupla days out for the GTR and running the trusty rufty GS makes me think feck it and enjoy what I have...

 

[Aidan1150]

What a great bike. You didn't say what you paid for it and it doesn't really matter anyway as she is doing a good job as well as being almost the opposite kind of biking to your GS. Enjoy!!

 

[Wrigsby1]

What a great bike. You didn't say what you paid for it and it doesn't really matter anyway as she is doing a good job as well as being almost the opposite kind of biking to your GS. Enjoy!!

Yep it was a bit weird as I'd forgotten clean about them. This is a 2005 US bike so long gone in the UK, imported in 2019 I think, then I bought it from an OCD guy in top condition with quite a few US mods done... I paid top dollar for it at £2.5k but that's still not much... I've had to use a booster seat for my lankiness as well as the lowered pegs but the fairing is really good and the screen works well... Really a late 80s/early 90s tech bike but updated and with only 30k miles so very little.
I loved my ST1100 from a few years ago but that needed many jobs as a project and my Olihead RRT experience has been really good. But splitting the advantages etc of moving this for one of them has been flimsy so I might as well enjoy what is a very good, underrated or forgotten bike as it is... As with KLR's, a big US following

 

[Aidan1150]

A lot of bike for the money. You'd have some bother buying anything equal or better at that price. All the very best with her.

 

[The Other PaulG]

This has become a real feel-good thread! Excellent, keep sharing the joy .