Ok, I think it's time for an update. I'm now riding
a K6 GSX1400 I bought in December 06 after trading
my K2 model.
The K2 saw 43,000kms after I put 30,000kms on it after
buying it second hand. I'm now nudging 30,000kms on
my black beauty and I cannot fault these bikes after
all this time.
What can I say? This particular model of bike has
got under my skin like no other bike ever has. I never
want to be without a GSX1400!
I work harder than ever before so I rarely get on my
bike during the week and it sits in my garage patiently
waiting for me to take it for a run on the odd weekend.
It's a thing of presence. It's latent power awaits me.
I now know it inside and out and know what it can and
cannot do. I've tested it's mettle and it's tested mine.
I've taken it to the edge and it's taken me to the edge
and back again on many occasions.
I've pushed it hard on corners that it was never
designed for and I know when it's had enough and my
hand has lightened up on the throttle to keep the
whole relationship intact.
I've said it before in many reviews, this bike is so
under rated and so many people are missing out on it's
attributes. In many parts of the world it is reaching
cult status as the last of the street fighter, air cooled,
sports tourers.
I have a hankering to take it to the track. I know
it won't go over 260kmh without a tail wind and I
know it protests a little on plus 220kmh sweepers,
but it's always been settled and always felt safe
until the boundaries are pushed way "beyond" it's limits.
I've tried super sports and other street fighters and
on some I've felt instantly at home like the the latest
Speed Triple and yet...there has always been something missing.
That comfort, the boot up the arse from all the low
down torque where it's actually needed on the road. It's
presence, the way it looks and suprisingly it's handling
considering the bulk and weight.
Don't be fooled into thinking this machine is for the nandy
old school wombles who need roid cream and cereals
to make it through the day. This bike needs a strong hand,
a rare steak munching hooligan, that knows how to ride and
knows how to get the best out of it.
In the twisties it will keep up with hard riding sports riders,
it will corner with accuracy and will change direction so
fast with the push of a bar that it turns a ride into
a moment of man melding with bike awesomeness.
I cannot praise an inanimate object enough, because once
the starter is thumbed and you are under way, the excitement
builds with every minute of riding. This bike begs to be
ridden. It cannot be ridden like a super sports. It cannot
be ridden like a motard or any other street fighter. It has
limitations but once you know how to ride them and get the
best out of them, there is simply no going back.
This 60,000km review is not all about how much power
it puts out, how fast it will go, how many km's a litre
it will do, how well it pillions and how great it looks.
This review is about how much this bike has touched my life
and how thrilling it is to ride. I have not found better for
comfort, handling and excitement.
This bike epitomises what motorbikes are all about. It has
to be ridden. Sure you can pootle about as slow as you
want but twisting the throttle awakens the raw thrill of
motorcycling and what it embodies.When ridden hard, your
full concentration is required, your lines have to be spot
on, your body movements have to compliment it's every turn.
You know you are riding, you know how alive you can be and
for it's bulk it loves the tight twisties more than anything
else and as a result so do I.
Suzuki knew exactly what they were doing when they produced
this bike. It will be a very sad day when you no longer
front up to a dealer and take one of these off the floor.
And, at the end of the day, there is no other bike you can
actually buy for less than $10.00 a CC
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