Dave C
19th March 2012, 17:45
A couple of weeks ago I picked up my 'new' (2010 model, 8k on the clock) GSX 1300BK, better known as the B King. I really liked my GSX1400, a special edition model with all the nice fruit on it, but somehow it just never gave me the buzz that the 'right' bike always will! So after a lot of umming and aahhing I took the plunge and bought the big beast, from Avon City Suzuki in Christchurch, and can I say they were a great crew to deal with, very obliging and genuine.
I can recommend a cruise up from Chch to Picton via the Kaikoura coast on a warm dry afternoon as a hell of a good way to get to know a new bike! I say 'cruise' because for the most part that's what it was, as I took some time to get a feel for the beast, but on the few occasions I did feed it some juice I learnt that all the hype about the power of these things is right on the button!
Also true is the regular observation that the beast handles way better than you might expect, it is stable, predictable (assuming intelligent use of the throttle) and much easier than I had expected to punt through the twisty bits we all know and love.
After a couple of days working in Wellington I finished the journey home to Auckland, and while still being a bit thoughtful before giving it anything like a fistful, and not yet having a detector aboard, it was a hell of a trip! Arrived in Auckland with that wonderful feeling that always follows a good day punting a big bike along a variety of roads.
The bike came equipped with Yoshi carbon pipes and tail tidy, which gives it a lovely note, does wonders for the aesthetics, and drops (best guess) 8-10 kegs of weight off the standard set up. It also wears Dunlop Sportsmax Q2 tyres, which work beautifully, but I suspect the tyre shop is going to welcome me as a regular customer!
I have had a couple of short rides since, and this weekend hope to head down to the East Coast (barring extreme weather events or landslides!) So far one very happy camper, looking forward to a lot more ride time. Only unhappy person is her indoors, who loved the armchair comfort of the 14, and is very unimpressed with the somewhat less comfy offering on the B.
I can recommend a cruise up from Chch to Picton via the Kaikoura coast on a warm dry afternoon as a hell of a good way to get to know a new bike! I say 'cruise' because for the most part that's what it was, as I took some time to get a feel for the beast, but on the few occasions I did feed it some juice I learnt that all the hype about the power of these things is right on the button!
Also true is the regular observation that the beast handles way better than you might expect, it is stable, predictable (assuming intelligent use of the throttle) and much easier than I had expected to punt through the twisty bits we all know and love.
After a couple of days working in Wellington I finished the journey home to Auckland, and while still being a bit thoughtful before giving it anything like a fistful, and not yet having a detector aboard, it was a hell of a trip! Arrived in Auckland with that wonderful feeling that always follows a good day punting a big bike along a variety of roads.
The bike came equipped with Yoshi carbon pipes and tail tidy, which gives it a lovely note, does wonders for the aesthetics, and drops (best guess) 8-10 kegs of weight off the standard set up. It also wears Dunlop Sportsmax Q2 tyres, which work beautifully, but I suspect the tyre shop is going to welcome me as a regular customer!
I have had a couple of short rides since, and this weekend hope to head down to the East Coast (barring extreme weather events or landslides!) So far one very happy camper, looking forward to a lot more ride time. Only unhappy person is her indoors, who loved the armchair comfort of the 14, and is very unimpressed with the somewhat less comfy offering on the B.