Is there a replacement to my XJ900 ?

[Warr]

Saw this Kawasaki GTR1000 Concours on trademe...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/auction_detail.asp?id=21931119&key=3382689

Now my XJ suits me just fine $ wise the best, but .
Has anyone had any experience with one of these Concours.
I want something more upright than a modern tourer. Wrists cant stand the pressure, and I'd want a touring sized screen for comfort sakes.
Having being spoiled with a shaft I cant see myself going backwards there.

Any suggestions ?
__________________________________________________ ________________
Warren XJ900

[wari]

Saw this Kawasaki GTR1000 Concours on trademe...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/auction_detail.asp?id=21931119&key=3382689

Now my XJ suits me just fine $ wise the best, but .
Has anyone had any experience with one of these Concours.
I want something more upright than a modern tourer. Wrists cant stand the pressure, and I'd want a touring sized screen for comfort sakes.
Having being spoiled with a shaft I cant see myself going backwards there.

Any suggestions ?
__________________________________________________ ________________
Warren XJ900

I KNow some peopell who havehad , have and hope to have one ... they gotta great rep .. :sunny: :apint:

[FROSTY]

Sorry mate I have been busy all day.
The concourse is the USA market model of the GTR1000 Kawasaki
I've owned three of em One was a write off that I rebuilt .It was a nekkid bike except for a Yamaha XZ400 fairing. I fitted a 17" front wheel and I thought it was just as good as the XJ to ride at anything up to 7/10ths -above that it got a bit spongey pud but would still scrape the pegs and undercart fairly regularly
The other two were stockers with panniers etc.
Basicly your pillion wil love you if ya buy one.the seat is more comfortable than the XJ and the fairing offers a Huge amount of protection from the elements.I rode home one day on one with basic jacket/gloves etc on and it was bucketting down with rain I only got damp not saturated as I would on any other bike. The panniers hold a truck load of gear easily and if ya fit a givi top box as well you can cart the kitchen sink. the mirrors are huge and fairing monted so ya can see behind really well -They are also the downfall of the bike because the hinges work loose all the time and need tightening.
Brakes wise the early models only had single pot calipers which worked ok but ya wont do stoppies on em.
Seat height is good and the turning circle is suprisingly small
They are also very well balanced.
Mechanicly theyre pretty bulletproof --But not as robust a desighn as the XJ.
They weigh a ton --a good test of a mate is to see if he can get one on the main stand--its a bloody mission.
I like em and as a touring machine they are virtually unbeatable.
For general riding theyre in the yea theyre ok bracket -you find yourself a touch limited by the weight.
If you are gonna be doing a lot of two up touring -Yep I'd make the jump --if for no other reason than to keep the pillion happy

[moko]

We used to get these in the U.K. and they were never very popular but that dosnt mean they`re nescessarily bad bikes.Biggest problem they had here was that they suffered badly from carb-icing making them,along with a lot of other Kawasaki models of the time,virtually un-useable in winter.Kawasaki retro-fitted carb-heaters but the damage was done.Another problem they had was that all the mags compared them to BMW`s and the build-quality left a bit to be desired in that company.Personally if I were up-dating from an XJ that I was happy with I`d go for the later Diversion and buy some fairing lowers.

[Hitcher]

These Kawasakis review bloody well. I'm surprised that Kawasaki NZ never imported them. They were sold new in Australia.

[FROSTY]

Do wot mr hitcher?? They were sold Nz new for at least 3 years
Doncha remember that every new GTR used to have a little inscribed plaque that was fixed to the RH sidecover?

[Jantar]

I can't comment on the $$$$, but have you looked at the new XJR1300? They seem to be one hell of good sports-tourer.

[gav]

That GTR is hard to beat for the $$$, but another bike to consider could be the Honda ST1100.

[Warr]

Thanks guys for the input ...

- Jantar - The XJR's are somewhat more expensive & the ones I spotted on Bikepoint all looked naked and too new for my pocket.

- gav - The Honda ST1100 look an even heavier number than the GTR1000 and are a younger model so are still priced higher than is possible.

Thanks XJ/Frosty - oh wealth of information !!, Good point re weight... Havent had any clearance worries when cornering with that 4>1 I have. And with shocks and some new springs up front it will be even better.
I'd be happier with the XJ900 if it didnt die after 140k's. So I suppose these other tantalising machines should provide the insentive to get the carbs sorted. Hope thats all it is!!
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Warren XJ900

[gav]

Heres one , big kms, $7500
http://www.bikepoint.co.nz/DesktopDefault.aspx?UsedBikeID=691788&TabID=3553&Alias=bikepointnz