GSX1400 Review by "beyond"
I confess that I absolutely enjoy riding a decent sized
motorcycle. I also confess that speed limits appear to have
been set by a generation that lived and breathed Morris
1000's, when roads were still dirt tracks that led to the
edge of a flat earth, where if you reached the end, you
simply fell off.
In January of 2005, my friend bought an SV1000 and his son
bought a TL1000. At this point I was talked into buying a
motorcycle as well, so that we could ride together through
the summer months. During the previous year, the idea of
buying another bike had been on my mind and I had read many
reviews. Always I seemed to come back to the GSX1400 as the
best all rounder that would be good for two up riding. I
went along to the Suzuki dealer and test rode a GSX1400 K2
with 15,000 km's on the clock.
The last bike I owned was twenty years earlier. This was
going to be a test ride only, said my other half, who I had
brought along to ensure she was comfortable on the back.
What sort of dick head, takes his wife along to test a 1400
after 20 years of abscence from riding.
I helped my wife to get on board and then climbed on myself.
The dealer watched and I think he was just as apprehensive
as I was. Twenty years after owning a bike and here I am,
getting on the biggest sports tourer, naked bike they had on
the floor and two up. I gingerly let out the clutch and made
our way to the motorway.
My wife is quite petite and not very tall. She had her arms
around my waist as much as she could, considering the heavy
armored jacket that I was wearing. Onto the on ramp we went
and it was at this point I opened her up, just a little bit,
or so I thought.
Well, the bike took off like a rabbit with turpentine up
its bum. I managed to find third gear as we hit around 6000
rpm and then realized my wife's arms were no longer around
my waist, but that my pockets were nearly being ripped off,
as she frantically tried to grip anything she could get her
gloved hands on. A quick throttle off, had her upright
again, with me thinking there is no way she's going to let
me buy this monster.
We returned the bike. I stood at the dealers with this
stupid grin all over my face looking like an escapee from a
Psychopaths ward. I was asked if I liked it and when would I
buy it. My wife said to the dealer, it looks like it's
sold, no matter what I have to say about it.
That was then. 14 months later with 22,000km's more on
the clock, I can say I've had it to the limit on numerous
occasions. I've had the front wheel well of the ground several
times (not on purpose mind you) and always this machine has
felt composed and willing.
My thoughts on the GSX1400:
Right at this moment in life, I do not want to own any other
type of motorcycle. My wife calls the 14, my blue mistress.
If I could, I would ride it all day, every day. I can't
stay off it even after 14 months of ownership and 1000's
of kilometres. In short, I love this bike.
Fuel consumption is as good as you want it to be. Two up
touring with a top box full of gear, riding reasonably
steady with fast overtaking maneuvers, I've seen 330 km on
a full tank, which hold 22 litres. Conversely, riding hard
and fast, I've hit just on 190km on a full tank. I've ridden
to Napier and back in one day without even getting a sore arse
and could have done it again. My wife has done the same trip
as a pillion and with an overnight stay, without any ill effects.
If you want to ride hard and fast, then I would advise a
spare bank account just for rear tires. I've worn out
four and half tyres now and have found Michelin Pilot Roads
and Metzler Roadtec Z6's to the best for this type of bike.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=26610
My bike is stock standard, with no additions or fairing.
High speed riding is tough on the neck muscles above 160kmh,
but then again, I'll look like Arnie in another couple of
months. (My neck, anyway).
This bike is fast. Not at the top end but getting there.
There would be very little around that would beat the 1400
to 220kmh. There is a video of a standard GSX1400 hitting
100kmh in 2.57 seconds. Two up, I've had it on 230kmh, fully
upright. Now that's tough on the neck. I've hit 240kmh
sitting upright and just on 250kmh lying prone on the tank.
The motor is seriously under stressed and under tuned which
is obvious in the way it runs out of breath at around
230kmh, but the torque and power to the rear wheel getting
there, is phenomenal. (Another reason for tyre wear).
These engines are built to last for a long, long time.
The power band is strong from 2500rpm right through to
7500rpm but best between 4000rpm and 7000rpm, if you want
all your jollies fast and at once. This bike is extremely
user friendly, as 90% of the time; any gear is the right gear.
You can be lazy on the box and leave it in sixth for overtaking
or drop it a couple of cogs and blast past anything you want.
A wheelie is a throttle twist away in first and the front wheel
can be made to skim the ground right though second, third and
fourth. 90% of it's torque is available from 2500rpm.
By todays standards, 106bhp is not a lot for a 1400, but it's the
huge 96ft/lbs or 126nm of torque that make this quarter tonne
beast sit up and go like a rocket. You want longer arms, then
get one of these.
Handling is awesome for a bike this size. I have a favorite
road that I know well, with many bends, including hairpins,
short straights and chicanes. I've owned some very sharp
handling bikes in my earlier days but have never felt at one
with these bikes, as I have felt blasting through this 8
kilometer stretch of road on the 14. Body and bike appear
to become one and as your mind plans the next move, the bike
is already moving with you. I sit well forward at these
times, using plenty of front brake. The rear brake is next
to useless under these conditions and can break contact very
quickly under extreme braking. Using the gears often to
stay in the sharpest torque range, braking hard and throwing
the bike well over until the pegs scratch the tarmac,
dispatches these sort of roads in no time at all. I don't
find tight chicanes a problem either. Counter steering on
the bars has the bike ready for the next corner when you
want it to be.
Initially, it took a long time for me to get the 1400 on the
pegs when cornering. This is a psychological problem as the
mind tells you its too big, too powerful, it's a cruiser etc.
But, if your tyres are good and you have gotten to know
the bike well and have got around the mind thing, it goes
exactly where you want it.
The factory suspension settings are crap, as it wallows like
a whale on lumpy corners. Most the reviews on this bike have
been done on the standard settings, which is why some reports
bag the handling. With a few adjustments to the settings, it
tightens things up a lot. You feel more road vibration, but
cornering is more responsive and precise without the excessive
wallow on uneven roads.
I now find ground clearance an issue with my peg, feeler bolts
being regularly worn away and of late, the side stand foot is being
worn away slowly as well. I am now exploring ways of hanging
off the bike or looking at a jack up kit to get around this slight
problem, or maybe I just need to back of a bit, but that's not as
much fun.
Two up riding is no problem. The added weight of a pillion
is not noticeable and the handling does not suffer either.
When the pillion is not using the grab rail, heavy braking
is hell on the wrists, but that goes for any bike of any
class.
In summary: This is one hell of a bike and real value for money.
I have never regretted buying it and it would be hard to persuade
me to go for anything else at this point in time. I wonder what
Suzuki has in mind for a replacement.
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Originally Posted by rogson
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