What a POS bike this must be!

[Warchild]

:lol:

This is a list of things that "need fixing/improvement" on a particular bike model, sent to me by a bud on another forum..... no doubt y'all can guess what bike is under discussion here......

Needs tip over protection for bags and front fairingReposition mirrors (higher) so they block wind and have better visibility

Seat height needs to come down 1 inch

Heat issue on lower legs and side panel needs to be addressed

Needs louder, and dual, horns

Seat covering too sticky/tacky

Glove boxes need to be on left & right sides and center box removed

Range calculations should be based on AVERAGE MPG, not instant MPG

Range and instant and average MPG could be shown on one screen

Needs an ambient temp indicator on dash

Bag latches appear to have problems breaking, need to fix that ASAP

Passenger foot pegs need to be improved

A switchable "sport mode" for the ECM to allow the secondary buttflies to open sooner would be a big improvement in power/performance

Tire pressure sensors need replaceable batteries

Rear rack should be metal, not plastic

Tail light needs to be larger with more surface area for visibility

Front turn signals should be incorporated into mirror backs

Bars should be adjustable

Increase alternator output

Add compression damping adjusters to front forks

:lol:

Now, in all seriousness, I don't think this bike is a POS..... seems to me that most (tho not all) of these "issues" are easily fixable and are nothing more than new teething issues, for the most part.....

 

[Geezer]

I'll take a SWAG and say that they are talking about the C14.

Whether I'm right or not, many of those issues, or similar ones, apply to the FJR.

 

[Wolfhound]

One thing that will be hard to "fix" is the butt ugly rear view. The saddlebags look like they were added as an after thought.

 

[Bustanut joker]

What Geezer said!

:jester:

 

[twowheelnut]

Bah, minor issues. Take it to the boys at OCC for 'adjustments'.

 

[mdisher]

I *think* any and all of those have been complains about every ST platform to date

Ok maybe not the center glovebox...

You could easily attach that list to the FJR/ST1300/C14/ZZR/BB/Sprint

 

[dbvolfan]

Fred isn't having 2nd thoughts on the C14 now is he?

 

[juniorfjr]

Saw one coming the other way at an intersection. Knew it was a ST but which? When he left turned in front of me, the damned thing looked twice as long as a fjr and those big ugly bags way up in the air. No thanks, I've got the ride I want.

Fred Jr.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Picky! Picky! Picky! Just get on and ride the bike and stop whining about it. There are those who don't know when they're onto a good thing.

Jill

 

[Hit the Road Jack]

"...switchable "sport mode" for the ECM to allow the secondary buttflies..."

I'm not sure I'd be interested in having a motorcycle ECM allow these! Might explain the sticky seat issue though.

 

[Warchild]

On a more serious note, if this new GTR1400 is going to make any significant in-roads into the Long Distance community, they really need to do something about that marginal alternator output.

The bike's stator is slightly less than the FJR's GenII alternator, but the big Kwak has three (3) pretty hefty computers that are sucking down some pretty fair amount of juice (all that KIPASS stuff, EFI, ABS, etc). I read on one of the forums that the GTR has a paltry amount of spare power above that needed to run the bike; purported to be something on the order of 70-watts?! That just can't be right... the guy had to be talking about the built-in 12-v outlet that has a stated limit of 70 watts.

It amazes me how manufacturers continue to fail to grasp the importance of sufficient stator output for a purpose-built, 2-up "transcontinental" touring rig..... in the case of the GTR1400, it was likely a issue of Kawasaki wanting to saving money by leveraging existing components, as it appears the GTR1400 has the identical stator that the ZX-14 has.

Regardless of all the above, I believe the bike merits a good look/evaluation..... you can't have too many sport-tourers on the market, IMO.

 

[Bounce]

Fred isn't having 2nd thoughts on the C14 now is he?

that would have been my guess, too. since i didn't see the original post, i can't tell if it read like they were design problems or simply changes that would be made for personal preference.

 

[Warchild]

The latter, I believe.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

<snip>On a more serious note, if this new GTR1400 is going to make any significant in-roads into the Long Distance community, they really need to do something about that marginal alternator output.The bike's stator is slightly less than the FJR's GenII alternator, but the big Kwak has three (3) pretty hefty computers that are sucking down some pretty fair amount of juice (all that KIPASS stuff, EFI, ABS, etc).

It amazes me how manufacturers continue to fail to grasp the importance of sufficient stator output for a purpose-built, 2-up "transcontinental" touring rig.....

This may be Apocryphal (or, just an anecdotal incident)? -- and maybe some who know can reply....

Heard at an LD Rally: (BMW rider) "When I got to the bottom (Clifton AZ) I shut the bike off and when I tried to start it, the battery was dead." "Apparently, the 50 miles, or so, of all down-hill riding worked the ABS so much that it drained the battery?"

Could this have been a real 'old-style' ABS? Could this have happened at all (ABS draining the battery thru lots of use)? :huh:

 

[Lake Powell]

<snip>On a more serious note, if this new GTR1400 is going to make any significant in-roads into the Long Distance community, they really need to do something about that marginal alternator output.The bike's stator is slightly less than the FJR's GenII alternator, but the big Kwak has three (3) pretty hefty computers that are sucking down some pretty fair amount of juice (all that KIPASS stuff, EFI, ABS, etc).

It amazes me how manufacturers continue to fail to grasp the importance of sufficient stator output for a purpose-built, 2-up "transcontinental" touring rig.....

This may be Apocryphal (or, just an anecdotal incident)? -- and maybe some who know can reply....

Heard at an LD Rally: (BMW rider) "When I got to the bottom (Clifton AZ) I shut the bike off and when I tried to start it, the battery was dead." "Apparently, the 50 miles, or so, of all down-hill riding worked the ABS so much that it drained the battery?"

Could this have been a real 'old-style' ABS? Could this have happened at all (ABS draining the battery thru lots of use)? :huh:

I believe it, my 02' K1200rs had electrically assisted power brakes, the lights would dim at a stop when activated. The bike was OK, but I never got used to the brakes, there was this short delay from the brake lever to actual braking action.

 

[Warchild]

Dunno.... the dude musta been using his ABS a LOT! :huh:

I don't have extensive, in-depth experience with ABS inner workings, but it was my understanding that most ABS systems (with the possible exception of those splendid <ahem> Beemer "power brakes") do not really used a lot of amperage until/unless the ABS actually fires off. Until then, it supposedly uses very little electrical power; primarily that needed to allow the sensors to do their job. Perhaps one of our members with more knowledge on this subject can elaborate further....

 

[SkooterG]

Having ridden that road down to Clifton many times, I will say that if he killed his battery by activating his ABS brakes, dude don't know how to ride.

Nobody should be activating the ABS that much. Period. And as for the ride to Clifton, while it is downhill grade, it is flat at times, and very curvy. With use of engine braking, and a 'typical' riding style should not lead to overactivation of brakes, whatever that is.

My BS meter is high with that dude's statement.

 

[Wolfhound]

My ABS never came on during the rally while going down to Clifton, never hit the brakes that hard . . .

South of Hannagan Meadow on 191 during rally:

 

[RonBB]

but it was my understanding that most ABS systems (with the possible exception of those splendid <ahem> Beemer "power brakes") do not really used a lot of amperage until/unless the ABS actually fires off. Until then, it supposedly uses very little electrical power; primarily that needed to allow the sensors to do their job

My understanding as well if all is working as it should.