Some bikes are bought with the heart. This one was bought with the patience of a man who had finally run out of it.
Back in June 2011, Andy waved goodbye to his Triumph Sprint ST. It was a bike he’d wanted to love, but between the constant breakdowns and the less than impressive customer service from his Triumph dealer, the relationship was well and truly over. What replaced it was about as far from “unreliable” as motorcycling gets: a Kawasaki GTR1400.
For those who haven’t had the pleasure, the GTR1400 is Kawasaki’s big sports tourer. A 1,352cc inline four with variable valve timing, shaft drive, and enough grunt to make overtakes feel like an afterthought. It’s a bike built for covering serious miles in comfort, which is exactly what Andy had in mind.
Making it his own
As with most bikes that pass through this lot, it didn’t stay standard for long. Andy fitted:
– Skidmarx screen for better wind protection on longer runs
– Rear hugger to keep the worst of the British weather off the back end
– Givi top box because a tourer without luggage is just a heavy sports bike
– Titanium Remus Hexacone exhaust to give that inline four a voice worthy of its performance
Earning its keep
The GTR wasn’t a garage queen either. Flick through the gallery below and you’ll see it’s been properly used: posing at the Quantum Leap and Family of Man sculptures, out at Restormel Castle, taking in the Elan Valley, stopping off at Ironbridge, Shobdon Airfield, Jo’s Place Cafe and the Toby Carvery in Highnam. It even kept company with a pair of Honda Blackbirds on one ride, which feels like appropriate companionship for a bike of its pace.
After the Sprint ST saga, the big Kawasaki did exactly what Andy needed it to do. It started every time, went everywhere, and asked for nothing in return except fuel and the occasional wash.
