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K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Mon 16 Jun, 2014 5:54 pm
by _Wilks
Toying with buying one.
Have read about the switch and water pump probs but everything else said about them has been all superlatives.
Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Mon 16 Jun, 2014 6:28 pm
by bully1
What drugs are you on Shane ??
Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Mon 16 Jun, 2014 7:12 pm
by old betsy
Have you looked at the Kawasaki GTR.
A lot of long distance touring guys have good things to say about it.
I'll go you halves on the price difference between the BMW and the Kawasaki .
Ahab
Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Mon 16 Jun, 2014 7:31 pm
by bully1
old betsy wrote:Have you looked at the Kawasaki GTR.
A lot of long distance touring guys have good things to say about it.
I'll go you halves on the price difference between the BMW and the Kawasaki .
Ahab
Yep the only thing the Kwaka doesn't have is heated grips and cruise control, both easlily added.
Better top speed, better fuel consumption, great pannier system, half the price to purchase, more farkles available off ebay and out of China, you could buy a kwaka and have enough left over to buy and build another AT.
Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Mon 16 Jun, 2014 7:44 pm
by _Wilks
Stop making sense you blokes.
I'll get searching on the Kwaka.
A magic day spent 2up riding yesterday has shaken things up at home. Pillion in a million (tks for that line bully) says its time for a bit of comfort. So road bike in; 2 ds bikes out - the GSA and one AT.
Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Mon 16 Jun, 2014 7:48 pm
by bully1
A couple of mates of mine have some really sorted GTR14, 1 of them had 2 x 1200LT now in love with the GTR.
If you want a close look at them and some honest owner opinions let me know, if not then get down to Brittons in Rocky or down to see Norm at Causeway.
Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Mon 16 Jun, 2014 8:16 pm
by _Wilks
Thanks Bully.
Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Mon 16 Jun, 2014 8:20 pm
by old betsy
Shane
The fuel consumption that they state for the GTR 6.4l/100 would be pretty correct. As my average on the ZX14 I'm getting 6.8l/100. But then I ride it hard. Oops sorry Bry, ( did I say that out loud ) . Let me say again. I get 6.8l/100 with my riding style.
Ahab
Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Mon 16 Jun, 2014 8:23 pm
by bully1
They have a mode to change from power to economy, selectable on the bars, those things boogy, heard no complaints about the shafts either.

Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Tue 17 Jun, 2014 9:33 am
by Bry
Whilst I've generally always been a BMW fan.. (yes I know Swampy it's a bloody Honda), on this one I'd listen to the other guys as well, the GTR is a sorted, r-o-b-u-s-t unit. I rode the KGT with Jacky and her reaction was BUY ONE! But research and my experience with the K13/12's left me a little cold.
Switch block failures' are common as muck, and the odd final drive. Whilst I can't speak much of the final drive problems, which looks like the fat american with kitchen sink issue, the 13 I had, had three failures just in the switch blocks alone. I've been noticing a few of the K16's popping up in the papers lately, might be worth a look?
Don't look at an FJR.... just don't.... blech!
I guess the other contender at that scale'll be the GL?
Still reckon the K12Rs were the bees knees... other than that infuriating timing chest seal... not as enamored with the new ones... (I sound old, where's my meds?)
Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Wed 18 Jun, 2014 10:47 pm
by _Wilks
The PiaM was hot for the GTL. On reflection, the GTR was never gunna get beyond a cursory glance with her. But even so, I'm not unhappy with her taste in bikes - and also she picked me 33 years ago.
Tassie trip already planned for March 2015. Hills and beyond planned for this Sunday
Feels like I'm sitting on the ground after years on the GSA and others

Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Wed 18 Jun, 2014 11:42 pm
by Bry
Congrats with your choice anyhow! Looks.....big...

Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Thu 19 Jun, 2014 1:45 pm
by Swampy
A beautiful beast of a bike............Well Done
Better then a Honda eh Bry ?
Swampy

Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Thu 19 Jun, 2014 4:29 pm
by bill9117
Looks almost as good as my new 1999 K1200 LT Shane. Bet it cost heaps more thou. Mine has been very comfortable for the ride back from Brisy. Yet to get the Doris tick in the box, she wasn't that impressed that I have 4 bikes now.
Re: K1600GT or GTL. Any good?
Posted: Thu 19 Jun, 2014 5:55 pm
by old betsy
bill9117 wrote: she wasn't that impressed that I have 4 bikes
Better than having 4 women
