Kawasaki GTR1400 (2010-current)

yes, what about cruise control... its a tourer isn't it?
as far as im concern any bike considered to be a tourer should have cruise control whether it sports tour or out and out tourer.. I can’t believe the motorcycle manufactures aren’t onto this yet as well as the magazines that review these bikes…. Most likely with the latter being full of old farts dreaming of the OLDERN days..
and the call the GTR the “FLAGSHIP” for Kawasaki… no cruise control, no heated seats, no passenger comfort, driver’s seat too high… I can’t think of any Japanese person that I’ve ever met that would be comfortable with an 815 seat height..
but is seems every bike has its faults in one way or another.. the BMW 1300ST is a brilliant bike full of standard features with things that actually work.. like the screen… brilliant… cruise control, heated seats and grips, electric adjustable suspension and all of the rest of it… but due to the TOO low COG it doesn’t handle too well wanting to drive straight through corners.. first gear seems too high as well…
the FJR is top/tank heavy..
the Honda ST1300 lacks all of the above features..
so perhaps I wait for this VFR1200T Tourer.. surely they couldn’t stuff this one up as well?

and compared to cars.. we are paying a premium price for motorcycles… so we DEMAND better equipment!!!!!!!!

Why do the MCN testers get all excited about the GTR having traction control. My 2007 K1200GT has Automatic Stability Control and that's two and a half years old now. It's certainly available on the K13GT as an option

Having owned a 2008 model GTR, on which I did 10,000 miles up until October '09 when it was written off in a classic "didn't see you mate" collision, my views of the GTR are somewhat mixed. Kawasaki have undoubtedly uped the ante with the 2010 model. However, it has still only really caught up with the competition rather than surpassed it. Heated grips should have always been standard on a bike in this class and the screen on the old model was appauling. Is the new one a re-design or is it simply their larger option which was previously available? If it is the old 'option' screen, my experince was that it isn't significantly better. In addition, it would have been nice if the new GTR had a hugger as standard as the rear shock gets plastered with crud. And waht about that annoying 'low fuel' warning that can't be over-ridden? Whilst the new safety features might temp buyers away from the likes of Honda and Yamaha and possibly even BMW, I would give a word of caution. Firstly, I found that the comfort levels deminished over the 12 months that I owned my 2008 GTR and even had extra padding fitted in the seat because of it. Also, if you are an all season rider like myself, the finish of the GTR is not good. Within a year I had both exhaust alloy end caps replaced under warranty due to corrosion and the first of these was going the same way again. Other parts were showing similar signs, with rust under the seat and other areas. Overall, the old GTR was a good and capable bike, let down by the finish and deminishing comfort. Even with the improvemenst of the 2010 model, I'm not sure I'd want another.