KAWASAKI GTR1400 (2010 - on) Review
At a glance
| Owners' reliability rating: | |
|---|---|
| Annual servicing cost: | £190 |
| Power: | 139 bhp |
| Seat height: | Medium (32.1 in / 815 mm) |
| Weight: | High (695 lbs / 315 kg) |
Prices
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesThe second generation GTR gotr a significant upgrade, added to the comfort of the original model with a larger screen and includes heated grips as standard. But more interestingly Kawasaki improved the safety of their flagship tourer with new ABS and traction control.
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineKawasaki hasn’t played around with the handling, either, which was not a fault of the old model. There’s a slightly stiffer spring at the rear, but that’s about it. For a large bike, the GTR can be hustled along with confidence, but you need a lot of confidence in the front Bridgestone tyre, which has been specifically designed for this model. The new linked ABS braking is excellent, and it’s changeable for riding fully loaded or with pillion and luggage.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityThe powerplant is taken from the mighty ZZ-R1400 but detuned for more midrange. The GTR also boasts variable valve timing, which has the smoothest operation on the market, far better than Honda’s VFR. It also has nearly 140bhp and gallons of torque, both of which are class-leading.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValueThere is no reason to question the Kawasaki 1400’s reliability as the ZZ-R14 on which it’s based is proving bulletproof and Kawasaki are renown for producing reliable motors. MCN ran the older GTR problem free for 30,000 mile in a year, without a glitch. Shaft drive will add to its longevity.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentThere are bargains to be had on used GTRs if you're patient and don't mind a bike with higher than average mileage and good examples can be snapped up for around £7000. That's a lot of bike for not a lot of cash. Find a Kawasaki GTR1400 for sale.
Equipment
The second generation GTR comes with more options as standard like heated grips, larger screen, ABS and traction control as standard. There is also an additional mode button on the left bar to scroll through the informative clocks while the electric screen is pre-programmable. The GTR also comes with a switchable 'Eco mode' which works at lower revs to improve fuel consumption. Compare and buy parts for the GTR1400 in the MCN Shop.
Specs |
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| Engine size | 1352cc |
|---|---|
| Engine type | 16v four stroke in line four, 6 gears |
| Frame type | Aluminium twin spar |
| Fuel capacity | 22 litres |
| Seat height | 815mm |
| Bike weight | 315kg |
| Front suspension | 43mm forks fully adj |
| Rear suspension | single shock, fully adjust |
| Front brake | 2 x 310mm 4 piston radial caliper |
| Rear brake | 270mm disc, two piston caliper |
| Front tyre size | 120/70x17 |
| Rear tyre size | 190/55x17 |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
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| Average fuel consumption | 36 mpg |
|---|---|
| Annual road tax | £96 |
| Annual service cost | £190 |
| New price | £13,299 |
| Used price | £5,000 - £11,000 |
| Insurance group |
17 of 17 How much to insure? |
| Warranty term | Two year unlimited mileage |
Top speed & performance |
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| Max power | 139 bhp |
|---|---|
| Max torque | 93.5 ft-lb |
| Top speed | 151 mph |
| 1/4 mile acceleration | - |
| Tank range | 180 miles |
Model history & versions
Model history
2007: model launched
2011: Available as 1400GTR ABS [£13,268]
Other versions
None
Owners' reviews for the KAWASAKI GTR1400 (2010 - on)
10 owners have reviewed their KAWASAKI GTR1400 (2010 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your KAWASAKI GTR1400 (2010 - on)
Summary of owners' reviews |
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| Overall rating: | |
|---|---|
| Ride quality & brakes: | |
| Engine: | |
| Reliability & build quality: | |
| Value vs rivals: | |
| Equipment: | |
| Annual servicing cost: | £190 |
Version: Gtr 1400 abs
Year: 2015
Annual servicing cost: £200
Hugely accomplished bike with soo much to offer... Massive ammount of wind protection offering you the ability to extend your riding season well into chilly wintery months, this wind protection also means she's a wide bike so if you're considering this as a commuting bike you may find yourself sat amongst our 4 wheeled friends unless you use big A roads, dual carriage ways or the motorway network.. The silky smooth engine coupled with bags of grunt make for an enjoyable ride out regards of its purpose.. The headlights are car like and offer copious amounts of covering on darker country road, same goes the the car sized wing mirrors, they gift you a virtually unparalleled view of the road behind.... Something which is a refreshing change when you first move from a sports or adventure bike.. The seat is comfortable and narrow making long journeys a pleasure to endure rather than a dreaded requirement... I must talk about the huge elephant in the room and this is the weight, at 310kg she a bit of a handful to move around especially with the engine off, this is something you will become accustomed to in time as the balance of the bike is fantastic... Once you have the bike moving you'll certainly be surprised by how manoeuvrable she is and how easy U-turns can be, but let's be true to her strengths, the gtr 1400 is more at home on nice smooth A roads and motorways or autobahn's than a technical twisty road, not to say you can't hustle her around as I've upset many a sportsbike rider.. I would certainly recommend the Kawasaki gtr1400 to a friend however it would be tp a friend who has a good ammount of riding experience rather than a newly qualified big bike licence holder.
The brakes are amazing and offer alot of stopping power helping you control the somewhat blistering speeds you can easily achieve... With the added and refined abs linked braking and traction control system updated in 2015 to allow for a smoother less intrusive combined braking experience you always feel confident when applying the brakes... As for the ride quality when I first bought my bike the ride felt hards and over sprung, causing me to feel as though the rear want to overtake the front when heavy braking, however the guys a AP Workshops in Tamworth (Griff) sorted me out with a suspension setup to accommodate both my weight and riding style, thus has transformed the bike completely, she now tips into corners with greater fluidity... Passing across our joyfully smooth pot hole infused British roads now feel smoother as the suspension now absorbers the bumps taking this in her stride.. This is a modification you should have done as soon as you can ever before considering exhaust or tinted windscreens..
Like listening to a Michael Bubblè Christmas album, smooth, controlled, never rushed and appeal to the slightly older 40"s generation... The engine never feels out of its comfort zone even if you twist the happily grips to bring the revs up to 10k, it always feels ready to destroy the open road in a blistering eye watering display of showmanship, yet will happily float along causally allowing you time to take in the surrounding views.
I use my gtr1400 all year round as a volunteer bloodbiker, the bike definitely stands up to our delightful British weather.. Only requiring a regular clean and check of the tyre pressures to keep you going... Due to the addition of the shaft drive there no messy chain cleaning and or adjustment required. As the engine is derived from the zzr1400 being detuned means you'll never need to worry about stressing the engine.
Due to the sheer size of the gtr1400 you will find she likes to eat through tyres.. Ironically she's harder on front tyre wear than rear... Always opt for a gt or heavy weight sports touring tyre option when replacing tyres... Generally the gtr1400 wants for nothing other than regular fuel stops and tyres such is the amazing quality of the whole package... I've found the guys a Llandudno Motorcycle Centre LMC have my back in regards to servicing and maintenance, cheers guys
Let's start with safety, KTRC traction control and K-ACT ABS and brake assist, as well as linked brakes offer some piece of mind when riding such a bike sports touring bike, it's nice to know that if you require a little assistance it's there.. After this you get the obligatory electrically adjustable windscreen and on the 2015 models thus also has a manually operated vent to reduce the vortex of the screen pushing you and your pillion onto the handlebars, I can confirm this is a welcomed addition. You also get heated grips straight from the factory keep your nuts warm and toasty on those chilly winter mornings.. There is also a 12v 5amp socket on the right side of the dash giving you some options to run a sta nav, mobile phone charger or if you feel you want to risj it some heated clothing... On the left side just above the dial for the heated grips there is an ignition controlled glive/storage box (which can when open support a lovely starbucks coffee cup when you've stopped for a refuel)..The gtr1400 is lacking in some options such as cruise control (MC Cruise can sort you an amazing aftermarket unit to solve this dilemma), also the modern bike now have cornering and led headlights, digital dash setups and things like cornering abs which would be a nice option to have but certainly not a deal breaker.
Buying experience: I bought my kawasaki gtr 1400 from the guys a Millennium Motorcycles in St Helens, the whole process was smooth and enjoyable with them taking time to explain all they could and answering any of my concerns.
Year: 2016
Annual servicing cost: £160
As a mile muncher it was great, comfy, nice riding position. As a town bike/ every day it's Heavy, long & wide. For a long ride it's brilliant.
Rode UK to Barcelona 12 hours only stopping for fuel & coffee breaks. Super comfy. Brakes were good. Only pillion has been granddaughter & we went to great Yarmouth hour + trip stopping at Mildenhall Mcds.
Big heavy tourer, but had power to overtake. When needed. Sat lovely abroad at about 85 mph. Ate up the straight smooth roads.
Only issue it ever had was tyres never lasted long. Had a versys 1000, trip Barcelona once but I got 9500 miles out of rear tyre ...
Too much plastic to remove to do any servicing
Needs cruise control. 2000 miles round trip to Barcelona basically killed the tyres, huge flat spot in middle, tyres lasted about 4 - 5K miles
Buying experience: Traded in a 2016 Versys 1000. Lloyd Cooper motorcycles. Top class, hassle free easy to deal with. Bought 2 years ago, £8000 just traded in got £6000 for it. Bought Honda Africa Twin CRF 1100L.
Version: K-ACT KTRAC
Year: 2010
Superb for two up touring, a planted and confidence inspiring chassis. friends with Triump Sprints, Aprila 1000’s,, VFR800 and Ducati ST4 have a respect for big big Kawasaki’s ability to be punted through corners even when fully laden. Brakes are exceptional, just don’t use heavily around a corner, common sense. Power delivery is linear and it does not really lift rapidly until 4000 plus rpm on board. Smooth to ride, my gearbox Is faultless and slick, Seats are descent, wife gave thumbs up after sitting on bike temporally during a test pilot visit. Driven with a relaxed attitude on Australian country roads 400 plus km range is quite achievable in Econo mode. A satisfying bike to own, doing you own intermediate servicing is a piece of cake, oil and filter doe not require any panels to be removed. Only real fault: Front discs are prone to warp, brake pads & disc life can be a regular event depending on your distance travelled, Had a Gen one , now a Gen 2, have travelled approx 37,000km at this stage on GTR 1400s
Buying experience: Team Moto Honda Gold Coast are excellent to deal with, two bike purchases 5 years apart, both visits consistently positive.
Version: Kawasaki gtr 1400
Year: 2010
Fueling is terrible, on and off the throttle is very jerky with horrific engine breaking. Weather protection is average. When riding hard the bike will drink fuel plus the tank is a tad small, also it will destroy rear tires. Linked brakes are the worst iv ever tried with a strange feeling in the rear lever.
Bike rides OK for a heavy lump, brakes are very sharp.
The engine has been neutered by kawasaki and needs a full remap to unleashed its true potential.
Sub frame paint is wafer thin and the swing arm paint isn't much better. When riding you need to tell the bike who's boss as the bike can wander wide out of corners. The bike sometimes can be subject to stalling problem due to the appalling fueling. Front guard is way too short even with a fender extender the downpipes will soon look sorry with road crud.
Iv had mine 6 months, two rear tires and a full set of pads later.
All round equipment is good, abs, traction control etc etc bla bla bla.
Buying experience: Bought from Hunts in Manchester over the phone. The camera never lies!!??! Yeah right.... NEVER EVER BUY A BIKE UNSEEN IN THE FLESH.
Year: 2010
Annual servicing cost: £150
Comfortable, strong engine, fast and spacious. The tyre sensors are a pain to exchange.
Handles well if it has better rubber on (not BT21), 2 to 3 hours riding and you might need a break, but the screen could be better, even an aftermarket one makes it still a bit noisy.
Wow....super! Slick and on demand with a quick twist of the throttle.
Well built, strong and quality looking. Only problem being the tyre sensors that need replacing and cost.
Be aware of correct tyre pressures as it will eat your front especially if 1 psi down or more..
Top box needed. GPS and a better screen. Avoid BT21, way to twitchy.
Buying experience: Bought from Hunts of Manchester, with an exchange of my 2014 GSA. Bought for £7500, and well worth it.
Year: 2010
Annual servicing cost: £200
I rode this bike on a tour in torrential rain some days. Luggage is completely waterproof. Top box and panniers are spacious.
I rode almost 11 hours on this bike returning from a tour and it was sublime. The pillion seat is comfy. Plenty of room two-up.
Really smooth motor that just keeps going. On the move the bike's weight is not noticeable.
Build quality is very high. Mates with BMW's seem to have lots of problems in comparison.
Costs seem average for what is a top end model.
Traction control and ABS work really well. Fitted a Pyramid front fender extender to protect the radiator and a Ductail which keeps the spray off the rear gunner.
Year: 2013
Annual servicing cost: £75
loses out on weight. Centre stand difficult to use
amazing but had to change seat to lower and gel filled
torque unbelievable pure silk but capable of barking mad
tyre pressure sensors need easy to replace batteries as 2-3 life
amazing standard kit. ABS and Traction give confidence in wet. Like to try different tyres can be a bit of a wonderer on fast corners.
Buying experience: dealer - low mileage - new condition - 1500m
Year: 2010
Annual servicing cost: £350
Have done 40,000 miles on 2008, NOW 2010. Great all-rounder. Forgiving chassis. Sits at 100mph all day (where speed limits permit), stress free high miles. Seat design at odds with bike style. Forces you forward when the style is to sit up. More suited to the ZZR1400 I had before. You end up sliding up to the tank with legs bent like a sports bike. Maybe suits the shorter-legged gent. Foot pegs located just where your calves are with feet on the ground, a bit unsettling.
Needs to get up to 6-7000 rpm to start coming alive. Smooth train-like power delivery.
Tyre pressure sensors, battery and fork seals all needed replacement at 20,000 miles
Great value for money, particularly when you compare to German or Italian rivals. Average running costs for a bike like this.
Love the pre-set screen height. Heated grips a good addition from 2010 on. Handlebar risers, an extra, good for me (depends on your preference). Sports exhaust (Leo Vince SBK) adds a nice note and a couple of HP, also looses a few KG from the stock tailpipe (longest in history), looks better too. Could use cruise control. Traction control and linked brake option useful.
Buying experience: Private buy, no problems.
I have lots of mates who have/or have had bm s and every single one of them has had grief with their bikes and lots of it was major stuff. Ok the dealers fall over themselves to help you when things go wrong but they do seem to go wrong an awfull lot.I turned to the japanese builders years ago and have never had any problems,I now have a gtr 1400 and it is a classy bit of kit smooth like you cant believe, quick , fantastic brakes, utter comfort,traction control, switchable abs,and lots more, and when on the move feels nothing like the big heavy bike that it is,all in all it's a fantastic piece of oriental engineering.
i am not sure what the gripe and whining is all about. Its a sports tourer not a tourer which means having a cruise control would not make much sense. Which brings me to the exact point on value. What is the premium you would want to pay for Cruise control? aka BMW K1300GT which i think is THE only competition this bike faces in the same class. Else engine is bullet proof, ie 200km/h+ on 2nd gear is not something to sniff about. Quality and reliability is pure Japanese but cause i own a MV Agusta, the difference is night and day but for a premium Jap, this is considered top class. Go buy it and realise how comfy it is on the roads, how smooth is the engine around windy roads, and the storage is plenty. Except for the tires maybe, which a set of Pirelli should cure, i really have nothing to complain. Go buy one.
