ninermatt Posted October 31, 2007 Posted October 31, 2007 I'm thinking about adding a K bike to the stable and know very little about them. My last 3 bikes have been R bikes (GS, S & RT) and I love the simplicity that goes along with them, plus there is just something about a boxer twin! However I do find myself longing for the silky smooth power delivery that goes along with a four banger (I grew up on (Cbr's and Ninjas) Aesthetically I love the look of the first generation GT. Orient blue being my color of choice. I would love to see it parked next to the tried and true Graphite RT every morning (ahh choices!) before I hit the road for work. My fear is, I will discover that both bikes essentially serve the same purpose and are the same machine (obviously throw the power difference out of the picture). Or that I will fall head over heels for the K bike and completely cross over to the dark side! Who out here has owned one and what are your impressions?
tom collins Posted October 31, 2007 Posted October 31, 2007 they do not feel anything alike. others with more experience will give you the differences, but they do give a very different experience putting the power aside. used k12s are very reasonable now. tom collins
Highway41 Posted October 31, 2007 Posted October 31, 2007 Owned an '03 GT (Orient Blue too) and loved the smooth power, handling, braking, and especially the looks. But there were two killers for me - too much heat on the lower legs and only one place to put your feet. They are very different bikes in almost all departments so I would not worry about "sameness". You will be surprised at the differences in feelings of weight. Last thought is that if you want one to simply go look at in the garage/shed/store window, get the GT. Bill
RichEdwards Posted October 31, 2007 Posted October 31, 2007 My '07 GT is, perhaps, the best bike I have ever owned for smoothness, power, comfort, electronic gadgetry. It accelerates with unbelievable power from 80 to 110 (to pass those 18 wheelers) and is great for long trips. I have put 13,000 trouble-free miles on mine since March.
hopz Posted October 31, 2007 Posted October 31, 2007 I owned a K1200RS... essentially the same bike as the GT with slightly different fairing. Same Bike. You say "putting the power aside"... trust me on this niner... you CANNOT put the power aside. The K bike has so much. It is so Smooth, etc. etc. The riding position is more aggressive than the RT. You will have more lean-forward and more weight on your wrists. You will soon be reading about MYRP (Master Yoda Riding Position). You will notice un-eraseable grins from your face if you live in a place where you can run it. You may begin to collect "performance awards" at an alarming rate. You will begin reading other forums- those that deal with the dreaded Dark Side. You will come to know who "The Pirate" is. You will Notice that when you do go to the garage and make that choice... you will know that K does come before R... in places other than the alphabet.
BruceWA Posted October 31, 2007 Posted October 31, 2007 Test ride one. I did while having my RT serviced. That began my quest to find one for myself. Sold my RT & my VFR and bought a used 06 with 6k on the ODO. Have not looked back, the GT is a sweet running bike, and mine had all the farkles already. four banger Did you mean "inline 4"? Four banger usually is reference to 4 cycles, not cylinders? Maybe I'm too anal retentive!
pedro cerveza Posted October 31, 2007 Posted October 31, 2007 Pirate? Not THE Pirate from Pasco? Jerry Finley aka THE PIRATE. Absolutely the best company around for K bike farlkes Pirates Lair
DaveTheAffable Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 I have a 2002 K1200RS. Lot's of "Wheeeee" factor. Master Yoda is my friend. Next Generation GT's are different... but I love mine. Lot's of really good folks can tell you lot's of good things here... www.k-bikes.com Like any forum, there are people there who say they are trouble free... and some who don't. YMMV. Many of them are members here too.
Thickasabrick Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 We have an R1200RT and two classic Kbikes ('99 K1200RS and '04 K1200GT) plus our sweet airhead in the garage. Each is a pure pleasure to ride with unique characteristics. My wife's bikes are the RT and the K1200RS. After we got the RS she could not believe the difference between her new toy and the RT. I love the GT for the long haul with smoothe power and all the gadgets and gizmos, but the airhead is a treat to putt about on too.....so many roads and so little time. As a post script, I've ridden my brother-in-law's K1200S (2006), and think it is not at all like the "Classic" K-bikes, whereas, previous K-bikes were at least still related...this one is a totally new ride, to me anyway.
jslyter Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 four banger Did you mean "inline 4"? Four banger usually is reference to 4 cycles, not cylinders? Maybe I'm too anal retentive! Never heard of it in the 4 cycle context, so I Googled it. This is from the "Urban Dictionary" but there are other similar definitions: "4 banger an internal combustion engine with four cylinders, whether gas(oline) or diesel"
fatbob Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 Ninermat: I have both an '03 GT (orient blue, very sexy bike) and an '04 1150RT. The GT gets just a little more miles than the RT does. RT is better for cold or wet weather, GT is better for speedy riding. RT is better for not having to stop for fuel, GT is better for making your arms longer. If you ride the GT you may just fall for it, you should probably try one out. I found mine (or my dealer did) with 1800 miles on her last september ('06). Examples like mine are available. Good luck with your shopping! Bob
Calvin (no socks) Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 I've got a 03 GT and 05 K12s.... Love the silky smooth transmission on the 03.... Love the power of the K12s...I ride in the heat/cold...never feel the bike heat, as I wear overpants year-round. Like the fuel mileage of the S per tank.. the 03 low level lamp comes on too early for me.. I know I can ride 100 miles after it illuminates.. Better wind protection on my 03 than the S... Clean air... and above 32degrees.... give me the S...bet a new GT rocks... I call the 03 a sled/bagger, etc. The S a rocket...
Rob Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 I've had a history with RT's, a 89, 97, 05 and currently have a '07 in the garage. I traded the '05 off for a '07 GT a year ago. As others have noted, the GT engine is outstanding. Smoother than the R's and the power. Smoother but mine has a buzz that I notice. The GT is great for the high speed sweepers. As for the RT, the workings of the twin engine is more pleasureable for me. You do notice the engine when you hit triple digits. The R is better in the tight twistees. The prefect bike for me would be the RT with the GT engine. HTH,
hANNAbONE Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 I've got a 03 GT and 05 K12s.... Love the silky smooth transmission on the 03.... Love the power of the K12s...I ride in the heat/cold...never feel the bike heat, as I wear overpants year-round. Like the fuel mileage of the S per tank.. the 03 low level lamp comes on too early for me.. I know I can ride 100 miles after it illuminates.. Better wind protection on my 03 than the S... Clean air... and above 32degrees.... give me the S...bet a new GT rocks... I call the 03 a sled/bagger, etc. The S a rocket... aGREED... I had a 2003 KRS/ABS - it certainly wasn't slow - but it wasn't particularly "quick"...electric power - do dips in the band..a real asphalt chewer-upper...but get in anything tighter than a BIG sweeper...she was a Pig - capital "P". It just was work going thru Delores Canyon or Black Canyon ... loved to chew up miles on the flat roads...it actually did pretty good on the tires too - it would eat a front tho' if pushed on the tight stuff. Great brakes (saved my bacon BIG TIME once) suspension is very good too. If you can get past the heaviness & heat & gauges that don't really tell you anything - get one...the looks are killer and the smooth mill and ride are stellar. I wanted something lighter and snappier got a 2006 Sprint ST/ABS an couldn't be happier...same ergos, same horsepower (123), but +150 # lighter.. It also will get you +225 miles per tank @ 5.5 gallon W H A T a difference..! Go 'n ride that sled and then tell me what you think.! That triple mill is the nuts and great drive train.!
HexHead Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 I considered the older style GT when I bought my ST. It just felt very heavy in comparison. Feels very heavy compared to the R1200RT as well. The steering damper makes it feel sluggish as parking lot speeds, combined with that top heavy feeling.
hopz Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 RE: the steering damper... do not worry about it. It will soon wear out and leak oil all over the front of the bike... just wipe it off at the many and frequent fuel stops and when it does go dry... forget about it since you will not want to spend the kid's inheritance to replace it.
tallman Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 What are these "parking lot speeds" you refer to? hopz 3, 2003 GT's, 60k, 90k, and 70 k for a total of 220k on mine and 2 friends. No leaks, no runs, no worries. The GT is a man's bike, it's not for everyone who can pull on a pair of boots. It's faster than an RT, prettier, smoother, and can handle more electrical farkles. No contest.
BruceWA Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 Never heard of it in the 4 cycle context, so I Googled it. This is from the "Urban Dictionary" but there are other similar definitions: "4 banger an internal combustion engine with four cylinders, whether gas(oline) or diesel" You'll get no argument here on this....BUT, I am sure I "predate" the urban dictionary by many years.
Rideoften Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 I test rode a 2003 GT last Saturday. It was fast, but very heavy, slow steering. Made my RS feel great. Way too heavy for me. Ride Safe MB
tallman Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 The RS is nice. Had a '96 RSL for years and 40k.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.