I've had my k5 gsx 1400 for around 3-4 weeks now but today I went with a mate to look at a 900 diversion for him though he's on A2 licence so can't test ride it. I have a full unrestricted licence so took it out for a little test ride and it didn't pull as well as I thought it would. My dad's mate has a 900 diversion and when I had bandit 600 it seemed to pull really well so was expecting more out of it. Also I rode my bandit 600 a couple of weeks ago and that obviously too felt under powered. Just doesn't seem to be any feed back, normally with the bandit when I had it I would open throttle and would seem to pull pretty good for what it is even after riding my mates shiver 750 bandit still felt decent enough to ride and have fun on. But it seems GSX is so torquey that most other bikes seem crap. Can understand bandit feeling under powered but was surprised at the 900 divvy.
Was at a bike meet the other day and someone cam and admired the GSX. He said he used to have one and that once you ride a GSX all other bikes are crap. So far I've only ridden the bandit 600 and the diversion 900 since owning the GSX, might ride mates shiver 750 again see if that feels worse than I remember lol. Anyone else find other bikes crap in comparison? Though I assume any 1 liter+ bike will make other bikes seem crap?
Been out on a mates yamaha thunderace... The 1000cc version I think... Was bored all the way. They need revs to move, just to compensate the lack of torque
He claims it rips his arms off every time he opens it fully....
Guess my arms are attached better :facepalm:
To be fair GSX is making 126 nm of torque at 5k rpm isn't it? Something like the diversion is only making a max of around 71 nm at 7k rpm so gsx is probably making that amount of torque at 2-3k rpm. Not sure on the specs of the thunderace.
110Nm @ 8500rpm according to a spec site.
would have thought that thing would fly once revved with that much HP? So you found it boring compared to GSX?
I assumed power wheelies and warpspeed on tap at every twist of the throttle .... Silly me :rolleyes:
It can haul ass but you have to keep the revs up. Maybe that was the difference :whatever:
I liked my neighbors xjr1300 better than the thunderace.
Guess I am more of a naked bike guy.
We, the 14 and the xjr had some race fun on a private road and the bikes perform simular speed wise.
XJR doesn't have the underseat storage tho does it? Think that's what mainly swung it for me. I first saw the CB1300 and loved the look of it and then saw a GSX1400 and loved it even more, that was 4 years ago and wanted one ever since lol. My mk1 bandit 600 had a fair bit of under seat storage could get 2 500ml bottles under there or something so loving the under seat storage on the GSX.
The under seat storage the GSX has, has been handy lol (isn't all my food got mates lunch under there as well lol): (https://s9.postimg.org/6b90wwm1r/20170701_142918.jpg)
There's plenty of bikes out there that make a GSX1400 feel a tame and a bit sensible just as the 14 does to a little Bandit or Dinosaur XJ9. You need to compare like with like.
My GSX14 is a great bike, comfort, torque, pillion, luggage etc, but its certainly not the most exciting thing I've ridden or even own.
Very happy to be a 14 owner, but wouldn't own one as an only bike.
Michael you got more food under there than a corner store....... :stir:
You mean this storage :smitten:
Quote from: Tony Nitrous on Saturday, 08 July 2017, 06:29 AM
There's plenty of bikes out there that make a GSX1400 feel a tame and a bit sensible just as the 14 does to a little Bandit or Dinosaur XJ9. You need to compare like with like.
My GSX14 is a great bike, comfort, torque, pillion, luggage etc, but its certainly not the most exciting thing I've ridden or even own.
Very happy to be a 14 owner, but wouldn't own one as an only bike.
What's been the most fun bike you've had or currently own?
Quote from: Blubber on Saturday, 08 July 2017, 07:36 AM
You mean this storage :smitten:
Can get a weeks worth of shopping under the 14's seat I reckon. Annoyingly previous owner took out near enough the whole of the inside bit to fit an aftermarket under tray. Surely you can just cut off the mud guard and not near enough the whole thing? So mine doesn't have the little side walls which is some what a pain as I now don't know how high I can stack things before the seat won't go back on. Though I know from bandit, obviously anything at the back of the seat will fit if it's under the seat lock part.
A few favourites from the past, all a bit different.
Big bore, stretched, hotted up GSX1100 Katana, a 10 year money pit!
GSXR1100 streetfighter with a pipe, Renthals etc.
1200 Bandit with a 60hp nitrous kit as a daily ride.
A couple of Hayabusa's.
Currently have a chopped about Hayabusa, no fairing, Renthals and GSXR tail, and a 163hp B-King that are both fairly entertaining and an old GSX1100, big bore, wider 18" rims, rear sets, full system etc.
Don't get me wrong, I do like my 14. It's a very relaxing bike to ride, easy to live with bike, and still OK to clown about on.
http://gsx1400owners.org/forum_test/index.php?topic=1127.0
Quote from: Tony Nitrous on Saturday, 08 July 2017, 07:51 PM
A few favourites from the past, all a bit different.
Big bore, stretched, hotted up GSX1100 Katana, a 10 year money pit!
GSXR1100 streetfighter with a pipe, Renthals etc.
1200 Bandit with a 60hp nitrous kit as a daily ride.
A couple of Hayabusa's.
Currently have a chopped about Hayabusa, no fairing, Renthals and GSXR tail, and a 163hp B-King that are both fairly entertaining and an old GSX1100, big bore, wider 18" rims, rear sets, full system etc.
http://gsx1400owners.org/forum_test/index.php?topic=1127.0
So basically any bike with shit loads of power or if lacking such power stick on a nitrous kit. Have seen a GSX1400 with a super charger on it bet that's fun to ride think it's pumping out about 200 hp.
Rode the bandit again today just felt so shit from when I used it as a daily bike. Shame really while bandit is bland to ride at least for those who've ridden bikes with a fair bit of torque and hp, I had a fair bit of fun on the bandit plus have done over 40k miles on it and now it feels like a 125 in comparison to the GSX. But then so did that 900 diversion I rode as well, wanna ride my mates shiver 750 see if that feels crap now.
I sold several bikes when I left the UK, including a Bandit 1200.
Even when I'd bought a Busa, B-King and GSX1100 I still missed my old Bandit 1200. I bought another Mk-1 (1999) faired and turned it naked. Nothing special, Renthals and a Yoshi can. I'm still a big fan.
The 12 doesn't have the grunt or planted feel of the 14 but it makes up for it in other ways. Waaaay better to clown about on, wheelies etc. A motor that takes lots of GSXR parts from cams to 750 "DOT" heads and is very tuneable. Fun to throw around and gives a heap of feed back before things get messy.
14's and 12's are very different and neither replaces or beats the other for me.
(https://s24.postimg.org/7et3fjalh/image.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/ycn0h9v8h/)
Not sure about 6's, but the 12's are great fun...
(https://s18.postimg.org/z1kwti1mh/image.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/83qzrrgz9/)
I spent only 1/2 hr on 2010 bandit 1250, nothing like my 14 but loved it. Could still tell its a suzuki but different power, brakes, handling. Was a naked with a different seat. I felt at home on it after 10 mins. Much more flickable and better brakes over 14. Great bike.
Double post, sorry. I forgot to tell whole story on bandit. 5 or 6 yrs ago it was. I saw it parked in pushbike shop, unusual i thought Went in to check why. Only 2th ks on clock. Bloke had scared himself on it and swapped it for pushbike. Buying price was $2500. Test ride offered, took it to re assure not damaged, bent frame etc. a total bargain. Worth 3x as much or more. Said yes, ill have it. Turned out bike shop owner then withdrew sale. Mustve realised too cheap. I never went back, was totally pissed off. Had forgotten that story until i was prompted by bandit talk.
I am returning to the Emerald Isle early next year for a very long holiday and I have a wee 2000 model Bandit waiting for me, and fitted out with luggage for all the sunny tours we will be doing.
I had a Bandit 1250GT for touring with the good lady and really liked it - definitely not boring. Only sold it because she said she wanted even more comfort. That lead to the current Pan Euro which has loads of bottom end and howls like a Honda Moto GP bike when accelerating hard. Plenty of character and sits well at the ton on the Autobahn as I found out last week.
Many recent designs are sanitised by electronics and other gadgetry. Bikes should be simple devices that can be home spannered. I would not even have water cooling if I could get away with it.
Quote from: Timothy Spencer on Sunday, 09 July 2017, 11:09 PM
Bikes should be simple devices that can be home spannered. I would not even have water cooling if I could get away with it.
That's why I got myself a 14 :whistling:
...and why I still have the 14 for when I do not need to lug her indoors and her make up and hair stuff around Europe :clapping:
Three things turned me off the Bandit I bought in 1996.
Small fuel tank.
Soft fork springs.
High centre of gravity.
It was my first new bike and have no regrets buying it. It was the best value big bore on the market.
Aside from the tendency to do unintended wheelies, I found the whole package to be a bit bland and ended up trading it on a new ZZR1100.
The GSX1400 whilst similar in many ways to the old Bandit always managed to press the interesting button for me, I wouldn't say it is a better bike though, just better suited.
On a side note, it was the change from Bandit to ZZR1100 that made me realise how full of shit Bike magazines are. Claiming the ZZR1100 had an ample bottom end was a joke, I didn't ride it below 3000rpm because the engines labours under the strain. Fortunately the Kwaka made up for its shortfall elsewhere.
Quote from: Batkwaka on Tuesday, 11 July 2017, 04:34 PM
Three things turned me off the Bandit I bought in 1996.
Small fuel tank.
Soft fork springs.
High centre of gravity.
It was my first new bike and have no regrets buying it. It was the best value big bore on the market.
Aside from the tendency to do unintended wheelies, I found the whole package to be a bit bland and ended up trading it on a new ZZR1100.
The GSX1400 whilst similar in many ways to the old Bandit always managed to press the interesting button for me, I wouldn't say it is a better bike though, just better suited.
I did the exact opposite.
I traded a ZZR1100C3 in for a brand new Bandit 1200.
I loved the way it gave so much more feedback, was entertaining without doing stupid speeds and was so happy (with a can and Renthals) to sit on the back wheel whenever asked. The ZZR hit higher top speeds but I had so much more fun on the Bandit.
(https://s23.postimg.org/59j57wv9n/image.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/ufk3eqwjr/)
The ZZR was a good bike. A good all rounder, commute to work, run at the drags, nights out at bike meets and pubs, mad blasts through France. Like the GSX1400 it was a very useable big bike that was easy to live with. The Bandit just makes misbehaving and acting stupid very easy. It brings out my inner-idiot ! I love the Bandit 12's basic, simple feel and build, something I never felt with the 1250.
(https://s18.postimg.org/hreqvwlyx/image.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/q9o708shh/)
This old girl always made the ZZR feel like the sensible option.....
(https://s23.postimg.org/kynmexdvf/image.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/4nniim1dj/)
I think this Forum needs a "Big Kat Diary"!
(https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi65.tinypic.com%2Fzloi2v.jpg&hash=ae5a07d89404e4c45b618e1949ba0e8b7d0ed83f)
(https://s24.postimg.org/i0ixx9hph/image.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/6bey9aqqp/)
Wish I had the money and storage space to buy other bikes lol. The GSX1400 is the most powerful bike I've ridden to date. Prior to that I rode my mates Aprilia Shiver 750. Got smoked by a gsxr 1000 rizla edition today (at a drag strip :whistling:)... I saw a video on youtube of a gsx 14 leaving a GSXR1000. Either that GSX14 was tuned up or something isn't right with my GSX lol. Tbf those GSXR's do make 190 hp. While I wouldn't mind having that kinda power, I find it some what pointless. Even when I rode my bandit 600, I'd come across faster bikes and they never got far until caught up in traffic again. Also sports bikes would be to uncomfortable to ride, would defo need another bike for long distance riding or commuting plus one of the biggest things I love about the GSX is the under seat storage.
It's the tourque and the way it comes on that makes the 14 what it is.
I've ridden a few other bikes, the Triumph triples are great, big twins are also different.
The Triumph Rocket3 made me laugh lots.
My time with my 14 is almost done, still unsure what will be next but I'll not forget it in a hurry.
Quote from: Michael Whitney on Thursday, 13 July 2017, 08:39 AM
I saw a video on youtube of a gsx 14 leaving a GSXR1000. Either that GSX14 was tuned up or something isn't right with my GSX lol. Tbf those GSXR's do make 190 hp. While I wouldn't mind having that kinda power, I find it some what pointless.
I think you are talking about this video : sf_uFs2xUIQ (//sf_uFs2xUIQ)
That specific GSX1400 has been bored out to 1700cc. ... and i bought the kit from him :devil:
Waiting to be installed in a spare gsx1400 engine i already sourced.
At this very moment the ported head is being ultrasonically cleaned and in dire need of new stem seals. ( just ordered them incl a complete gasket kit )
Saving now for Yoshimura camshafts and
hope to be able to start building this december :boogie:
Blubber, do not forget the 2nd gear, it is weak. Read the 2nd gear issue topic.
Quote from: T 24 on Thursday, 13 July 2017, 09:22 PM
Blubber, do not forget the 2nd gear, it is weak. Read the 2nd gear issue topic.
Thanks for the heads up. It's already on the list.
Blackadder's topic was very helpful.
I also need to pick heavier gauge wires for the starter motor and the negative leads towards frame and motor.