I want to do a review of the GSX1400 on my YouTube channel.
Target audience will be those who do not know anything or much about this bike; and those who may be considering buying one.
This video isn't intended to be a 'buying guide' but will be about ride experience and the pros/cons of the bike from an owners perspective.
So while I have quite a few pros I'm also interested in other owners opinions.
Let me know what you think are the pros/strengths and cons/weaknesses of the GSX1400.
Cheers and thanks in advance.
Always good to seek out a black one Vlad :onya:
Keep it standard.
I agree Irish, keep it standard. :) Maybe a more comfy seat, bit of a suspension upgrade, a few blingy and polished bits. Maybe a nice muffler to let the sound out, Maybe a voltmeter and USB outlet. Nice set of bar end mirrors, better grips, slightly brighter headlight globe. Extra earth wires. Yeah, keep it standard.
Hi Vlad, I've only owned my Blue and White K2 since February but here are the plus points:
Incredible torque and acceleration
Very easy to ride for a big machine, very comfortable and handles way better than many give it credit for.
Great finish compared to most other Suzuki's
Head turner wherever you go
Seem to be turning into a classic and prices are very strong.
Loads of accessories and parts at reasonable prices
You can mod it to a point it's almost unrecognisable if you want.
Great forum for help with anything
Feels totally reliable and unbreakable, well mine does. Probably blow the engine now I've said that😂
You can spend hours just cleaning, polishing and admiring your bike to your hearts content.
You will fall in love 😍
Negatives:
Very heavy when stationary.
Standard exhausts look fantastic but are far too quiet.
You need to be patient to find an immaculate bike, especially in the faster blue and white😂 Owners don't give them up easily!
Quite pricey compared to the Honda, Yam and Kwak wanna bees.
Note: Personally I have always wanted one since owning a 1200 bandit some years ago that also never missed a beat. I think the 14's are the best looking muscle bike ever made and I love it to bits. I have added crash bars, heated grips, rear hugger, bar ends, fork bungs and a fly screen. Otherwise completely standard and all original parts have been kept. It can be put back to a completely standard bike in just a couple of hours. I think that's important if I ever have to sell her when I'm not man enough to get her off her stand🤣 Oh yeah, also about to add an oil temperature gauge, polished chrome rear sprocket cover and blue titanium sprocket nuts🤗
https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=3977.msg52046#msg52046
Not much to add really, its a big heavy lump but with great levels of grunt and plenty of usable power. It can be ridden hard or lazy depending on mood. It is comfortable (although it could use a higher seat), economical and easy to service. They can suffer from poor low speed running (as quite a few members will testify) and sprocket carrier bearing don't seem to last forever and once the fuel pump has been disturbed it needs to be wired up, but its a great bike.
For me Vlad and Co. after 19 years of ownership of a FAST :ausflag: Blue and White model, it's the most adaptable bike I've owned, a true allrounder.
It does a bit of everything quite well.
The rewards of incredibly tight tolerances when the motors were built by Suzuki is testament to the longevity of these bikes too. Not a lot wears out really.
My two cents worth :whistling: :whistling:
Biggest and best naked muscle bike ever made.
Quote from: Eric GSX1400K3 on Wednesday, 22 July 2020, 08:50 PM
Biggest and best naked muscle bike ever made.
And they are still whinging:
Seat
Handlebars
Exhaust
Front brake calipers
Suspension
Bling
Headlight
Earth wires
Heavy
Pricey
Etc Etc Etc
To be fair moist of those issues are shared by many (most) other bikes of its kind too.
We enjoy the space on it for two up riding. Great torque and power delivery, carries a shed load of luggage easily and still handles tidily when loaded. Excellent storage under seat.
Its a head turner :onya:
Great commuter, will fit in gaps Some scooters wont
I like it when all your mates are lined up at Premium petrol pump, fighting for a fill. Me, just at the old 91 no one wants. Then off we go, the Premium boys trying very hard to out perform the old skool 91 sucking Suxuki. Love those looks in their mirrors when im still there.
I like the fact, give a girl a choice ,a big comfy seat or a postage stamp, the 14 wins every time.
Gotta admit I'm one of the sad guys who will wait inline for the premium fuel. I know it's stupid and will make absolutely no difference to performance or reliability but I can't help myself 🙄
I sometimes give mine a birthday & get a tank of 100+ octane.
Same.....now usually run 91 with the odd fill of 98.
You boys shouldn't spoil your bikes with fancy fuel, they may get a taste for it and not deliver the goods on the cheaper stuff, bit like women really. :whistling:
Not so sure mjgt, can remember in my younger days, thats when dinosaurs still walked by the way, the object was to use cheap fuel on girls for good performance.
Quote from: grog on Sunday, 26 July 2020, 06:54 PM
Not so sure mjgt, can remember in my younger days, thats when dinosaurs still walked by the way, the object was to use cheap fuel on girls for good performance.
:lol: I remember them daze, pink gin was always a favourite goto . . . :happy1:
The only con for me was hauling the thing onto it's centre stand!
The fitting of rear suspension jack up blocks solved that issue for me. (Do remember to check/adjust chain tension if doing this modification)
For me most has been said. The pros are far more than the cons. The really big con for me is the heat ! Living in the south of Europe, when it´s +35ºC, all black bike sitting in the sun and then doing even a 20 min ride, it´s like riding in hell! The petrol has been heated in the sun (sometimes you can´t avoid leaving her there), you roll the throttle, the engine starts to heat, the fins letting all that heat rise... man, it´s like roasting in hell: That´s why I prefer riding in Winter, with 5-10ºC here she´s perfect.
haha try the heat from the cylinders of a BMW boxer or Guzzi..... that was the only thing that I didn't like about the Guzzi California I test rode here similar outside temps.
14s always feel cool to me, try a Pan Euro when the fan kicks in & blows the hot air all over you.
I've forgotten what it's like to ride in temps over 25 degrees C.
I reckon 14 feels cool, ive been in a few hot days. Try a later Thruxton, so much heat.
Try a KTM superadventure for heat, even on a cool day I got stuck in traffic and boy did I get hot, even had to pull over.
Firstly it's a comfortable bike for rider and pillion.
It has strapping points for overnight luggage and easily more if you can find a set of Givi's etc.
A naked bike so wonderful in summer, inconvenient in winter.
22 litre fuel tank gives good range particularly if being conservative.
Adequate suspension with aftermarket options readily available.
Brakes again adequate.
Excellent spread of power though a standard exhaust will restrict top end acceleration.
Takes all popular brands of tyres.
Has no ABS or TC, it's up to you if that's good or bad.
Too many electrical accessories can put a strain on the charging system.
Isn't too hard on tyres or brake pads if ridden sedately.
Does alright through the gravel when required.
Cleans up an absolute treat.
Still bucket loads of fun at a track day or the Drags.
My view, although put together as a budget machine, the 14 equates to more than the sum of its parts, it's just a really nice motorcycle.
Batkwacka, very well said. :clapping:
OK guys, thanks for the heat tips on other bikes. I'll try to remember there's always worse. For me the 14 still is the best all rounder. Nearly perfect. Can even beat scooters on city commuting, I used to have a Vespa GT200.
Thanks all. When I get my new camera I'll start putting a video together :)
Vlad, all 4 of my 14s were virtually standard ( only got 2 now ) BUT & its a big 'but' for me, as being somewhat of a fat-git, all I could see in the mirrors were my elbows!!
I machined up a pair of longer stems (50mm ) & had them chromed, made a huge difference.
Also, having the aerodynamics of a house-brick, a large Plexistar-2 screen, allows for a very calm & relaxed ride at 100, er 70 mph.
Looks crap, but at my age, don't give a toss.
One of which I bought new in 2002 & still have, & its clocked up all of 12k miles, the other 65k & you can't tell them apart.:grin:
Out in the country I came across some folk that got quite excited over the GSX.
Nearly 3 year old that pic Jeff, Chris looks the same though.
Quote from: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 29 July 2020, 05:40 PM
Nearly 3 year old that pic Jeff, Chris looks the same though.
3 years is right came up on my Bakebook the other day, they do it every year. An ex bikey up the road put a radar cop out slowed a lot of the traffic down.
Someone here in NZ did that too, up north, & was a pic of a pommy policeman pointing a laser, people complained (and hit the brakes) but the cops just laughed & left it there.
Back in 80s they put a full sized cop car cardboard cut out on Gold Coast road. From memory it worked well.
Quote from: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 29 July 2020, 05:40 PM
Nearly 3 year old that pic Jeff, Chris looks the same though.
Love my "Cookies" Col :cheers: :cheers: :whistling: