Hi all GSX1400 owners!
I am a Swedish guy 61 years old who is back in the saddle again after some years. Really missed it, especially in the spring when the snow is gone. I have only had Honda's before because of their better quality. I have had everything from a CB125 to XL1000VA Varadero and I was very satisfied with all of them. I searched for a CB1300 but they are almost impoosible to find, and to expensive. Then I read about the GSX1400 on the net, forums, tests, videos, evething I could find. There was one for sale for a very good price and after a lot of agony I finally tested it. I was stuck and bought it quickly before the spring trade began. My older brother convinced me to buy it, he was my support in the search and drives BMW GS himself.
Now when it stands in my garage my work to, what do you call it, we say "pimpa", which means make it personal, has begun. I will be back for advise. I have enclosed photos of my "Brutus".
Welcome - Croeso ...you won't regret it, always brings a smile each time :)
Welcome mate,nice solid blue bike
Welcome from the Netherlands :cheers:
Hi DanHam & welcome to the forum. I won't say much about the bike you chose, I'll let it speak for itself, I'm sure you'll like it.
G'Day
@DanHam and welcome to the nuthouse :hat:
Your solid Blue bike is half as fast as a Blue and White :rofl2: :doh: but Definitely heaps faster than a Black one. :stir: :stir:
P.S. the build quality of these GSX1400 is probably higher than any HONDA and that adds to their longevity. IMHO. :whistling:
Welcome Mate, youll enjoy. Much better bike than Honda1300 IMO.
Välkommen kompis :cheers:
Welcome to the forum DanHam. :onya: Bike looks to be in good nick.
Welcome DanHam great that you found us here.
:cheers:
Welcome DanHam, you'll never regret buying the 14, it's smiles for miles better than any other bike similar. :1400spray:
:welcome1:
To all things 1402 :cheers:
Your not that old a few of my friends were camping at a motorbike rally this weekend on bikes and camping who older than you .
Enjoy the bike a lovely part of the world You live in .
:cheers:
Welcome! Nice color :cheers:
Nice bike!
(https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/gallery/0/1-290517235220.png)
:hat: Hello guys, and thanks for your welcome, all of you!
Fun to see a forum with alert members, not like our forum "Sporthoj" on a thread for GSX1400, it's stone dead.
First I would like to know how you put my bike on the center stand when you stand beside it? Your left hand on left handle but your right hand? Your right hand where? You have to lift as well as pull backward but there are no handle bar as it was on my Varadero. A stupid question perhaps, but my brother couldn't find something either. A trick you use? Very thankful for an answer.
I also found the original SUZUKI decal to put on both side of the fuel tank. It was expensive, about 100€, but then it was original in a Suzuki package with part no.
Have a nice weekend!
@DanHam. Bike on centre stand is easy, 1left hand on handlebar,2 right foot on centre stand,3 right hand on bar under the tailpiece (see pic) 4push down with your foot(the stand legs are canter levered)and lift with your right hand simultaneously , your 14 should come up easy as pie.
Under the bodywork at the back the frame tube sits lower than the plastics, you can grab them there to get them on the centre stand.
OK. Thank you for the advise and the picture showing where to lift the bike. I will try this next time. :notworthy:
When I put my bike onto the centre stand, it's a pull back & slight lift on both handle bars, but it's more the push down on the stand lever with my foot / weight. I find it goes onto the stand easy with plenty of down force on the stand part that sticks out, I basically put all my weight onto that bit as it's coming back & up.
Most probably helps being on the heavy side (140kg), :facepalm: those that have to run around under the shower to get wet probably won't find this method of use. :whistling:
@DanHam Like you l find getting the bike up on it's centre stand is a right PITA! l'm 6' and 13st people told me you'll get the knack of it but l still struggled with it.
I ended up fitting Jack-up blocks between the swing arm and rear suspension fixing points (see photo) this made lifting the bike an absolute doddle.
Also quickens up the steering by altering the rake, but leaves the rear wheel just touching the ground once on it's centre stand, but placing a piece of timber between ground and stand feet will allow greater clearance when required.
NB Make sure chain adjustment is re adjusted if carrying out this mod.
I would like to try another standard bike for comparasion one day for the hell of it.
Incidently I have recently removed my jack up blocks as l am considering returning bike back to standard trim, but keeping blocks for the time being.
HTH
(https://i.imgur.com/5umNQL5.jpg)
I remember being 13 stone, 1977 I think it was . . .
Quote from: KiwiCol on Saturday, 12 February 2022, 09:47 AM
I remember being 13 stone, 1977 I think it was . . .
I remember being 13 stone at 13yo Col then 14 stone at 14 yo etc etc until stabilisation at 19 & haven't fluctuated much for 40 years lol 😂
Ooopppsss regarding centre stand :tongue: I think GSX is one of easiest I've had 👍
There is definitely a balance issue & first & formost is having both feet of centre stand on level ground at same time before you stand up using your right foot on the lever & pulling up & backwards with a multitude of handle options 🧐🧐
As GSX said. All about getting balance right. On the other hand, try getting it off on a sealed concrete floor. Virtually impossible, i put a towel under it. Works fine.
I put this on a while ago,on the helmet lock braket, not so much to lift onto stand, but it is really good to steady the bike while putting it up, I run a top box, seat bag and tank bag so it`s a bit top heavy
(https://i.imgur.com/boUlCM6.jpg)
Steve, that's exaktly what I mean. Seems like a good idea. Where did you find that handle, or is it selfmade? I have to admit, I'm a bit "disabled" after a couple of accidents, problem with balance after that. Nothing seriously, hip fractures, but enough to be careful with heavy things like this bike. No one want to drop it because of lousy grip. The best thing with this bike is that I can sit on it and have both feet flat on the ground, and I'm just 180 cm, before the accidents I was 187 cm😳, funny isn't it. First I didn't like the look, but then I sat on it and I was sold. Now for the modifications, it will look something like the picture below. What do you think? Again, so fun to finally find a forum with soulmates.
Got it on ebay, from memory just searched motorcycle lifting handles, got a couple of different ones including a folding one that I was hoping to use, but couldn't make it work
OK, Steve, let me see if I got this right. You can't fold the handle in, it sticks out all the time or you unscrew it when the bike is parked? :confused1:
Quote from: DanHam on Saturday, 19 February 2022, 06:04 PM
OK, Steve, let me see if I got this right. You can't fold the handle in, it sticks out all the time or you unscrew it when the bike is parked? :confused1:
Yep, just sits there, it's not in the way
Until you fall off & it goes into your leg with 250kg helping it on it's way.
Quote from: Hooli on Saturday, 19 February 2022, 07:54 PM
Until you fall off & it goes into your leg with 250kg helping it on it's way.
Possible
I still think it's a good idea. :clapping:
This is a better indication as to how far it sticks out
(https://i.imgur.com/aljaQqu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1ZKsz0n.jpg)
and I added stabilising bolts so the bracket now doesn`t bend
(https://i.imgur.com/VZRUfEG.jpg)
Nice tidy wee thing, but not required for me, my personal mass sees to that.
I am 70 kg 168 cm and I can get my 14 on the centre stand quite easily. There are several good videos about this in Youtube and practice makes perfect.
Just make sure both legs of the stand touch the ground, grab the bike with your hands as instructed before and step on the lever with all your weight on your right foot.
Not sure why centrestand a problem, tiny me, 175/85kg. Easy for me.
Not actually a problem, but I park it very close to my very expensive car and with a dodgy knee I like the extra security of having something convenient to grab at the rear of the bike
I have one of those handles on my GS - only really need to use it when I have the panniers on and I can't easily get my hand to the normal place I grab onto for getting the bike onto the mainstand (in fact to do that I have to remove the pannier).
Difference is that mine folds down to align with the frame when not in use and doesn't stick out, so out of the way and unobtrusive.
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Friday, 25 February 2022, 07:50 PM
I have one of those handles on my GS - only really need to use it when I have the panniers on and I can't easily get my hand to the normal place I grab onto for getting the bike onto the mainstand (in fact to do that I have to remove the pannier).
Difference is that mine folds down to align with the frame when not in use and doesn't stick out, so out of the way and unobtrusive.
That's what I wanted and I got one like that first, but can't find a spot to make it work on the14
That's a very clean GS Dave, :drool: :onya: mind you, wouldn't expect anything different.
Quote from: KiwiCol on Saturday, 26 February 2022, 02:40 AM
That's a very clean GS Dave, :drool: :onya: mind you, wouldn't expect anything different.
:onya: :onya: cheers Col, it does get ridden and often gets quite filthy, but then I need something to occupy my time during the week before getting it grubby again :rofl2:
or just use the sidestand, like a normal 'fitted an akro so centrestand no longer fits' plebian :)