Taming The Elephant

[gsxbarmy]

1000 vstrom hand guards fit, I have them and they work a treat.  I will track the part number down if you want it.

No need - all the part numbers and info here - you just need to scroll through the thread to get to it
http://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=701.msg9438#msg9438

[owen426]

I remember reading about the hand guards somewhere so thanks for the info.

Regarding the gearing I've never had a bike with a tacho before I've simply been comparing it to my cars. Yet it's a motorbike engine so it's made to rev. I was completely wrong with that one, but hey that's what you guys are for!

And yes real men don't need screens, I knew that was coming 

[Hooli]

I had a screen on mine & no matter how I adjusted it I couldn't get comfy with the turbulence coming off the top of the screen making my head or shoulders move around too much. Once I took it off I found the bike much more comfy at speed and for distance. Depends on you though & if you can get a screen adjusted right for you.

One last point on gearing, these things are geared for about 196mph if you could redline top...

[seth]

only place mine has read over 200mph is on the dyno
never got past 170mph on an autobahn it was a big handfull over 160mph like 3 lanes to keep it straight lol

[Hooli]

Oh I know they won't do it, I was just saying that's how long 6th is.

Mine will indicate 163 on the flat & I once got it to the bottom right hand corner of the odometer with slight slope, was getting a touch* drafty by that point.

[owen426]

 I have the opposite problem of Hooli when sitting normally and my heads is right in the turbulance. If i sit up like a flag pole or crouch down it is much nicer, but neither is sustainable. And no autobahns around here so I find the roads suit 140ish km/h , but towns aren't very close so you can do it all day.

[KiwiCol]

I have (had) the same issue Owen. My bike has a different headlight & faring setup to std - fairly sure it was a dealer fit from new.  Anyway, being 195cm tall, my head was directly in the deflected wind blast from the screen.  If I leaned out to either side it was quieter, if I ducked down low behind the screen, it was quieter (and less buffeting on the helmet). Once, while I was away touring, I was so sick of the infernal noise & buffeting round the helmet, I took the screen off altogether, went for a trial & yep, much quieter.  Sorted, or so I thought!
Next day, set off with my amended configuration up front, screen in bag on the back. Was fine till I went to overtake, gave her a bit of a handful to pass, as ya do, & man! the wind pressure on my chest area was very substantial (to say the least!) I rode like this for a few more hours & decided the no screen was quieter but way less comfortable riding, stopped at a wee town & re-fitted the screen on the side of the road.
The wind noise & buffeting returned & I thought, this wee screen needs a bit of a more pronounced kick at the top, or make it a bit higher to send the air turbulence over my helmet.
I didn't want a huge screen, just something that did the job without detracting too much from the overall look of the bike. I ended up getting an extension that just clips / bolts on to the existing screen. It's adjustable to a variety of angles & it seems to work fairly well - for me anyhow.  It came from Poland, good quality piece of gear too.

I'm in agreement with you about the 140k mark, the bike just seems to like it there & goes really nicely, unfortunately the local coppers don't like us doing that & take quite a dim view of the practice, so much so they actually fine us!!

I'll go look for a link to the wind deflector & put it up.  Cost me around $80 - $90nz & worth it I reckon.  I looked at all the various sizes & styles, I wanted one that worked as opposed to one that looked like it did something but wasn't as effective as the idea should be.
Once I get the link, I'll go take a pic & post it up too, so y'all can see how it looks.

[KiwiCol]

Here's the link, I'll get a pic later today.   This outfit has several styles of screen, some will apply more than others, but it'll be personal choice in the end.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PREMIUM-Wind-Screen-Deflector-for-motorcycle-motorbike-Classic-windshield-LOW/201777648536

I brought the Classic 2 version, thinking being I could cut it down & modify the shape (if I thought it necessary) more with a bigger thing to start with, however, on getting the deflector, they're not that big anyway, so, glad I didn't opt for a low version that would have been more limited in it's effectiveness.

[KiwiCol]

Couple of shots of the aforementioned wind deflector for those interested.

[Del]

Whats under the cover . . . . looks like a corvette

[owen426]

Wow Kiwi thanks for the detailed response. Do you find it helps in cold weather too? There are quite a few options out there but I don't know how big I need to go. You've given me a great starting point though as we're a similar height.

On a side note I flew in to Christchurch in July and you guys have access to some amazing riding roads over there! Wish I could of explored more.

[KiwiCol]

Whats under the cover . . . . looks like a corvette

nah, it's a 5 litre NC Fairlane.  You guys in the north would probably never have seen one, Aussies will know exactly what it is.
Poor thing has been consigned to the front lawn as there's not enough room in the garage any more. I keep it as a spare vehicle for visitors & if one of the others is off the road for maintenance.
I take it out for a run now & again. We are only the 2nd owners and we've had it for about 20 years. She's done around 210,000k & runs like new, it's also a good tow car for the boat, albeit a thirsty one.

[Del]

I know if the Fairlane - good old dependable 5.0L V8 a huge big motor - but as you say fond of the motion lotion

[owen426]

Update: Summer Lovin'

After work getting in the way of riding it has now done the opposite and enabled me to ride all over the countryside. I was excited to have some time off with summer coming but no, that was too good to be true. I had reached what I thought to be the end of my shutdown and then had a mountain of shit dumped on me by work. Purely through other peoples incompetence which bloody annoys me. However it turns out that the job has been spread out, so what I get out of it is this: It's warm and sunny, I'm now working between three locations and being paid overtime rates rates to ride the GSX between them. So technically I'm a professional motorbike rider!

So it's been good fun on the bike. Scrubbed in a new rear, will be looking at an oil change soon, give it a wash every now and then but mostly have just been enjoying putting some miles on the bike.

My "commute". 36 degrees, back roads and no traffic to be seen! 

[owen426]

Update time after general life with the GSX.  I knew I needed to do some maintenance on it but Christmas, work and a baby kept putting it on the bottom of the list. It's been my daily for a few months and I was pushing the tyres past their use by date so when a summer storm came through it forced my hand. I put a new set of Pilot Road 4's on it but don't ask me if they are good or not I'm still learning this road bike thing. What I do know is good tyres are worth the money, and in my particularly shameful case - tyres which are round! 

Went over the bolts, tightened the chain etc but in typical fashion what I thought would be easy wasn't with the filter being the tiniest bit too small for my filter tool. Oh well got my Special Cartridge Removal Extraction Wrench (S.C.R.E.W.) Driver and sorted it out. It was cramped with the headers so took a while and I could only put the new one on hand tight but haven't had any leaks since so must have been tight enough.

I'm slowly recovering from my injured leg so I can start giving it a bit of stick again, good fun but I do feel the weight under heavy braking. It's certainly heavier than the my latest purchase that's for sure - a mighty RV75!