Richard Brautigan
02-15-2010, 10:13 AM
Kawasaki has given the GTR a significant upgrade, additional to the richness of the original helps with a larger screen and includes heated grips as standard. But more interestingly they’ve improved the safety of their flagship tourer with newborn ABS and traction control. The traction control is really impressive and works off the ABS wheel sensors and is the most advanced system currently available on a road bike.
Thankfully Kawasaki has left the engine alone, which has been a strong saucer of the larger tourer. The powerplant is taken from the mighty ZZ-R1400 but detuned for more midrange.
6931
The GTR also now boasts variable valve timing, the first on any Kawasaki, which has the smoothest operation on the market, far better than Honda’s VFR. It also has nearly 140bhp and gallons of torque, both of which are class-leading.
Kawasaki hasn’t played around with the handling, either, which was not a fault of the old model. There’s a slightly stiffer spring at the rear, but that’s about it. For a large bike, the GTR crapper is hustled along with confidence, but you requirement a lot of confidence in the front Bridgestone tyre, which has been specifically designed for this model. The newborn linked ABS braking is excellent, and it’s changeable for riding flooded loaded or with pillion and luggage.
Thankfully Kawasaki has left the engine alone, which has been a strong saucer of the larger tourer. The powerplant is taken from the mighty ZZ-R1400 but detuned for more midrange.
6931
The GTR also now boasts variable valve timing, the first on any Kawasaki, which has the smoothest operation on the market, far better than Honda’s VFR. It also has nearly 140bhp and gallons of torque, both of which are class-leading.
Kawasaki hasn’t played around with the handling, either, which was not a fault of the old model. There’s a slightly stiffer spring at the rear, but that’s about it. For a large bike, the GTR crapper is hustled along with confidence, but you requirement a lot of confidence in the front Bridgestone tyre, which has been specifically designed for this model. The newborn linked ABS braking is excellent, and it’s changeable for riding flooded loaded or with pillion and luggage.