General forum area > Other (K) Bikes or anything else!

No Longer A "K" Rider

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Belco100:
Well, I don't think I will own another "K" after owning so many  :-\

I've had a K1300GT, K1200R Sport, K1300S and most recently six K1600GTs one after another (thanks to the wonders of PCP). I've always loved the technology, presence and power of these bikes since I first rode one.

It all started many years ago when I went for a demo on a Kawasaki 1400GTR and felt very let down, and coming home my wife said lets go and look in there - Cannons BMW. The shop was great, the salesman was great, and the K1300GT was a revelation! ESA for swapping between one up and two up, heated grips built in, cruise control etc etc. Love at first sight - except for the price  ::) . That's when I first joined this Forum (and the GB Riders).

So I went down to Vines to ride/buy a really nice looking K1200GT, but it was sold before I got there and ended up on an ex-Demo fully loaded K1300GT in Champagne colour scheme. Luckily I get a car allowance for work, so just redirected some of that for PCP on the bike, and rode away happy.

3 years latter I rode the bike into Cannons, and rode out on my first K1600GT. The big Ks were used for some epic tours, and I also managed to buy a good K1200R Sport for one up playing, which then turned into a K1300S to sit beside the K16s.

But since Covid, my wife has stopped doing the long Tours so I no longer need that two up comfort, and I have got too old and fat for proper sports tourers - although that may have actually happened a few years ago when I started putting Superbike bars on my K1300S. Now I ride the more upright bikes - tried a 1250GSA and it was a lovely bike, but I never really gelled with it. Went to a Gen 1 and Gen 2 XR, which are stunning bikes, but now own a KTM 1290 Super Adventure (a beast) and a Ducati V4S Multi which is a really nice all rounder.

PS - this whole post was started after I read Brian's "10 years ago ..."

Matt:
But but but... what are you getting next then?!

Edit: And damn it I belatedly read your current bike thing on left! But tell us more about them anyway. The fuel consumption of the Multi and the hilarious engine of the 1290 for a start :D

black-k1:
It's a sad day when another K rider leaves "the fold" :( but, with production of the 1300 K engines stopping in 2016 it's likely to become a more and more common event.

Belco100:

--- Quote from: Matt on January 02, 2024, 10:22:45 am ---... The fuel consumption of the Multi and the hilarious engine of the 1290 for a start ...

--- End quote ---

A pair of chuggers low down, never matching the smoothness of the Ks.

The Ducati was a bit of a bargain for me - my mate bought it new with a massive spec including the full Ducati exhaust (£3k) but had a problem where he had to stop riding, so I got it off him at nearly half price (I know, what a bad friend I am ::)). A real lovely bike to ride. I have put the high seat on it and a set of bars off the Pikes Peak edition and it fits me nicely now - it felt like I was rowing a canoe before. It's quick, handles well, full luggage, cheap to run (36,000 mile valve service intervals and an oil change every other year) for a Ducati but bloody awful mpg. I struggle to get it into the 40mpg range even when going slow, but it manages about 170 miles to a tank.

The KTM was a bit of a risk as I have heard bad things, but has been a revelation to me. I bought a 2019 model to dip my toes in KTM world but found the bike put a massive smile on my face, and then traded it for a nearly new fully loaded Gen 3 model. Not as quick a Super Duke (or GT model), but fun. Great engine, great electronics, 50-55mpg  :D, chuggs and vibrates at low revs and wheelies everywhere in the midrange. The electronic anti-dive on this makes it feel a bit like a K bike on the front end, but not quite. I would love to see this with the new 1390 motor and in SMT format!

Neither of these bikes can do 40mph in top gear without shaking like Elvis  :azn:

Phmode:
There's a place called in MST on the Lleyn peninsular in Wales that started out selling spares and panels for Mk1 and 2 Ford Escorts then realised they had enough bits to build almost a full car...and now they do. They make them to customer spec all the way from road to Group 4 works rally spec, either all Olde Worlde or bang up to date with all the modern stuff.

Who know, maybe someone will start making K's in the far future  :winkthumbs:

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