Kawasaki Concours Forum

Introductions - Tell us a bit about yourself => Introductions => Topic started by: Shrekster on October 18, 2015, 02:48:54 PM

Title: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: Shrekster on October 18, 2015, 02:48:54 PM
Hi from Glasgow, Scotland. I bought my GTR1000 in April this year, I've covered around 4000 miles so far and what can I say? I LOVE THIS BIKE!
It's a 1994 bike I bought from a dealer with 3500 kilometres on the clock in pretty much 'as new' condition. It is a Canadian spec bike hence the kph speedo, I fitted an mph speedo.
Mods so far, I fitted a Cee Baileys screen which is a big improvement over the standard one, I've fitted a set of SISF's torque cams along with his 2mm jet kit. I changed the tyres as the I think it had the originals fitted! (21 years old and starting to perish).

I had one in the early nineties for a couple of years before moving on to a series of sports bikes, I've owned more than 50 bikes in my riding career. I just sold a Yamaha R1 and was looking for a change, I saw my bike for sale and thought I'd try it. It's definitely a keeper, I love the fairing, I'd say it's the best fairing of any bike I've ridden and that includes a Goldwing and a ST1100.

Hopefully my bike will be reliable as I plan to do lots of trips.

Cheers,

Jim
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: VirginiaJim on October 18, 2015, 03:16:32 PM
Welcome, Jim.  Can't have too many Jim's around you know. 

In case you don't know, there's quite a few GTR owners in the UK.. 

You can find them here  http://www.gtr1400.co.uk/forums/index.php (http://www.gtr1400.co.uk/forums/index.php)

Jim
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: gPink on October 18, 2015, 03:46:20 PM
Welcome to the forum. Would really like to see some pictures of your country from your travels.
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: Blown32 on October 18, 2015, 05:23:58 PM
Welcome and a big yes to wanting to see pictures!
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: KevinRLi on October 18, 2015, 05:27:41 PM
Welcome!
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: tweeter55 on October 19, 2015, 05:06:57 AM
Welcome, Shrekster!!! :chugbeer:
Pics are our life support here. Especially through a Midwest winter which is coming up shortly.
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: Rhino on October 19, 2015, 08:50:17 AM
Welcome Shrekster! Like tweeter said, pics of the swamp please!
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: Shrekster on December 06, 2015, 05:36:38 PM
A very short clip of a sunny autumn ride earlier this year.......

http://youtu.be/2F4cfkFPW3g (http://youtu.be/2F4cfkFPW3g)
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: tweeter55 on December 06, 2015, 09:10:43 PM
Beautiful countryside. Jealous Very jealous. Thanks for the video.
:goodpost:
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: Rick Hall on December 06, 2015, 09:53:47 PM
Kewl video! :) What part of Glasgow?

First thing I noticed was"WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD FOOL, YOUR GONNA GET HIT!"
Next think I noticed was "yep, EU/UK, the roads are narrow".
Third thing I noticed was the approximate speed on the speedometer at the end ;)

That type of road in the US would be posted 30kmh, and we'd be driving on the 'other' side ;)
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: VirginiaJim on December 07, 2015, 05:02:55 AM
Appears to be not much wider than a US pedestrian walkway in an urban area...or they paved over a railroad bed.
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: gPink on December 07, 2015, 05:06:18 AM
Do you think it's one way?
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: VirginiaJim on December 07, 2015, 05:27:20 AM
I don't think so.  They have some pretty narrow roads over there.
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: Shrekster on December 07, 2015, 08:46:13 AM
It's what we would classify a 'B' road, we have motorways/dual carriageways (freeway), 'A' roads which are generally one lane each way and 'B' roads that are usually one lane each way but can as in this case be a single track with passing places.

This road runs from Aberfoyle to Stronachlachar which is about 20 miles north of Glasgow, Scotland. When I started biking in the 80's the road surface was like glass! I mean perfect, and almost zero traffic, for a learner rider it was paradise. Nowadays it resembles a map of the moon in places.

The GTR is all tucked up in the garage now for winter so I'm using my varadero 1000 until next year. I'll post some more vids of some nice runs I had earlier in the year on the GTR.

All the best,

Jim.
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: connie_rider on December 07, 2015, 09:14:47 AM
Jim, welcome!
Are you aware of the GTR Club in Europe? ("GCE" {GTR Club or Europe})
I think some of the members are from Scotland.
Rode with them last year. Great group of riders!!

They have a Rolling Rally planned in July. Might be worth you checking into it.

Question on the speedo. I think you said you changed the speedo to MPH?
Are the roads in Scotland marked in MPH or KPH?
All that we saw in Eu was KPH..


Ride safe, Ted
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: Shrekster on December 07, 2015, 10:20:05 AM
Connie_rider, thanks for the welcome, yes I am aware of the euro forum. I did change my speedo from kph to mph, our speed limits are in mph. Bizarrely, as members of the European Union we are supposed to use the metric system and we mostly do, anything we buy is by the litre or kilogramme but we still use good ol' mph.
Jim.
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: gPink on December 07, 2015, 02:59:23 PM
You still get a pint at the pub?
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: VirginiaJim on December 07, 2015, 03:44:03 PM
That's interesting as when I go in to buy liquor, I'm thinking fifth.  It hasn't been made that way in more years than I can remember.  They don't make half gallon sizes either.  It's all because of that stupid metro system.
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: Shrekster on December 07, 2015, 03:45:01 PM
Yes beers are the only thing still sold in pints, any shot of spirit is sold in measures of 25ml. Like I said, bizarre!
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: freebird6 on December 07, 2015, 05:56:53 PM
Welcome to the fold. My son was in your  city last year as one of the Rocks pro basketball players. Loved the place.

(http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/320/mcs/media/images/78396000/jpg/_78396684_rocksfreemann01.jpg)
I missed the opportunity to get over.  >:(
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: Shrekster on December 11, 2015, 05:25:01 AM
Here is another short video of me and a mate out for a ride, start of November and the weather was great if a bit cool. I'll apologise for the footage as it's uploaded from the camera with no editing. The camera was struggling a bit with the change of light when going from bright sun in to shade.
cheers,
Jim.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_xxFNJMQYM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_xxFNJMQYM)
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: KevinRLi on December 11, 2015, 05:45:54 AM
Don't you get confused riding on the wrong side of the road?  :chugbeer:   Great video! Any day riding is a good day of riding.
Title: Re: Noob from Glasgow, Scotland.
Post by: VirginiaJim on December 12, 2015, 10:22:44 AM
I don't think so as the controls are reversed...