The Bike Show GTR1400 Road Test

[maxtog]

The main drawback with the 55 is the reduction of the contact patch. I think I'm going back to a 50 series.

The main drawback one is the height gain, damnit   But otherwise, yeah, the rounder profile also means a smaller contact patch.

[connie14boy]

You forgot bent knee. 

If you have over 31 inch inseam (where it counts as the 2nd most important male body increment), you will be oh so happy with the 55 rear. That is the aspect that Kawasaki should have used as standard to begin with, according to every one I have queried.

[just gone]

Well, and if you don't like it, just raise the front 11.5mm!

I didn't say I didn't like it, I inferred I had reservations about it's safety in different situations and loading. However most ride them wetter and harder than I do so with the number of folks on 55s and no reports (that I've heard of) of weird oscillations at speed, I've decided to try 55s, and so far I like them. 
I do think both forums suffer sometimes from over exuberance of the latest fad, be it the latest flash, slip on, or tire series. I guess I'm just too reserved, although I've never been accused of that publicly.

[maxtog]

I guess I'm just too reserved, although I've never been accused of that publicly.

Well,  "I second that emotion."  But I *have* been accused