GTR1400 hits the road

Kawasaki's innovative GTR1400 has just undergone its international launch and will be available locally before the end of the year.

The bike takes up where the somewhat ancient GTR1000 left off, claiming to be a tourer and supersports bike wrapped into one package. While the GTR1000 stuggled to live up to those expectations, even early in its life, the new version is a much more high-tech device which on paper at least might go close.

Its 1400 powerplant is tied to what the company calls a Tetra-Lever shaft drive, which looks a little like a paralever (aka BMW)) unit after further development. The company claims the shaft feels like a chain to the rider.

Acceleration is apparently in plentiful supply from a 1352cc engine with variable valve timing - it boasts the same off-the-line urge as a ZZ-R1400.

The chassis features radial mount front brakes -- with or without ABS -- and similar cornering clearance to a ZZ-R1400, despite the panniers.

A new gadget is the remote sensing electronic 'key' which unlocks the machine and enables the rider to start up without physically inserting a key into anything.

The machine also runs an electric-adjustable windscreen and on-board tyre pressure monitoring.

Weight is just shy of 280 kilos with ABS and fuel capacity is 22 litres.