[steve.hudson]

My new toy, a 2014 GT with 32000 miles on, and all the goodies. Nice and tidy with lots of stamps in the book.
Bought just before Xmas for £2300. I'm a life-long biker, getting old now, but still love my biking. Planning the Ruta de la Plata this summer, Gijon to Seville.

 

[MGD109]

.........Bought just before Xmas for £2300........

I think that's outstanding value for money for a well looked after GT.

 

[steve.hudson]

Yes, I was pleased as it seems like a lot of bike for the money, and as I’m central London, I need it to be ULEZ compliant

 

[Miv]

Wow, that sounds like a real good deal you got there, let us know how the trip goes this summer Steve, would like to see a few photos around that area if poss ?
👍

 

[beat.]

View attachment 392469
My new toy, a 2014 GT with 32000 miles on, and all the goodies. Nice and tidy with lots of stamps in the book.
Bought just before Xmas for £2300. I'm a life-long biker, getting old now, but still love my biking. Planning the Ruta de la Plata this summer, Gijon to Seville.

Is that a non-OEM exhaust that I see? How do you like the ride? Personally- after riding for years on a 1987 K75S, my purchase of a 2014 F800GT renewed my passion in sport touring. Comfortable, generous case storage, right power band for my riding, and quite nimble. Named it Goldilocks. Not too big, not too small...

 

[steve.hudson]

Just checked the silencer, it's got 18 12 - 7 718 396 stamped on it which is OEM fitting for 2013 to 2016 I believe. As for the bike, I find the power sufficient, the front end dives too easily, seat comfortable, bars a bit buzzy especially in traffic, gearbox can be graunchy esp 2nd to 3rd, and neutral impossible, doesn't like bad road surfaces ( I live in London!), handling fine. I like the toys, such as the tyre pressure alert, already saved me when I picked up a sharp in the rear tyre. So far about 8 out of 10, but we've had with snow or rain most of the time since I got it, so not huge amounts of riding yet. Seems a well - built, competent ride.

 

[PhotoAl]

Always had mine maintained at the dealer who used whatever oil they were supposed to. I noticed that when the oil was "fresh" it was very difficult to get into neutral but as the oil aged it got easier. Think it has to do with the stiction of oil on the wet clutch plates. I didn't worry about it just rode it and it was fine. Always amazed at the really clean used bikes in the UK. A great buy in my opinion. I came from a Kawasaki ZX6R 636 ABS to the F800GT and it seemed very plush in comparison but the turn in was very similar and the brakes good as well. Didn't have the top end rush of power or the scream. The ZX6R alerted every policeman within hearing range that someone was playing and likely exceeding the speed limit, F800GT was much more "respectable"

 

[beat.]

Just checked the silencer, it's got 18 12 - 7 718 396 stamped on it which is OEM fitting for 2013 to 2016 I believe. As for the bike, I find the power sufficient, the front end dives too easily, seat comfortable, bars a bit buzzy especially in traffic, gearbox can be graunchy esp 2nd to 3rd, and neutral impossible, doesn't like bad road surfaces ( I live in London!), handling fine. I like the toys, such as the tyre pressure alert, already saved me when I picked up a sharp in the rear tyre. So far about 8 out of 10, but we've had with snow or rain most of the time since I got it, so not huge amounts of riding yet. Seems a well - built, competent ride.

Agreed. Yeah, the front fork dive is a negative. Taken some getting used to. I’ve considered changing out for stiffer springs...

 

[steve.hudson]

Agreed. Yeah, the front fork dive is a negative. Taken some getting used to. I’ve considered changing out for stiffer springs...

....or maybe a heavier fork oil? I'm sure there's plenty of discussion on this topic on the Forum!

 

[Daboo]

That is a gorgeous color, and a great buy.

Chris

 

[steve.hudson]

I was lucky with the timing as the previous owner was expecting delivery of her new BMW 310gs the next day and had savagely dropped the asking price from £3500 just as I saw her listing !

 

[ThiagoSilva287]

View attachment 392469
My new toy, a 2014 GT with 32000 miles on, and all the goodies. Nice and tidy with lots of stamps in the book.
Bought just before Xmas for £2300. I'm a life-long biker, getting old now, but still love my biking. Planning the Ruta de la Plata this summer, Gijon to Seville.

Amazing deal you got, secondly being getting aged you didn't put your passion back that's quite impressing.....keep moving ahead with you amazing tickle

 

[steve.hudson]

Amazing deal you got, secondly being getting aged you didn't put your passion back that's quite impressing.....keep moving ahead with you amazing tickle

Thanks! I hope to emulate the famous actor Ralph Richardson who rode his BMW daily from Hampstead to the West End well into his 80's!

 

[beat.]

....or maybe a heavier fork oil? I'm sure there's plenty of discussion on this topic on the Forum!

These look interesting as a fork kit to eliminate or at least decrease that dive...

 

[Daboo]

There are a lot of possibilities if you want to save $$$ on a kit and are willing to invest the time. I used a different fork oil, and adjusted the amount of oil...which adjusts the amount of air. The result is little dive, yet the front soaks up road imperfections fairly well. Handling is great. I wouldn't want to change anything.

Unfortunately, it is like the recipes my wife makes sometimes. There is no exact formula to it, just a bit of luck and trial & error. And there's the "fun" in it. When and if you get it "right", there's a feeling of satisfaction as you ride down the road.

Chris

 

[beat.]

Definitely beats spending $1000+ on a cartridge kit. I’m sold! 😎 What fork oil did you use?

 

[Daboo]

Definitely beats spending $1000+ on a cartridge kit. I’m sold! 😎 What fork oil did you use?

I previously used a different brand. With the supply chain issues, this was all Cycle Gear had...and while it is twice the cost of the other brand I had used previously, it worked for me. Note the bottle says 5W in the graphic...I stayed with the 10W oil that the factory specs called for. Also one thing I found out when I first changed my fork oil, was that one manufacturer's 10W is not the same as another's 10W. It varies.

When I first changed the fork oil, it was my first time doing it. I followed the directions given by the founder of this forum in this video.

Technically, it wasn't "proper"...but it got the job done. My biggest mistake was in not measuring the amount that drained from each tube. Without knowing how much you drained out, you can't know exactly how much to put back in. His way of taking the fork oil out, doesn't require pulling the forks out. It's worth a look to see how he did it.

My theory on how the simple forks like ours work is you have the springs...obviously. But instead of the front end bouncing like a pogo stick, the oil passes through an orifice. The weight of the oil, will "adjust" how much that goes through. The oil doesn't compress, so a fully filled fork tube would have no give to it at all. It'd be like riding on a buckboard wagon. That's where the air comes in. The air does compress, so it gives some of that initial compression when you hit a bump. If you want a firmer suspension, add more oil...which decreases the amount of air. If you want a less firm suspension, remove some of the oil...which increases the amount of air. If you want to play around with the response, use a different weight oil.

Chris