Suzuki GSX1400 k2 issues buyers guide the good the bad

[@foreversingle1975]

Nice video, I have a k3 been off the road for two years, this month I will be riding again. !

[@lurker-mq4fp]

Cheers, I also ride every day and I am tempted to buy one. I will keep my eyes open!

[@tomstc]

You won't regret it

[@RogerBarraud]

You Can Doooo Eeeeet!!11! :-)

[@mrtriple2414]

Tom, nice work. You riding in all weathers reminds me of being a young lad. I don’t know, though! As a result my 07 GSX1400 is a mint, cosseted big baby with torque which makes me grin every time. Later downpipes are stainless so can be recovered even when horrible. I’ve retro fitted K2/K3 end cans as the huge bazooka on the later bikes looks gross to me. Enjoy!

[@Budget-Cars-And-Bikes]

Some good advice thanks, I've just bought my second GSX and featured it on my channel too 😁

[@tomstc]

Thank you, it's a really old video and it makes me cringe now. I have just subbed your channel will check it out

[@ratsausage]

I had one for a few years. Got rid of it because it felt top heavy and wasn't really very fast. The keyless rotor in the engine thing chewed away at me. But I'll always miss the storage under the seat which was simply awesome.

[@andrewdods2236]

Random Random Keyless rotor? Please explain ....

[@ratsausage]

Well it's a while since I had the GSX but I seem to recall at the time a few (and I mean a few) reports of generator rotors coming loose and it seemed to be that there was no key used to lock them to the crank it was just a plain taper. This could well be untrue and I never had any mechanical problems at all but it got me concerned at the time. But it doesn't take a lot to put me off things that's for sure so if I was you I might not worry about it.

[@RogerBarraud]

@@ratsausage What was the resultant damage if the rotor got loose?

[@ratsausage]

Dunno.. probably just 'firing up' and wear on the rotor and taper. But I repair equipment for a living and am very anti anything that could go wrong. I buy G-shock watches and buy top quality tools and have Honda everything (bike, car, lawnmower, brush cutter). IMHO with the amount of knowledge and experience available to manufacturers nowadays there really isn't any excuse for making stuff that can go wrong with the exception of stuff that does its bit and simply wears out which is acceptable to me.

[@theelviscerator]

@@andrewdods2236 Actually under heavy load in built engines the taper rotor would spin till it spin welded. Which is fine till it has to come apart one day.

[@richardlane5428]

Hi good vid some suggestions via my 02 GSX1400 R : Tyres Pirelli Angel GT excellent in wet front does 8-9K rear 6K(that's touring full luggage/2 up, Black widow stainless headers, polish front forks wax polish (wash with cold water) Seat foam restored via upholsterers (any density U want cost £40) Hagon shocks R mint & affordable -spot on.C U changed horns for snails again spot on. Bikes R built to ride nothing wrong with a bit of dirt. White wheels R a pain (chipped too easily) powder coat.

[@tomstc]

Cheers, i'm thinking of doing a follow-up in the summer

[@judeoko]

I have two gsx1400's why well ones not enough two k2s. So much bike for money. I'm a big lad and bike fits me if that makes sense. ( reason for two, I had one and restored it to as good as I could get it to new show condition, and I have one I've blinged up a bit).

[@tomstc]

Why not have 3? If I had the money would do this one up and buy another. Thanks for the comment 😊👍🏻

[@philhawkins9845]

I Like that idea. I have just bought a K2 19 years after selling my first one. Never found a bike I liked more.

[@TheCodexNecro]

Hi mate, good vid. I've got a black K2 and I love the bike. I'm also an all weather rider like yourself. I fully agree with what you've mentioned. Issues I've had so far are: General corrosion, electrical mishaps due to corrosion, needed a new camshaft position sensor and set of headers, cause the chrome ones rusted to hell. I'm now on stainless single skin. The clutch slave cylinder had a leak, so I did the mod mentioned on the owners club which is to fit a seal from the hayabusa, which protects it from happening again. What do you think about the front of the engine? That area worries me as it gets hit by all the road crap, and as you know, the oil pipes rust! I plan to try sand them back a bit this summer and coat them with some black paint. As for the cooling, this bike never needs to cool itself down. I've never once heard my fan come on and I've owned it for about 3 years now. Oh, and the lock sets are typical Suzuki, pretty flakey so you need to turn the key as you lift it up to get it to click in, so I'll need to replace my set at some point.

[@tomstc]

Thanks for the comment, I plan to do an update on this video in the summer at some point. I replaced the clutch slave cylinder earlier in the year but also had to replace the swing-arm bearings. The front of the engine gets so much of the brunt of the weather, alot of guys powder coat to get around these issues.

[@TheCodexNecro]

@@tomstc Thanks for the reply mate. I'll definitely look forward to your update video. The actual engine is OK from what I can see, but it's just the oil cooler tubes which seem to be getting rather rusty now. Annoying when the rest of the bike looks amazing. I've still got the standard cans on mine, as I just LOVE the look of them. It's worth mentioning the sub-frame corrosion under the pillion seat. That is also a weak point.

[@petersnape4972]

Black K2? The first black 1400 was the K4 although body parts can be changed or sprayed. Great bike but you need to deal with the corrosion as soon as it appears ... especially the oil pipes.

[@TheCodexNecro]

@@petersnape4972 Yep, used to be a blue n white, but got full respray to black. Twin pipes with the black colour appealed to me. Agreed about the corrosion.

[@haydnroberts4866]

I have had a few gsx 1400 best bike I ever had can't fault it .

[@tomstc]

Thanks for watching, yeah I love it. Nothing else floats my boat. We'll an Aerial Ace does but bit out of my budget

[@ThePafko90]

The Sv 1000 brake calipers fits plug and play to OEM gsx forks, brake disc and brake pump?

[@tomstc]

Yes straight swap, it was hard work getting them to bleed through

[@ThePafko90]

​@@tomstc SV 1000 brakes on my bike - they are doing a good job ! About Hagon Nitro, I also want to buy them. Compare to OEM Shocks ? Softer, stiffer ? Adjustment of preload and damping are good? What is your height and weight ;)?

[@tomstc]

@@ThePafko90 hi thanks for commenting, the hagon nitros are great shocks for the money. If you buy them new they ask your weight, every set is custom

[@paulskyis50]

Well done young man very good 👍

[@damiangrudzien2824]

Hi on my suzi was rust on petrol tank under neath k3 12k miles.

[@tomstc]

Its a weak spot on them, its a good idea to get the inside coated.

[@keithwills6769]

I did that last year!, worked a treat!. A wee tip, always fill yer tank if ye store away for winter. That's what I was told anyway!.

[@keithwills6769]

Definitely!, coated mine inside my k2. If you have rust in your tank, its probably everywhere inside. Was quoted 600 quid for a new one!!!!!.

[@MothershipVideos]

I haven't had any of those issues with mine. Could it be the salt they put on the road? Anyway great vid.

[@tomstc]

I ride mine everyday rain, snow and sun. She does suffer, the salt is a pain! I don't clean it as often as I should

[@ughxr500a3]

Got same issues & sum with my 2007 gas 1400 here in nz had been under carports for years though Yours was in great condition Hope you got a good price or trade in on the triumph

[@MothershipVideos]

@@ughxr500a3 thanks mate. Ride safe.

[@andrewdods2236]

Am looking to get one. Thanks for the advice. I think i’ll black ceramic the exhaust, and protect the forks like u said. Cheers :-)

[@tomstc]

Just watching this again makes me cringe I have learnt so much in the last year making KZbin Videos, great support for this video so thanks to everyone so far! If you are watching this for the first time please consider subscribing!

[@RogerBarraud]

Heya! That spiral horn looks decent - I'm wondering what to replace the standard 'geek-geek' ones with on mine :-) I have some Fiamm's - which are old and may not even work now... but you'vr defo reminded me of the need again - thanks! :-)

[@tomstc]

I got the horns ages ago they are these ebay.to/2Gy6IbQ but need the engine running or they just fart!

[@andrewdods2236]

Thanks for the advice. Am looking to get one soon. Think i’ll black ceramic coat the exhaust and protect the forks like u suggested. Cheers :-)

[@tomstc]

The exhaust is a weak point, replacing with an aftermarket one is a good idea

[@TheCodexNecro]

The standard chrome headers are definitely weak. Mine were corroded but didn't look too bad, but when they got pulled off, the part where they mate to the engine completely snapped off. WEAK! I had no choice but to throw a set of stainless Delkevic on. Just be careful getting those header bolts out, they've been known to snap easily. May need a bit heat.

[@dias17se]

how about fuel mileage for commuting ? im reading 7 liters per 100km average in fuelly.com

[@tomstc]

Hi thanks for commenting, I get about on average around 30 miles to the gallon

[@chandersson79]

Last tank 4,7 liters 100km was driving between 100-130 km/h

[@iandouglas451]

very helpful

[@tomstc]

Thank you glad it was

[@SEANO1810]

thinking of changing the bars on mine, do the controls have any locating dowels on them that go into holes on the original bars like some bikes do plz

[@tomstc]

Hi Sean, yes they do. you need to drill a new locator hole for the controls

[@tomstc]

More videos coming soon subscribe bit.ly/tomstcsub