GSX 1400 K7 FE

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Letters are important.

The bike I wanted most when I was 17/18 was the GS1000ET; what did I have? A 1980 XL125S. Letters, see? My life was incomplete because I had the wrong set of letters. Well, that and the fact that I couldn't communicate with everyone else at home without all of us screaming at each other so I now spent most of my time staring up from the floor at the Suzuki range poster in my mate's bedroom.

He had owned a GSX250 to take his test on and then quickly progressed through a GS550E, a GS750E and onto the GSthou. All because his step-Dad was a banker and had set up a bloody trust fund for him, the lucky sod. The main reason I fought with my parents? Letters from my bank manager asking for his money back and for me to pay my HP on the Honda. More damn letters.

Many years went by and, in 2003 we were living in Caracas and I was riding about on my beaten up and naked R900S (custom or road bike, it had to be stripped down for my liking, I simply can't be doing with all the plastic guff on race-reps). The civil insurrection made the 2011 UK riots look like a picnic; we were shipped off to France while everything cooled down.

There, in the window of a bike dealer in the centre of Lisieux, was a GSX1400K2; the second iteration of a bike that built on everything which made young men go hard in 1981.

When it was time to chop in the Harley FLHTCU (and never are letters as important as when talking about Hogs) it had to be one of these. But Suzuki in all their wisdom stopped making them - the line finished at the K7 model in this country, the FE designating it was a Final Edition (replete with a colour scheme and an aftermarket Yoshi Dual Oval).

Now I reckon the XJRs are simply too feminine in appearance, too smooth and swoopy to be a proper machine. The Kwack ZRX is more my cup of tea if I had to have an alternative - but the Suzuki, in blue, is sex on a stick from where I look.

The MCN Head2Head test gave the 14 the most weight but also the most power. They said the ZRX would be best for travelling but I struggle to see how. I've had many bikes and this one is as good as any of them go for long distance as the seat is SO comfortable, the bike is planted and the little fly-screen I added does the job of preserving your neck.

My 2008 model had just 2950 on the clock and was the make-weight as I part-ex'd the Glide and I've put on another 2K since then. Where MCN reckoned the ZRX went around corners better I'd say that might have been the case on the OE rubber - but with my PR2s I can crank the lump down to the ground with utter confidence. The adjustable suspension means that it copes with my waif-like physique and also when the lard-arse wife hops on the back. It will even maintain a good line while she's belting me around the head for commenting upon her weight.

I'm 5'9" and my feet are planted on the floor, it's a big bugger but Kate Moss-like in comparison to my Harley. Coming up the sizes you'll notice it. The wife refuses to ride it, it's size scares her: "It's too big for me" she says. At least, I think she's talking about the 14...

They have a forum, the Org. Unfortunately there's a high % of dickwads on it - and I don't know if it is the forum or the bike. There are many people who'll be helpful about the bike itself but it is only a refuge for nutters, racists and keyboard warriors if you wanted a general chat.

Mine didn't come with the FE Dual Oval, I have the Triple Oval. To be honest I don't have a clue about the difference but this sounds well rorty with the baffle in, I may try it out shortly.

The light is well bright for night riding, the chain and sprockets are bearing up well, the finish is only just starting to go on the forks and engine fins - not bad for a 5yr old Suzuki I reckon.

The chain can be tensioned on the sidestand - fortunate because the centre stand is in my garage along with the original pipe. Keeping the two of them off takes the weight to below that of the XJR.

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Costs:

Fuel - consumption is, let's not beat around the bush, shit if you are in anyway ham-fisted. Using extreme self-control you might manage to eek low 40s out of it.

Insurance - £130 fully comp with three years NCs (I'm mid-40s).

The OE tyres lasted up to 4900 before going bald at the rear. I lobbed on a set of PR2s which, with the MOT, came to £285.

Rack - £20 on eBay but that was lucky, all GSX14 kit seems to go for a real bomb.

Screen - £20 from a 14 owner of their forum.

So do I like it?

I didn't for a while, it just didn't grab me. The change of rubber has seen me ride it much more and enjoy each outing. Will I keep it? I want a Thunderbird 1300 and went through the process to get one...but failed. It feels like I wrote a Dear John letter and ended up still stuck in the relationship.

It does Sunday speedy grins brilliantly, but that's not the most important thing to me. It looks great but I prefer customs. I carries stuff, but not enough. But I'm tied to it for another 24 months.

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What an interesting write up I had an XL well had a few actually as its the only dirt bike I fit on lol

Now I reckon the XJRs are simply too feminine in appearance, too smooth and swoopy to be a proper machine.

You know their just too gorgeous bet you get one next