Hello I'm Al Been riding since 1972 had a few bikes but not to many, current bike is 1200RS, favourite bike 1976 Suzuki GT 750/2013 Kawasaki ZZR 1400
AlD

Welcome to the RSWasserboxer forum community. Great to have members from Europe who can and do often lend a different perspective to the forums.

What year is your 1200RS and did you have it from new? I ask only because I note that you said your favourite bike is not the RS. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but just curious as to why.

(01-06-2022, 06:30 PM)AlD Wrote: 1976 Suzuki GT 750

Water Buffalo. Did it have the same nickname in the UK?
Welcome to the site.

(01-07-2022, 08:28 AM)Lee Wrote:

(01-06-2022, 06:30 PM)AlD Wrote: 1976 Suzuki GT 750

Water Buffalo. Did it have the same nickname in the UK?
Welcome to the site.

Interesting ... made me look this up. Apparently "Water Buffalo" in the US and "Kettle" in the UK. Both have me

Welcome! Where in the UK do you call your stomping grounds?

The Suzuki GT750 was equipped with a water cooled 3 cylinder 2 stroke engine.
Water cooling was fairly rare at the time - hence "Water Buffalo".
I had one for 5 years and over 60K as a daily commuter and touring bike. It was a great bike for its time and much more reliable than my previous BSA's - Lightning Rocket and Rocket 3.

Bill

(01-07-2022, 09:09 AM)Grumpy Goat Wrote:

(01-07-2022, 08:28 AM)Lee Wrote:

(01-06-2022, 06:30 PM)AlD Wrote: 1976 Suzuki GT 750

Water Buffalo. Did it have the same nickname in the UK?
Welcome to the site.

Interesting ... made me look this up. Apparently "Water Buffalo" in the US and "Kettle" in the UK. Both have me

(01-07-2022, 10:37 AM)Unkgd Wrote: The Suzuki GT750 was equipped with a water cooled 3 cylinder 2 stroke engine.
Water cooling was fairly rare at the time - hence "Water Buffalo".
I had one for 5 years and over 60K as a daily commuter and touring bike. It was a great bike for its time and much more reliable than my previous BSA's - Lightning Rocket and Rocket 3.

Ahhhh ... now makes sense. But Buffalo? It was a sleek machine, much more svelte than a buffalo. I guess in the land where "hog" is king, "buffalo" is a compliment.

Thanks for the explanation, which also suggests why "Kettle" was used in the UK.

(01-07-2022, 07:33 AM)Grumpy Goat Wrote: Welcome to the RSWasserboxer forum community. Great to have members from Europe who can and do often lend a different perspective to the forums.

What year is your 1200RS and did you have it from new? I ask only because I note that you said your favourite bike is not the RS. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but just curious as to why.

Hi Grumpy it;s me again (your YouTube EBC brake pad install) I had my RS from new in 2016 and now has just over 41,000 miles on. The GT 750 may just be nostalgia but I really did enjoy the smooth power of two ZX14s, it's just that age overtook me and needed something more comfortable. Oh and less likely to attract points on my licence, I don't know how it works in the US but here if you acquire 12 points on your licence, in a three year period, it's an automatic ban, the length of which depends on the severity of your offences. I had a six month ban for speeding offences, not all of which were caused by the bike Sorry I have a tendency to ramble but I'd be glad to exchange thoughts/info at any time.
Al [attachment=1419]

(01-07-2022, 09:16 AM)Rotorwrench Wrote: Welcome! Where in the UK do you call your stomping grounds?

Hi buddy, I live in Yorkshire aka God's own country I love riding in the Yorkshire dales.

(01-07-2022, 09:09 AM)Grumpy Goat Wrote:

(01-07-2022, 08:28 AM)Lee Wrote:

(01-06-2022, 06:30 PM)AlD Wrote: 1976 Suzuki GT 750

Water Buffalo. Did it have the same nickname in the UK?
Welcome to the site.

Interesting ... made me look this up. Apparently "Water Buffalo" in the US and "Kettle" in the UK. Both have me

Kettle was a slightly derisory name.

(01-07-2022, 08:28 AM)Lee Wrote:

(01-06-2022, 06:30 PM)AlD Wrote: 1976 Suzuki GT 750

Water Buffalo. Did it have the same nickname in the UK?
Welcome to the site.

Hi Lee , no it had the derisory nickname Kettle

(01-07-2022, 12:27 PM)AlD Wrote: I don't know how it works in the US but here if you acquire 12 points on your licence, in a three year period, it's an automatic ban, the length of which depends on the severity of your offences.

The law varies from state to state.

(01-07-2022, 12:27 PM)AlD Wrote: Hi Grumpy it;s me again (your YouTube EBC brake pad install) I had my RS from new in 2016 and now has just over 41,000 miles on. The GT 750 may just be nostalgia but I really did enjoy the smooth power of two ZX14s, it's just that age overtook me and needed something more comfortable. ...

Ahhh .... nice to see a YT viewer join us on the Forum. Double welcome.

Yes, the RS will likely never match the 4-cylinder bikes (with balance shafts) for smoothness and it might not have the same "rush of power" feel but it does have a nice rush of power and is pretty smooth due to its balance shafts. The S1000R I had was nice and all but it was not the smoothest 4 cylinder out there and the RS had a softer smoother feel.

A local, riding, friend of mine has a Water Buffalo, he likes it and plans to keep it, he takes great care of his motorcycles, the Water Buffalo looks almost brand new. And I've had two ZX-14, fantastic engine!

Hi runnerhiker
The ZX-14s are great bikes I only changed because age had overtaken me and I needed more comfort. I did a 1350 mile eight day trip around Scotland last year, on the RS, with no problems.

(01-07-2022, 02:52 PM)Grumpy Goat Wrote:

(01-07-2022, 12:27 PM)AlD Wrote: Hi Grumpy it;s me again (your YouTube EBC brake pad install) I had my RS from new in 2016 and now has just over 41,000 miles on. The GT 750 may just be nostalgia but I really did enjoy the smooth power of two ZX14s, it's just that age overtook me and needed something more comfortable. ...

Ahhh .... nice to see a YT viewer join us on the Forum. Double welcome.

Yes, the RS will likely never match the 4-cylinder bikes (with balance shafts) for smoothness and it might not have the same "rush of power" feel but it does have a nice rush of power and is pretty smooth due to its balance shafts. The S1000R I had was nice and all but it was not the smoothest 4 cylinder out there and the RS had a softer smoother feel.

Hi, I agree the RS has plenty of torque and power and only loses out at the insane speeds the ZX-14s were capable of, But it's enough for me these days It is not as smooth but even my wife has got used to it now. One strange thing is I thought I would get more miles out of a set of tyres but not the case I still only get 6 to 6500! I put this down to the considerable torque. (Dunlop Road Smart III)