All Tests – The new GTR 1400: more comfortable and reassuring – K-ACT ABS: soft or hard pedal?

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The new GTR 1400: more comfortable and safer

All Tests - The new GTR 1400: more comfortable and reassuring - K-ACT ABS: soft or hard pedal?

It was on the beautiful – and wet – roads of Tuscany that we were able to test the brand new version of the Kawasaki 1400GTR. For 2010, the Ninjas are offering a better-equipped motorcycle on many levels: would the Kawa be the perfect GT? ? Test !

K-ACT ABS: soft or hard pedal ?

Also big news, the 1400GTR received in 2010 a revised and corrected version of the K-ACT ABS system inaugurated this year on the VN1700 Voyager. In addition to its reduced size and the increased capacities of its computer, this second generation differs from its elder by the arrival of two modes…

According to the official Kawa ‘France website, the term K-ACT (Kawasaki Advanced Coactive-braking Technology) can be translated in French as "coactive assisted braking system ". But in biker language, what does that mean? ?

In practice, this results in a very good braking which will however require, on the part of the "old men", some time to adapt. Because when the pilot grasps the right lever and / or presses the right pedal, the Kawa ‘for its part detects, measures, calculates and intervenes to offer it optimum braking..

Indeed, on this new GTR, "a motor in the central unit acts on the front and rear circuits: in the end, the brake pedal activates the rear brake and the front right caliper, while the right lever activates the two calipers and the rear caliper", explains the Marketing Manager for Europe. !

In fact, to brake – very – hard from the front, it is better to apply both brake controls simultaneously. A method more and more used by manufacturers in the field of GT and which, according to the Greens, fully satisfies heavy riders.

And Akashi’s engineers didn’t stop there: "There was a request from our customers: they wanted to benefit from two different settings. A first when riding alone and a second when riding in duo and loaded or at high speed", reveals a Japanese.

Thus, in mode 1 – the default mode illustrated by two circles on the bottom of the digital screen -, "assistance is limited". By activating the second mode using the K-ACT button – two large lines are then displayed on either side of the circles -,"assistance is reinforced as soon as the brake pedal is activated".

The origin of the effectively faster and smoother brake response is "the reduced pedal travel compared to mode 1", reveals Karim Mostafi. There is therefore a decrease in the progressiveness of the braking: the fine dosers will therefore prefer the first mode….

On the small roads of Siena and its surroundings, the ABS shone with its efficiency. When the system is triggered, very slight jolts are felt at the level of the controls, but the serenity that the ABS brings is well worth these small tickles..

The vibrations that appear on the two levers at around 4000 rpm – i.e. at 140 km / h on the 6th gear – are much more annoying: you don’t leave your fingers on the controls for very long.

We also note that unlike the K-TRC, the K-ACT ABS cannot be disconnected. But given the performance of the system and the vocation of the motorcycle, few users – none ?! – will complain about this lock.

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