Why hangout here if you dont like the ZX14?? @ ZX-14.com

HOME

ARTICLES

JOIN

BIKELAND > FORUMS > ZX-14.com > Thread: Why hangout here if you dont like the ZX14??

NEW TOPIC NEW POLL POST REPLY

extremelean

Pro
Posts: 1651

posted October 15, 2005 02:22 PM

Edited By: extremelean on 15 Oct 2005 20:01

Why hangout here if you dont like the ZX14??

Just a curious thing for me.

What draws you to it or to this forum....Is there something magical in the air or is it the same reason that Im asking this question "CURIOSITY" ??

fish_antlers

Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895

posted October 15, 2005 02:29 PM

when you say "it" what are you refering to?
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?

Click here to visit fish_antlers's homepage.

extremelean

Pro
Posts: 1651

posted October 15, 2005 02:34 PM

As if you dont know fish........what is the name of the forum.

I guess some people are just smarter than others.....sheesh

fish_antlers

Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895

posted October 15, 2005 02:43 PM

Edited By: fish_antlers on 15 Oct 2005 16:25

.... I think a good chunk of people are here waiting to see some ass-whoopin' ... either by the 12R or TO the 12R ....

Dat'S what eye'm waitin' on !
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?

trenace

Needs a job
Posts: 3056

posted October 15, 2005 03:46 PM

I guess people, even those that don't like it, see that whether they presently like it or not this IS the future for beyond-a-liter Kawasaki sportbikes for at least the next couple of years and probably longer.

My guess is the disappointment and/or dislike comes down to mostly these things:

1) Though it's an unrealistic comparison, the huge sporting advance represented by the ZX-10R vs the ZX-9R could have created expectations of a similar giant leap forward. Though we don't know the weight of the 14, although a couple of reports based on feel of a non-running bike were that it feels lighter, it seems most are assuming it is not much if any lighter than the 12. Many assume it to be heavier.

2) Many understand that they themselves could have dictated an upgrade program that they'd have been happy with (ignoring emissions concerns.) Bore the B3-model 12 out to a 1270 or 1290, put lighter wheels on it, and many would have been happier with that than with this.

3) The appearance which is more ZX-11-like than ZX-12R-like.

But that doesn't mean objectors on one or more counts won't tune in to discussion on it.

CrotchRocket

Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038

posted October 15, 2005 04:15 PM

I guess you have certain people in mind with this question, I do like this site...I have met alot of guys from this site and the guys are cool...Everyone is different but cool because we all feel the same about our Kawasakis...

I like Kawasakis...I like the way Kawasaki makes a motorcycle, thats why I buy them, thats why Im waiting for the ZX14...May not be the best looking but it's not as ugly as people say!!!...All though the Suzuki guys say it is soo ugly only because they know the ZX14 will be faster then the Busa

The 14 is a threat to the Busa...

Extremelean, dont sweat this stuff dude...I know customer service is everything and the 14 will do just fine, as long as the engineers at Kawasaki made the 14 strong enough to with stand the big critics on the DragStrip!!!

Rick Mazzola

____________
Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars

*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****

Click here to visit CrotchRocket's homepage.

Zammy

Expert Class
Posts: 411

posted October 15, 2005 04:22 PM

Well..XL...Got any numbers yet ??? Surely it can't still be top secret.You've ridden the beast .Whasssuuup?

beansbaxter

Needs a life
Posts: 5911

posted October 15, 2005 05:45 PM

There are things I like and dislike about it [ZX14]. I am reserving judgement until I see the 14 in person, see some performance numbers on it, and get some lightly weighted in my mind opinions from the liberal and conservative mags that grace America's and Britain's newsstands.

Yet, something tells me I will get to ride one sooner than I realize, as I know a few people locally who have put deposits down on them already.

But I am just waiting for the 06 10R...come to me baby!!!

Click here to visit beansbaxter's homepage.

ozzy

Needs a job
need guberment cheese
Posts: 3172

posted October 15, 2005 06:48 PM

I like it cuz its not a r/rr model, but a real world bike, almost ready to sport tour. Those that dont like it uz its not a race replica got the 10r and 6r/rr to play with. Not every sport bike in Kawi's lineup should be/has to be a r/rr version. There are many of us that modded our 12r's for sport tour duty with heli bars, venture racks. modified foot pegs, etc. The 14 is a bike aimed more at our market since Kawi has the r/rr market currently covered.
GET OVER IT!

jimzx9r

Expert Class
Posts: 451

posted October 15, 2005 07:40 PM

I just want to know the performance numbers.

salsa1

Needs a life
Posts: 5971

posted October 15, 2005 08:03 PM

1/4 mile; comfort; torque, HP, weight and price..and yes have to look at it in person....I like Kawasaki's....Mostly brainwashed..works for me..
____________
Salsa1

ZX12R4PLAY

Novice Class
Dirty South
Posts: 79

posted October 16, 2005 05:12 AM

i havent put a deposit on 1 yet but I will get a red 1 nonetheless, I am not to crazy about the looks but just like the 12 when it 1st came out it grew on me. I love my Kawasakis like I love my Chevys that all I drive. Plus who wants to pull up to your local bike nite riding a busa with 300 bikes there and 280 of them are busa.

Hitman12

Novice Class
Posts: 89

posted October 16, 2005 11:47 AM

I heard there was free pizza and beer here........................
____________
Move over and let the fatman in!

fish_antlers

Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895

posted October 16, 2005 12:06 PM

Harry and Spyral ate it all

____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?

TurboBlew

Moderator
BUSY DOING THE SCHIAVO
Posts: 4590

posted October 16, 2005 12:58 PM

lol....

phil

Expert Class
Posts: 420

posted October 16, 2005 01:16 PM

quote:
who wants to pull up to your local bike nite riding a busa with 300 bikes there and 280 of them are busa.

Ain't it the truth.
____________
"Look at Dad, trying to look young again."

Ra12r

Zone Head
Posts: 919

posted October 16, 2005 01:37 PM

Extreme,
Being into drag racing for motorcycles, the bike for me is viewed through those eyes. A bike that is behind the curve from the begining gets NO attention. The styling, well I had a zx11 and loved it. But, I sold it because once I bought the zx12 I never road it again! It was too slow, too heavy, weak brakes.....etc.

1) I don't know what the zx14 is about because there currently isn't any available.

2) After it is available will the aftermarket support be as SUCKY as it is for the zx12???

3) Suzuki bikes ie: 1000 and busa have everything and anything 3 or 4 times over in every flavor and color. My zx12 (2000) six years later, during and after Kawi pulled the drag racing sponsorship could not get the motors to performed (N/A) like a busa with motor work.

4) Being unique at the drag strip by racing with a smaller zx12-14 is no longer good enough for me.

5) The current zx10 has the same problem as the zx12 had...... motor dimensions do not include ANY future vision for the ability to build a bigger motor. Suzuki however, has included vision by design or accident? but having done that with their product it has resulted in tremendous sales.

6) Stock vs Stock is important but secondary. If there is no room to go larger ABOVE stock, then in the custom world and racing world you are NOT able to keep up with the advancement of others. That was and is my problem with the zx12. On every angle there is a limitation to prevent movement. I didn't know this when I purchase the zx12 brand new in March of 2000, with the first one out the door.

7) I would like to have a zx10 but the motor is LIMITED ROOM again for any building. So I will NOT be a pioneer spending thousands more than the price of the bike to build it to the sizes of current gsxr1000 kits. This is only because the decision of the KMI to make the motor cases a 3 dimensional "inch" too small. Just needed that little bit more to really get the job done. 1" longer, 1" wider, 1" taller.......... That is not too much to ask or purpose in terms of the consumer having positive input into the design directions of the new products.
____________
All must bow to the "Ra Supremecy"...

trenace

Needs a job
Posts: 3056

posted October 16, 2005 02:15 PM

Edited By: trenace on 16 Oct 2005 15:38

Ah well, I agree with you Ra but I also agree with the current state of affairs of absolute optimization, making the engine as small and light as it can be to perform best at stock displacement.

No magazine article will say, "It handled just a hair inferior, is just 20 lb heavier than the competition, was just a hair behind in the 1/4 mile which being just a little lighter could have fixed, BUT it offers more room for the customer to build it to bigger displacement so we name it the winner!"

Nope they will name that bike the LOSER. And it will not sell. Whereas it might have been named King if the engine had been made that inch less tall, that inch narrower, that inch less long and with those advantages it had edged out other bikes stock for stock, instead of being edged out due to weight and width penalty.

And, the majority of customers are better served by the engine optimized for the displacement they actually run it at, namely stock.

Still, one of the things I loved back in the day was how the Z-1 / KZ1000 stayed compatible forever and had room to work with. It's a shame that that is much less true these days, though the Busa guys are getting a pretty good run (and for that matter, the 12 would have had a pretty good run if only more bikes had been sold each year, which would have yielded reason for the aftermarket to produce a greater selection of parts.)

The physically bigger the engine, the more the compromise on handling, that is inevitable... what's needed is different bikes for different purposes. I would rather have seen them blow a ZX-14-like bike out even bigger however with more focus on bore increase than yet further stroke increase, while developing the ZX-12R into at most a 1290 with no increase in the engine's height, width, or weight and make that the more highly sporting bike and the other bigger bike the more drag-oriented bike.

But I guess sales of the 12 were not good enough to justify fragmenting into two parts.

aughtsix

Expert Class
Posts: 277

posted October 16, 2005 02:25 PM

Geez, let us whine...

That way when the bike finally does hit the showroom floor, we'll all be whined out and it won't look so bad after all...

I'm kinda liking the blue

Uh, um, I mean, oh, ugly bike, ugly...

brain

Expert Class
Posts: 136

posted October 17, 2005 10:24 AM

The only thing that matters is that first test the mags do.If it Romps and stomps and the magazine boys like it,the sales will follow.Most busa owners bought their bike for one reason only and it was reputation.The overwhelming majority of busa owners dont do internal mods so the after market availability is not that big of deal.I bet if truth be known most busa owners have never been to the limiter,but chickened out at about 160 but they can say i have the fastest bike made look in Guiness

zxfingyz

Expert Class
Posts: 424

posted October 17, 2005 11:30 AM

Heck, I don't like car crashes but I slow down to look at those too.

That is kind of a defensive question isn't it? Why do you hang out here if you don't like the 14?
It would be better if you were saying "Keeping hanging out and bitching cuz when it gets here you are gonna see what the real deal is...".
If you are saying what I think you are saying anyway.

D

Needs a job
Posts: 3365

posted October 17, 2005 11:32 AM

Damn rubberneckers!

k bryant