posted January 02, 2006 02:30 PM
To the ones that have actually sat ON the 14..... Just curious how big the bike felt compared to a Busa? G1K? ZX10? Overall size...width...length? I know you have to really think about it because at that point you're kinda freaked you're actually sitting on it. If you can recall...do tell!
posted January 02, 2006 03:05 PM
seat height lower than a 12R... felt more like a Busa. Did not feel like a 10R in my opinion.
____________ What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
posted January 02, 2006 03:54 PM
Edited By: speedgene on 2 Jan 2006 15:56
First impression, the ZX felt big, and looked long. Would have preferred a Ducati size chassis with a ZX engine.
Suzuki camp was neighbor display. Jumping on both bikes within a minute of each other, I found the ZX to be quite a bit lighter to flick. How I feel weight, is to straddle the seat standing up, and flick the bike back-and-forth between my legs. The weight swinging back and forth (no hands on bars) helps me determine this unscientific test. The 1300 felt more "top heavy", where the ZX felt more balanced and weight felt lower to somewhere in the middle of the whole bike. The ZX didn't have that pronounced top heavy-ness like the 1300.
Handle bar reach felt I had to move farther up to get a comfortable position on the 1300. Where the ZX felt less to reach for.
Sitting on the 1300, I sensed my knee was elevated higher than the ZX. Was I sitting lower on the 1300, I don't know?
The ZX to me, is a big physical bike. No disputing that. A ZX10 is just a touch shorter. Wheel base will tell. Nose to tail length no doubt, will be significant.
Absolutely am spoiled by the dash display that has one thing I care about.... shows how much fuel is left in the tank. Keeps me from riding low on gas and cooking the fuel pump.
posted January 02, 2006 07:19 PM
Edited By: road rage on 2 Jan 2006 19:20
I tend to believe the intial shipments will be rather small, most dealers that I've spoken to aren't getting them in huge quantities. My dealer's only getting 2 on the first shipment and they're already spoken for (I get the black one). Not sure how dealers go about keeping inventory of bikes but I'm sure they only wanna keep what they'll sell. Not saying that you'll only get one if you pre-order but if the additude is you'll be able to find them every and anywhere, I disagree. It's been my experience with dealers (most have been small town mom and pop type places) that if you walk in off the street they might have ONE of something that you're looking for. Larger dealers might have 2 or even 3 of something, just depends, probably only in large cites I'm sure like DALLAS, LA, MIAMI or the like. Just don't fence sit long enough that the supply start to dry up. It happened with the Honda Blackbird, remember!
posted January 02, 2006 07:31 PM
"First impression, the ZX felt big, and looked long. Would have preferred a Ducati size chassis with a ZX engine."
This is silly, since most everyone would perhaps prefer what you wish for but it's not very realistic. It's kinda like saying I'd prefer the viper V-10 engine in a Neon chassis. Let's be real here and keep thing in perspective. You have to compare this bike (ZX-14) with the Hayabusa, or similar. Comparing it to a Ducati is pointless, but the ZX-14 looks to be better than the Busa in a many ways.
posted January 03, 2006 08:37 AM
Phil, I should have bracketed that as (personally speaking). Didn't think anyone would take it to mean a comparison. But damn, I sure would like a Mini Cooper with a V-10 if we're sticking engines in cars.
Here is a (personal "seat of the pants" opinion) I sense with the ZX14. Some of you may disagree. I did say it was more of an "opinion" than fact...because I haven't ridden it:
Moving the bars from lock to lock, the ZX14 seems it's best attribute will be straight line stability. Cranking the (14) bike over for a turn will be 'train track' precision. The ZX14's steering will feel "slow" as compared to a ZX10's ability to "snap-it" hard into a turn. The ZX14 is not the kind of bike that will work well with quick left, quick right turns. It will take a lot more bar (push/pull) input to perform the same effect the ZX10 does effortlessly.
I would assume that the ZX12 riders who have ridden both (ZX10 and their 12 to compare) will find that the 10 is a better handling bike for "tight" cornering.
Again, this is just my opinion sitting statically on both bikes at the show.
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E-tard
posted January 03, 2006 11:52 AM
no hard fellings, and I understood what you meant all along, it's just that while the ZX-14 might handle poorly compared to the ZX-10; they're totally differnt types of bikes so comparing them seems pointless IMHO. However for the folks out there currently riding say the FJR or ST and are looking for somthing more nimble, this bike will handle much better compared to there sport tourer. I'm coming form the Honda Blackbird and before that the CBR1000F (late 80's something Hurricane version) so for me the ZX-14 will probably handle really great and be in line with your ZX-14 - ZX10 comparision. The ZX-10 when compared to my old Hurricane will be the bomb, and comparing it to the Blackbird (which was pretty good for it's size handling wise) will probably feel lighter, more nimble and better all around overall. It already seem like it's gonna be easier to handle then the current Busa.
posted January 03, 2006 12:36 PM
Glad I was initially understood. I too agree Rage, that you can't compare the two different bikes like I am doing now. Hopefully being understood again, I'm pointing out that if someone thinks the ZX14 is a sprint bike like say a ZX10, or the Suzuki equivalent, they are mistaken.
The ZX14 is definitely in that Busa-Bluebird category.
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E-tard
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posted January 02, 2006 02:30 PM
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