Ozzy
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posted April 12, 2006 04:11 AM
Will the ZX14 turn a corner?
Just watched the Kawi ad that fish has posted on the front page. It leads me to believe that the total intent of the bike is straight line speed. I only caught one glimpse of a corner in the clip, and it was ahead of the bike, never seeing the bike lean into the corner.
Yes I have read all the glowing reports of the intro bikes. Yes I know that it is supposed to feel lighter than the 12R, blah blah blah. BUT no one has yet had one on a twisty road in the real world, and not some Vegas demo loop. ( I have been to red rock canyon, a nice place to visit, but hardly a a place for a true twisty road test seeing as it is a park, and not very long at that).
Just my thought, based on all of the Kawi marketing I have seen so far.
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fastestbusaaround
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posted April 12, 2006 04:48 AM
I had a Busa and it turned corners, though not for the faint of heart at while kneedraggin at speeds. I've ridden the 12R many times and it did wonders on corners considering it's mass and size; far better than a 12R . I can't imagine that the 14 wouldn't be superior on the turns/twisties considering the technology changes in the last 7-8 years, can you? Sure, it's going to excel at straightline speed, but I doubt that the design objective was for twisties...then you'd do far better on a 600 or 1000, but if you think about it, how else would Kawa market this beast against the Busa, by demonstrating it's superior cornering capabilities? Nope, that would just make them the laughing stock of the industry, after all, what are people buying it for...handling /cornering or power? Straightline brute power is what they need to show, the handling is the bonus here...In any case, all the reports on this bike talk about the excellent handling, so I have to imagine it's a great cornering machine, once again...all things such as mass and size considered. Just don't be trying to catch me on my 10R with it in the corners...
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Ra12r
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posted April 12, 2006 05:24 AM
The rider is the limiting factor. A Busa and a ZX12R both can corner like crazy with good clearance in stock form. The question is can you corner??? I haven't been on a sportbike that couldn't corner!!! No tits on the sides of my tires........
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blueford
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posted April 12, 2006 05:41 AM
It's all in the FRAME with the 14, with advanced frame technology, engine rigidly mounted
( ZX12r NOT) the engineers were able to precisely select front/rear wheel weight balance for optimum handling of the big fellow.
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fastestbusaaround
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posted April 12, 2006 08:24 AM
quote:
The rider is the limiting factor. A Busa and a ZX12R both can corner like crazy with good clearance in stock form. The question is can you corner??? I haven't been on a sportbike that couldn't corner!!! No tits on the sides of my tires........
Busa's are not known to be great cornering rides...regardless of the rider. The best riders will have issues on corners on these bikes as they have a tendency to wobble hard when pushed down hard and low. I have had a few of them and other guys who have them that I know, also complain about the same issues. Too much RWTQ at low RPM's to make for a stable ride through the corners...also very sloppy in the turns due to soft suspension setup and a very flexible frame/subframe. It will not even keep pace with something like a 1200GS BM in the turns without making the rider shit their pants. A great rider can make her go through the turns faster no doubt, but will still experience the same issues and believe me, its a scary ride through a tight corner...wobble being the main issue when at the apex and exiting the turn. I have spent a lot of time on the track, and that's not a bike you wanna be on on any track (except the strip). Not unless you want to suffer the consequences (high side/ low side/ die/ eat lots of pavement etc...). 12R/14 would surely fare out much better under these circumstances...just my .02...
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worm~hole
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posted April 12, 2006 11:32 AM
....when one of the magazine adds show a smokey burnout at the staging lights, the design intent of the bike is rather obvious, imho, but I imagine (based on the printed reports so far) that it'll be a more comfortable and powerful sports-tourer than the 12R on long hauls and very capable in the twisties in most hands if you don't ride it like a litre-superbike and expect it to handle like a litre-superbike....
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nightmare
Pro
ACP Racing
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posted April 12, 2006 12:29 PM
Well obviously, the bike will corner but the question at hand is how fast will an average rider be able to corner whether on street tires or track tires. Of course a lot faster with track tires but will the bike be able to hold at speeds competing with bikes such as the zx10, gsxr1000, 1000RR and so on. Or go a step further and say will it out perform it's competition such as the Busa! I think so. Do you??
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Fasta
Expert Class
Posts: 114
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posted April 12, 2006 12:32 PM
To be honest, I'm a little sceptical about the lean angle on the 14 as well. Event looking at some of the pics around the oval the lean angle seems very limited and if I recall from the articles I've read a number of guys were able to scrape the footpegs without trying.
I'm very keen on getting a 14 as well but the first thing I'll probably end up doing is to drive the pegs an inch into the road around the first corner...currently used to a 10; nuff said. 
Fish? Any insights?
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Currently:
2007 ZX-14 (stock)
2007 ZX-6 (stock)
Before:
2 x 2006 ZX10-R (stock)
2006 GSX-R1000 K6 (Yoshi + PC)
2005 ZX10-R (HyperPro damper)
2007 Versys (stock)
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worm~hole
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posted April 12, 2006 12:54 PM
....remove the peg 'sensors' or install track-style beveled ones....
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fastestbusaaround
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posted April 12, 2006 01:08 PM
quote:
Well obviously, the bike will corner but the question at hand is how fast will an average rider be able to corner whether on street tires or track tires. Of course a lot faster with track tires but will the bike be able to hold at speeds competing with bikes such as the zx10, gsxr1000, 1000RR and so on. Or go a step further and say will it out perform it's competition such as the Busa! I think so. Do you??
Dude, don't wanna argue with ya but if ya think this thing'll keep up to a liter bike on twisties...I've gotta disagree strongly...ain't nfw the ZX14 will come close to a liter bike in corners...unless you wanna see a lotta splat on the road...and it's not intended for that either...will it outhandle a Busa? 100%...will it outhandle a literbike or a 600? NFW! If i misunderstood your post, then I apologize..if not, I stand firm in my beliefs! And BTW, don't think track tires will help in the streets...only on the track.
An average rider won't be draggin knees around any corners...I would guess there's only a handful of riders on this board that can ride a ZX14 or a Busa and drag knees round a corner (off the track)...the rest would die tryin' IMO
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rac4it
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Bergie
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posted April 12, 2006 01:12 PM
Are you kidding me? Will it turn? Of course it will. I used to have guys on 750s and 600s look over my old '95 ZX11 and think it was a PIG until they disappeared in my mirrors going up and down the mountain roads. IT'S ALL RIDER DUDE! Trust there's no chance you'd catch Nicky Hayden if he was on a ZX14 and you were on his factory prepped 1000 supersport bike!
Will it turn... LOL.. the real question is CAN YOU MAKE IT TURN? 
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rac4it
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Bergie
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posted April 12, 2006 01:13 PM
99% of guys on their 1000's and 600's who think they are the shit in corners will get their ass handed to them by the right rider on a GOLDWING in the twisties. Dont be THAT GUY.
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fastestbusaaround
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posted April 12, 2006 01:18 PM
Which guy....the one on the Wing or the 600? BTW...I agree with both of your posts...but given the same ride on both bikes....the small track style bikes will always eat the big ones.
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ZREXER
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posted April 12, 2006 02:46 PM
 Edited By: ZREXER on 12 Apr 2006 18:59
We have so much sand and gravel on the roads year round (even after spring clean up) you pretty much have to pre run any twisty section first before you go down it at speed. Unless I pre-run, I never go above a 6 or 7/10ths pace, I give my self an 'out' if I come up on a corner that is covered in sand.
The guys that go 10/10ths around here are the guys that have no more plastic on their bikes, or ride bikes that have been dumped numerous times and have all the scars to prove it.
Besides the bike, I find I don't heal as good as I use to!
I'm sure the '14 will be fine for how hard I'm going to push it in the corners..................it will certainly shorten the distance between corners!
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blueford
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posted April 12, 2006 03:25 PM
quote:
Unless I pre-run, I never go above a 6 or 7/10ths pace, I give my self an 'out' if I come up on a corner that is covered in sand.
To be safe, you really got to do that everywhere
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VPN
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posted April 12, 2006 03:35 PM
sand. oil. hole, cow dropppings, etc
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blitzkrieg
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posted April 12, 2006 05:25 PM
quote:
Are you kidding me? Will it turn? Of course it will. I used to have guys on 750s and 600s look over my old '95 ZX11 and think it was a PIG until they disappeared in my mirrors going up and down the mountain roads. IT'S ALL RIDER DUDE! Trust there's no chance you'd catch Nicky Hayden if he was on a ZX14 and you were on his factory prepped 1000 supersport bike!
Will it turn... LOL.. the real question is CAN YOU MAKE IT TURN?
LOL.
Cross over to the other side Bergie. 
If you are X fast in the curves on a zx-14, you are going to be X + (X * 10-20%) faster on a liter bike in the curves.
It's pure math. Weight in the curves is deciding factor. Hell, for that matter the current 600's might be the ultimate curve bike.
I've always loved riding my 12 in the curves, but its comparing apples to oranges compared to my R1. Different tools for different jobs.
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Ozzy
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posted April 12, 2006 05:57 PM
Finally, a thread that isnt talking about why it isnt here yet. Glad to have got your interest!
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worm~hole
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posted April 12, 2006 06:10 PM
thank you 
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stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
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fastestbusaaround
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posted April 12, 2006 07:27 PM
quote:
Besides the bike, I find I don't heal as good as I use to!
Well put man...something 'bout getting older makes that a reality I guess...I also don't heal as well anymore - prolly gittin 2 old fer this shit... 
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hotzxrod
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posted April 12, 2006 10:15 PM
TOO OLD!!! FORSURE......
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rac4it
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Bergie
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posted April 13, 2006 10:09 AM
I agree with your formula, but the point is the zx14 will be just fine for corners.
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blueford
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posted April 13, 2006 10:44 AM
quote:
quote:
Are you kidding me? Will it turn? Of course it will. I used to have guys on 750s and 600s look over my old '95 ZX11 and think it was a PIG until they disappeared in my mirrors going up and down the mountain roads. IT'S ALL RIDER DUDE! Trust there's no chance you'd catch Nicky Hayden if he was on a ZX14 and you were on his factory prepped 1000 supersport bike!
Will it turn... LOL.. the real question is CAN YOU MAKE IT TURN?
LOL.
Cross over to the other side Bergie.
If you are X fast in the curves on a zx-14, you are going to be X + (X * 10-20%) faster on a liter bike in the curves.
It's pure math. Weight in the curves is deciding factor. Hell, for that matter the current 600's might be the ultimate curve bike.
I've always loved riding my 12 in the curves, but its comparing apples to oranges compared to my R1. Different tools for different jobs.
Bobby, please that's not the point he was making, some of us can ride a big comfy, torquey bike and when we need to, we can kick-ass because we've got bigger balls and skills, others like yourself need a more focused bike to close the big testicule gap.
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reynoldss
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posted April 13, 2006 11:15 AM
quote:
99% of guys on their 1000's and 600's who think they are the shit in corners will get their ass handed to them by the right rider on a GOLDWING in the twisties. Dont be THAT GUY.[/quote
Amen to that! I have done it, and on a Valkyrie as well. Blows there mind, but they wouldn't know what a line is if it hit em up side the head, and then they have no gonads. I talked to a guy the other day on a new cbr 1000 and he told me he was a deals gap and a guy on a goldwing past him. I think he bought the wrong bike personally. Maybe he needs a shadow 750. I've put a goldwing throug there pretty fast, as fast as my 12 or ducati , hell no.
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
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posted April 13, 2006 02:34 PM
why did I even bother writing the review?  ... Ozzy ... did you even read it?
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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