Alvaro
Parking Attendant
Posts: 29
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posted May 02, 2006 12:21 PM
Gearbox opinions
In a few days I'll check it by myself but now I'm a bit concerned about the ZX-14 gearbox, as my previous Kwaks were not very good on this.
Owners please report what you think about the gearbox.
  
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marco383
Expert Class
Posts: 145
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posted May 02, 2006 12:28 PM
Very smooth shifting, no false neutrals: night and day compared to my 10R.
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted May 02, 2006 12:28 PM
 Edited By: fastestbusaaround on 2 May 2006 13:28
Smooth -- very smooth....more than my wifes R1 which I alwys said was a gem...effortless shifting, totally.
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FYYFF!!!
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Stalwart
Needs a job
Posts: 3360
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posted May 02, 2006 12:32 PM
Best gearbox I used and that is before it's even broken in. My old ZX1000R needed 5000+ miles to shift almost as good as the 14's off the dealers floor.
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Stuart
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Ridin' the Trump train.
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted May 02, 2006 01:07 PM
King of the garage now eh? In front of the GM bikes now? Wow!!!
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FYYFF!!!
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Squareman357
Expert Class
Posts: 148
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posted May 02, 2006 01:16 PM
Buttery smooth. Nice firm click into each gear with no hanging or false shifts. Smoothest of any bike I've ridden and that's been quite a few, and the thing is still breaking in.
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Keep the shiny side up!
Square
'06 Ebony Metallic ZX-14 - "Delilah"
'02 Silver CBR1100XX - "Stormcloud"
'04 GS500F - "Wife's Bike"
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted May 02, 2006 01:19 PM
+1
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zxbob
Pro
Posts: 1692
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posted May 02, 2006 01:58 PM
Your supposta shift : )
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Good parts aint cheap and cheap parts aint good !
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted May 02, 2006 03:31 PM
Y'are? Fuck I been doin it wrong all this time? You mean there's other gears after 1st? No wonder she slows down so quickly at 80...:d
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FYYFF!!!
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zermatt
Pro
Posts: 1931
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posted May 02, 2006 03:44 PM
Gearbox has been nice and slick for me. Never had a problem with my ZZR, and this one feels even better. Felt good on day one, and has even gotten better with miles and an oil change. You won't be dissapointed.
Oh, and a side note: I don't get all this type about the "direct shift" lever either - my ZZR had that 4 years ago... and didn't the ZX-11 have it too? Only the super-compact sportbikes with stacked trannys need all that linkage junk to cobble things up.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
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Nixter
Expert Class
Posts: 152
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posted May 02, 2006 03:49 PM
Very smooth. I also think it's the best I've had, and that's with only 200 miles so far.
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2012 ZX14R - Black
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Tool Man
Needs a job
Posts: 4493
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posted May 02, 2006 07:26 PM
Same.Very nice clutchless shifts go snick snick snick ect.
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The banks are failing..
The banks are failing...
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zx61114
Expert Class
Posts: 327
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posted May 02, 2006 07:52 PM
quote:
In a few days I'll check it by myself but now I'm a bit concerned about the ZX-14 gearbox, as my previous Kwaks were not very good on this.
Owners please report what you think about the gearbox.
Just trying to figure your thinking, what's causing the concern? History? Keep in mind I'm one who believes if it aint broke don't fix it. A couple of thoughts outside the box of course, do you have synthetic oil in the bike? Keep in mind some synthetic oils will screw with the clutch when hot. What is the oil weight and what are the requirements for your region...(I'm dam sure you don't live in Florida...Still waiting). All these will factor into a smoother shifting motorcycle. Here is a question for FBA, Fish or Matt what is the oil weight provided I live in a +32 F/+0C region? 10W-40/20W50? For the record the VFR likes the 20W-50 in summer, it really made the tranny shift smoother. Just a thought. Rob
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ZXLNT
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
Posts: 2853
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posted May 02, 2006 08:18 PM
Edited By: ZXLNT on 2 May 2006 21:21
quote:
Oh, and a side note: I don't get all this type about the "direct shift" lever either - my ZZR had that 4 years ago... and didn't the ZX-11 have it too? Only the super-compact sportbikes with stacked trannys need all that linkage junk to cobble things up.
Matt you sure about that gear shifter? It has the same set up as the ZX12R. Shift lever with an adjustable rod hooking to a splined piece that bolts to the shifter shaft. ZX14 has the shift lever bolted directly to the shifter shaft..
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BobC
Pro
Posts: 1736
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posted May 03, 2006 12:16 AM
I don't think Kawasaki have had any gearbox issues since the ZZR1100. I rode a friends 2006 ZX-10R the other night. Got straight off my GSX-R1000K5 which has the sweetest gearbox and onto the Kawasaki, halfway through a quick ride. I can honestly say I didn't give it a thought, it was just fine. If the 14 is anything like the 10 there should be no problem.
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Candy Thunder Blue 2006 ZZR1400
Stock wheelbase
Max: 205.4 mph in 1.25 miles
2012 ZZR1400 in Golden Blazed Green
Brock CT Full System. etc
Max: 203.1 in 1 mile (so far)
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mono12r
Novice Class
Posts: 38
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posted May 03, 2006 01:04 AM
Theres no mystery with Kawasaki transmisions. They have always been a bit notchy and firm compared to...say a Yamaha, Honda or Suzuki. AND...Suzuki makes the finest transmision period!! But, other than the ZX12R I have never had problems with Kawi transmisions. And compared to my BMW transmisons and previous Triumphs, GAWD, make's the Kawi feel like a Suzuki !! 
As far as the ZX14...not sure, don't have one yet. BUT, I can tell you all about the ZX12R transmisions. Iv'e logged 47,000 miles between two different ZX12R's....Silver 2001 and PMB 2002. At 16,000 miles on the 01, I lost an output shaft bearing...taking out most of the internals with it. Fault....it's in the air still, but i'll take most of the blaim as I ran a tight chain on that one. The 2002 had trany problems during Daytona Bike week. At 5200 miles, the tranny grenaded. Turns out one single shift dog had broke, taking out most of the gears soon after. Sorry, but shift dogs just don't break...as all 4 dogs mesh at the same time and distribute loads equaly. There was evidently some sort of metal fatigue or flaw. But..it only cost me $1700.00 as warranty was up by 3 months!!
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Alvaro
Parking Attendant
Posts: 29
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posted May 03, 2006 01:34 AM
quote:
Just trying to figure your thinking, what's causing the concern? History? Keep in mind I'm one who believes if it aint broke don't fix it. A couple of thoughts outside the box of course, do you have synthetic oil in the bike?
There's been quite a long time since I don't have a Kwak, a ZX-7R from 1990 to 1994 and a ZX-9R from 1994 to 1997, but I had gearbox issues with both and not because the oil.
The ZX-7R had a recall and they replaced a kind of spring and the ZX-9R gearbox was quite noisy and had many false neutrals when downshifting.
Afterwards I had an R1 and a CBR XX and the gearbox was fine, that's why I was a bit concerned when going back to a Kwak.
By the way, I live in Spain where it's very hot from May to September (from 25 to 40 degrees), I use the best oil, Bel-Ray EXS Synthetic 10W-50 and it works great after the break in.
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted May 03, 2006 04:03 AM
quote:
Never had a problem with my ZZR
That was one of my favorite things about the ZZR. Very nice tranny.
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zerMATT
Pro
Posts: 1931
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posted May 03, 2006 04:44 AM
quote:
Matt you sure about that gear shifter? It has the same set up as the ZX12R. Shift lever with an adjustable rod hooking to a splined piece that bolts to the shifter shaft. ZX14 has the shift lever bolted directly to the shifter shaft..
Oops! My bad. Where's the egg-on-my-face emoticon? 
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
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zxlnt
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
Posts: 2853
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posted May 03, 2006 04:47 AM
I like eggs. Over easy please with sausage....
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zx61114
Expert Class
Posts: 327
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posted May 03, 2006 09:28 AM
There's been quite a long time since I don't have a Kwak, a ZX-7R from 1990 to 1994 and a ZX-9R from 1994 to 1997, but I had gearbox issues with both and not because the oil.
The ZX-7R had a recall and they replaced a kind of spring and the ZX-9R gearbox was quite noisy and had many false neutrals when downshifting.
Afterwards I had an R1 and a CBR XX and the gearbox was fine, that's why I was a bit concerned when going back to a Kwak.
By the way, I live in Spain where it's very hot from May to September (from 25 to 40 degrees), I use the best oil, Bel-Ray EXS Synthetic 10W-50 and it works great after the break in.
Nice answer. I owned a ZX-6 and that was a bit clunky, no problems. My 91 ZX-11 did have a problem with second gear, so I can say your thinking does have merrit. I do believe Kawasaki has done their homework with the 14. I was very impressed with how well this tranny worked. Who is to say what the future will hold but compared to say ZZR-1200 (sorry Matt) this tranny seems to be top notch.
Rob
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zerMATT
Pro
Posts: 1931
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posted May 03, 2006 11:26 AM
quote:
Who is to say what the future will hold but compared to say ZZR-1200 (sorry Matt) this tranny seems to be top notch.
I've never heard of a ZZ-R1200 having a tranny problem. Only the ZX-11 tranny had that 2nd gear issue. My ZZR was always smooth as butter, and this '14 is feeling pretty much identical to that.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
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zx61114
Expert Class
Posts: 327
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posted May 03, 2006 05:34 PM
My bad I should have been more specific, My 2003 ZZR-1200 ride in Daytona (and trust me I wanted to love this bike) the transmission was very clunky. To be fair I had the first ride of the day and the bike was cold. The bike jumped quite a bit putting it in gear and I found 2 false neutrals during the ride. My 91 ZX-11 did the same thing so I somewhat expected it I was just a little disappointed in the way both bikes did the same thing dispite a 12 year age difference. Over time it did get better than new but I was not prepaired to drop 10 big for the same bike I had traded in 5 years before. Still to this day there has never been a bike that fit me as well as the ZZR-1200..Although the ZX-14 is pretty close. By the way other than the false neutrals the tranny did shift very smoothly, just 1st gear turned me off.
Rob
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