ZREXER
Expert Class
Posts: 492
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posted May 15, 2006 10:17 PM
 Edited By: ZREXER on 16 May 2006 00:34
First Riding Impressions
QUOTES:
"Cuz he's a mean motah scootah and a bad go-gettah" - from the song Alley Oop by The Hollywood Argyles - 1960
"power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." - Lord Acton
I picked up my blue '14 last Thursday. I bought it in another city - Calgary, so I rode it back to Edmonton last Thursday afternoon........a distance of about 180 miles.
I've mostly kept the engine below 6000 rpm so far. On the way back from Calgary I was up and down from 4th gear on the highway, going through cycles of loading the engine and then letting it cool than doing it some more.
I changed the oil when I got home last Thursday night........dealer actually had the right filters. The oil change was very easy as well. I put the bike on my rear stand. This raised bike high enough that I could get my strap wrench on the filter. Filter was tight, but not stupid tight. My oil pan cleared the bottom of the bike. Oil change is much easier than my ZRX was which had an internal filter that could be a pain at times to get out due to tight quarters with the header on the bike.
So my thoughts?
Overall I am extremely pleased with the bike. The gear box is easily the best of any bike I have owned or done a demo on. Very slick shifting right from the get go. I have not missed a shift yet.
The clutch as well is the best hydraulic clutch I have ever experienced. Most tend to be like a toggle switch, on or off...........my ZRX was this way............very impressive. Guages are clear and easy to read. I'm old school and like the analog guages!
The engine is also by far the smoothest inline 4 I have owned or had a chance to demo on. The lack of any real engine vibration, intake or exhaust sound at first makes the bike seem a little anemic. Then you look at your speedo and see that you are doing 100 mph and you were not even really winding that hard. 80 mph seems like a fast idle on this bike. The bike at remotely legal speeds is not even close to breaking a sweat! Do you guys notice how slow the rest of the world seems to be moving when you are on your'14?
No heat issues at this point, but I have not really ridden on a really hot day yet. Mostly 1 bar at highway speeds, 2 bars in town when traffic is moving decently, 3 bars when in slower traffic, hit 4 bars tonight in really slow traffic........it was about 75 F here tonight.
Front brakes are fantastic, very powerful, but really good feed back at all times. The rear as others have said is a bit wooden, but with the front binders the way they are, not a problem.
The overall riding position is pretty good. I am not completely sold on the bar height or the angle of them. Some bar risers might be good, but I will need more seat time to be sure. The seat is quite comfy, no bun rot after 180 miles at all. The peg height is fine for me. I'm 6' 1" and change & 188 lbs. Wind protection is pretty good, but not sensational. I find the wind screen is blasting a lot of bugs into my face shield of my helmet.
The '14 holds the road well. I picked up a gusty, side wind on my trip back from Calgary and I found the bike held it's line well on the road. The suspension seems very good. I have not messed at all with the stock settings, but find the ride is smooth, without any chopinest, yet it also handles well.............no wallow at all. The bike handles allot lighter than the looks of it would suggest. I'll play the settings with over the next few weeks.
Tires seem fine, I know others have stated the stock Bridgestones are junk, but I have not experienced any tense moments in any corners yet. I have not pushed it hard, but it feels very planted and glued to the road so far.
Dislikes? The only thing I don't like is sub 6000 rpm "Nanny" that is limiting the power. It does not have the low rpm hit that my ZRX had. The point of a big 4 is to get that big low rpm hit. If that was not important, than I guess we would all be riding 600cc bikes! I have to admit that much of my riding is at cruise mode. I like the power to be there if I want to dip into it. I don't think on an almost 1400cc bike you should have to down shift 2 or 3 times to get it in the power zone.
I plan on keeping the bike mostly stock for now, but will be interested in a sub 6000 rpm fix when some one figures it out.
Overall, I would have to say that this bike has exceeded my expectations.....................how often does that happen in life?
A few pictures below.
"Like a Moped with a Jet Engine'?........................Sorry Mr. Greg Williams.............................not even close!! Nothing like my wife's Vino scooter!
  
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BobC
Pro
Posts: 1736
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posted May 16, 2006 03:21 AM
Thanks, nice write up.
The UK bikes are arriving at the dealers this week. I hope to be having the same experience very soon.
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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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EASY
Expert Class
Posts: 183
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posted May 16, 2006 03:29 AM
We have all discussed it, but that "dead zone" below 5k is a real dissapointment. I ride a little like you and the ability to roll on power at cruise speeds (without having to shift down) is important to me. Hell, I think my Harley had a lot more low end grunt than this 190hp zx-14. First fix is going to get my money. Actually, I think Kawasaki should offer a fix for this--the customer could sign some type of disclaimer and then the Dealer could, do whatever, to make that dead zone go away. This is, by far, the biggest issue I have with the bike.
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted May 16, 2006 03:39 AM
+!, but not the end of the world (for me)
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FYYFF!!!
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EASY
Expert Class
Posts: 183
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posted May 16, 2006 03:50 AM
Well no---certainly not end of world, but all of us need something to bitch about. The plusses (is that a word?) of the bike far outway the, dead, dead, very dead zone.
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted May 16, 2006 03:53 AM
yes - fix dead zone , and bar risers for me .
I have a short reach so, I 'm humped over more than I like!
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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Reaper
Expert Class
Posts: 112
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posted May 16, 2006 04:46 AM
Christ I'm going to make mine look like a pocket bike 
Reaper
2000 ZZR1100
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Katie: 2006 ZX-14.. 186.69HP 110.68ftlb,
Ti-Force Twin High mount Slip-ons, Hyperpro Steering Damper, Sato rearsets, Carbon Fibre Lowers, lower rear wing, Tank Pad, Hugger, Ohlins Road and Track Rear Shock, HID low beam, Sato Rearsets, ASV Levers, Goodridge Carbo-Line Braided front and rear Brake lines, Galfer Braided Clutch line, ZX-10 Front Fender, EK ZZZ Drive chain, Driven rear sprocket, Pipercross Race filter, Powercommander, Secondary Butterflys removed
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Tool Man
Needs a job
Posts: 4493
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posted May 16, 2006 02:48 PM
Great write up!! Have fun
Yes indeed fix the dead zone. It is very irritating in traffic if I'm a gear low and then almost too much if I bang down a couple gears. 
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The banks are failing..
The banks are failing...
Invest in Ammo
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s1stl
Novice Class
Posts: 39
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posted May 16, 2006 02:53 PM
Nice blue! Yeah, that sluggishness hit me a few times going into some turns. Drop the gears down and all set to go, wind the throttle back on and , nothing. What would be the best fix? Power Commander? I saw a part number on their website. Is it available?
Steve
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blitzkrieg
Needs a job
Road kill = Free lunch.
Posts: 2044
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posted May 16, 2006 03:28 PM
Great to hear.
Sounds like the new 14 is well done.
Unfortunately I swung by the closest dealer and there wasn't a zx-14 in sight.
I'm going to see if I can find a dealer in town that has one so I can see the bike in person.
My gut reaction is it won't take the aftermarket long to resolve the stupid torque restriction.
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"BTW....You need to get a girlfriend who's last name isn't .jpg"
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted May 16, 2006 03:59 PM
quote:
Nice blue! Yeah, that sluggishness hit me a few times going into some turns. Drop the gears down and all set to go, wind the throttle back on and , nothing. What would be the best fix? Power Commander? I saw a part number on their website. Is it available?
Steve
PC won't help. not that problem anyway...wait it out for a proper fix...one that opens the 2nd intake butterfly...then we're talkin!
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FYYFF!!!
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