flyboy
Pro
Posts: 1536
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posted May 26, 2006 08:14 PM
ZR-14 is a Honda 250...
Got my bike yesterday and haven't ridden in over 35 years. My last bike was a Honda 250. After riding the 14 for the first time I was reminded of my ole' Honda. If you're considering getting one of these bikes do not worry about the horsepower and torque. It offer's the best in both worlds. Honda handling below 5K rpm and I hear it's a rocket once over that number. It's not too big and very easy to manuver. I've only covered eleven miles last evening and haven't been over 4K rpm yet but I feel like I'm riding my ole' pokey Honda. A sixteen year kid or anybody's wife could feel safe on this bike.
I'll write back when I get over 5K rpm. I imagine it might be a little bit different--
PS. The Kawa booklet says the bike has a 6th gear. It might be some years til I ever find a need to use it.
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'There's more living in five minutes flat-out on a bike than some men have in an entire life'.
"The World's Fastest Indian"
One fast red ZX-14,
Three World and four National Land Speed Records,
One faster red and white Cessna Turbo 210
   
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted May 26, 2006 08:17 PM
 Edited By: fish_antlers on 26 May 2006 21:30
If what you're saying is true, then please be careful. According to the AMA you (specifically) are at the highest risk for accident, injury and or death out of any motorcyclist on the road today.
You represent what the AMA terms as the "re-entry rider".
Have fun and wear your gear.
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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flyboy
Pro
Posts: 1536
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posted May 26, 2006 08:22 PM
I understand that and am being extra careful. Thank you for reinforciing the point.
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'There's more living in five minutes flat-out on a bike than some men have in an entire life'.
"The World's Fastest Indian"
One fast red ZX-14,
Three World and four National Land Speed Records,
One faster red and white Cessna Turbo 210
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vegasdude
Zone Head
Posts: 821
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posted May 26, 2006 08:25 PM
And don' t forget that you have new tires, give them 100 miles to wear in............
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted May 26, 2006 08:28 PM
Uhhhh...was that reentry or rearentry? 
Flyboy...this ain't no Honda 250 comparo...and this bike is as dangerous as they get...be very careful...this is a lot of bike for even the most experienced of riders. It can be very unforgiving...it bites and it bites hard...all these big bores are to be handled with absolute care. They make 1000's look like a toy...like Fish said..."Have fun and wear your gear"
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FYYFF!!!
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted May 26, 2006 08:30 PM
Edited By: fish_antlers on 26 May 2006 21:33
No problem.. I'm not trying to be a jerk or rain on your parade.. It's just that I've had several lengthy conversations about this at a few press launches with a friend of mine from the AMA ... According to him the #1 demographic for injury/ accident is the older, possibly retired or semi retired person who's come into some money and now has some time on their hands to enjoy it. Traditionally they haven't ridden in years and have no experience with modern motorcycles. Combine that with perhaps a beer before a ride and things go south.
If you havent already, take a refresher course from the MSF or any locally accredited riding school. There's nothing wrong with spending a few afternoons getting some training. If you can drop the coin to buy the bike, then you can afford to spend a few bucks on some gear and some training.
#1 rule: Ride within your limits. Know them. If you're out with a group of friends, dont try to ride at a pace that you're uncomfortable with.
Hope I'm not sounding "preachy" or anything. A few months riding under your belt and you'll be good to go 
PS.. you'll find that this forum is frequented by a lot of professionals and industry professionals... they may bust each other's chops every now and then, but we're all here to help each other out and answer questions..
remember... it never hurts to ask.
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted May 26, 2006 09:05 PM
Ya, we can all learn much from Tony Puffman eh?
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FYYFF!!!
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dbeadling
Zone Head
Posts: 699
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posted May 26, 2006 09:10 PM
going to church on sunday....will think of you
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted May 26, 2006 09:16 PM
quote:
going to church on sunday....will think of you
hey... why ya gotta be like that?
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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zxhoya
Zone Head
Posts: 631
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posted May 26, 2006 09:16 PM
''#1 rule: Ride within your limits. Know them. If you're out with a group of friends, dont try to ride at a pace that you're uncomfortable with.''
I think this is great advice. So often peer pressure can get many of us in trouble trying to ride beyond our limits. It takes a big person to let the group go and catch up later.
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''The angle of my dangle is inversely proportional to the heat of my meat'' Will Ferrell
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted May 26, 2006 09:18 PM
It was the cause of my first accident... I was a moron and tried to keep up to a rider who was way way way way faster and more experienced then I was.
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted May 26, 2006 09:26 PM
Flyboy..
Yes the bike seems very controllable and even docile below 5-6000 rpm, after 8 yer in for an awakening, and to top it off the speed these newer machines generate so effortlessly is what will catch most people off guard.
A couple of times I have come up on corners and realized....
HF! I am moving, thankfully the excellent brakes scrubbed lots off and saved my skin.... literally!
One time really stands out in my mind.
This bike is deceptively fast! because it so calm , stable and quiet .
Ride smart and ride safe !
Enjoy yer bike another day is what i tell myself before every ride..
if not the cops will take my license, or worse yet end up in a wreck.
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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zerMATT
Pro
Posts: 1931
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posted May 27, 2006 04:25 AM
+1 on effortless dubious... this bike does things that the mind takes a bit to catch up with. I'm still "re-learning" my local ride routes on this bike after riding my ZZR on them for 4 years... every road is a new road again!
Be careful out there everybody!
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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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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted May 27, 2006 07:23 AM
Yeah what they all said...Think of this too, if your going 120mph on the highway and the majority of the cars are going 60mph...Basically they are stopped and your going 60mph, so think of how fast your going to catch up to them!!!
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Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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flyboy
Pro
Posts: 1536
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posted May 27, 2006 07:46 AM
Gentlemen I appreciate all the great advice... This is a outstanding forum of nice informative people.
Unfortunately I'm not allowed on the highway at this time because I only have my temporary license. I still have to ride my 14 around a small circle and through a set of cones... But I think the bike might too big for the cones. Well... we'll just have to see--
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'There's more living in five minutes flat-out on a bike than some men have in an entire life'.
"The World's Fastest Indian"
One fast red ZX-14,
Three World and four National Land Speed Records,
One faster red and white Cessna Turbo 210
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Stalwart
Needs a job
Posts: 3360
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posted May 27, 2006 08:02 AM
I've always recommended purchasing a disposable bike for practice to novices or long time re-entry. You know the sort, under 500cc, a few scrapes present, and a bike you can ride for 6 months and still get most, if not all of your money back. I did this for my wife with a 1200C HD Sportster, it has less power than a 500 (125?) so it was OK. She did her practicing on it after being top of the class at the MSF course and it prepared her to move on to bigger and more powerful stuff.
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Stuart
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Ridin' the Trump train.
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted May 27, 2006 08:11 AM
quote:
I've always recommended purchasing a disposable bike for practice to novices or long time re-entry. You know the sort, under 500cc, a few scrapes present, and a bike you can ride for 6 months and still get most, if not all of your money back. I did this for my wife with a 1200C HD Sportster, it has less power than a 500 (125?) so it was OK. She did her practicing on it after being top of the class at the MSF course and it prepared her to move on to bigger and more powerful stuff.
...
flyboy.. might be wise to pick up a 250 or 400 enduro of some sort (ie: DRZ400) ... no bodywork to worry about.. something to get you back into the groove... would be much easier to do the test on and if you (heaven forbid) know it over.. no plastic to replace.
just a thought.
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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TONYHUFFMAN
Expert Class
Posts: 152
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posted May 27, 2006 08:28 AM
i think you will be fine. It looks like there are alot of guys on this site that bought zx14s that are novis riders. here are my tips. dont gas it hard. Let your friends ride it. use it mostly for the good gas mileage and my last one is just to get dressed up in leathers and let everyone know that you got one. be carefull
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aughtsix
Expert Class
Posts: 277
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posted May 27, 2006 08:43 AM
+1 to Stalwart and Fish - sound advice.
Please don't become a dent in the guardrail...
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted May 27, 2006 07:05 PM
Flyboy...don't pay any attention to TonyTurdLicker...no one else here does. He's a complete fool and a gross idiot...all he does is talk shit...he's only 15, and from what we have heard, is into sodomizing little boys.
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FYYFF!!!
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bigbore4
Zone Head
Posts: 806
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posted May 27, 2006 08:10 PM
Check out the pic of Toni puffdaman and Toastheado at www.fisters.com
Where did you get the "assless" chaps Toni?
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted May 27, 2006 09:16 PM
boys... dont make us move this topic to the smack house..
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted May 27, 2006 09:20 PM
Like big kids.... just can't help em selves!
LOL
D
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted May 28, 2006 01:57 AM
Edited By: fastestbusaaround on 28 May 2006 02:58
BB4...yer too funny...
:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d
:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d
:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d
Nuther glorious riding day today..i'm outta here people...ride safe and enjoy!
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FYYFF!!!
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worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted May 28, 2006 07:08 AM
quote:
remember... it never hurts to ask.
....yeah...it already hurts when you've asked later......ATGATT!!! 
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“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men
stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
-George Orwell
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