summits4158
Parking Attendant
Posts: 2
|
posted June 05, 2007 11:06 PM
Across America And Back On ZX 14
I have recently returned from an awesome 5 week vacation where me and my wife traveled from Northern California to NYC in five days and then put the ZX in storage for 17 days.We then rented a car at JFK and spent 6 days in the NYC and DC area visiting all the popular tourists spots like the Empire State Building ,statue of Liberty,Ellis Island,World Trade site,Broadway show Les Miserabe,Museums then all the DC monuments and Smithsonian museums. After that we flew to Italy where we first visited Milan,Venice,Florence,Rome,Naples,Pompeii and finally the Island of Capri. Then after 9 days in Italy and walking probably 100 miles and seeing all the best places in Italy using the high speed trains and public subways which by the way are very efficient we flew back to NYC and got back on the ZX heading south west to California taking a zig zag route. We took 80 for the west east run. As we made our way home we stopped along the way visiting parks,museums,hiking,family ect. It was great! The ZX14 ran excellent with no problems at all! We took nearly 4000 digital pics of our trip and some video.I kept the chain lubed and changed the oil and filters. The ZX had plenty of power and pleasure after riding 7200 hundred miles. I have had the ZX now 12 months and just passed the 20k mark with no issues what so ever. I have made several mods to the bike to make it sports touring worthy.I will posts these mods/pics soon. I love the ZX14. I can also easily switch the ZX over to crotch rocket mode when I need the rush!!!!!!!
Yes we got about 35 - 40 mpg on the cross country trip. Depending on the current gas prices for premium about $750 for the round trip in fuel.
My wife did great on the back. I had some custom foot pegs made from a local machine shop which planted her feet flat and slightly down. We stopped on average about every 125 - 150 miles at highway truck stops to stretch and maybe drink a monster. We had custom earplug molds made for each of us from "The Ear Plug Store" These are molds that block or minimize wind noise . The plugs fit flat against the ear and the sound is excellent. We both had Ipods loaded with our favorite Audio books and music along with podcasts to help let the time flow in sync with the Scenery of Americas highways. I installed a Throttlemeister cruise control which works great on the long open stretches. Of course in traffic areas you need control of the throttle. I installed a custom radiator screen to prevent rocks from damaging the exposed radiator. Easier to clean insect build up to.
We stayed in inexpensive hotels / Motels every night from $20 a night in Wendover Nev. which we drove to the first day from Northern Calif. to about $110 a night in the New Jersey / New York area. About 640 miles to Wendover on the Nevada / Utah border. Also I drove about 110 - 130 MPH across the Salt Flats with no Patrol Man in sight. I also have a custom mount for my Escort Radar / Laser detector wired into the bike. I did not recieve any tickets the entire trip. I owe that to being vigilant on the highways with speed and the radar detectors early warnings. Our best day of mileage was 720 miles and the least about 400 miles.
My wife is a real trooper with no complaints the entire trip of any significance.
I had a custom Corbin seat and backrest made. Excellent for long distance. Im not saying my ass did not get sore at times. But the seat did help us cover more distance in comfort. Also I had installed the first Corbin Hard bags on my ZX from the factory in California. They work great and I got many compliments from there design on the road. I have frame sliders made from Delrin plastic available online at many sites. I changed the windscreen to a Puig double bubble. Normally in stealth mode I have a solid black wind screen. I used a K & N filter and pure 20 - 50 Synthetic oil. I changed the oil twice. Using Engine Ice antifreeze.
I also installed a Stebel 140 decible air horn to increase other drivers awareness. works great.
Also I installed the TRE to increase torque in the low end RPM's.
Also from Twisted Throttle I installed a Center Stand which is very usefull and stable. Along with this I brought along a thin bike cover to keep the gawkers away. Out of sight out of mind at night when sleeping.
We made it to NYC with great weather. On our arrival in NYC We got rained on for a bit until I got the bike stored at a womans home in Long Island. She rented out her garage for $50 the entire 17 days. No problems. Also in Texas we were caught in a severe thunderstorm for a few hours until we drove out of it going west to dryer country.
Riding across the country was excellent. I am 49 years old and fit. I rode across America at 16 years old on a 750 Honda leaving home for 4 months. I remember calling my worried mother from needles Arizona giving her the news of my departure. Yes I have liked adventure from an early age Not to mention the many mountains I have climbed around the world. Another great pastime that gets the blood flowing and the heart pumping like going 200 MPH on our ZX 14's. I had a custom license plate made for my Red ZX14 " MPH2HUN " surrounded by Chrome barb wire!! Yes!!
We took 4000 pics total which includes the Italy trip and transfered the pics with a small adapter from Apple onto our Ipods using the USB camera cord to ipod. This worked great. I then saved them to my external hard drive when I got home a few days ago. I need to go through these pics. Im at work and am catching up. I will post some pics ASAP.
Riding the ZX across the US was awesome and exhilerating. My wife really enjoyed the experience for she had never done anything like this before. It was a great relationship builder. We got along very well. We developed hand signals and taps to communicate on the bike. I got to pee. Im hungry. I need to stop. Im tired. Cop ahead! Slow down ect. My wife also carried a small day pack for the items we needed to carry with us when off the bike. Also I used a very nice ENDURANCE brand magnetic tank Bag which worked well. The ZX performed flawlessly!!! Our trip would be great Advertisement for Kawasaki's engineering prowess!
Another observation on our Across America ride is we only saw 1 ZX 14 and that was in Tennesse on a bike trailer.The owner came over to visit at a truck stop where we were taking a break. He had a 2007 black ZX with only 700 miles on it and just had it Dynoed. He asked several questions about the mods to the bike and our experiences on the trip. Very Nice man! We did not see any vehicle accidents in all 7200 miles either.
I could write so much more about the trip. Back to work. I will post again with pics and text ASAP. I hope that all of you ZX 14 owners take an opportunity to travel with your significant others across the US some day. We are planning other trips after this successful adventure. Maybe to Alaska,South America ,Across Europe. Maybe I will sign up to the upcoming US Cannonball run!!!!! Who Knows!!Cant wait!!!!!!!
Remember......LIfe Is Short and we must not forget to Live it to its fullest capacity!! This is why we ride into the wind on our awesome ZX 14's.........
The Key To Immortality Is To First Live A Life Worth Remembering!!
  
|
fury
Expert Class
Posts: 427
|
posted June 06, 2007 02:47 AM
Thank you for the post.
I mentioned this to the wife.
She laughed at me. (not going to happen)
Your trip was inspiring.
|
stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
|
posted June 06, 2007 04:32 AM
"We took 4000 pics total which includes the Italy trip and transfered the pics with a small adapter from Apple onto our Ipods using the USB camera cord to ipod."
Great post, can you post a few of the pics? If you need assistance posting them please let me know
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
|
runningfree
Expert Class
Posts: 107
|
posted June 06, 2007 08:38 AM
Thanks for sharing!
____________
2006 ZX14 Black
2005 SV1000S Red
2002 VFR800A Red(sold)
The best part of repentance is the sinning
|
flyboy
Pro
Posts: 1536
|
posted June 06, 2007 08:54 AM
Outstanding trip and reporting! You should also be congratulated for your great planning and then carrying out your adventure! Your wife should get a medal. (or shopping spree) Can hardly wait for the pictures. Thanks for the i-pod idea. Taking the family to Italy later this month. You inspire us!
|
dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
|
posted June 06, 2007 04:22 PM
Inspirational!
Thanks!
send pics!
|
bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
|
posted June 06, 2007 04:47 PM
what a ride! i want to do the cannonball run myself....
____________
2006 Black ZX-14,6 inches over,16/42, flies out,BMC Street Filter,Brock's Street Meg,Brock's Radial Mount Strap,PClll with Race map,Dynojet LCD w/Techmount, ZX-14 fender eliminator,Pilot Power2CTs,Speedohealer,Pazzo Levers,Cox Radiator Guard, Garmin Nuvi 265WT
|
HiMile14
Expert Class
Posts: 424
|
posted June 07, 2007 04:05 PM
Great post Last year I had 3 major trips but this year there is none, so I will live though you all.
Robert
ZX-14 25,579 miles
VFR 92,283 miles
|
stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
|
posted June 07, 2007 07:11 PM
quote:
Great post Last year I had 3 major trips but this year there is none, so I will live though you all.
Robert
ZX-14 25,579 miles
VFR 92,283 miles
Hey dude did you have the stealership do the 15K valve service?
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
|
summits4158
Parking Attendant
Posts: 2
|
posted June 07, 2007 09:18 PM
I checked the valves and they are perfect. No adjustment necessary!Awesome!!!! An amazing motorcycle that is an engineering marvel. I think I will buy another one soon!Maybe a black one!
|
blue max
Expert Class
Posts: 214
|
posted June 08, 2007 06:40 AM
my buddy seen this guy at the gas station in ill., hell of a nice guy
____________
best 9.23
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC