883L
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
|
posted October 10, 2007 08:19 AM
How much work?
Right now I ride a 2005 Harley-Davidson, one of many reasons being that I can do all the work on it myself, it doesn't require much maintenance, and it's a fun cruise. I'm thinking I also want to add a ZX14 to the garage for more... uh... speed  Anyway, could someone tell me how much work these take on a weekly/monthly basis? I've always heard sport bikes take a lot more work day-to-day than Cruisers, and was wondering if those in the know could fill me in.
I'm not looking to completely crush the bike all the time, so I won't be riding it terribly hardcore, if you could take that into account
  
|
jdzx14
Expert Class
Posts: 412
|
posted October 10, 2007 08:25 AM
Other than adjusting your chain and lubing your chain.. there really isnt much more than that. I would always check your bolts every once in awhile which should not be any difference from a cruiser. I have right at 6500 on mine and i race it regularly and have pretty much other than modifications only adjusted the chain and checked bolts to the bike. I did put clutches in but if you drad race enough your gonna do that i dont care what bike you have. Which it was easy so it didnt bother me. I didnt mention like all the little stuff like adjusting throttle cables,ect...... but thats all in the manual and is simple stuff.
____________
2007 Black ZX-14
Lowering links, Brocks Strap Kit, Muzzy Full 4-2-1, No files, PC3, BMC Race filter, 6 inch extensions,16/44, Shinko 003 Ultra Soft..... SOLD!!!!!
|
Tool Man
Needs a job
Posts: 4493
|
posted October 10, 2007 08:33 AM
I spend maybe 1/2 hr a week, cleaning , adjusting the chain ...Ect.
The 15,000 mi maint will take you the best part of a day....but if you had to ask, maybe you should let somone else do it. 
____________
The banks are failing..
The banks are failing...
Invest in Ammo
|
883L
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
|
posted October 10, 2007 08:35 AM
I have a quasi-American piece of machine that's easy to work on, isn't chain-driven and weighs 700 pounds. These foreign born rockets are new to me, so I had to ask even when planning on doing it myself.
|
Tool Man
Needs a job
Posts: 4493
|
posted October 10, 2007 09:25 AM
K..... The bodywork takes a while to remove and can be tricky, buy a service manual. It helps.
____________
The banks are failing..
The banks are failing...
Invest in Ammo
|
dbeadling
Zone Head
Posts: 699
|
posted October 10, 2007 09:25 AM
ride it watch the chain ...change the oil. if you have a h/d your going to love this
|
bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
|
posted October 10, 2007 09:36 AM
the harley will be jealous of all the time you spend with your new friend
____________
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
|
stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
|
posted October 10, 2007 10:06 AM
quote:
the harley will be jealous of all the time you spend with your new friend
+1
the most time you'll spend on anything after buying the 14 is dusting the harley due to non-use.
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
|
883L
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
|
posted October 10, 2007 12:54 PM
quote:
quote:
the harley will be jealous of all the time you spend with your new friend
+1
the most time you'll spend on anything after buying the 14 is dusting the harley due to non-use.
haha... good one
|
Tool Man
Needs a job
Posts: 4493
|
posted October 10, 2007 01:09 PM
883... I too have had a few Harleys, any other sport bikes in your past. a 14 is a BIG jump from a 45hp 883 sporty. My good buddy has a 1200 sporty and when he came back from a ride on my 14 he was pale.... said " I saw Hay~zuse" Go slow with it if you get one
____________
The banks are failing..
The banks are failing...
Invest in Ammo
|
fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
|
posted October 10, 2007 01:34 PM
I have both -- stevewfl is right!
____________
FYYFF!!!
|
NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
|
posted October 10, 2007 01:54 PM
quote:
883... I too have had a few Harleys, any other sport bikes in your past. a 14 is a BIG jump from a 45hp 883 sporty. My good buddy has a 1200 sporty and when he came back from a ride on my 14 he was pale.... said " I saw Hay~zuse" Go slow with it if you get one
Massive jump! Well more than 120hp and 200+less pounds! A 600 would probably scare the shit out of him nowadays!
No maintenance at all except for adjusting chain when need which only needs done when you change the tire which is around 3000miles for me. Chain and oil changes. Hardly any maintence monthly. I spend maybe 1 minute a week on maintenance, lubing. I polish the bike every 2 weeks, about 15minutes.
Ofcourse fresh oil change at the end of your riding season and a new one at the beginning. Take battery out and put it inside your house until it's riding season again. Purchase a battery tender and put it on the battery every non-riding month to keep it fully charged. Buy front and rear stands to keep tires off the ground when storing to keep flat spots from occuring on your tires. The tires are very soft compared to cruiser tires. Let some air out of them probably around 15pounds when in storage and up on the front and rear stands. Use the rear stand for lubing, so you can spin the wheel with your hand. DON'T EVERY PUT IT IN GEAR AND LUBE THE CHAIN WITH YOUR HAND! YOU WILL LOSE YOUR FINGERS!
Cheap rear stands here: handyindustries.com I'm going on 4 years with mine and they're still doing like new.
|
883L
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
|
posted October 10, 2007 02:25 PM
No sports bikes in my past at all as far as ownership. I used to race 125's when I was much younger, but I didn't take them home and didn't get to work on them.
If I buy a sport bike, I want to get the right one right away. I have my suped-up 883 but after I changed the air cleaner, pipes, grips, windshield, supports, bags, shocks, spent $400 on new seats and went to forward controls... I realized I should have bought a Road King. That said, my Sporty is perfect now for cruising, so I'm satisfied there, but I have another purpose for wanting the 14. I want more off the line power some days, torque, high speeds... mmm sounds lovely.
|
lietoome
Needs a job
Posts: 2033
|
posted October 10, 2007 03:07 PM
you need to be mentally prepared to part with you HD if you do buy a 14. It does EVERYTHING really well. Best of luck. I'll bet you can get a sweet deal on an '06 around February-ish.
|
FasterThanStink
Pro
Posts: 1218
|
posted October 10, 2007 05:49 PM
I should probably clean and lube my chain at least once this year............Na. :P
____________
Speed has never killed anyone,
suddenly becoming stationary...
That's what gets you.
|
fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
|
posted October 10, 2007 06:51 PM
I hear sand works well for lubing chains...:P
____________
FYYFF!!!
|
stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
|
posted October 10, 2007 07:19 PM
my chain gets Honda lube sprayed on it once every 1000 miles or so. Other than that, nothing. Its been going strong for 12,700 miles. When it goes, there's be a new gold chain with new VORTEX hardened black sprockets. That set-up may actually see some give a ^%$! oops I meant TLC
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC