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BIKELAND > FORUMS > ZX-14.com > Thread: When is the zx14 right for me? NEW TOPIC NEW POLL POST REPLY
blackbullet76


Pro
Posts: 1134
posted March 06, 2008 12:11 PM        
I rode an 02 ZX6R for about 3 years. I was ready for an upgrade. I really wanted a 10r, but it wasn't comfortable to me. There was a 14 sitting beside it and as soon as I sat on it, I knew it was the bike for me. When I test rode it, I got them to order me a black 07. With the flies in, it feels just like a 600 (to me anyways) below 6000rpms. After you take those puppies out, you've unleashed a monster! Be ready for massive throttle responce and you have to be extrememely careful in the curves, no sudden twist on you'll be in trouble. All in all, I would recommend a 14 to a rider that has only a few years under his belt because I did it and I don't regret it one bit
____________
2007 ZX-14 black
Brocks s-meg exhaust
PCIII w/track map
BMC race filter
Flies removed
16 tooth front sprocket
Speedohealer
APE cam chain tensioner
Vortex rearsets

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BlackMagic14


Needs a job
Posts: 2058
posted March 06, 2008 12:50 PM        
You cant learn the correct way to bang a supermodel by fuckin a porker!!! Get the ZX14 and just take it easy for a while
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pazx14rider


Zone Head
Posts: 953
posted March 06, 2008 02:04 PM        
Nice quote black lmfao
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LeoVinceZX14


Expert Class
Thankfully...its paid for...
Posts: 386
posted March 07, 2008 01:43 PM        
My 2 ..maybe 3 cents..

NinjaNick makes a very good point about the "perception" of speed and your brain's ability to process the information fast enough to make the decisions real time and maintain control of your bike. A sportbike in general and the 14 in particular does everything you have done on your prior bikes sooner and easier than you are used to. Combine that with your comment "my small amount of riding.." and there in lies your challenge.

I stand by the MSF advanced/experienced rider course recommendation for "street" survival skills. Will it help you "master" a 14, I doubt it, but perhaps it will make you think objectively about where you are with your current skill/ road hazard awareness level and thereby be better able to decide the right bike for you. Lots of guys never set foot on a track or develop the skills they could hone there but almost all of us have to confront riding in a urban setting and encounter a car turning left in front of them (could you be going too fast when that happens?)....or any of 50 other things that make our sport the high risk activity it is.

Ride safe....
____________
'12 14R SE
PC V
Custom map
BMC filter
Leo Vince 4-2-1 w/ carbon can
Sato frame sliders
Supersprox 42T
Cox radiator guard
DID 530 X-ring chain.


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dubious


Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
posted March 07, 2008 01:57 PM        
quote:
You cant learn the correct way to bang a supermodel by fuckin a porker!!! Get the ZX14 and just take it easy for a while




____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.

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phytrax


Zone Head
Posts: 526
posted March 08, 2008 05:01 PM        
quote:
Just leave the secondary butterfly valves in and you will be fine with a 14.



+1

I rode a GSXR1000 before the 14 and I was disappointed with the power of my '06 with the flies in. It's a beast once you remove them, but with the flies in it's very controllable. It won't get you in trouble unless you want it to.
____________
Concourse14- Corbin Seat, Candy Apple Red Paint, Area P Slip-On
RIP+ZX-14- Brock's Gen3, Heli Risers, Corbin Bags, Corbin Seat and Oval Backrest (Burgandy Snakeskin and black alligator), Muzzys Frame Sliders, flies out, 18t front sprocket, PC3, Puig Double Bubble, Pirelli Diablo Strada's
KX450F - kickstand
>>> MySpace --CLICK-- <<<

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NinjaNick


Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
posted March 08, 2008 05:15 PM        
Dubious, WAY too big of a signature picture man. Wtf were you thinking?
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Bawls


Needs a job
re-learning to ride
Posts: 2701
posted March 08, 2008 09:58 PM        
The 14 is my "first bike" lol... Now that being said, i raced motocross from the 3-14 and then sand dragged a 575 rotax banshee that did 100 yds in 3.54 seconds at 119 mph, as well as the fact that i worked at the shop that i raced for and had seat time on anything that came in that i wanted to ride. I love my 14. It's fast, predictable, and it's not in my face all the time. The guy that owned it before me told me to be careful because you never knew what it was going to do lol. I wouldn't suggest it to someone who wasn't a good rider by any means, but if you can ride you can ride. I know a lot of guys that have been riding for 20 years that i wouldn't trust to ride anything but a 1200 sportster. On the other hand, i'd let my mom ride my 14 and never think twice.


____________
Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119

Brockland Police Badge # 001

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bigdtd


Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
posted March 09, 2008 07:03 AM        
just get it and watch out
____________
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

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kc0wtq


Parking Attendant
Posts: 10
posted March 09, 2008 10:18 AM        
my humble opinion is this: how strong is your perception of whats happening while riding? how fluid are you with your throttle and clutch and shifting? the 14 in my opinion, under 5k just about anyone with 2 years experience can ride it. get above 5k and things start happening extremely fast. above 8k you feel like your the starship Enterprise going warp speed. my 14 will climb in speed to 160 mph effortlessly. ALWAYS remember there is a time and place to crack her open. If I owned this bike when I was 20 i wouldnt be writing this.
____________
ti scorpion exhaust
flies out
pcIII
data master

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Bawls


Needs a job
re-learning to ride
Posts: 2701
posted March 09, 2008 08:20 PM        
I love this bike and it is no doubt the fastest street bike i've ridden. The power delivery is so smooth on it that before you know it you're really hauling. One thing that would not be good for a rider who is still not used to the shear power that the 14 posesses is the fact that you can be trying to pass a car and glance down to see 150 on the speedo. Can anyone ride this bike? Yes. If they are willing to dismiss their penis envy, and not try to prove anything until they're really comfortable with it. Personally, I probably shouldn't own one but i do :P If my wife knew that i kicked it up to 170 on my way home from the shop when i bought it she would have shit a chicken. She really had no idea how fast of a bike it was when i bought it lol. Our original agreement was that i could get a v-max because it wasn't a crotch rocket. Then i convinced her that my 14 with the tall screen was more of a touring bike than a crotch rocket. The look on her face when my dad came screaming by our house in 3rd gear getting ready to shift to fourth was priceless. Thanks dad lol
____________
Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119

Brockland Police Badge # 001

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robrooter


Expert Class
Posts: 178
posted March 10, 2008 11:34 PM        
gold mate gold
____________
Ride it, Respect it, It can an will bite you when you least expect. /smilies/smile.gif" border=0>

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racinsnake


Novice Class
Posts: 36
posted March 11, 2008 03:50 AM        
To push a point home, insurance stats say those going from cruisers to sportsbikes are 75% more likely to stack it than those going from sports bikes to cruisers. Interesting but not surprising. I just spent 10 days on a Harley Road King, lovely, but I neally died when I got back on the 14
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davej


Expert Class
Posts: 451
posted March 11, 2008 10:17 AM        
I've have 11,000 miles on my 14 that was purchased in Aug 07. It was feeling like it had lost alot of power and getting doggy as hell. Installed a turbo just before 10,000 miles now its zip is back. Rode the Triumph 750 for the first time this year and had to look in the mirror to see if I was towing a UTA Bus! A comparison is nice to have.
____________
Triumph guy

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Bawls


Needs a job
re-learning to ride
Posts: 2701
posted March 11, 2008 10:22 AM        
I climbed off of my 14 and hopped on my friend's 600RR and it felt like i was riding a pocket bike. I really don't see how people can ride 600's on the street. They're rough, uncomfortable, and cramped. I bet that they are fun on the track though.
____________
Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119

Brockland Police Badge # 001

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Wheelie


Needs a life
Old Man
Posts: 6902
posted March 11, 2008 12:04 PM        



wee

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Xenotaj


Parking Attendant
Posts: 5
posted March 11, 2008 12:57 PM        
Ok so I have an update for you guys. After reading everything that you all have for me, I've decided that I should probably just get a 600c sportbike so that I can at least get used to the feel. One of my friends is selling a cbr600f3 for $2500. I took it out for a bit and it's almost like trying to learn to ride again, because of the seating position and the way it handles. I'm leaning heavily toward purchasing this one as something to have for a year or so, do you guys know much about them?
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NinjaNick


Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
posted March 11, 2008 01:22 PM        
Great choice Xenotaj! A sportbike is different riding style than a cruiser. Once you get to shagging that thing hard, throw it away and get that 14.
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Xenotaj


Parking Attendant
Posts: 5
posted March 12, 2008 12:03 PM        


There it is, if anyone wanted to know

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NinjaNick


Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
posted March 12, 2008 01:12 PM        
Good decision.
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Sticks_n_Stones


Needs a job
Posts: 3930
posted March 12, 2008 01:26 PM        
Good decision, good price. You can buy some heli-risers to help with the cramped seating position.

And be glad its not one of the newer 600's! You think that seating position is severe... That bikes practically a sport tourer in comparison. Keep it wheels up and bang out some quality miles. "Quality" as in curvy road style. Find a friend who is rational, preferrably older and wiser, and likes to corner and have him teach you the ropes. Just the basics, dont try and push yourself to hard. Then when the bike is second nature to you, get to a track and take a rider course. Once you can run a track comfortably (and not TOO slow), as far as Im concerned you're ready for a 14. Sell that Honda to Stevewfl, he loves them things... lol
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...

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kc0wtq


Parking Attendant
Posts: 10
posted March 16, 2008 08:01 AM        
xenotaj,

Looks like a clean 600! I am in the same predicament with my girlfriend. She wants to ride; and I want her too also. (greatest way for me to gain HP; put her on her own bike!) She is learning on 250 4 stroke dirt bikes and my 98 bmw R1100R. she has laid the dirt bike over a few times and putted around the lot on the beemer. I think your decision is a good one that 600 will be pretty forgiving. So, good luck and become intimate with your bikes handling and maintenance. have fun!
____________
ti scorpion exhaust
flies out
pcIII
data master

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kikonzx14


Pro
Novice
Posts: 1813
posted March 16, 2008 08:25 AM        
Beautiful machine Xenotaj, Congrats!!!!
____________
Feel the need for SPEED2007 ZX-14 Black with Red Flames (Helibars, Sliders, Yoshimura TRC Ti 4-2 Slip Ons, Fender Eliminator, Zero Gravity SR Windscreen, Custom Heel Guards , Speedohealer V4, Pazzo Levers -soon to come: Flies out / PCV w/A/T kit and later 16T sprocket)1990 Honda Steed (Japan model same as Shadow)1993 Kawasaki Vulcan EN 500 (gone as I trade it in for the ZX-14)Santiago, Chile, South America

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FASTESTbusaAROUND


Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
posted March 16, 2008 03:08 PM        
quote:
2008 I hear doesn't have much need for fly removal, although I'm doing it anyways when I get my brock alien head.

Yes it does -- Did my 08 and the difference is still substantial, very.
____________
FYYFF!!!

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stevewfl


Moderator
Posts: 27920
posted March 16, 2008 06:46 PM        
quote:


There it is, if anyone wanted to know


NICE!
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike

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BIKELAND > FORUMS > ZX-14.com > Thread: When is the zx14 right for me? NEW TOPIC NEW POLL POST REPLY

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