leaftye
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
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posted March 30, 2008 05:25 PM
ZX-14 for commuting. What mods?
What would you do to a ZX-14 to make it a better commuter? I'll start.
Upgraded fan for warmer climes
Chain oiler
HID lights for night commutes
Different seat for long commutes
Grip warmers for cold climes
Hard cases?
A few of these can end if "for pussies", but that's what people do, so...
What would you do, or better yet, what have you done to make your bike better to commute on? If you really like your mods, rep them by naming them and where you got it from.
    
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derpie
Expert Class
Dont judge a book by its cover
Posts: 269
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posted March 30, 2008 05:53 PM
A gps unit , and a good radar detector. Cigarette lighter plug for starters. The things you mentioned dont they come standard on the Concours 14?
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leaftye
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
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posted March 30, 2008 06:05 PM
I have absolutely no desire for a Concours 14. The gps and radar detector wouldn't be suitable for me, but I could see them benefitting someone that worked....in an office.
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FASTESTbusaAROUND
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted March 30, 2008 06:16 PM
 Edited By: FASTESTbusaAROUND on 30 Mar 2008 19:17
quote:
A gps unit , and a good radar detector. Cigarette lighter plug for starters. The things you mentioned dont they come standard on the Concours 14?
No, except for the cases and the 2 bikes are not at all the same, ask me how I know....oh, and a chain oiler on a C14 would be very messy and quite redundant.
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FYYFF!!!
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zxbob
Pro
Posts: 1692
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posted March 30, 2008 06:40 PM
Id just buy a "connie"
Bob
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Good parts aint cheap and cheap parts aint good !
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leaftye
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
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posted March 30, 2008 06:50 PM
Go right ahead. I'll follow in 20 or so years.
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NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
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posted March 30, 2008 07:04 PM
Edited By: NinjaNick on 30 Mar 2008 20:05
16/43 gearing, 100 shot of NOS, shinko tires, brock sidewinder, and a turbo. 
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Bawls
Needs a job
re-learning to ride
Posts: 2701
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posted March 30, 2008 07:31 PM
Porn star with a thong sticking out of the back of her pants and a bikini top so that her DD's can stay cool while resting on your back.
I think we're done here lol next thread 
____________
Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
Brockland Police Badge # 001
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leaftye
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
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posted March 30, 2008 07:48 PM
quote:
Porn star with a thong sticking out of the back of her pants and a bikini top so that her DD's can stay cool while resting on your back.
Need pics for reference. I wanna get this right.
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butterthegreat
Expert Class
Posts: 329
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posted March 30, 2008 08:02 PM
I use my bone stock ZX-14 for commuting....oh...and I have saddle bags for it. That's it.
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted March 30, 2008 08:38 PM
raise the clipons, remove the flies(less downshifting so you can squirt out of trouble)
I liked the smeg, it way proactive for innatentive cagers
ride it!
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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leaftye
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
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posted March 30, 2008 08:54 PM
quote:
I use my bone stock ZX-14 for commuting....oh...and I have saddle bags for it. That's it.
Which bags, and would you be comfortable leaving it on your bike with your gear in them all day? Fwiw, they'd be on a college campus.
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lietoome
Needs a job
Posts: 2033
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posted March 30, 2008 09:37 PM
Edited By: lietoome on 30 Mar 2008 22:38
remove flies--when you gas it, there is NO lag.
helibars--pretty low on my priorities because the stockers are comfortable, I tried them and sold them after a 1200 mile round trip. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference.
steering damper---the roads can get pretty shitty where I live, especially switching lanes and 'finding' deep grooves in the pavement from the loaded dumptrucks in my area.
lockable tank bag that sits on the bracket just above the tank(luggage locker???---a soft mounted bag can get kinda monotonous if you have to keep unhooking it to fuel up. Need it to lock to keep the dumbasses from taking it + you don't have to carry it with you.
Maybe a hard-tailbag?--seen them where they mount to a bracket on the tail. Not for me, because I'd throw my leg over the bike and kick it every time.
Single sided exhaust--you can actually use your helmet lock without melting your helmet. Your bike will also run cooler with no cats. Piss poor planning, but glad it has one. It's better than the dumbass cable locks on the zx12.
Avon ST tires ---for MAD mileage
Stock seat--is fine, unless you are commuting more than 500 miles one-way.
Headlights are plenty bright, save your money.
Horn--possibly upgrade to something with a lot more db.
Radiator guard---holed radiators suck.
Tail light modulator--I won't ride without it. When I tap the brake, it flashes 3 times and goes solid, then another 3 times...etc
Headlight modulator?--don't have one, but I like the idea of being seen.
I pretty much gave up commuting on my 14. I honeslty got tired of the runninglateredlightblastingcoffeedrinkingnolookinglanechangingteenage/old/igonorantsleepingradioblaringstupidasses that continue to try &kill me with their misguided 4-wheeled missles.
Just my experience. BTW, I left out the lowering links, strap, 9 inch stretch, and airshifter---they don't really add to the commuting experience, but I get a lot of thumbs up. 
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted March 31, 2008 04:10 AM
yes I forgot the rad screen/gaurd....
a must IMO... many have had theirs holed including mine....
any dual pipe or single is better than the stockers which will cook your ankles come summer.
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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butterthegreat
Expert Class
Posts: 329
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posted March 31, 2008 05:53 AM
quote:
quote:
I use my bone stock ZX-14 for commuting....oh...and I have saddle bags for it. That's it.
Which bags, and would you be comfortable leaving it on your bike with your gear in them all day? Fwiw, they'd be on a college campus.
The corbin hard bags.
http://www.corbin.com/kawasaki/kzx14bag.shtml
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makana81
Parking Attendant
Posts: 11
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posted March 31, 2008 08:40 AM
A must-have during summer commuting
---oil cooler
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85' 900 (1039) Ninja
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BobC
Pro
Posts: 1736
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posted March 31, 2008 10:51 AM
Edited By: BobC on 31 Mar 2008 12:21
Some sensible ideas here, like a chain oiler, higher mileage rubber, a decent horn and so on, I think the 14 is an excellent bike for everyday riding and commuting and I'd suggest a higher screen too, particularly for the taller rider. Probably the most important item for a daily commute is suitable and safe clothing for the conditions.
What I would not do is buy a 14 and start changing it into a Concours (or worse), if I wanted one of those I'd have bought one instead.
____________
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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derpie
Expert Class
Dont judge a book by its cover
Posts: 269
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posted March 31, 2008 05:08 PM
Hey don't knock the concours its not bad besides with all the things mentioned you're converting the 14 into something concoursish.
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leaftye
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
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posted March 31, 2008 09:45 PM
Thanks for the advice so far. Here's what I'm thinking for mods to do right away.
Chain oil
Upgraded horn
Radiator guard
Rubber...maybe slightly harder, if only in the rear....want the front to be sticky for braking
Headlight modulators and brake light blinkers
Tire pressure sensors....my car has spoiled me
Down the road:
Hard bags....they'd be nice for school, but at $2k, they'll have to wait
Lockable tailbag or tankbag...I need to find out more
Grip heaters....for wuses, but they let me wear more protective summer gloves year round
Things I don't see getting for a loooong time, if ever:
No double bubble, I'm 5'10" and want the breeze
No flies removal, or pipes, stock is enough power...for now
Stay with the stock seat unless I start touring
No radar, I don't speed in the city
No gps....unless I start touring
No steering damper....my roads are good enough
No helibars...I'm a glutton for punishment
Cigarette lighter will come if I get gps or radar
You guys are right about the Concours. Most days, I don't want it to be like a Concours. I just want cagers to know where I am, and to not worry about the little things. I do hope to find time to tour, and if I do, I want to use the ZX-14 too. Concours is a nice bike, but I'd hate the comfort I'm sure it'd always deliver, especially since it takes well to farkles....I need at least a little discomfort.
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lietoome
Needs a job
Posts: 2033
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posted March 31, 2008 10:47 PM
left, the aftermarket exhaust is much better for riding in traffic...especially if you don't lane split. The cats in the stock exhaust keep a lot of heat bottled up. Mine ran 100% cooler once I dumped the stock exhaust, and I could use my helmet lock. You're right on with the stock powered exhaust, but power is not why I mentioned it.
What year is your bike? If its 06-07, remove the flies. Throttle response is MUCH more predictable...very helpful in a environment surrounded with cagers. From what I understand, the '08s do not have this problem because the secondary flies open sooner---which makes the throttle response on point. Just my thoughts, I thought my '06 was 'dangerous' in traffic do to the lame-turbo-lag feeling below 6K, then the abrupt kick after 6K. I didn't like the fact that I would have to react quickly to something and then have to wait for the secondaries to open. Now, I twist, it goes.
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Bawls
Needs a job
re-learning to ride
Posts: 2701
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posted April 01, 2008 04:13 AM
you don't ever have to worry about the 14 turning into a concours. Just remember that you can strip the bags and stuff off and it's still a 14. The concours has that whole watered down engine thing going for it. Don't get me wrong, it's not slow by any means. It's just not fast enough. I've ridden one on several ocasions, and it's a great bike. I just won't be old enough for one until 35-40 years from now.
____________
Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
Brockland Police Badge # 001
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted April 01, 2008 10:03 AM
You guys forgot a few things: rain gear that you can carry with you!!, a bike cover - or at least a towel to dry your seat when its wet. Small bottle of compressed air in case you get a flat tire. Don't use the Fix-a-Flat crap, it will cost you $$$ to get the tire dealer to clean it up when you take it in. Just fill it and haul ass home! The 14 is very adept at that.
I use a soft luggage rear seat bag that works exceptionally well. It also easily removes and turns into a easily carried bag that resembles either a fat laptop or a short fat suitcase. but it can hold a full sized helmet AND all my rain gear AND a 6 pack of beer. (partially expandable). I've been using it for a year now and zero problems.
Crap, I cant find a photo of it. I'll update it tomorrow with a photo.
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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Ojref
Expert Class
Posts: 336
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posted April 01, 2008 10:05 AM
Go for the Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla mod.
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2006 Kawasaki ZX-14 Ninja, Red now with mo' Brock's in my lyfe
1991 Yamaha Vmax - Because I need a mule to carry the manhood
2002 Ford Lightning - Ford GT Aluminum block engined, 802HP 911TQ now WhippleCharged
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