Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted August 18, 2008 09:07 AM
 Edited By: Sticks_n_Stones on 18 Aug 2008 10:19
14 rules the high speed mountain sweepers!
Skagit Powersports in Washington State had there annual "Monkey Butt 300" ride from Mt. Vernon to Winthrop Sunday. The main fun was the 87miles of high speed long sweepers from Marblemount to Winthrop, which is about as perfect a road as you can possibly get to showcase the high speed stability of the zx14! Lacker 14 was there (I believe thats his screen name, all silver 14?), along with 2 '08 Busa's, a 1098S, one '08 CBR RR and an assortment of other bikes: 30+ sport bikes in all.
Once out of Marblemount the gloves were off. Being that the ride leader in my group (the main fast group) was my best friend- and had my camera mounted on his bike- I stayed within sight of the main group for the first 1/3rd of the way.
I finally had enough letting up on the throttle on the straights and in the 100+mph sweepers that I passed the 4 guys ahead of me - first guy mid corner when my will power snapped and I went WOT, passing him on the outside, next 3 in quick succession on the ensuing straight. First place is where the 14 belongs! I was off, putting a mile between me and the pack in minutes. So damn easy on the stable ass 14. I then fell back until they got next to me, then nail and rail it for 3 or 4 corners until even the peskiest 1000 would fall out of sight then wait for them to catch back up. Great fun!
Realizing that our stop point was approaching soon(at an average of 140mph EVERYTHING is approaching soon!) I decided to try and reel in Lacker and his 'Busa buddy. I let it rip for about 10 minutes, passing 2 other groups of riders that left before us (we detoured on our way to Marblemount to hit some old favorites so we left Marblemount behind all but the cruisers). Got a good run from the local track guru who had his "race only" Gixxer 1K that he claimed was making 190rwhp and had on PP Race 'soft' tires. I think he kept me in sight for 4 or 5 corners  . I finally caught up to Lacker and his Busa buddy right at my groups predesignated turn off.
I wasn't sure exactly how hard they were pushing it, but on the two big straightaways after I caught them it was all my bike could do to not let them pull away. Both Busa and Lacker's 14 were wearing Brocks Smeg and PCIII, and his 14 had flies out and a double bubble. Dont know what else... They both appeared to weigh in around the 225-250 weight range (I'm bad at guessing), so they had a 80 pound+ weight advantage on me. Gotta love the M10/M14 advantage! Stirring the pot... I also had 0W oil, which I think payed off on that ride.
FYI: Lacker I talked to a couple guys that were trying to follow you, they were SOOO pissed at how easy you two walked the hell away from them in every straightaway and they couldn't make up the difference in the corners. The guy on the green 10R streetfighter is a friend of mine, even though he was the only one to stay with you he was demoralized by how "slow" his 10R was in comparison. Heh heh. One last thing Lacker: which bike was faster, his 'Busa or your 14? There is no way that you can't answer that question now!
Even though I've spent ALOT of time at and over the 150mph mark on my 14, it was nothing compared to this ride. I probably hit 150mph 40 times, 175mph half a dozen times at least. The 14 is so friggin unbelievably stable! The coupe de grace was when I was doing a sustained 150'ish mph in a very fast sweeper, full lean millimeters away from scraping my footpeg when I hit a BIG bump midcorner. Scraped the fairing, footpeg bent up boot scraped hard on pavement and foot nearly came off peg. Bike COMPLETELY absorbed the hit! Didn't stand up or heave at all, didnt lose a friggin beat, kept its line (though after the hit I was 2 feet farther over in the lane). It was over so quick I had to blink and ask myself "did that just friggin happen or did I imagine IT?!". My fairings say "yep". lol
I've railed a few liter bikes on high speed sweepers before, and I can say that NONE of them handled anywhere close to the 14. Both in initial turn in effort (effortless I should say), amount of input needed to hold a line (none), or composure while leaned over (see above "bump"). Before the ride I told the group that this is the type of riding the 14 was designed for. The guy on the "Race only" Gixxer 1K , the 1098S rider, and a couple others snickered.
At Winthrop in the bar when I said reiterated that, they were all in wide eyed deer in the headlights agreement, and "Trail Boss" (10R streetfighter) was nodding enthusiastically. 
Google map: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=48.627463,-120.850983&spn=0.65353,1.741333&z=10
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'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
  
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lowcel
Expert Class
Happy on 2 wheels.
Posts: 157
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posted August 18, 2008 09:17 AM
It's cool that you had such an awesome ride but riding like that very often on the road can't end up good. Be careful out there.
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2007 Z14 SE - Yoshimura TRC full race exhaust w/ carbon can - PCiii w/ map from HPC - Flies removed - Pipercross air filter - Speedohealer - Puig Double Bubble - Fender Eliminator - GPR Steering Damper - Puig Frame Sliders - HID's - Halo's
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted August 18, 2008 09:23 AM
Yeah I know we took alot of chances. At least we knew there wasnt any cops ahead of us, we had radio's and "scouts" riding ahead. Only 1 cop patrols that stretch...
There was alot of stupid passes and such made that I saw, it really bothered me that these guys were so friggin eager to pass cars mid corner, oncoming cars be damned. They wont always move over and accomidate them! I felt no need to do stupid passes and such, had so much power over them it didnt matter if they got ahead by a stupid risky pass I was gonna catch them anyways. Even if I didn't have the power, though, I still think passing cars recklessly is the stupid thing a rider can do. Pissing off the people who can and will complain to the police is not smart policy...
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'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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Superman T
Pro
Posts: 1831
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posted August 18, 2008 10:52 AM
Sticks-Glad to see you had fun. I would think most liter bike would not be so solid at high speeds(excees of 150mph). I know when I've riden smaller bikes is the past, the vibrations and the lightness of the bike can make a rider reserved and not willing to carry that speed out for a long period of time. One of the very reasons I got the 14 is to eliminate/heavily reduce the vibrations and allow a more comfortable feel @ high speeds. Congrats on a successful ride, no tickets, no accidents, and no scratches on the bike......priceless!
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Lacker 14
Novice Class
Posts: 94
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posted August 18, 2008 11:09 AM
Sticks that was a fun ride.I have to say that the older I get the more paraniod I get (COPS)...Anyway,my friend Rons Busa I would Say is faster than my 14.His Busa has a big bore kit APE head work,so its a beast.Its not at a 100 percent,till it gets a proper tune...Yikes....As for mine its stock as far as any motorwork,just the pipe and map.And you were close I weigh around 280 with gear.Cheers..
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butta4hc
Expert Class
Posts: 313
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posted August 18, 2008 12:54 PM
I'm loving this! I got a story to tell myself about my weekend wih a Busa. I'm about to start a thread now...
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Butta
Hot Commodities MC
Paterson, NJ
2006 Black ZX-14 - Recall Frame Swap, Full Muzzy GP Exhaust, PCIII, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Braided Front Brake & Cutch Lines, Muzzy's Radiator Fan, Engine Ice Coolant, Frame Sliders, SubFrame Sliders, Puig Dark Smoke Windscreen, Powerbronze Hugger, Cox Radiator Guard, Unswitched Powerlet Outlet under seat, Switched Powerlet Outlet On Right Duct Panel, Intergrated Tail Light, HID lights high and low beam, Blue corner marker lights, Eclipse License Plate Blackout Kit, Black Pazzo Levers, Scorpio Alarm, Lojack Theft Recovery System, Rapid Transit Triple Tree Bag, Cortech Tank, Tail & Saddle Bags and the bragging rights for being "The Fastest 14 In The Country" for a few weeks when the 14 made it's debut here in the states.
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted August 18, 2008 07:48 PM
sticks are you saying you used the straights and high speed sweepers to beat the litre bikes, or the 14 is more nimble, faster bike, better handling in the switchbacks and extreme twisties?
Looking at the map, that ride had to be fun!
I've owned every jap brand litre bike, a few 600's and a ZX14, and of course my 14 would kill in the straightlines and high speed long sweepers. But obviously it was neither as nimble nor would handle the twisties, switchbacks and tracks as well as the smaller bikes. In the twisties I used straight lines and raw HP to keep up with the litre bikes, while everyone else cornered and braked hotter. But the ZX14 was respectable handling for its size!
But I'm still wondering if this a "lets fluff each other" thread claiming the ZX14 brakes quicker, turns faster thread. Naw, only the 'busa forums would do such
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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lietoome
Needs a job
Posts: 2033
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posted August 18, 2008 08:30 PM
Cool story, no way in Hell I'd go for a ride with 30+ other riders.
Last time I did that, someone decided to splash a mountain at 140mph on their busa.
Glad you had a blast, but after my last 'death ride', I run in VERY, very small and well known groups--or alone. If I plan on a non-spirited ride, the numbers are less important, but I'm not real enthusiastic about perfroming CPR, talking to cops, or waving in a MEDEVAC for someone who was doing something above their limits, or just completely Ass-O'Nine.
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dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted August 18, 2008 09:56 PM
great read... I did that ride a month ago from east to west starting in the desert. Although I didnt get those speeds, I too should have been arrested.
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Black 06
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lietoome
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posted August 18, 2008 10:11 PM
BTW, cool story. I wasn't tryin' to rain on anyones parade.
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Sticks_n_Stones
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posted August 19, 2008 05:46 AM
Edited By: Sticks_n_Stones on 19 Aug 2008 06:51
lol no problem lietoome. Before we left the dealer, the owner of Skagit Powersports went over the "ride your own ride at your own pace" thing and, for once, everyone listened. Besides the stupid passes done on purpose, it all went reasonably well. Unlike the last few big rides where at least 1 guy always went down...
Steve: 87 miles of sweapers, none to my recollection requiring less than 80mph. Pretty sure at least half the turns were at 90 degrees radius or greater! Perfect for the 14 to really maximize its sweeper abilities. Never seen a road like that - kept waiting for a yellow "25 mph" sign to pop up, but never saw less than a 35mph yellow sign. And those were the 80 mph turns with good visibility.
I'll try to post the video (after editing out plates an names of course) on YouTube if I get the promised DVD from the guy whose vid camera didnt screw up. My friend is stilling trying to reclaim our footage from my camera on his bike... stupid hard drive camcorders.
Even had a guy on a 400cc dual sport setup with street tires and suspension... he brought the humor factor. I don't think he let up on his gas for the whole 87 miles, just kept it pegged. He was complaining that his wrist was killing him at the turnaround point! He also was the only spill. At a scenic turn out where the lead guys stopped to let the others catch up he (in last of course lol) comes flying up and tries a stoppy. But he forgot he had just installed HH pads and braided lines. Yep! Over he went. He was fine, bike was fine after he took off his headlight "fairing" and rebent the fairing and headlight brackets back into shape: gotta love dirt bike plastics, they just pop back into place!
Edit: Superman, I did scratch my fairings pretty good on that big midcorner bump. It happened in an area of my L/H lower fairing that was already damaged though so no big deal...
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'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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ekz
Novice Class
ed
Posts: 38
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posted August 19, 2008 12:01 PM
sounds like a great ride - what were you running for tires? thx.
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted August 19, 2008 01:37 PM
My bike as it sits right now: Muzzy M10/M14 exhaust, PCIII w/Muzzy map (not recommended A/F is all over the place), K&N air filter, 0W-20 Synthetic Mobil 1, Racetec springs, Pilot Power 2CT tires.
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'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted August 19, 2008 01:57 PM
I wish I'd have been on that trip with you guys, even if i was on a ninja 250!
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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jeff martin
Pro (closed)
jamming
Posts: 1168
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posted August 19, 2008 02:06 PM
Great ride ! I do 3 miles of it daily. Biggest danger on the road is rocks and deer !
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i play with boats my wife plays with my dingy.
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted August 20, 2008 05:40 AM
I was worried the whole time about deer! Granted, the noon to 4pm time frame is probably the lowest chance of hitting a deer, but still. At 100+mph you're a goner if you find one in the road.
Jeff, you shoulda gone with us! Screw work, just tell'em your turbo went out on your tug and you're "awaiting parts" lol.
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'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted August 20, 2008 06:32 AM
great read! no doubt the 14 has monster power and is a very stable platform. i agree there are not too many bikes that would compare. in a cannonball run street format it is most likely the best platform. but when it comes to who got there first in a street riding expedition it would go to a talented rider who was a little bit crazier than all the rest. getting there fast on public roads involves risk taking, depending on how much life insurance you have and family at home you might not want to get there first.
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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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nczx14
Expert Class
Posts: 108
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posted August 20, 2008 07:30 AM
Sticks did you drag the Muzzy any? We laid my bike over as far as it would go in the parking lot at work the other day and the M10 on mine will drag before the footpeg.
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2K7 everything possible without going in the engine.
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted August 20, 2008 08:36 AM
No issue whatsoever. I dont see how it could hit? I scraped my toes of my boots a couple dozen times, scraped both pegs exactly twice each (for some reason I kept count) and the only thing to hit besides the pegs was when I hit that big dip in the road mid corner and slammed my fairing into the ground. Ripped ahole in it, and nearly took my foot off the peg but bike never missed a beat or tried to squirm or stand up.
change of mind: it appears that installation varies where it comes out: on mine its nice and tight up and inside of the peg, but on this photo of Boss69's bike its a bit out farther. That must be the case of yours, too. Still don't see how it could hit.
Don't forget, that when you add your weight and the G's of cornering to the bike its dynamics change COMPLETELY from at rest in a parking lot! Especially the front end dive.
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'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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nczx14
Expert Class
Posts: 108
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posted August 20, 2008 09:09 AM
I've got the actual M10 SMEG on mine I have no midpipe. Just header and muffler and it's as tight to the frame as it'll go. I've hit my foot a couple times but not the exhaust yet.
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2K7 everything possible without going in the engine.
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jeff martin
Pro (closed)
jamming
Posts: 1168
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posted August 20, 2008 08:12 PM
quote:
I was worried the whole time about deer! Granted, the noon to 4pm time frame is probably the lowest chance of hitting a deer, but still. At 100+mph you're a goner if you find one in the road.
Jeff, you shoulda gone with us! Screw work, just tell'em your turbo went out on your tug and you're "awaiting parts" lol.
Shit if it was that easy i would say screw work in a minute. Even so i am not much into death wish riding anymore, Track hell ya run-er hard as hell, But on the street there is to much to lose. Including other peoples lives. But i have been there done that and survived.
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i play with boats my wife plays with my dingy.
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