smokinzx14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted October 31, 2008 01:36 PM
2009 zx14 first ride report.
I got a chance to put a few miles on my new 09 zx14 and i have to tell you this thing is super smooth ,smoother than my 06 zx14 .. It seems to shift easier than my 06 also and doesn't have the clunk into first gear like my 06 .. The fit and finish is better than my 06, it seems than Mother Kawa has tweaked and poked around a little over the 3 year run of zx14s and made them a just a bit better all the way around..I was supprized the heat on my legs was not as bad as my 06 zx14 ..The heat gauge stayed at 3 bars in town and that was only with 25 miles on the bike ..
I had the chance to ride an 08 busa and for me the zx14 is just a better bike .. Less vibes , better wind protection , easy on the wrists and much easier on my butt ...
I can't say for sure that Kawa made any changes to this 09 zx14 but it does feel more refined over my 06 zx14 ..As far as power i can't say yet , it has not been over 4 grand yet but throttle controll is very very smooth ...Engine noise is a lot less , not that my 06 was ever that noisy ...
I truely believe that the 09 zx14 is bar none the best bike you can buy .. Oh and the Green color is just way to cool ...In the sun it just pops and tells everyone around "yes i'm a Kawa and i'm one bad mother "
I had a chance to talk to the owner of the dealership before my bike was made ready , so i asked him what the sales were like on the zx14s Vs the Hayabusas ( he sells both ) and much to my supprize he told me he sells two zx14s to every one busa ... I said you must have made a mistake and he said NO that's what we see here two zx14s to one busa ... He said the buyers just like the zx14 better because it feels more refined....I'm sure that is different in other parts of the County but it was still nice to hear..
Smokin ..
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
  
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1badvespa1400cc
Zone Head
power junkie
Posts: 691
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posted October 31, 2008 01:45 PM
That sounds good lee now I can't wait until you break it in and we can see some #'s and hopefully some good part's for sale as you test them out(lol).
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Just another foeteen!!!!!
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NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
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posted October 31, 2008 01:46 PM
I would LOVE BUSA sales to decline. 
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1badvespa1400cc
Zone Head
power junkie
Posts: 691
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posted October 31, 2008 01:49 PM
Yep,that would be nice,to see all kaw's on the road would be sweet!!!!!!!!
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Just another foeteen!!!!!
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06redzx14
Pro
Posts: 1022
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posted October 31, 2008 01:57 PM
sorry but if that happened I'd have to buy something else. Just me
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06 alien head, no flies, PC+hub, 16/45 44 43, air shifter, dry shot
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flyboy
Pro
Posts: 1536
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posted October 31, 2008 02:08 PM
 Edited By: flyboy on 31 Oct 2008 22:11
quote:
I got a chance to put a few miles on my new 09 zx14 and i have to tell you this thing is super smooth ,smoother than my 06 zx14 .. It seems to shift easier than my 06 also and doesn't have the clunk into first gear like my 06 .. The fit and finish is better than my 06, it seems than Mother Kawa has tweaked and poked around a little over the 3 year run of zx14s and made them a just a bit better all the way around..I was supprized the heat on my legs was not as bad as my 06 zx14 ..The heat gauge stayed at 3 bars in town and that was only with 25 miles on the bike ..
I had the chance to ride an 08 busa and for me the zx14 is just a better bike .. Less vibes , better wind protection , easy on the wrists and much easier on my butt ...
..
Lee, should I junk my 06. Put it out to pasture? An old folks home? Is it that bad? 
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'There's more living in five minutes flat-out on a bike than some men have in an entire life'.
"The World's Fastest Indian"
One fast red ZX-14,
Three World and four National Land Speed Records,
One faster red and white Cessna Turbo 210
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KawaBonzai
Zone Head
Leader of the Back.
Posts: 537
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posted October 31, 2008 02:09 PM
quote:
I can't say for sure that Kawa made any changes to this 09 zx14 ...
None that I can see and I've my 08 torn apart and back, and also the 09. The padding under the rear cowl is thicker is all i could find so far.
We need a Green14.Com website because we know that Green is contagious. 
When ya coming to Tucson Lee?
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PC-III w/USB, Muzzys M14 + Carbon Oval + M10, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Buell Pegs, Heli Risers
www.TucsonSportRiders.com - Tucson's Premier SportRider Community
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Smooth_G
Expert Class
Posts: 228
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posted October 31, 2008 02:15 PM
that sounds really cool lee,,i have a silver 08,,,is there any difference between the 08,n 09,,this machine is very smooth,,,sportrider said the zx14 was one of the smoothest bikes that they have ever tested,,
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drewzx-14
Zone Head
Andrew
Posts: 553
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posted October 31, 2008 03:15 PM
that would def be something good to know about the 09...let us know if the power is any different. are you keeping the flies smokin?
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2009 Yamaha R1-SOLD!
2013 Zx-14R Green ABS
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LandspeedLarry
Expert Class
Posts: 234
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posted October 31, 2008 03:26 PM
Smooth=Dual counterbalancers like the old XX. I have a fleet of Hayabusas that my team races in LSR events. They are the small block Chevy of motorcycles. Everything is made for them and after ten years they are the performance king. That said ,and I know it is not appreciated on a Kawi site, the ZX-14 is a far better street bike because of comfort and smoothness and I think looks. I ride one and I love it. If you just add bolt-ons, you can have an eight- second ride, fast enough for most. But to really race the 14 has many limitations. One piece cases=no big engines. A head that flows OK stock but has ports that are too large and too angled to make really serious power. A really good ZX-12 head will match the best of the Busas while the 14 never will. I really wonder why Kawasaki did what they did, but I sure enjoy my street ride. LSL
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Home of the World's Fastest Naturally Aspirated motorcycles.
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted October 31, 2008 03:28 PM
congrats on the new ride, i will have to check it out!
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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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kawasaki_rick
Zone Head
Posts: 512
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posted October 31, 2008 03:43 PM
Dont baby it smokin, it will be a pig. I run the piss out of my new bikes. And they seem to last. I believe they will blow-up or run 4-ever this way. Anyway i think ill get the silver zx14 for my next streetbike. Thats my fav.
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ZX11D
Zone Head
Internet Police
Posts: 674
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posted October 31, 2008 04:08 PM
Good report Smokin. It's nice to hear that at least some dealers move more 14's than busas 
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'94 ZX-11
'07 ZX-14
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted October 31, 2008 05:02 PM
great info thanks
one thing hard to believe though is you road a bike then wrote: quote:
it has not been over 4 grand yet
because i KNOW your break-in methodology 
Lee I can't wait to see that green one in person!
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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1badvespa1400cc
Zone Head
power junkie
Posts: 691
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posted October 31, 2008 05:19 PM
Green is fast!!!!
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Just another foeteen!!!!!
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smokinzx14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted October 31, 2008 05:25 PM
quote:
that would def be something good to know about the 09...let us know if the power is any different. are you keeping the flies smokin?
Don't know about the flys yet ...Lets see how it runs with them in first ..
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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smokinzx14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted October 31, 2008 05:31 PM
quote:
quote:
I got a chance to put a few miles on my new 09 zx14 and i have to tell you this thing is super smooth ,smoother than my 06 zx14 .. It seems to shift easier than my 06 also and doesn't have the clunk into first gear like my 06 .. The fit and finish is better than my 06, it seems than Mother Kawa has tweaked and poked around a little over the 3 year run of zx14s and made them a just a bit better all the way around..I was supprized the heat on my legs was not as bad as my 06 zx14 ..The heat gauge stayed at 3 bars in town and that was only with 25 miles on the bike ..
I had the chance to ride an 08 busa and for me the zx14 is just a better bike .. Less vibes , better wind protection , easy on the wrists and much easier on my butt ...
..
Lee, should I junk my 06. Put it out to pasture? An old folks home? Is it that bad?
Flyboy it may be more refined than a older model but the jury is still out on the speed part...Before i junk my 06 lets see if the 09 is really any faster ....Nobody i know first hand has really put the 08 or 09 to the test .. I'll find out soon enough ...
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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BobC
Pro
Posts: 1736
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posted November 01, 2008 12:29 AM
How much of the smoothness you mention is down to "new bike" rather than any mechanical changes?
Glad you're enjoying it.
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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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smokinzx14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted November 01, 2008 05:15 AM
quote:
How much of the smoothness you mention is down to "new bike" rather than any mechanical changes?
Glad you're enjoying it.
Could be just that " new bike feel " I will not rule that out ...One thing for sure it does NOT have the 2500 to 3000 knock that my 06 had from day one, not that it ever caused me problem but it is nice not to hear it ...
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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ninja12
Needs a job
Posts: 3310
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posted November 01, 2008 05:24 AM
quote:
How much of the smoothness you mention is down to "new bike" rather than any mechanical changes?
Glad you're enjoying it.
or stock exhaust?
My 06 was super smooooooooooooooth before the smeg.
Keep us posted.
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted November 01, 2008 08:40 AM
are you going to be out and about on it tonight?
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted November 01, 2008 10:39 AM
Lube this afternoon around 4, Lot at 10?
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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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smokinzx14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted November 01, 2008 05:39 PM
quote:
Lube this afternoon around 4, Lot at 10?
Rain out ... Next Sat i hope .....
____________
Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted November 02, 2008 05:56 AM
i got a sprinkle this morning and left the 14 at home. usually ride to work on sunday
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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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