daveg
Parking Attendant
Posts: 16
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posted December 05, 2008 04:35 PM
New ZX Owner Mishap
Wasn't ready for the responsive front brake on the first day I had the bike. First wreck in 200,000 miles. Slow right turn at a gas station, tapped the front brake to avoid a car that cut his turn short, new tires, cold weather, down I went. No injuries. Only going 4 or 5 miles an hour. Pretty embarassed. None of my Harley's were this touchy on the brake. New right side fairings are in. Can I replace myself, how hard, how much time? Should I let the dealer replace the parts? Expect more posts and questions. This bike is a world of difference from the many Harley's I have had, but in the 50 short miles I rode it, I love it.
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Dave
  
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted December 05, 2008 04:40 PM
 Edited By: Shane661 on 6 Dec 2008 00:41
The right side fairings are easy to replace. About 10 fasteners. Give yourself a couple of hours since you are new to it (can be done in about 10 minutes with a little experience). Or pay the dealer if no more than an hour of labor and be done with it.
Hope this helps...
Shane
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icarus
Expert Class
Posts: 344
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posted December 05, 2008 05:07 PM
Dave, almost did the same with mine as I am used to riding a Road King. The 14 is half
as much bike with twice as much brake. Do the work yourself to get familiar with the bike.
P.S Changing the plugs takes a liiiiitle bit longer than a Big Twin. Enjoy the speed it
provides and be careful.
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8.820 @ 161.05
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crashtech
Zone Head
Posts: 574
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posted December 05, 2008 07:38 PM
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!................OMG! Maybe now you road turd guys understad why we buy these bikes. Things do happen ALOT faster. Please dont kill yourself. You hardly guys need to do racing school to fully understand the capabilities of these bikes. They do STOP, do GOOO, and do TURN. Something you are not used to if you have owned nothing but those.
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lietoome
Needs a job
Posts: 2033
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posted December 05, 2008 08:38 PM
Might I suggest taking the advanced motorcycle safety class. It so much different than your harleys, it will pay huge dividends. Its also cheaper than buying plastics.
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3Boysand3Bikes
Expert Class
Posts: 382
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posted December 05, 2008 10:28 PM
Sorry to hear about your 'experience'... It was a good way to learn about the brakes.. There was one member on here that was going faster... but the same scenerio and he flipped over the bike. He hurt the bike and didn't ride for awhile due to injury. Whatever bike you have.. there is a learning curve... just take it easy and get a good feel for the bike. It will never feel like the Harley (and vice versa). Another thing to watch that is totally different is coming out of corners. If you hit it early... trust me that back tire will break lose and you will 'high side' it. Again... just something to pay attention to.. The last thing... is watch out for all of the middle fingers and trash talking from the Harley cruisers... ha ha... Have fun and take it easy. I personally have had Harleys also and will say that I feel the Sport bikes are 'easier' to ride but much easier to get pulled over on. That is something you also will need to know before you write of another 'experience'!! ha ha
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dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted December 05, 2008 10:29 PM
quite a change from a hardlymade it... now you have to lean forward not back, arms low not high, rearset pegs not forward, no passenger pegs possibly, no back seat for that matter... full face helmet, body armor willingly... not to mention ...wave? you won't have to blow stop signs, but actually have brakes that work. when you tromp 1st and 2nd, you don't have to stop there ( to tighten bolts)...4th gear is for 30 mph or 130? when in 6th...there's strangely no one around. you'll stop...not to add oil, but to wait for friends to catch up. when the light turns a mean shade of green (09)...you disappear, instead of settling for just being 'seen' at a light making noise.
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Black 06
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brendasue555
Expert Class
Posts: 436
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posted December 06, 2008 04:53 AM
And one more thing, the 1400 is the bike that I will marry someday because I love it so. But if you are not used to this bike you need to be warned unless they have changed a lot since 06........when you get in the higher revs of about 5 to 6k please make sure that your seatbelt is fastened and your tray is in the upright position because you are about to launch. LOL not kidding this bike turns into a monster and is not for the faint of heart. and this bike will also do close to 100mph in first gear and will also leave a stop sign fairly smooth in 3rd. What a purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfect bike.
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Brenda
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crashtech
Zone Head
Posts: 574
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posted December 06, 2008 05:53 AM
Still LMAO! I would have loved to seen it! I dont think I would have told anybody, at least about owning the hardly's. Please, when a sportbike comes up behind you while you are doing 10 under the limit, dont stay in the middle with your chest puffed out ,move over. You have to foget everything from your former motorcycle lifestyle. Really, it is great to see people ditching the anchors for a capable motorcycle. I hope the trend continues and Harley is forced out or change and build a motorcycle.
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aliveagain
Needs a life
Posts: 5033
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posted December 06, 2008 06:17 AM
Dave,when you owned the Harley,did you change the oil yourself? The reason I ask this is because you will need to remove the fairing anyways to get to the oil filter.Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise as now you will see the compactness inside.Nothing to get overwhelmed by and after the first time,you will feel more comfortable.Perhaps looking at this may show where the screws are hiding after you thought you got all of them.http://fiche.ronayers.com/Index.cfm/Module/Main/TypeID/26/Type/Motorcycle/MakeID/3/Make/Kawasaki/YearID/48/Year/2007/ModelID/4095/Model/Ninja_ZX-14/GroupID/128489/Group/Cowling_Lowers(1/2)Them embarrassing moments are fun to laugh at at the end of the year and I have certainly had my share.Good luck!
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I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
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blackbullet76
Pro
Posts: 1134
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posted December 06, 2008 06:36 AM
quote:
The reason I ask this is because you will need to remove the fairing anyways to get to the oil filter
I don't remove my plastic to change the oil and filter. I put it up on the front and rear stands and i can get to everything.
____________
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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Bluebyyou
Expert Class
Gettin My Curve On
Posts: 276
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posted December 06, 2008 06:49 AM
Edited By: Bluebyyou on 6 Dec 2008 14:50
Sorry for your mishap, I agree you do urgently need an ERC. At the very least, find a vacant parking lot and practice the slow an u-turn stuff. For slow speed manuvers below say 5 mph you should be using only the rear brake to reduce your speed. Otherwise the sheer weight transfer (inertia) will cause you to dump it. The heavier or more top heavy the bike the more this will come into play. Rear braking and counterleaning tactics will eliminate any further embarrassment and or damage.
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2007 Bad to the Bone ZX-14 flies out, full Muzzy exhaust system, PC III, BMC race
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted December 06, 2008 06:55 AM
Edited By: bigdtd on 6 Dec 2008 14:55
quote:
quote:
The reason I ask this is because you will need to remove the fairing anyways to get to the oil filter
I don't remove my plastic to change the oil and filter. I put it up on the front and rear stands and i can get to everything.
with the brocks pipe no fairing removal is needed, and only the lower piece if you have to get mideavil with the filter:P
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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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Juice McGoose
Novice Class
Posts: 73
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posted December 06, 2008 07:03 AM
Dave, on my second ride last weekend doing 45-50 I turned a corner onto a bridge and found an unseen dog in the middle of the road. I hit the brakes hard for the first time in a semi-panic stop and dropped down to 10 in an instant. I was shocked by the braking ability of this bike but no endo, no crash.
Hopefully your experience will give you confidence with the knowledge that your bike can stop better that pretty much anything on the road.
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pazx14rider
Zone Head
Posts: 953
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posted December 06, 2008 07:30 AM
Welcome Dave, sorry for your mishap!! Yea i think i would have left the Harley statement out if i were you Everyone will eat that up here, alot of harley haters here!! but welcome to the site anyhow!!
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aliveagain
Needs a life
Posts: 5033
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posted December 06, 2008 07:36 AM
quote:
quote:
quote:
The reason I ask this is because you will need to remove the fairing anyways to get to the oil filter
I don't remove my plastic to change the oil and filter. I put it up on the front and rear stands and i can get to everything.
with the brocks pipe no fairing removal is needed, and only the lower piece if you have to get mideavil with the filter:P
My bad as I am familar with the 12 and not the 14 but thought it was the same looking at the fiche.Seemed like the post was getting off topic,although with friendly good advice,I was hoping to answer his question.Haha,my embarassing moment of the day!
____________
I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
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MJ
Zone Head
Posts: 560
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posted December 06, 2008 04:34 PM
quote:
quote:
quote:
quote:
The reason I ask this is because you will need to remove the fairing anyways to get to the oil filter
I don't remove my plastic to change the oil and filter. I put it up on the front and rear stands and i can get to everything.
with the brocks pipe no fairing removal is needed, and only the lower piece if you have to get mideavil with the filter:P
My bad as I am familar with the 12 and not the 14 but thought it was the same looking at the fiche.Seemed like the post was getting off topic,although with friendly good advice,I was hoping to answer his question.Haha,my embarassing moment of the day!
The only thing I remove for oil changes is the filter and drain plug 
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jarhead
Expert Class
Posts: 418
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posted December 06, 2008 05:49 PM
Hey that is called Shit Happens, I seem to find new and inventive ways to lay a bike down so no worries fix it, learn from it, move on. As far as the Harley thing I give you guys props its not easy to ride a bike that is constantly oiling down your back tire. Welcome to the group.
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Bink2go
Parking Attendant
Posts: 17
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posted December 06, 2008 06:28 PM
I did the same thing with 600 miles or so on mine. Parking lot at work had just been recoated. I walked out and it was pouring. It had just started rain....now know from friends let the oil and crap wash off road road atleast 10 minutes. Going to take MSF course in spring. It was also a low speed dump. Pulled up to stop sign to make left. Barely had wheel turned, but too much front brake. Down before I knew what happened. Mid and lower fairing scratched and my pride hurt. If that's the worst accident I have, I'll take it early on and learn....fairings were simple to change by the way.
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daveg
Parking Attendant
Posts: 16
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posted December 06, 2008 06:58 PM
Thanks for all the responses. Picked up new parts today.
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Dave
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NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
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posted December 06, 2008 08:28 PM
Glad you're OK Dave. But at 5mph, don't try to blame the tires and temps..lol
Seriously though, I've never ridden anything but sportbikes and I couldn't imagine having anything else and I never will. Enjoy and take it easy, because I'm sure you just went from 200k experience to ZERO experience now that you're on this bike. I've done it on my old 600cc sportbike and will do it on my ZX14, but I suggest everyone do atleast just 1 beginner level trackday at a roadcourse near them. sportbiketracktime.com
Have fun, ride safe, and enjoy the corvette z06 on 2 wheels. 
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kawboy81
Expert Class
Busa Eater
Posts: 273
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posted December 06, 2008 08:54 PM
man dont take the words here harsh it can happen to anyone......half of the people in here talking trash will dump theres before its over......something theyve done a million times...all it takes is a million one.... just be safe.....ditto on the oil change though, no need to remove fairing. i did mine on kickstand under carport.
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07 LE bolt on bike
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted December 07, 2008 08:30 AM
I dropped mine pulling under the carport (new smooth concrete) and the wind had blew a bunch of sand up there and yea I came in a LITTLE too fast and it was a 2mph drop. Only bad thind beside messed up fairings was it happened so fast my leg was under the bike and bent the tank when I landed... THAT sucked
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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masszx14
Pro
A mind beside itself!
Posts: 1806
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posted December 07, 2008 09:00 AM
A riding buddy came by with his brand new KLR650 a few weeks ago and
I took it for a spin, then I took it for a longer ride with
him on my zx14... 30 min later we swapped and I hopped on my bike again...
the first yellow light that just turned red infront of us almost resulted in me
flying over the bars... no crash... just so embarassing.
The 14 brakes are the real deal... and could catch you by surprise coming off
another bike, especially an enduro or a cruiser.
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universal@mind
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bawls
Needs a job
re-learning to ride
Posts: 2701
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posted December 07, 2008 09:35 AM
I dropped mine after putting the lowering bones on it... It was sitting straight up because I was looking for something to pull the rear tire up onto since the kickstand was too long. I turned back around and it was laying on its side lol. thank god for my ginormous frankestien bolt looking sliders.
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Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
Brockland Police Badge # 001
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