duncan
Expert Class
Posts: 341
|
posted January 04, 2009 07:46 AM
ZX 14 REVAMP
When do you honestly think Kawasaki will do some MAJOR upgrades to there flagship model? It seems every 2 or so years they do this with the 10r! I don't have a problem with that but "spread the wealth" to MR 14 as well. Everyone knows there is alot more potential in the already potient 14. What gives...Kawi isn't the only one doing this. Zuk does the same thing with the GSXR and doesn't change the Busa for 9 years.
I predict if not already liter bikes will surpass the Big fellows in straight line performance. Smokin got real close on his 10 if I remember correctly. Alot of turbo builders are opting to go with the liter bikes as well.{exoticycle} I own a 14 and busa so sure I'm a little pissed. Arn't you? If the 14 and busa had the same treatment as the 1000's have had they'ed be pushing 220 hp minimum. That may be the problem right there...LOL
  
|
Wheelie
Needs a life
Old Man
Posts: 6902
|
posted January 04, 2009 07:53 AM
might have something to do with sales.
wee
|
duncan
Expert Class
Posts: 341
|
posted January 04, 2009 07:59 AM
quote:
might have something to do with sales.
wee
I don't know Wee, at least the busa sells a shit load, so it might be something else. It's really a shame.
|
dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
|
posted January 04, 2009 08:53 AM
until they get spanked HARD by the competition, and they have floor models left over in every show room, there really is not need to change anything the consumer consumes.
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
|
duncan
Expert Class
Posts: 341
|
posted January 04, 2009 08:57 AM
Good point Dub, but why do they change the liter bikes every couple of years?
|
gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
|
posted January 04, 2009 10:42 AM
quote:
Good point Dub, but why do they change the liter bikes every couple of years?
liter bikes are race bikes. the zx14 is not... in a racers mind, you need EVERY little bit of performance, and if the bike is not evolving, then you will fall behind. The zx14 has only one real competitor (busa), and that competitor is not changing an evolving, plus the bike is not a race bike. There is no real need to change it every two years.......
|
CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
|
posted January 04, 2009 10:43 AM
Probably in about 3-4 years...
____________
Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
|
eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
|
posted January 04, 2009 01:37 PM
I'd like to see a 14 come stock without the grills... Maybe a little more options on the lcd screen, like outside temp, etc. But that's just going to make the price go higher
____________
Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
|
SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
|
posted January 04, 2009 02:04 PM
quote:
quote:
Good point Dub, but why do they change the liter bikes every couple of years?
liter bikes are race bikes. the zx14 is not... in a racers mind, you need EVERY little bit of performance, and if the bike is not evolving, then you will fall behind. The zx14 has only one real competitor (busa), and that competitor is not changing an evolving, plus the bike is not a race bike. There is no real need to change it every two years.......
Fierce competition in the litre bike arena supported by so many world league events with huge crowsd such as world superbike and MotoGP. On the sales front, for every busa and ZX14 sold there is a handful of litre bikes sold
Lets not discount the "R" and "RR" model 600s, they change as often as the litre bikes and sell a ton a year as well.
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
|
bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
|
posted January 05, 2009 05:48 PM
the power is sick so just come up with some nice schemes like they did in 09. if they change the bike too often the aftermaket stuff would not be as abundant.
____________
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
|
eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
|
posted January 05, 2009 06:09 PM
Good point. I haven't thought of it as having a lot of aftermarket stuff.
____________
Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
|
ZX14Mike
Zone Head
Posts: 891
|
posted January 11, 2009 06:42 PM
Great topic Duncan.................my thinking was the 14 was a platform they would revamp every 4-5 years to "JUST" stay ahead of the liter bikes in horsepower and 1/4 mile performance........................that said the economy might have thrown a wrench in that plan...............but i was expecting that in 2010 or 2011 they would have a revamped Zx 14 that would have a full 1400cc's, a better head and cams, more compression and an overdrive 6th gear so it can be geared more aggressively in the quater mile.
My thinking was that Kawasaki created a bike capable of 25-30 more horspower and that each revamp the bike would gain 12-15 horsepower and more torque which would give it 2 major revamps and a model lifecycle of roughly 15 years.
I would love to see a 200-210 horse Zx 14 right from the factory...............Hell if the upped the horsepower by 15 i'd probably trade mine in on a nhew one.
Bottomline particularly in this weak economy they are going to have to give people a good reason to buy a new bike and I think nothing short of upping the horsepower by 15 is good enough for me.
|
gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
|
posted January 11, 2009 08:40 PM
I don't know why they don't up the compression. They could easily get away with 13:1 instead of 12:1.... That alone would up the hp.... I need some nitrous to take advantage of the "low" compression.
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC