zx-14lvr
Expert Class
Posts: 121
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posted June 16, 2009 04:37 PM
NEW!
Okay everyone....my name is Aaron. Im new to the sport bike scene. Just recently my dad passed his 98 Honda Shadow Aero 1100 over to me for my first bike...it just hit 102,000 on it and it is showing it in many areas. As i have been looking for a brand new bike at the local bike store "Champions" i came across the Kawasaki ZX-14 Monster edition. I was first looking into some of the Honda CBR's but when i saw this bike...my jaw dropped. I knew nothing about it at all untill i came home that afternoon and started looking for the forums on the bike. This is the first place i came across. I have been reading every post from removing the TRE/FLIES to the luggage bags and light weight tents, even caught up on the pages of some of the builds some guys are doing on here. I have never road a sport bike be for but have been riding my cruiser almost every day since the first of the year. So i think next month I will be purchasing one of these monsters for myself to enjoy with my g/f on the back. I know to take it easy when i first get on as there is so much power in these motors...Im just glad that they have the sec. TB closed till almost 4th gear so it doesn't unleash its power all at once. If anybody has any helpful hints for me, feel free to type away. I have one question...is the shift pattern the same for Kawasaki as Honda? One down five up?
  
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billeason
Zone Head
Posts: 711
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posted June 16, 2009 05:33 PM
Welcome zx14lvr'' Yes the gear pattern are the same for both bikes. I have owned quite a few 14's and i have two at present. I can tell you the 14's are one of the best all around bikes on the market today. If you take it easy at first the 14 will behave as docile as smaller bikes and is very easy to ride. Then when your ready' trust me the bike is transformed into a beast at any thing above half throttle. When you take your first ride the bike will seam light and very smooth. At least test one out you will see why we like these 14's as much as we do.. ................................Bill
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bill eason
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted June 16, 2009 05:41 PM
The zx14 is a great pick , i have rode them all and made 1/4 passes on them also ... I have hammered everything from liter bikes to the new Vmax and the zx14 tops them in every way .. If they build a better bike i will buy it , till then i'll keep my zx14 .. 
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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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WindSwordNinja
Expert Class
Posts: 203
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posted June 16, 2009 05:45 PM
Welcome to the site Aaron!
You will love the 14, just take your time getting familiar with it.
The secondary flies will open in first at around 6k rpm and cause the bike to wheelie at WOT so watch out or it will catch you off guard!
____________
2014 ZX14 Black and Green
2008 ZX14 Black and Red SE
1986 ZX1000R Black
"Faster, faster! Faster would be better!" (Serenity)
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 16, 2009 05:46 PM
I agree with everything Bill said.
It is my all time favourite bike for all of the reasons above.
However, for 2 up rides you will be dissapointed IMO.
Its too much machine for a passenger to hang on to, and places the passeneger WAY up in the airstream behind you. The seat is also very long, and puts quite some distance between the passenger and driver, which also sucks, as you need to feel connected, with the bike and passeneger to ride double effectively.
I couldn't tell if she was still there or not, and her center of gravity was much higher than mine or the bikes, which was not good either as a wrong move from the passenger with all that leverage, could control the bike with their weight , easier than I could with mine...
I was tired after doubling on the bike, as I felt i had to be so careful with the throttle.. my daughter was on the back, and would hate myself for life if anything ever happened to her.
I since bought an old vmax with backrest for doubling.... so you see I am not in anyway afraid of power, just scared for my passenger
Its a great bike, but thats my 2 cents on doubling with the 14.
I hope she isn't a big girl, and has a good sense of balance, or you could have a real fight on your hands controling the bike
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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mike1024
Expert Class
Posts: 172
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posted June 16, 2009 06:55 PM
i went from an sv650 right to a zx14. bike is a pussycat stock at low rpms, and handles great. i went 10,000 miles until i took my flies out. Oh boy did it make my 14 a real 14. Even stock, removing flies is incredible!
You will NOT be disappointed. You WILL experiment, and be ready for its massive acceleration, power, excellent handling, deep growl, and its comfort both solo and 2 up.
Definitely worth it.
PS. Black shows ALL dirt specs, i regret that on my 06 zx14 with 25000 miles by me.
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zx-14lvr
Expert Class
Posts: 121
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posted June 16, 2009 06:59 PM
i have been thinking about the blue also...since i have a blue 80 malibu , might as well get a matching bike
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Superman T
Pro
Posts: 1831
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posted June 16, 2009 07:58 PM
Welcome and good luck on the decision that you will ultimately make. Great all around bike and does perfect for 2 riders(passenger is closely level with rider)
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 16, 2009 11:21 PM
I guess I am the only guy who thought, wow she is way up and way back there... and influencing my steering quite a bit....
Compared to a cruiser, the 2 up accomodations are shit IMO....
Otherwise I love my 14.
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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Sergent
Expert Class
Posts: 106
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posted June 17, 2009 12:22 AM
i`ve never had a problem by myself or with a passenger all around great bike
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted June 17, 2009 02:13 AM
If you compare the 14 to 600 and 1000 sportbikes, its the best bike for doubling up! Compare it to a cruiser, yes the passanger is a little higher, but my fience has no prob riding with me. I take it easy with her on tho, as I have no life insurance on her yet! 
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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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14nooby
Zone Head
Posts: 987
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posted June 17, 2009 03:02 AM
Cocoa, Florida?
That is where I purchased mine from and I just was in there last week. Thats a very nice bike. Pull the trigger man.
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Beondwacko
Expert Class
Posts: 393
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posted June 17, 2009 03:33 AM
Aaron,
A couple of quick questions if you don't mind.
You mentioned that your Father recently bestowed to you his high mileage Shadow, but you never mentioned your own personal riding experience. How long have you been riding? What bikes do you have experience on? Have you ever taken a MSF course?
If you have never ridden a sport bike before and the 14 is your choice to break into this segment, don't take this the wrong way but read closely.
First off, you are aware of the power from what you have read, but you really can't quantify the numbers unless you experience them. It doesn't matter if you have driven the highest performance cars in the world in controlled enviroments(track) to their fullest potential, this bike will out accelerate most all of them. Speed on a sportbike is deceptive. It doesn't feel like you are going nearly as fast as you really are most of the time. This is just one area where newer riders can and do get into trouble.
Secondly, brakes.
The 14 has so much more braking ability than the Shadow, it could kill you just as easily as it could save you. If you get the 14, practice in an empty parking lot (while wearing gear) the braking ability.
Without getting long winded about the perrils of riding a missile of a bike, most folks new to the sportbike scene don't just jump on the 14. People typically "graduate" to the 14 from a lesser sportbike. When I say lesser, I mean smaller, lighter, less powerfull. This is done for good reason. Besides the financial reasons, it's less frightining to aclimate your skills on a smaller bike.
If you really have a desire to jump onto a "big" bike that's comfy and has the performance potential that few cars can match I'd look to start off with maybe a Honda Blackbird (very dependable,linked brakes, quick and a good example with fuel injection can be had for about $4.5K) or maybe a CBR600f4I (much smaller but a great platform to learn.
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08' Atomic Silver, PCIII, Brocks pipe,BMC, -1, strapped front end
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zx-14lvr
Expert Class
Posts: 121
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posted June 17, 2009 01:11 PM
quote:
Cocoa, Florida?
That is where I purchased mine from and I just was in there last week. Thats a very nice bike. Pull the trigger man.
yes cocoa florida.ill be asking them if they have a blue one in the back
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zx-14lvr
Expert Class
Posts: 121
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posted June 17, 2009 01:13 PM
quote:
Aaron,
A couple of quick questions if you don't mind.
You mentioned that your Father recently bestowed to you his high mileage Shadow, but you never mentioned your own personal riding experience. How long have you been riding? What bikes do you have experience on? Have you ever taken a MSF course?
If you have never ridden a sport bike before and the 14 is your choice to break into this segment, don't take this the wrong way but read closely.
First off, you are aware of the power from what you have read, but you really can't quantify the numbers unless you experience them. It doesn't matter if you have driven the highest performance cars in the world in controlled enviroments(track) to their fullest potential, this bike will out accelerate most all of them. Speed on a sportbike is deceptive. It doesn't feel like you are going nearly as fast as you really are most of the time. This is just one area where newer riders can and do get into trouble.
Secondly, brakes.
The 14 has so much more braking ability than the Shadow, it could kill you just as easily as it could save you. If you get the 14, practice in an empty parking lot (while wearing gear) the braking ability.
Without getting long winded about the perrils of riding a missile of a bike, most folks new to the sportbike scene don't just jump on the 14. People typically "graduate" to the 14 from a lesser sportbike. When I say lesser, I mean smaller, lighter, less powerfull. This is done for good reason. Besides the financial reasons, it's less frightining to aclimate your skills on a smaller bike.
If you really have a desire to jump onto a "big" bike that's comfy and has the performance potential that few cars can match I'd look to start off with maybe a Honda Blackbird (very dependable,linked brakes, quick and a good example with fuel injection can be had for about $4.5K) or maybe a CBR600f4I (much smaller but a great platform to learn.
i stated above that i have been riding almost every day since the first of the year when its not raining...i took a full 3 day course. i know how to take it easy and adjust to the bike. it'll be like learning to ride again
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted June 17, 2009 01:15 PM
I searched for a blue one a few months agoi, and couldn't find one (new) so I got a 08 silver
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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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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted June 17, 2009 01:19 PM
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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14nooby
Zone Head
Posts: 987
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posted June 17, 2009 01:39 PM
Nice to have another 321 guy on here. Welcome!
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Beondwacko
Expert Class
Posts: 393
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posted June 18, 2009 05:58 AM
Good to see that you have some experience already and also that you know that it's going to be so much different that what you are/were used to.
BTW,,,,, it should only take a week or so for your neck muscles to aclimate to the different riding position from the cruiser. Have fun & be safe.
____________
08' Atomic Silver, PCIII, Brocks pipe,BMC, -1, strapped front end
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted June 18, 2009 06:17 AM
The ZX-14 is a very smooth, mild running bike in stock form. You can get it to trouble quickly because of that. It isn't going to give you any feedback that says "slow down!", until it is too late. Make sure you put quite a few miles on it before you start twisting the grip hard. Build up your speeds gradually...take some time to get to know the bike.
Good luck. 
Shane
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zxbob
Pro
Posts: 1692
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posted June 18, 2009 06:43 AM
quote:
What he said .. 
Bob
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Good parts aint cheap and cheap parts aint good !
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AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 18, 2009 10:54 AM
Hey welcome Aaron!! I know these guys on here sound like overconcerned dads which may be frustrating but I hate to admit it - they are right. I do think you should get the bike anyway b/c you'll love it. Just watch out for wheelies, it does them in pretty much any gear LOL I think any passenger discomfort on the bike can be fixed with a touring screen and custom seat. Maybe move passenger footpegs higher too, since they are so close to the exhaust. Final tip, get rid of stock tires right away to be safer with a passenger and, if u can still afford it, get lightest slipons on the market to compensate some for passenger weight gain. Oh and be sure to adjust shocks for that much weight (about 250lbs) b/c brakes are crazy sensitive and you don't want front shocks to nose-dive on you with this much weight.
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heraser
Expert Class
Tall Blue 14
Posts: 259
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posted June 18, 2009 06:04 PM
Welcome! Great choice. Once you get the bike you will want to get used to it riding solo first.
If you are riding two up alot, you should definetly adjust the suspension accordingly (unless the two of you weigh 150 lbs total).
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Blue '07 Racetech Fork Kit/Ohlins Rear
Ivan Tuned Fast and SMOOTH!
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted June 18, 2009 06:10 PM
always good to have another florida rider. it is where all the fast 14s come from
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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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zx-14lvr
Expert Class
Posts: 121
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posted June 18, 2009 08:26 PM
soon as i pay off my credit card for kays im pulling the trigger for the bike...either the blue one or the monster bike. where at do you guys in Fl stay at? 14nooby i stay in titusville maybe we could get together for a ride when i get the bike? couple of you could show me some secrets and tips to riding better on a sport bike
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