knydecker
Expert Class
Uber-BigPimpin
Posts: 230
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posted June 30, 2009 06:40 AM
What new tech would you like to see on the new 2012 ZX14?
Alright techies...
If Kawasaki said, "I want you to be part of my R&D team for the new ZX14". What would you add/change??
Let me start by squeezing more power through out the power curve by using variable valve timing and loosing some weight by getting more alum on the bike.
This would cost more for the bike but most people would pay 2-3 grand for such a performer I believe! ; )
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted June 30, 2009 07:02 AM
I want more for my money ....Same price , more HP, 1500 CCs , less weight and a little sharper body lines .. While you are at it add some wheel base , lets say 59 1/2 wheel base ...
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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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06redzx14
Pro
Posts: 1022
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posted June 30, 2009 07:23 AM
4 mil stroker crank would be good for me
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06 alien head, no flies, PC+hub, 16/45 44 43, air shifter, dry shot
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nydhags
Expert Class
Posts: 127
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posted June 30, 2009 07:24 AM
I would like more electrical output, better seat, more room under the seat, digital speedometer, better rear shock/spring & adjustable pegs.
More HP & CC's are always a plus.
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To Do List:
CONTINENTAL US DONE
Hawaii - I’ll rent a bike there, MAYBE
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 30, 2009 07:45 AM
-GSXR type 1 piece side panels, for quicker access and less hardware to deal with- even the zx10 has too many little pieces of plastic, better heat evacuation, less heat on rider.
-Lighter wheels,
- tighter suspension(better springs and valving),
- Lighter tail section and seating, that utilises all of the space under neath,
-Lighter tripple clamp and clip on assembly
- 1500 cc
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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knydecker
Expert Class
Uber-BigPimpin
Posts: 230
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posted June 30, 2009 07:57 AM
Try to be practable. You cant get a bigger engine, lighter weight and cost the same. Not unless you have a magic wand...
better seat would be great. I like the analog spedo but it could be easier to read. I like the wheel base where its at and mabey shorter. Most drag racers would replace the rear swing arm with a longer one anyways.
4 mil stroker would help bottom end but would hurt top end.
Def too many cosmetic parts on the ZX. Less plastic pieces= less nuts/bolts, easier access and more cost effective to build.
To make the wheels lighter you would have to use Billiet wheels would bring the price of the bike up alot. What about Nylon/Carbon Fiber wheels. Stronger and MUCH lighter!
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Beondwacko
Expert Class
Posts: 393
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posted June 30, 2009 08:03 AM
Here's my "Short" list.
DFI & 13:1 compression ratio ( that would make for some more HP/TQ with better MPG to boot)
Storage of some sort please!!!!
Better and easier to read speedo & Tach
A little better heat defelecting from operators legs.
A redesign of those stupid well nuts that hold the body work.
A little more wattage in the charging system.
A bit more capacity in the cooling system (with the higher compression ratio , this would be wise)
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08' Atomic Silver, PCIII, Brocks pipe,BMC, -1, strapped front end
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knydecker
Expert Class
Uber-BigPimpin
Posts: 230
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posted June 30, 2009 08:31 AM
Storage could be made easy at the front-top farring panels under the handlebars.
A 1400 CC motor is hard to cool. I dont thinks the heat can be deflected much better. When its real hot, I put my feet on the rear pegs. Seem to help.
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This was dictated... but not read!
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AlexTheUkrainian
Expert Class
'08 ZX-14 SE
Posts: 144
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posted June 30, 2009 09:59 AM
This is a great machine as-is as far as HP goes. Where it lacks the most is weight and comfort (as in heat):
- Lighter mufflers (shorten them up while at it) and wheels, lighter battery, and some aluminum
- Real radiator fan and not the joke fan it has right now - this will help comfort with reduced heat
- Slimmer front wheel fender to increase airflow and cooling... yeah yeah I know, emissions, gotta keep it running hot, well you know what, fuck emissions - US doesn't have very strict standards anyway yet (except CA), so give us a different front fender than for Europe, so that our bikes here run cooler. Let CA bikes use European fender  And maybe let them have the plastic fan as well
- HID low beams - this will help the energy issue and keep us all safer without adding cost penalty (after-market 35W 5k are like $50 these days, so Kawi can get them for $25 if not cheaper)
- Separate height adjustments for low and high beams
- Temp indicator with digits, not bars
- Auto-switch mode for LCD indicator... i.e., it shows batt voltage for 3 sec, then switches to avg. mpg, then to current mpg, etc. and goes like this in cycles. Safer than moving hand out there to press button... or put that mode switch button on handlebar somewhere, easy to reach
- Ability to adjust the min temp at which radiator fan kicks on. Some of us would prefer to kill the battery sooner rather than taste the heat on their legs
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madkawboy
Expert Class
Posts: 398
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posted June 30, 2009 12:44 PM
Cyclinder needs to come off seperate !!
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2007 ZX-14
Stock Wheel Base, footshifting, pump gas
5.94 @ 128 mph
1.50 60ft
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Douglas Home
Zone Head
Posts: 710
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posted June 30, 2009 01:20 PM
That damn sump plug needs relocating !!!
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Doug Mackay Australia
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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted June 30, 2009 01:37 PM
Still a better clutch design so that the steels wear evenly without warping thus lasting even longer...
Better oil flow throughout the motor with a shorter oil pan and no more worries of bearings not getting enough oil causing the motor to blow up...
Better valve spring set up so when you tag the limiter during mis-shifts you dont have to bring the bike in for a valve repair...
Better 5th and 6th gear so one doesnt need to spend 2 days of R&D at a Drag Strip track rental setting up an airshifter & progressive Nitrous...
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Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
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posted June 30, 2009 03:18 PM
Tighter suspension
more power (high compression. something like 13:1. bigger engine)
more storage
oil drain plug relocation
lighter wheels
same kind of front and rear, but make it newer
no rubber grommets in the air box that you can accidentally strip copper shavings into your engine with
dual or a larger fan
adjustable rear-sets
black graphics
faster gear indicator that is hooked up to the transmission and not doing gear calculations. That way the gear indicator still works when you gear the bike.
No flies
I love the analog speedo.
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14nooby
Zone Head
Posts: 987
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posted June 30, 2009 04:00 PM
I have seen some great ideas but some are very impractable and virtually almost impossible to release as a daily driver. Here is my quick list.
- 1352cc is already hard to cool. Lets squeeze it to a true 1400cc if we can
- The plastics are a bitch to remove. I want one piece plastics
- Leave all the emissons crap including exhaust alone (who leaves the stockers on anyways)??
- Better spring setup
- Better seat... Well more stylish, the seat without the cowl looks like a 1950 schwinn seat
- Only offer it in Green. LOL Blue is for Yamers, Red is for Honda
Now you guys see why I am not in Marketing for Kawi because they would'nt make it.
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 30, 2009 04:27 PM
 Edited By: dubious on 1 Jul 2009 02:15
knydecker, you can have a bigger engine and less weight, and better cooling with less heat from the engine. The Suzuki's do not run as hot and are just as big.
Several of us have been able to remove alot of weight off this bike, and none of it has anything to do with displacement, or the cooling system.
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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JDC
Zone Head
Posts: 570
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posted June 30, 2009 05:22 PM
Edited By: JDC on 1 Jul 2009 01:23
HUD
keyless ignition (which I have now)
100 lbs lighter
HID lights
cruise control
beer cup-holder cooler
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Douglas Home
Zone Head
Posts: 710
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posted June 30, 2009 06:17 PM
JDC , what is HUD? I'm still learning mate!
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Doug Mackay Australia
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knydecker
Expert Class
Uber-BigPimpin
Posts: 230
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posted June 30, 2009 06:19 PM
I like 14noobys list and JDCs (beer cup-holder rocks).
I dont believe you have to have a bigger engine to have more power. The engine can be tweeked without higher compression. The new R1s use variable valve timing that allows even more linear powerband hp that most of your newer cars have been using (mostly Jap mfgr).
In fact Yamaha who works closely withToyota helped design duel variable valve timing for the Celica GTS and other models. Duel being intake and exaust valve timing.
Just my 2 cents.
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This was dictated... but not read!
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 30, 2009 06:20 PM
Heads up display
JDC can you email me.
I would like to ask you a few questions.
eldubois
drop me your phone number if you don't mind. I'll call if that works better
eldubois at telus dot net
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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LLcooljebb
Expert Class
Upgrade I Must
Posts: 146
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posted June 30, 2009 09:22 PM
7th gear
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"no time to be void or save up on life
you got to spend it all.."
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omegaman
Parking Attendant
lettin the good time roll
Posts: 5
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posted June 30, 2009 10:22 PM
on the fly adjustable spot 2 cruise mode ergonomics , the ultra 260 motor with the SC, a evolved version of the 12r with a 233 rear and a exoskelloton ha-haaaaaa
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omegaman
Parking Attendant
lettin the good time roll
Posts: 5
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posted June 30, 2009 10:22 PM
Sport see spot run to sport ha 
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carlsbadbusa
Parking Attendant
Posts: 20
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posted June 30, 2009 10:41 PM
- Better seat... Well more stylish, the seat without the cowl looks like a 1950 schwinn seatquote:
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Bluebyyou
Expert Class
Gettin My Curve On
Posts: 276
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posted July 01, 2009 04:16 AM
Same engine factory supercharged for true 200+ rwhp.
Better cam chain tensioner system and quieter (mechanically) engine.
Factory steering dampener.
Better engine heat management. Improved rotors that don't warp.
Better valved suspension.
Improved seat comfort.
Loss of 50 lbs.
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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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Some Guy
Expert Class
Posts: 144
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posted July 01, 2009 07:55 PM
There are so many great suggestions here, but here's a few I thought of.
- Outside air thermometer. I like to know when it's 33 degrees out so I dont' feel like a wimp for being cold... (also good to know if when it's gettng close to freezing).
- Easier access to the spark plugs or at least make it easier to remove the plug wires.
- Better warranty service: Replace the engine rather than rebuild it at the dealer. Let them rebuild it at the manafacturer level. What a great opportunity to rise above the rest!!
- An accurate Speedometer!!! Why oh why can't we have one that is accurate?!?
- Give us the same comfort as the Connie, or at least the choice of a seat!
- If the secondaries are there to prevent wheelies, why not add a light-weight sensor that senses the front wheel picking up , (to a certain point), AND THEN close the secondaires.
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'08 SE ZX-14
'14 1000r Ninja (wife's)
1985 900 Ninja
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