Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted December 28, 2010 09:12 AM
The second time I wa spoiled was when I rode a friend of mines ATP turbo powered Z1R 1000. Back then in the 1/8th mile he was running 6.80's at a little over 100-104 mph. He was the Man at the track. This was back in 1978-79, The bike was lowered and had stock wheelbase. At the time it was the fastest bike I had ever ridden. I think it had one of theose Zenith carbs and didn't idle worth a crap but it was worth it to feel the turbo power. I soon built my on turbo 1K, If you are ever in my area I will let you take a spin on the turbo Busa, But it will make a normally asperated bike never fun again for you.
  
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ryn0cer0s
Expert Class
Rider for Life
Posts: 274
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posted December 29, 2010 10:27 PM
I grew up around bikes. My Dad always had a bike on the street and at least one in the yard being worked on. At 17 I got my first bike but it was a Suzukimatic 450. From that point until 2005, I rode whatever I could get my hands on, but always cruisers. Following a deployment to Iraq, and with $7,000 in the bank, I got my first sportbike, a CBR 900rr. I still have that but after this deployment, and with a pending move to Germany and the Autobahn (no speed limits in some parts), I got my ZX-14.
I still love cruisers, and want another one of them too, but there is nothing like riding my 14.
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RYNO
2010 Candy Persimmon Red ZX-14
Brock's Ceramic coated Alien Head full exhaust
PCV, SpeedoHealer, lowered
"Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly"
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Edgecrusher
Expert Class
Posts: 256
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posted December 30, 2010 05:46 AM
My father was a bike nut but he died on his bike in 74 when I wasn't even a year old yet. All I had to prove he existed was a picture of the two of us sitting on his KZ, me with a motorcycle themed onesy on standing on his tank infront of him. Needless to say my mother discouraged me from bikes while I was growing up, however, it was obviously in my blood. I wasn't able to get a bike until I was about 21-22 and a friend had a 83 VFR. I loved the sound of the V-4! I bought a 79 CB750 to learn on and after I was done beating that to hell and back I stepped up to an 86 VFR750 and the rest was history. I think a lot of the tv shows in the 70's & 80's influenced me as well. Like Streethawk, lol, CHIPS and Evil K. As a matter of fact, at first every time I'd jump on my bike the CHIPs theme song would start up in my head and I'd get a big grin and start humming. I never thought I would ride a Kawi because I was always a bit superstitious being that my dad died on one. But here I am 36 years later. And every time I swing a leg over I feel like I'm communicating with the dad I never knew but always wanted to, and that's all I'll ever have from him; his passion.
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted December 30, 2010 06:43 AM
Great Stories. My Dad became a Die Hard Goldwing rider before he passed away. And let me tell you those dudes are a whole different bunch of motorcycle riders. It was a battle to see who could have the most lights and it was the first 2 wheel motorcycle I had ever ridden that had reverse. For some reason he stuck with Honda through the years, must have been that old 750 Honda he had bought.
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Ford68XL
Parking Attendant
Posts: 4
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posted January 05, 2011 06:54 AM
I have been riding since I was 11, but the ZX14 is my first Sportbike. I started out on a 65 Honda 90 cc, then moved up to a 66 Ducati 160 (I think), then a 79 Yamaha 750 XS. Took a 5 year break from bikes when the kids were born and went to street rods. Once the kids were old enough to remember who I was, I went back to bikes. Since all my buddies at the time had Harleys or HD clones, I bought a 2004 Yamaha Vstar 1100. Great bike, but kinda gutless. I quickly moved to a 2002 Yamaha Warrior. Put a big bore kit on it and all the chrome goodies, but I got real tired of the v twin crowd. So I bought a 1999 Kannon with a 325 HP Ford 5 litre in it. What a blast till I wrapped that around a tree. My wife put her foot down and said if I wanted to continue to ride, it was going to be on a "sane" motorcycle. Bought a 2003 GL1800 Goldwing with the insurance money. That was a fantastic bike, but it was so smooth, it was like driving a car. So I traded that in on an 07 Yamaha FJR 1300. My kids called it an "old man's" sportbike. At that point I was hooked on the idea of getting a true sportbike and before I got too old, I bought the 09 ZX14. Should have bought a sportbike a long time ago. Would probably be dead by now, but I would have found out what I was missing a lot sooner.
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gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
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posted January 06, 2011 05:44 PM
I've always been into speed. I remember begging my dad to let me bomb down the ski hills. The rest of my family was into form and technical skiing. That was all fine and dandy, but I always wanted to see how fast I could go. When I was in 8th grade my dad had a 96 Honda shadow 1100. I used to ride everywhere with him. On one of our rides, he pulled over in the middle of nowhere and gave me the keys. He instructed me on what to do, butmore importantly on what not to do. I had ridden some dirt bikes, and could drive stick shift cars, but this was my first time on a street bike. As soon as I was out of earshot, I wound that bike up. Dang that was fun! From that point forward, I was hooked. I purchased a kx250 the next year, but I always had that itch for a streetbike. When the zx14 came out, I was a freshman in college. While poor, all my money went towards my supra turbo. After blowing the engine, I parted the car out, and purchased my first streetbike in 08. It was a brand new 2006 zx14 in passion red. We are still in love!
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Chaz
Novice Class
Posts: 46
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posted January 07, 2011 05:48 AM
During my senior year in H.S (76/77), I bought my first motorcycle, it was a brand new 1976 Kawasaki KZ400. I soon moved up to a 1977 KZ650-C1 (mag wheels & triple disc).
Then in 1980, I bought a 1980 Suzuki GS1100E, then in 1984 I bought a Honda VF1000.
Then after selling that in 1985, I stepped away from motorcycles all together for 23 years.
In the early part of 2007 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was removed in June of that same year. Faced with one's own mortality, (and after a 23 year hiatus), I returned to what has always been in my blood, and so I bought a brand new 2007 ZX14 in January of 2008.
It is, by far, the finest motorcycle I have ever owned, and
I continuously thank God for allowing me to live long enough to be able to say "I own a ZX14"!
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2007 Plasma Blue ZX14, 1464 cc 2mm Bore X 2mm Stroke, OER Hi-Mounted Full Exhaust System, PC3, KN Air Filter, SpeedoHealer, Flies Out, FP Velocity Stacks, 0/+1, HotBodies Undertail, Lowered 1", ZG Dbl Bbl, ZX14 Chain Guard, Cox Racing Radiator Guard, HID Lights 6K-Lo / 8K Hi, Adj Side Stand, and a Stem mounted Valentine Radar Detector
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dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted January 07, 2011 06:44 AM
My first car was also a 1977 KZ 650 C1 with a Kerker pipe. Red with mags. Funny how 70 MPH felt fast then. I sold that after 5 yrs or so and picked up a 77 KZ 1000. Next bike was another 77 KZ 1000 from the original owner. It hadnt been ridden in 13 yrs. after that was a 75 Z1 900. I also got away from bikes to have a bunch of kids (and stay alive longer). My cousin got a ZRX 1200. Once I rode that, I got bit by the bug and sold the dinosaur KZ's for the next generation of bikes  Then came the 14, 3 yrs ago. I see no reason to own a different bike, period! Great thread!
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Black 06
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted January 07, 2011 09:21 AM
Great Stories. I had one of those KZ650's. Handled pretty good back then, they were smaller than the 900 and 1000 but still had decent power. The old KZ's with a 4 into 1 sounded great.
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oldkawboy
Needs a job
Posts: 2125
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posted January 07, 2011 11:16 AM
I've had my m/c license for almost 42 years and was fortunate to be old enough to have the funds when the sportbikes hit the market in the 80's.
Even though I bought (and still have) a new KZ1000 in 1978 it was more or less a standard but was a ton more sportier than most bikes of that era.
In '84 Yamaha came out with the FJ1100 and I bought one and loved it until Suzuki came out with the GSXR's a year or two later. Those bikes really put the term sportbike on the map. Suzuki had a promo going and a new GSXR750 could be bought for $3,995 in 1986 and they sold like hotcakes.
I had a red & black one and installed a pipe, 36mm flatslides and GSXR1100 cams. It was a fast bike for the day because it was so light, I surprised a lot of big bore bikes.
That is one bike I wish I would have kept, it even handled great.
Fast forward to living in geezerville. While I still love sportbikes and enjoy riding the sixes and tens, my days of living with a hardcore sportbike are over due to so many broken bones over the years. I'm on my third ZX14 and I'm pushing the limit even riding it but man I sure do love them.
Dan
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yanassi
Parking Attendant
Posts: 4
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posted January 08, 2011 10:49 PM
I love the look of sportbikes in general, very cool. After riding a Harley cruiser, I tired of being a human sail at highway speeds. Then I saw a photo of the '09 zx14 in burnt orange, and I drooled. I've had my 14 since March, and enjoying every minute.
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